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
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”... 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
Working with bins of bulk product can often be challenging for the machine operator. The challenges arise because of the repetitive bending and stretching required reaching down into the bin to load or unload components. In this application consider if the product bin is first loaded onto an industrial hydraulic tilter. Under operator control the bin can now be tilted into the most ergonomically correct and comfortable position for the operator to retrieve or place the components in the bin. Til... 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 the dock leveler is in the closed/stored position the hinged lip assembly is vertical tucked in behind the front of the dock leveler frame. When the dock leveler is operated the deck raises and the hinged lip rotates outward to the extended position. In the extended position the lip assembly is not parallel with the deck plate it is positioned just slightly lower than parallel to the deck plate, this is referred to as “lip crown”. Dock levelers service varying heights of incoming vehicl... Read More
The majority of lift tables receive a sprayed on finish coat, this sprayed on finish coat often includes products such as enamel paint, epoxy paint or even cold spray galvanizing. None of these finishes can compare to the high performance coating of hot dip galvanizing. During the hot dip galvanizing process the components are first dipped into a tank of a cleaning acid solution, removed and then dipped into a separate tank containing the molten galvanizing solution. As opposed to any spray on f... Read More
The most commonly ordered option for a rotating top is a form of holding the top in position. There are 2 common holding options such as a rotating top “detent”. The operator slowly rotates the top into a pre-determined position and a spring loaded detent engages in a “dish” in the underside of the rotating top. The rotating top is held in position until the operator applies a gentle nudge to the rotating top and the top rotates off the detent and onward. A positive mechanical rotating l... Read More
Tilt tables are typically used with bins that contain loose individual components or stacked components. To avoid repetitive bending and reaching down into the bottom of the bin it is more ergonomically correct to tilt the bin towards the operator for ease of component positioning or removal. Tilt tables are available in hydraulic operation up to 90 degrees. Most common models tilt to 45 degrees.  Pneumatic tilters are also available and tilt up to 40 degrees. A combination lift and tilt will f... Read More