FRL stands for Filter Regulator and Lubricator. In some applications, depending on vertical travel, an air bag lift table will not be suitable. The alternative is a hydraulic lift table with an air motor operated power unit. It requires compressed air to operate this motor and there are some maintenance factors to maintain efficient operation of the motor. These components are often referred to as an FRL. F – Filter: compressed air that has a high moisture content which is best to remove befor... Read More
Dock lifts are generally used if you don’t have a conventional 4 foot high loading dock area. A dock lift would be used to get product from a truck to ground level or vice versa. In multiple dock positions, something that is becoming more common is the use of a dock lift. While dock levelers will handle the conventional trucks, in addition to conventional trucks a dock lift can accommodate any incoming truck bed height (FedEx, UPS, etc.). Dock lifts can also be used to store property maintenan... Read More
Choosing between a hydraulic dock leveler and mechanical dock leveler depends on what is most important to the user. Mechanical dock levelers cost less than hydraulic dock levelers, but mechanical dock levelers do require periodic (2 times a year) adjustable maintenance throughout use of the equipment. Hydraulic levelers can handle higher load capacities and also operate more easily than mechanical dock levelers, due to a manual push button that operates the power unit. While hydraulic dock leve... Read More
All manufacturers have a standard paint colour that is for brand identity or for economy of scale in any high volume manufacturing facility. Pretty much any colour other than the manufacturer’s standard is available, but at an upcharge. The reason for this upcharge is due to the purchasing process, receiving process and manufacturing process. Depending on the colour of the paint, primer may need to be added to the lift table before the paint is applied. When painting a lift table a custom colo... Read More
If you have both a hydraulic dock leveler and an overhead door in the closed position and try to operate the dock leveler, the power of the dock leveler will damage the locked overhead door. If you have a vertical storing dock leveler in the rest (vertical) position and try and operate (lower) it when an overhead door is in the closed position, the dock will cause severe damage by impacting with the overhead door. In order to ensure that the dock leveler will not be able to operate when the over... Read More
The reason lift tables have various horse power ratings is strictly to achieve typical speeds of vertical travel. The quicker the oil can be pumped into a cylinder, the quicker the cylinder extends, increasing the lift speed. Generally, the higher the capacity of the lift table, the more cylinders the lift table will require. In order to maintain typical lift speeds of 10 – 12 feet per minute, a higher rated power unit is used to achieve these speeds.
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Self-contained power units cost less and are the most common, however, there are alternatives. Remote power units are one of the alternatives and are best suited for wash down applications. When periodic maintenance is required, it is easier to access a remote power unit. At the time of installation, remote power units are typically installed 7’ – 8’above finished floor level on a wall mounting bracket. This moves the power unit up and away from potential impact. The hydraulic hoses are th... Read More
Pentaflow lift cylinders are unique. In the base of the cylinder piston there is a port. This port is sealed by a ball to prevent oil from passing through. When oil is pumped into the cylinder, the cylinder extends. When the cylinder is at full extension, an actuator pushes the ball off the port which allows oil to return to the reservoir. This prevents the cylinder from dead ending. This also helps bleed any air inside of the hydraulic system. When the cylinder retracts, it siphons hydraulic oi... Read More
In lift table terms, low height refers to the measurement of the top of the table’s platform to the floor when the table is in its lowest position. Travel refers to the amount of vertical lift from the tables resting position to its highest position. Raised position is the measurement of the table’s platform to floor when the table is at its extended height.
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Not all applications are the same. In some cases, vehicle restraints are a part of the initial construction design process. It is also quite common to add vehicle restraints to an existing loading dock to improve the safety at this busy area of the facility. The positioning of the trailer’s rear impact guard can vary from trailer manufacturers. This has created the requirements for low profile vehicle restraints. Some facilities are able to cost justify mechanical vehicle restraints as an impr... Read More