You cant compromise the profitability of your business by relying on loading dock equipment thats lacking in quality, thus requiring frequent repairs. Have a vision, but not sure where to nd it? They may or may not require external power interfaces, depending on the type of leveler. Dock Plates are commonly made out of aluminum and suited for lighter loads, such as handcars or dollies. Rather than negligence, this is due to the sheer number of docks in use and the rate at which dock technologies have progressed. Advanced loading dock controls and communication. Thanks to a lower profile, LED lights offer illumination without presenting a collision risk for equipment or people. The modern dock includes interlocks, a series of mechanical and electronic safety measures that prevent anything but the optimal sequence of events. When you unload a full truck you have to make sure its empty, and the driver is in less of a hurry than LTL, where the driver might assume the one small bit of work is done and drive away too soon.. Lips are operated either manually, by pull chain, or hydraulically with an electric pump driving a piston to lift the plate and move the lip, Toe Guard: Protective shield mounted flush to the side of a dock assembly in order to prevent toe and foot injuries while dock leveler is above dock. For companies whose operations are heavily dependent on the transportation of goods from one place to another, the importance of loading docks and dock equipment cannot be overstated. These areas are known as loading zones or loading bays in many jurisdictions. a forklift). With a focus on quality, all products are proudly Made in the USA! Rite-Hite smooth transition dock levelers, part of the Smooth Transition Dok System, provide the smoothest path between the facility floor and the trailer - reducing jolts to forklift operators, product and equipment. Connect your existing loading docks online with iDock Link and receive the benefits of myQ Dock Management. Wheeler estimates more than 90% of dock processes rely on bar codes to identify and control the movement of inventory. Because shipping and receiving requires personnel for trailer loading and unloading, dock equipment ensures the safety of both workers and loads. Factors that affect trailer creep are the weight and speed of the lift truck and load, the gradient of the ground the trailer is parked on, the condition of the suspension, tire air pressures, the type of transition being used (dock levelers, dock boards), and whether the trailer has been disconnected or if it is still connected to the tractor. Walt Swietlik, director of customer relations and sales support at Rite-Hite, remembers basic docks as he found them when he joined Rite-Hite 35 years ago. Dock leveler a height-adjustable platform used as a, Dock lift serves same function as a leveler but operates similar to a. Dock seals or dock shelters compressible foam blocks against which the truck presses when parked; seals are used at exterior truck bays in colder climates where this will provide protection from the weather. Industry-leadingstrength and durability. Canada, Copyright 2022 Pentalift Equipment Corporation. America, the most common dock height is 4852 inches (120130cm), though heights of up to 55 inches (140cm) occur as well. If he just described your dock, you might have work to do. We offer the industrys most durable and powerful equipment that you need to ensure the continued success of your operation. This will reduce your downtime associated with injuries, and ensure a workplace that is free from unnecessary risks and hazards. W194N11481 McCormick Dr.Germantown, WI 53022. If the daily operations of your company are heavily dependent on the transportation of goods from one location to the next, your loading docks and accompanying equipment are your lifelines. Its all very easy to take care of if its addressed early.. For the most accurate product results, find your local Door System location. Door Systems Inc. has 17 locationsthrough North America - nd your local dealer for the most accurate results. Poweramp has been a leading manufacturer of loading dock equipment for over 60 years. In the 1980s, the industry was in the infancy of getting the message of dock safety off the ground, Swietlik says. The SH21 Blackline computer is an industrial computer designed for a wall or fixed mount environments. We offer a variety of options for you to choose from and our team will be happy to help you decide which one is right for you. Pentalift offers a complete line of mechanical dock levelers to suite common capacity requirements. RHM Mechanical Levelers are the industrys most reliable hold-down. Don't miss a single issue! It comes equiped with a RIG sensor bar that notifies dock workers with an audible alarm if the restraints arm is not securely engaged with the trailers Rear Impact Guard. You may want to check out our quality lines of Commercial Doors. As handheld screens get larger, they become more viable for lift truck use, Wheeler says. A loading dock leveler is a piece of equipment which is typically mounted to the exterior dock face or recessed into a pit at a loading dock. Complete with rugged components that resist damage in harsh loading dock environments. Driven and walked over often, most decks have an anti-skid surface such as a tread plate to provide traction at the various working angles. We are your one-stop-shop for complete and reliable loading dock solutions. Rite-Hite can meet your project management needs. To further enhance safety, light sensors can detect when a lift truck is backing out of a trailer and automatically dim so as not to blind the operator or the dock attendant as a lift truck reverses toward them. We have an extensive inventory of products and great relationships with manufacturers, so were able to provide our high-performance products at competitive prices and with fast turnaround times. The deck assembly pivots at the back end furthest from the transport vehicle (or, more commonly, the dock door opening), Lip: The lip assembly is pivotally attached to the deck assembly at the end closest to the transport. Our heavy-duty locks will make sure that your trucks stay put during the entire process. They help to form a secure seal between the inside of your building and the external environment. Because the standards for performance and safety have changed dramatically in the last decade, basics is a relative term. In private fleets, Wheeler predicts trailer-mounted sensor technology like passive and active UHF or low-energy Bluetooth will increasingly serve as beacons to ensure workers are loading the right materials in the right trailer. Trailer creep is often prevented by a vehicle restraint system. [1] A dock leveler bridges the gap between a truck and a warehouse to safely accommodate a forklift. For over 60 years, Systems and its brands have produced quality loading dock equipment, all manufactured in the USA. Dock Boards are generally made out of steel and suited for heavier loads such as motorized equipment or electric pallet jacks. Commonly made from rubber, they range in size, projection and are based on vehicles serviced among other factors. Rite-Hite offers specialized levelers for specific loading dock needs. Connect your dock equipment online and monitor loading activity with myQ Dock Management. For example, to open the door, the vehicle restraint must first be positively engaged. Swietlik recommends collaboration between the customer, dock equipment provider and general contractor to ensure all relevant measurements are considered. Subscribe to Modern Materials Handling magazine. gap between the vehicle and the dock, lighting to illuminate the inside of the trailer, building-to-vehicle communication systems and weather protection. A wide variety of new dock levelers are available to meet your requirements. One thing that hasnt changed over time is the need for reliability, and when a lean operation loses the use of even one dock door, the impacts can be painful. Rite-Hite dock levelers are designed for your most demanding dock operations, offering exceptional durability, reliability and the lowest lifetime ownership costs. Electricity can power the newest push-button levelers, but running electricity to a manually operated dock is not always ideal. Using video, 3D sensors and analytics, the solution collects and relays data to dock managers or transportation managers, presenting them with real-time metrics of whats being loaded and unloaded. These devices might also be equipped with extended range scanning or a camera to document damaged product and file a claim right on the device. E-mail: lift@pentalift.com Theyre especially important for businesses that experience extreme weather, such as high temperatures and frequent snowfall, and warehousing operations that store food and/or produce. Allowing traffic to move from dock level to the ground or from the ground onto the back of a truck, a new portable steel yard ramp by DLM supports smooth flow of loading and unloading. For lift truck operators, purpose-built, vehicle-mounted devices are usually the most productive and operationally safe form factor. New portable steel yard ramp However, 2018 is considerably different, Swietlik says. Cookie Preference | Privacy Policy & Terms Consistent with our policy of continuing product improvement, we reserve the right to change product specifications without notice or obligation. In addition to making it easier to unload trailers and trucks, dock levelers help to minimize the risk of accidents and keep your employees safe. Although there are many different types of dock levelers[4] many share common components: A flexible less-expensive alternative to a Loading Dock Leveler is a Dock Plate or Dock Board. Cookie Preference | Privacy Policy & Terms Consistent with our policy of continuing product improvement, we reserve the right to change product specifications without notice or obligation. All Rights Reserved, Automatic Identification / Data Collection, Loading Dock Equipment Manufacturers (LODEM) Industry Group, Loading Dock Equipment Manufacturers (LODEM) Industry Group Members, Lift Manufacturers Product Group (LIFT) Industry Group, Lift Manufacturers Product Group (LIFT) Industry Group Members. 8720 Red Oak Blvd., Suite 201|Charlotte, NC 28217 We offer solutions designed to streamline your operations, improve the safety of your employees and company equipment, and organize your entire loading dock. Separation of a vehicle from the loading dock also occurs when a driver prematurely pulls away while the truck is still being loaded/unloaded. In fact, it might take even less time than that for the descriptions of a modern dock in this article to seem downright old-fashioned. As a result, providers of dock equipment and solutions have adapted their offerings to meet the needs of those facilities that would rather not tear down one side of the building and start over. Mark Wheeler, director of supply chain solutions at Zebra Technologies, says effective management of dock data starts on the inbound side with supplier management. The Light series is a simple and economic loading ramp. Schulze suggests the most difficult element to update is bad habits. For over 60 years, Poweramp dock equipment has been installed in facilities throughout North America and beyond. Equipped with standard features including our industry leading spring assist and wheels on the end of the ramp for effortless deployment and storage. For those customers concerned with securing access to the back of the trailer, energy efficiency and/or sanitation, dock enclosures may be designed to prevent even a sliver of outdoor light from creeping in. If someone is in the trailer doing some paperwork, an equipment operator will know to wait before bringing in the next pallet. In different parts of the world, a section of a public or private road may be allocated for loading goods or persons, at specific or at all times. It is also important to ensure that drivers are adequately trained on the safe system of work they are expected to follow. In an effort to meet the demands of project managers who must work within budgets and deadlines, Rite-Hite offers the Genisys line of standardized dock levelers. Bumpers: Help to prevent the transport vehicle from contacting and damaging the exterior of the building, dock leveler or vehicle restraint. When you come to Door Systems, you can rest assured that youre receiving the best deal possible and that all of your company's needs will be met by our team of experts. Were also part of the global organization, ASSA ABLOY, which enables us to have a worldwide reach and early access to the most cutting-edge technology on the market. Phone: (704) 676-1190, Copyright MHI 2022. There are several types of dock equipment. unloading of trailers, shipping containers or rail cars. Best practices to optimize distribution center operations and lift truck fleet utilization for 2022. E-mail: dock@pentalift.com As an added measure of safety, any kind of motion inside the trailer, whether equipment or pedestrian, will illuminate a blue light on the deck of the dock leveler. Now you see push-button dock levelers, typically bigger and with heavier capacities, which have increased by 10,000 to 15,000 pounds. Pentalift is your single-source manufacturer of loading dock equipment. Lets discuss a few of our offerings. Just like dock seals, dock shelters help to form an effective seal between your trailers and your buildings interior. Indicator lights that show truck drivers when to back in or pull out. This page was last edited on 27 March 2022, at 03:16. With the help of one of our team members, well advise you on which solutions work best for both your budget and business objectives. Sign up today to receive our FREE, weekly email newsletter! Your loading dock equipment needs to be built tough and durable, and thats what we specialize in. Poweramp has been a leading manufacturer of quality loading dock equipment for over 60 years. The most reliabletruck restraining system available, stored under the dock pit. Rugged headland devices are common in the receiving and sorting of inbound goods for putaway. All rights reserved. Now its about operating faster and with perfection.. There are lots of service commitments they have never faced before, Wheeler says. Under the brands of Poweramp, McGuire, and DLM, Systems has been a leading manufacturer of loading dock equipment in the USA for over 60 years. Pit-style dock leveler using compressed air. If your equipment fails, your day can come to a screeching halt, resulting in massive losses in wasted employee hours, shipping delays, and expensive repairs. To help us serve you, please select a button below that best represents your need. Pentalift loading dock equipment includes additional accessories to complete your shipping/receiving area, including dock bumpers, communication systems, wheel chocks, dock lighting, Our Primary Goal is to engineer and build the best loading dock options to ensure the ultimate in user safety and product reliability. Where it is not practical to install permanent concrete loading docks, or for temporary situations, then it is common to use a mobile version of the loading dock, often called a yard ramp. Previously, the only way was to walk the dock and watch how the work is being done. From the July 2022 Modern Material Handling Magazine Issue. In addition to fostering increased productivity, they help to improve the safety of your employees while theyre unloading and loading products into your trailers. It was anecdotal and laborious to track.. Schulze recognizes that thousands of aspiring operations have been saddled with docks that were not designed with such lofty goals in mind. Systems, LLC and its brands are a subsidiary of The Chamberlain Group LLC. There is some growth in passive or active RFID to track trailer locations, he says, but more and more carriers are using geo-fencing. Dura-Dock loading-dock lifts Safety and innovation are important features, as is LEED information when looking at dock equipment manufacturers. California Residents: Proposition 65 WARNING Copyright 2022 Systems LLC. Were excited to open up new doors for you and your organization. Thanks to our network of independent company partners located across North America, were able to provide our customers located on this continent with 24/7/365 service and product installation. Rite-Hites exclusive distribution network provides our customers with local sales and service representation, no matter where you are located. Swietlik says 2017 was another evolutionary year for dock safety, citing advances in the safety capabilities of vehicle restraints. Pedestrian-Vu and Approach-Vu Explore our quality lines of operators. National Forklift Safety Day: Raising awareness on the importance of operator training, Miner, a facility expert for docks and doors, acquires New Jersey Door Works, Want big gains? Thats why its important to find a system that works best for you and your team members. The overhead dooralso push-button operatedis now usually bigger than the trailer, which is locked to the dock by a vehicle restraint as opposed to mere chocks or emergency brakes. Updating your loading dock equipment? All rights reserved. They might also incorporate motion sensors to detect inactivity and automatically shut off after a set time. All Rights Reserved. Install iDock Link at your existing loading docks and connect online to receive the benefits of myQ Dock Management. Or at least, it can be. Too often, installation of safety equipment at the dock follows an incident that compels action. Another benefit is that you dont have to introduce an entirely new, separate device that could clutter the dock.. Pedestrian-Vu uses motion sensing technology to trigger a bright blue light that projects onto the dock leveler when it detects materials handling equipment or a pedestrians presence inside the trailer. Interlocks ensure dock equipment is used optimally, which increases safety, security and efficiency. It makes more sense to invest in high-quality solutions that will last for years to come with minimal maintenance and repair expenses. They are part of a facility's service or utility infrastructure, typically providing direct access to staging areas, storage rooms, and freight elevators. In the past, if you wanted to do supplier management, it used to involve creation of elaborate routing guides, Wheeler says. Typical equipment includes attachments that secure and bridge the The Genisys mechanical Dock Leveler offers safety and reliability with the smoothest transitions in the industry. We offer durable dock lifts, expert installation, and long-term maintenance services to ensure the longest useful lifespan possible. Electronic logging devices (ELD), bar code scanners, advance shipping notices (ASN), passive and active radio frequency identification (RFID), GPS and geo-fencing all combine to apply the same precision, control and visibility into dock operations that define the modern supply chain. A dock leveler can be raised and lowered to accommodate varying trailer floor heights. Purchasing a commercial gate or a door? Dock levelers for all applications Puslinch,ON N0B 2J0, Usually mounted in a concrete pit, a drain in the base prevents standing water. Because the shipping and receiving process requires personnel to conduct Its a workflow that has a lot of variability, Wheeler says, including damaged or noncompliant product, and is often the one area where warehouse management system (WMS) transactions arent always repetitive. Monitor and improve your loading dock efficiency online with myQ Dock Management. Copyright 2022 McGuire. We are your one-stop-shop for complete loading dock solutions. loading and unloading processes, dock equipment is designed to ensure the safety of both the workers and the loads as they enter and exit the trailer. Additionally, they offer full, unimpeded vehicle access that will help to facilitate quick unloading and loading processes. [1], In order to facilitate material handling, loading docks may be equipped with the following:[1]. These nifty devices are another important component of your loading docks since they ensure the safety of your team members, company equipment, and the contents of your trailers. With an average speed of over 101 inches per second and an extraordinary insulating capacity, the Turbo-Seal Insulated door is the definitive solution for cold storage environments. Dock: Area of a warehouse or building where loading/unloading of transport vehicles takes place, Dock Pit: Recessed opening in the buildings floor which accommodates the pit-style dock leveler. Edge of dock levelers have a limited above and below service range. You want it to look professional when its done, so you dont want conduit sticking out since someone forgot it when they poured the concrete, Swietlik says. Visit our hands-on state-of-the-art academy to see Serco loading dock equipment up close and fully functional. Reliable dock levelers and equipment for any loading dock application. Were here to help! By standardizing the way virtually any data field is encoded, these labels enable the quick exchange of critical information, like lot, expiration date, country of origin, catch weight and more. Fax: 519-763-2894 If youre not already utilizing dock seals at your facility, its time to change that. Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Whole Building Design Guide: Loading Dock", Loading Dock Equipment Manufacturers (LODEM), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Loading_dock&oldid=1079498194, Articles lacking in-text citations from June 2014, Wikipedia articles containing buzzwords from October 2019, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. Taking it one step further, the interlock sequence might also include a step where photos or videos are captured to verify security and product condition after transit. All RH Series smooth transition levelers feature: a constant radius rear hinge, two-point crown control and a new, standard optimized lip chamfer. Some people want to think theres nothing much going on at the dock, whether in terms of safety risks or new products that can reduce them, Swietlik says. There are many ways to prevent an accident at a loading dock. Its now a more thought-out, integral part of the operation, he says. Lift Table and Loading Dock Equipment Manufacturer. Simply ensuring trailer, door and leveler are in place does not ensure a safe dock. When space is limited and loads are lighter, or facilities with a captured fleet, edge-of-docks are a solution. They are commonly found on commercial and industrial buildings, and warehouses in particular. Youd present the supplier with the specs for a label and all relevant data fields, and in some environments this makes sense, but for many others its a very onerous set of requirements to put on your supplier.. Connect your dock equipment to the cloud. Connect your loading dock equipment to the cloud and monitor your loading activity online with myQ Dock Management. When a truck backs into such a loading dock, the bumpers on the loading dock and the bumpers on the trailer come into contact but may leave a gap; also, the warehouse floor and the trailer deck may not be horizontally aligned. The only trailer-positioned restraint to release RIG Wedge without the trailer reversing. The tablet can then be tied to an extended range scanner when on the truck, or use an integrated medium-range scanner when walking. to a different service commitment. Dock equipment provides a variety of benefits: Dock equipment can be found in facilities in nearly every industry, including: Read more about how Dock Equipment is used in different industries and applications. Mechanical dock levelers are also able to be retrofitted with a hydraulic conversion kit, offering hydraulic operation if this becomes a consideration for your loading docks in the future. Visibility and communication are now critical during loading and unloading. The SH15 Blackline computer is a rugged vehicle mounted computer (VMC) as well as a fixed mount unit. Pentalift provides a wide variety of fixed, retractable, and inflatable seals and shelters. Parts: parts@pentalift.com, Pentalift Equipment Corporation No electricity required in the pit. For anyone who has ever unloaded a large commercial truck, you know how important truck restraints are to the process. [2][3], Typical warehouse exterior showing loading docks, An interior loading dock at the New Research Building, Harvard Medical School, A reinforced concrete loading dock under construction, Loading docks at Koivunen Oy company in Malmi, Helsinki, Finland. Above a couple of dock bumpers, a typically small, pull-chain style dock leveler sat below a manual overhead door with a basic enclosure. They provide an excellent barrier between the elements and your products, protecting them from both contaminants and extreme weather. California Residents: Proposition 65 WARNING Cookie Preference W194N11481 McCormick Dr.Germantown, WI 53022, Systems LLC - Premium Loading Dock Equipment. Of course, pedestrian safety is important inside and outside the facility. Strong, durable, and cost effective dock levelers. He describes a current product offering consisting of an appliance affixed inside the dock to look into the trailer, whether inbound or outbound. Loading docks are part of a facility's service or utility infrastructure, typically providing direct access to staging areas, storage rooms, and freight elevators. A facility in hot climates might choose this setup simply to conserve air conditioning. Capable of connecting online to myQ. Simply move the lifting lever 50 away from dock edge, and then return the lever to its original vertical position. Dock light a movable articulating light mounted inside the dock used to provide lighting inside the truck during loading operations. This is a part of the process that hasnt been monitored before, Wheeler says. Create an energy efficient environment and make your loading dock more functional, With a loading dock shelter, your loading dock and crew will be able to remain productive even during inclement weather conditions, while working in a safe environment, The Serco brand is known for providing highly engineered loading dock and warehouse solutions. Poweramp is a division of Systems LLC and subsidiary of The Chamberlain Group LLC. Automate the ins and outs with automated trailer loading systems (ALTS), Rite-Hite features various smart controls and sensors, Rite-Hites headquarters project goes green with solar panels on building, Miner Limited, an OnPoint Group company, acquires C&M Garage Doors, 2022 Warehouse Benchmarks: Improving Warehouse/Distribution Center Metrics, Material Handling Efficiency and Infrastructure Optimized with Lithium-ion Batteries, Stay ahead of your competition. In addition to helping to maintain the internal temperature of your building, theyll protect your products from outside contamination and enable you to save on your monthly energy bill. Instead, the housing of the restraint can incorporate visible and audible alarms to alert anyone who is outside with a shovel, broom or cigarette. Your needs will vary according to door size, variations in the size of trucks using your docks, and frequency of use.