With a truck in position at the loading dock the back of the truck body contacts and compresses the dock seal side pads creating a gasket seal between the back of the truck body and the building wall.
During loading it is common for the truck bed to move up and down as the lift truck drives across the dock leveler and onto the truck bed. This repetitive up and down movement of the truck body causes an abrasive effect between the back of the truck body and the face of the dock seal side pads.
This repetitive up and down abrasion on the face of the dock seal side pads causes premature covering material wear and can also loosen the dock seal anchor bolts over time.
To minimize this abrasive effect dock seals can be manufactured with optional wear pleats on the dock seal side pads. The top of the wear pleats are sewn directly to the side pad covering material and the wear pleats are overlaid similar to shingles on the roof of a house.
This link leads to a photograph of a dock seal with wear pleats on the side pads. https://www.pentalift.com/solutions/wear-pleats/
With the wear pleats in place and during the truck body up and down movement the dock seal side pad wear pleats also flex up and down eliminating the direct abrasive effect on the face of the dock seal side pads.
Ordering dock seals equipped with optional wear pleats covering the side pads prolongs the life span of the dock seal and also assists in keeping the secure installation intact.
For additional information on any Pentalift product please contact the Pentalift Sales Department.