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 lowering if any obstruction (operator’s foot, debris etc.) contacts the suspended 4 sided perimeter bar the lowering stops immediately. Second the ro... Read More
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 is permanent guard rails, as th... Read More
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 switches, one per corner. When the down button is activated the electrical signal t... Read More
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 lift table operating in a wash down application or an outdoor application should have an upgraded finish coat such as epoxy p... Read More
The first step when considering converting to hydraulic operation is to investigate if the dock leveler is structurally sound. In its simplest form a dock leveler is a temporary structural bridge between the building floor and the truck to be loaded. A qualified loading dock service technician should first perform a complete front to back structural inspection of the dock levelers primary components. During the inspection the technician should check the deck, beam and headboard weldments, the li... 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
If this option is ordered the hydraulic velocity fuse is installed in the return line of the lift table’s hydraulic circuit. As the lift table starts to lower the hydraulic oil flows out of the lift cylinder(s) and through the velocity fuse to the power unit reservoir. Depending on the model of lift table the velocity fuse is installed directly on the base of the lift cylinder or in a common manifold that monitors the returning oil flow rate from a bank of multiple lift cylinders. Velocity fus... 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
When a lift table lowers into a recessed pit there is often the challenge of addressing a potential pinch point. A lift table with straight 90 degree vertical toe guards on the platform sides can create a pinch point as the platform lowers into the pit. The two most common lift table options to minimize the risk of a pinch point as the platform lowers are tapered toe guards or electric toe sensors. Tapered toe guards are tapered inward 30 degrees on all 4 sides of the platform sides. Changing th... Read More