Mar 27, 2020

Safety considerations when installing a lift table with a rotating top in a pit.

The main concern is operator safety as it relates to eliminating potential pinch/shear/crush points when the lift table platform and rotating top lowers into the pit. First the lift table is equipped with . Electric toes sensors are an interlocked 4 sided bar assembly that is suspended under the lower 4 sided edge of the lift table platform. When loweri... Read More
Mar 13, 2020

What is a Sure Stop Valve on a lift table?

On an electro-hydraulic lift table the lift motor is mechanically coupled to the hydraulic pump. When the lift motor is activated the hydraulic system pumps the hydraulic oil to the lift cylinders and the lift table rises. When the lift motor is shut off by there is a slight overrun “freewheel” effect, the pump continues to pump oil for a split second and the lift table rises slightly. If precise positioning is required a Sure Stop Valve is added to the hydraulic circuit. At rest the Sure Stop Valve is normally close... Read More
Mar 06, 2020

What are the options for Dock Lift guard rails?

As standard dock lifts are supplied with removable guard rails. At the time of manufacture the guard rails are bolted to a threaded plate that is welded to the dock lift platform. These guard rails are now removable however they require hand tools to first remove the locking bolts, 4 locking bolts per guard rail. Based on the amount of work required and the time involved removing this style of guard rail is not a common practice to do repetitively. Another option... Read More
Feb 28, 2020

What are lift table electric toe sensors and how do they work?

Electric toe sensors are most commonly used on lift tables that are installed in a preformed recessed pit. In a recessed pit installation there is the potential for introducing a shear hazard as the platform lowers into the pit. Electric toe sensors are an interlocked 4 sided bar assembly that is suspended under the lower edge of the lift table platform. The suspended perimeter bar assembly interacts with 4 limit switche... Read More
Feb 24, 2020

Can you load and unload dock lifts from the side?

Yes you can. With the dock lift in the lowered position there is no issue. However if the dock lift is to be loaded or unloaded from the side in the raised position the dock lift capacity rating must be carefully selected to avoid platform deflection and premature wear. Dock lifts are generally loaded and unloaded from the ends. The weight moves on and off the dock lift platform travelling with the length of the scissor legs. When dock lifts are loaded and unloaded from the side the weight travels across the width of the scissor legs. Travelling across ... Read More
Feb 14, 2020

Why are there limitations on lift table power units hydraulic hose length?

Most lift table manufacturers recommend a maximum hydraulic hose length for remote/external power units that should not be exceeded for satisfactory performance.  The issue is not raising the lift table; a pressurized hydraulic hose of almost any practical length will raise the lift table, the issue is lowering the lift table. If the lift table is lowered with weight on the platform the weight will assist in pushing the hydraulic oil back through the hydraulic hose to the reservoir. If the lift table is lowere... Read More
Jan 31, 2020

What is the life expectancy of a lift table?

There is no definitive answer to that question but there are reasonable expectations. A lift table that is cycled up to 8 times per hour in a single 8 hour shift and a 5 day work week should last 20+ years if properly inspected and maintained. It is very important that lift tables be designed and equipped to suit the specific requirements of the application. For example a
Jan 10, 2020

Can a lift table have multiple control stations?

Although the majority of lift table applications have a single control station it is not uncommon to have multiple control stations. A typical example would be a lift table installation that services 2 different floor levels. One set of controls is located at the lower level and the secondary set of controls is located at the upper level. The lift table can now easily be called from one location to the other without the use of stairs. If the lift table can be operated from 2 locations both of the control statio... Read More
Dec 06, 2019

What is dock equipment pit curb angle and who provides it at a construction site?

Dock levelers and dock lifts are 2 of the most common products used at a loading dock area and are generally installed into a pre-formed concrete pit. Prior to the equipment arriving at the construction site the pits are first formed. The pit curb angle is required at that time to form the pit to the manufacturer’s specified length, width and depth. The pit curb angle is manufactured from steel angle iron and has tangs or J bolts welded to the inside of the angle for the concrete to “knit” around when the c... Read More
Nov 22, 2019

Can you use a Lift Truck on a Dock Lift?

Although it is not very common you can use a lift truck on a dock lift if the dock lift is properly sized, rated and equipped. Some of the factors to first consider. The dock lift platform size should accommodate the overall length of the lift truck with the longest load that the lift truck will be carrying. The width of the dock lift should be sized to allow the lift truck operator to exit the lift truck and move around freely on the platform. When selecting the dock lift capacity consider a combination of the overall weight of the empty lift truck plu... Read More