Dock Leveller
In simple words, a dock leveler is a piece of steel that forms a bridge between the warehouse building and the bed of the truck. Dock levelers are important because your loading dock may not match the height of each truck entering your dock zone. The opening left between the truck of delivery and your warehouse dock creates an unsafe situation for workers unloading or loading cargo.
While
deciding the best dock leveler suitable, it is significant to have a thorough
understanding of your loading dock's needs and operating practices. Some
factors should be considered:
·
The
amount at which your loading dock is used per day;
·
The
type of handling equipment required to move the cargo load to your warehouse,
and;
·
The
average size of the product is loaded.
Different
Operating Styles of Dock Levelers - All dock levelers operate using one of
three systems: mechanical, hydraulic and air.
Hydraulic
dock levelers are great for high volume, heavy traffic dock zone situations.
The hydraulic cylinders are kept engaged which makes hydraulic dock levelers
less probable to experience mechanical breakdown. While they are the most
expensive option, hydraulic levelers easily compensate for this by being safer
and easier to use than their counterparts.
These
Mechanical dock levelers are tough, easy to use and provide the uppermost loading
capacity. Mechanical levelers use a series of springs and levers to raise the
loading platform and extend the rear lip of the delivery truck as well as are
manually operated by a chain system. Dock Leveller
Air
dock levelers inflate an airbag using a push-button system that raises and
lowers the loading platform. Air-powered levelers have fewer components and
eliminate the risk of hydraulic fluid leakage, but they also contain many
moving parts—leaving them susceptible to breakage that requires extensive
maintenance service. Airbags also require regular cleaning and have the risk of
being punctured by debris, which can make them a high safety risk for load dock
operations.
Since
these dock levelers do not require a power source and are the least expensive
of the levelers, they are the best option for those on a budget. However,
operating mechanical dock levelers is a slow process and requires an extensive
amount of maintenance. Regular adjustments must be made to keep the system shut
down once it's not in use – and the cost of long-term maintenance is just
another big expense for an already tight warehouse budget.
Vertical
Storage Dock Levelers are controlled by hydraulic systems and are built for a
temperature controlled environment. When stored in an erect position this type
of dock leveler is capable to form a complete seal to the docking door, which
helps prevent theft and keeps out pests, dust and other debris. The Central Air
Dock Leveler is powered by an air-powered, push-button application system that
uses existing air or air from a compressor to raise and lower the loading
platform with a cylindrical airbag. It is environmentally friendly without the
need for a power source and is perfect for wash down applications or wet
environments. Dock Leveller
Comments
Post a Comment