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
When a customer gets in contact with a lift table provider, there are a minimum of 5 questions the customer should expect to get asked. The questions are: How much vertical travel would you like the lift table to have? What platform size would you like the table to have? Is this table going to be installed on the floor or installed in a pit? What voltage is available to run this table? Can I have a brief description of your application? These 5 questions are the basics of putting together a simp... Read More
A three phase power unit and a single phase power unit are generally the same price at time of purchase. Three phase power is much more efficient than single phase power when operating loading dock equipment or lift tables. The greater the distance from the power supply to the motor will affect the voltage drop. A three phase power unit is much more efficient over the same run than a single phase power unit.
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There are pros and cons to low profile dock lifts and conventional pit model dock lifts. Low profile dock lifts do not have to be installed in a pit. They are equipped with an approach ramp and surface installed. This serves as an advantage because there is no pit construction required and if the dock lifts needs to move to a different location, it can be easily accomplished. This being said, a low profile dock lift cannot handle the same capacity as a conventional pit installed dock lift. Low p... 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
A hinged bridge plate and a hinged lip is actually the same thing. The most common industry term is a hinged bridge plate. Hinged bridge plates are a transition plate from the lift platform to either a truck bed or an upper elevation. An approach ramp has a significantly different purpose. The purpose of an approach ramp is to transition typically from the floor onto the platform. For example there is a series of dock lifts that have both an approach ramp and a hinged bridge plate. The approach ... Read More
As standard, No Low lift tables are available in 3 different capacities: 2,500 lbs, 4000 lbs, and 6000 lbs are the different capacities you can choose from. Standard platform size range is from 44”Wx48”L to 50”Wx54”L and standard vertical travel is 35”. There are applications that do need a bigger platform size, more capacity, or a higher vertical travel. Also as standard, No Low lift tables have a back stop meaning you can only take a load on and off of the lift from one end. It is po... Read More
In the lift table industry the standard duty cycle is 8 full cycles (up and down) per hour for 8 hours per day, 5 days a week. If an application needs more than 8 cycles per hour, then a number of components can be used to make the lift table last longer. All bushings are replaced with spherical barring’s, leg rollers are upgraded to cam followers, continuous running power units are available to avoid starting and stopping the lift tables motor on a repetitive basis, and central lubrication is... Read More
A lift table’s standard and most common control unit is a push button control unit. The problem you may experience with a push button control unit is that in order to operate the lift table, the operator must use their hands to control the table. This can slow efficiency because if an operator is positioning a load and decides to raise or lower the table, he must first position the load before operating it. If he has a guarded foot pedal control station, the operator can simply lift the table ... Read More