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... Read More
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 th... Read More
The most significant benefit of converting a mechanical dock leveler to hydraulic is the safety and ease of single push button operation at the loading dock area. Converting to hydraulic eliminates the need to repetitively bend and pull the release chain and then walk the dock leveler downward into position on the truck. When successfully converted to hydraulic operation it’s now as easy as pushing a button. Any brand of mechanical dock leveler will require an ongoing maintenance program that ... Read More
The overall lifting capacity is the most common and most referred to rating on a lift table. The overall rating is based on an evenly distributed load and these ratings typically range from 500 lbs to 20,000 lbs. Lift tables that are used to accommodate a rolling load such as a pallet truck or rolls of paper, coils of steel etc. have 2 additional capacity ratings; single axle end load and single axle side load ratings. The end and side load capacity ratings only apply when the lift table is in a... Read More
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 co... Read More
The short answer is yes and here’s the reason why. Typically dock levelers are installed in a 3 sided pit at the loading dock area. To allow for operating clearances there is usually a 1” gap between the dock leveler platform and the side walls of the pit. When the dock leveler is in the closed stored closed position and the overhead door is closed these 1” side gaps allow cold exterior air to blow up from the dock leveler pit into the building.  Traditional efforts to conserve energy at ... Read More
In the majority of applications the dock attendant positions the dock leveler on the truck. When the truck is loaded the dock attendant typically operates and returns the dock leveler to the stored closed position. If there is no dock attendant and the truck departs with the dock leveler in position the dock leveler lowers and the lip slowly retracts. If equipped with an optional auto return when the lip reaches the fully retracted position a limit switch is activated. This starts the lift motor... Read More
Although manual pallet trucks or power driven pallet trucks are the most common pieces of material handling equipment used on a dock lift some applications call for the use of a lift truck. If using a lift truck on a dock lift there is one very important option to consider. With the dock lift in the lowered closed position the operator drives the lift truck onto the dock lift platform. As soon as the up button is operated an optional automatic hinged hydraulic roll off stop on the dock lift is a... Read More
Although there are many combinations available there are 2 very common interlocks specified. 1. Interlocking a vehicle restraint to a hydraulic or air powered dock leveler. This interlock is safety related, the dock leveler will not operate until the truck in position has been secured by the vehicle restraint. The truck secured signal from the vehicle restraint now renders the dock leveler controls operational. 2. Interlocking the overhead door to a hydraulic or air powered dock leveler. This in... Read More
In some applications a longer bridge plate is required to span the gap between the truck bed and the dock lift platform. The longer the bridge plate the more the weight increases and in some cases they become too heavy to be operated manually. The dock lift hydraulic actuated bridge assist is installed on the platform and at only 10” wide minimally impedes the usable platform width. The bridge plate is stored in the vertical position, manually the bridge plate is lowered and a flow control val... Read More