Dock Lifts make all types of trucks and trailers easy to access for loading dock workers. They provide a seamless transition between ground level and truck bed height, providing greater flexibility than ramps or recessed dock wells.
These solutions are available in pit- or pad-mounted models. Each type has a different vertical travel and overall height, depending on installation.
Zero-Low Dock Lifts allow loading from ground level without the need for a pit or building modification. They are ideal for leased warehouses where construction of a loading pit is costly or impractical.
They have a low profile design that allows the user to drive up and onto the platform directly from a trailer or from a forklift. They are powered by 110V AC / single phase motors for smaller lifts or 230-460V DC / three-phase for larger lifts. They are available with a variety of power sources including pneumatic (air) for spark proof or flammable environments, battery operated for remote locations, gasoline or diesel for large industrial lifting applications.
These systems come with a hinged dock ramp or dock plate to close the gap between trailer and lift for off-loading operations. They are equipped with guard rails and safety chains and a non-skid deck surface for safe operation. They are the ideal solution for reducing handling costs, cargo damage and employee injury associated with vertical transfer operations. They offer a fast return on investment typically in 6-12 months.
Recessed Dock Lifts
Dock lifts eliminate the need for a pit and provide ground level loading capability. They are ideal for facilities without standard dock configurations and mixed-use applications. Dock lifts support manual pallet jacks, two and four wheel carts and dollies as well as powered equipment like counterbalanced stackers and forklifts. They are available in seven models with capacities from 5,000 to 20,000 lbs, platform sizes up to 8’ x 12’ and a wide variety of installation configurations.
These hydraulic dock lifts are a cost-effective solution for facilities that require ground-level loading. They can be installed quickly with no digging required and are compatible with most any vehicle or trailer. The top-of-ground dock lift is the simplest to install and provides the most versatility in a loading environment. It requires no pit, can be driven on and off the truck with a forklift, and is compatible with most any vehicle or trailer that backs up to it. These dock scissor lifts are sized to accommodate most any forklift in your fleet and are safer than ramps or steep dock leveler ramps because they keep loads at the same height, making them easier for forklifts to travel up or down than traveling on a ramp.
The recessed dock lift has a shorter platform and scissors legs than the edge-of-dock (EOD) leveler. They can handle up to 5 tons and offer a wider range of applications than EODs, which are limited to a narrow range of trailer bed heights.
A standard recessed dock lift features a 16 in. lip plate that extends about 4 in. past the dock bumpers. For refrigerated trailers, you may need to order a longer lip plate. The lip extension is also dependent upon the maximum grade of operation for the forklift used in your facility. This can be determined by multiplying the forklift GVW by a factor of 2.5.
For safety, dock lifts have a velocity fuse fall safe feature that stops the ramp from lowering when the forklift is on it and the truck pulls away. They also have full-range toe guards that close off the sides of the ramp during lowering. They are compatible with a variety of vehicle restraints and can be interlocked to prevent forklifts from driving off the dock leveler while it is in the raised position.
Hydraulic Dock Lifts
Dock lifts are power-operated bridges that connect the loading dock to a truck trailer, allowing forklifts and pallet jacks to roll on and off safely. They automatically adjust to different truck heights, eliminating awkward transitions. They also reduce the need for manual dock plate hauling, which can lead to back injuries.
When selecting a dock lift, consider your facility’s needs, including truck height and loading volume. Choose the right model to ensure a safe and efficient process.
Unlike mechanical dock levelers, which require manual effort to set up and raise, hydraulic dock lifts are powered by an electric pump and cylinders. The dock operator pushes a button to operate the system, which raises the deck and extends the lip to meet the trailer’s floor. The leveler automatically returns to its stored position when it’s not in use.
These units are typically recessed into pits, and their decks are usually flush with the dock floor when in use. They’re ideal for facilities with high volumes of dock traffic and a heavy load capacity (see this chart for capacities).
To get the most out of your dock lift, maintain it regularly by following the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule. This includes changing the hydraulic fluid (typically non-foaming, high-quality lubricant) and inspecting the cylinders and lips for signs of wear.
Another option is to invest in a preventive maintenance program that includes both dock levelers and scissor lifts. This will improve equipment performance and help to avoid costly repair and service calls.
A rail dock lift is the ideal solution for facilities that depend on railroad transportation. These lifts accommodate the different height requirements between railway cars and docks, ensuring a smooth transfer of goods. They’re also designed to resist the forces of an incoming train, so they’re an excellent choice for high-traffic rail operations.
To maximize efficiency, select a dock lift with the highest GVW capacity possible for your application. GVW stands for gross vehicle weight, which is the maximum weight of both the material handling equipment and the load. This metric is used to calculate a lift’s frame and lip assembly strength, as well as its overall capacity.
Rail Lifts
If a facility has a dock or truck well that is too high or low for conventional dock levelers, rail lifts bridge the gap between ground level and the dock, optimizing material handling. The rail lift is also a cost-efficient alternative to space-consuming truck well recesses and concrete ramps, and it can accommodate a wider variety of truck types than dock levelers.
The rail lifts are available in three series: the Medium-Duty M-Series, Heavy-Duty H-Series, and SM-Series (for surface mounting). Each model can be configured as pit-mounted or pad-mounted for indoor or outdoor use. All models allow operators to safely move loads from truck bed to grade level and handle unstable loads, reducing the risk of injury to employees. They are also more versatile than recessed dock wells and loading ramps and can be used with trucks of all vendors.
A rail lift works well in conjunction with a dock door, allowing a fork truck to reach load levels that would be too high or low for traditional loading docks. In addition, the dock lift can be relocated within a facility as its needs change, so it is a flexible and cost-efficient solution to the problems of high or low truck wells.
Unlike the small platforms on truck tailgate lifts, the large platform of a dock lift can accommodate multiple people and many forklifts at once, improving productivity. Loading dock lifts also eliminate the need to hand-move goods from a trailer to the dock or to skate conveyor, making them safer and more efficient than manual methods.
In addition, the dock lift is easy to maintain and requires significantly less maintenance than a dock leveler or recessed dock well with a concrete ramp. In fact, two workers can unload a 53 foot trailer with a dock lift in half the time it takes them to do the same job with skate conveyor using manual lifting and rolling.
For those who have waterfront property, a dock lift is one of the best ways to keep their watercraft safe and secure between uses. Waterfront boat lifts can be installed on the shore or in a marina, and they are also a great choice for boat owners who want to keep their watercraft out of the water when it is not being used.