Loading Dock Equipment & Doors

Maintenance of Your Dock Doors & Equipment is Important for Stable Operations

If your business is in the warehousing, manufacturing, logistics, agriculture segment or anything in between, the lifeblood of your daily productivity comes through your loading docks and doors. Our specialized knowledge and well-honed skills enable us to resolve any issue quickly and efficiently. 

Trust Us for Your Loading Dock Installation Needs

Properly maintained and serviced dock equipment and dock doors are essential for:

• Safety of employees, truck drivers, equipment, products, and raw materials.
• Meeting the demands of your customers with the efficient flow of critical products and materials in and out of your business.
• Energy efficiency with more consistently maintained interior temperatures with fast moving doors and door seals, de-stratified air by the use of high-volume low speed fans.
• Peace of mind that your dock area won’t be the bottleneck of your operations.

Your docks are critical traffic pathways that affect:

• Facility access & security
• Employee safety & comfort
• Safety of equipment, product, and raw materials
• Efficiency & productivity
• Regulatory compliance
• Energy conservation
• Convenience
• Aesthetics and brand consistency, and
• Your ability to deliver on your scheduling promises.

When easily avoidable mechanical issues cause your dock equipment or dock doors to malfunction, your productivity grinds to a halt. Poorly maintained doors and dock equipment put safety and productivity in jeopardy.

Yet due to their constant use and familiarity, loading dock and door equipment is often neglected, just waiting shut down your operations at the worst possible moment.

As a leader in material handling equipment sales, preventative maintenance, parts, and repairs, Black Equipment understands that our customers want a single source for all their fleet related issues.  This not only includes your fleet equipment but also your racking, and the critical equipment and doors in your dock area.

BLACK EQUIPMENT’S LOADING DOCK PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Loading Dock Products

Black Equipment is proud of its wide variety of dock door & dock equipment solutions from our partnerships with industry-leading vendors like: Wayne Dalton Doors, NUCOR Company’s C.H.I.’s industrial overhead doors, Pioneer Dock Equipment, and NOVA Technology’s loading dock equipment safety and equipment solutions.

Loading Dock Services

Black Equipment covers your loading dock needs from beginning to end, including ongoing preventative maintenance, repairs, and additional design and installations. Here are some of the services we provide our fleet customers:

Dock Area Audits

• Condition
• Needs
• Safety, and
• Regulatory Compliance

Planning, Design, and Permitting

• Concrete Docks and Leveler Pits
• Levelers
• Electric for Power & Controls wiring of doors, equipment, and accessories
• Loading Dock Doors (function, styling, consistency/branding)
• Dock Seals & Shelters
• Dock Accessories
• Dock area OSHA Compliance

Construction Preparation

• Excavation
• Concrete Forming
• Utility Research and Placement
• Establishing Safety ‘No-Go’ Zones for Construction

Construction

• Electrical Power & Control Wiring Installation
• Concrete Installation & Finishing (including embedded anchors, steel edge protection, equipment mountings, power & controls wiring conduits, etc.)
• Dock Equipment, Electrical & Controls Wiring, Doors, Seals & Shelters, and Accessory Installation

Post-Construction

• Controls & Mechanical Testing & Training
• Customized Preventative Maintenance Plans
• Parts and Repairs of New or Existing Loading Dock Equipment, Doors, Controls, and Accessories
• 24hr. Emergency Service
• Trained crews equipped with the experience, parts, and tools to safely repair your dock doors and equipment.

LOADING DOCK DOORS AND EQUIPMENT CATEGORIES

For an area that can look stark and unimpressive, there are many components that go into a robust industrial dock area. Here are some of the key categories to be aware of when adding additional dock space or when considering the need for a preventative maintenance program.

LOADING DOCK DOORS

Black Equipment has a partner relationship with various loading dock door manufacturers including Wayne Dalton Door and NUCOR.

Sectional Doors

These doors are composed of several horizontal panels connected by hinges that allow the door to bend as it rises into the ceiling space of the loading dock area.

Tough, reliable, and thermally-efficient, sectional doors are composed of panel sections and operate on an overhead track, often insulated for energy efficiency.

• Customizable Aesthetics: Options for customization in terms of size, color, window placements, insulation levels, and options for adding branding graphics.
• Energy Efficiency Options: Can be well-insulated to help reduce energy costs 

Rolling Doors

Service rolling doors are made up of interlocking metal slats that coil around a drum above the door opening. They’re designed for durability and security. They’re suitable for facilities with frequent loading and unloading and known for their speed, security, durability, and space-saving design.

• Durable: Made of sturdy materials like steel.
• Security: Often security-enhanced to be difficult for intruders to breach.
•  Space Efficient: They open vertically into a barrel at the top of the door which is beneficial for installing additional light around the dock and wasting ceiling space.
• Low Maintenance: These doors require little maintenance. They’re tough and resistant to dents and cracks with the potential to last up to 30 years.

High Speed Doors

High-speed doors are designed for rapid opening and closing, which can enhance workflow efficiency and energy conservation. They often include features like advanced safety sensors and heavy-duty materials for both interior and exterior applications. They can be made of various materials like steel, aluminum, and rubber.

• Increased Productivity: Their rapid opening and closing speeds minimize downtime and delays, for a greater traffic flow capacity.
• Energy Savings: When equipped with  insulating materials, their high-speed helps maintain consistent indoor temperatures, reducing energy costs.
•  Improved Safety and Cleanliness: Fast operation reduces the time for contaminants to enter, making them well-suited for environments that require higher levels of hygiene.
• Suitable for: Industries like logistics and manufacturing where speed and efficiency are critical.

Fire Doors

Rolling Doors and High-Speed Doors are often configured as Fire Doors. 

High Cycle Doors

These doors are designed for applications requiring a high number of open and close cycles. They’re built with durable components such as springs and rollers designed for longevity in applications with frequent usage.

DOCK LEVELERS

Pit Levelers

Integrated and recessed into the dock floor, allowing the leveler to be tucked inside the recess when not used. The pit conceals the leveler mechanism which transitions between the dock and varying truck heights.

Mechanical Dock Levelers

These are manually operated and require physical effort to position the leveler on the trailer bed. They’re very cost-effective but require more maintenance. They typically rely on a spring or torsion mechanism to popup the leveler from the pit and simultaneously kick out the hinged section that will lie on the trailer bed. When this section is kicked out, a restraining mechanism holds the hinged section out so a person can ‘walk-down’ the entire leveler mechanism as it flattens itself out across the trailer bed.

Hydraulic Dock Levelers

These types of levelers are deployed by an electrical control box. A dock attendant pushes a control button which activates the dock leveler’s hydraulic system to smoothly lift, open and move the leveler components into place on the trailer bed. When the truck is ready to leave, the attendant pushes a button and the leveler returns hydraulically to its original position, tucked away in the pit.

• Intuitive control panels
• Durable hydraulics and construction
• Operate easily in diverse climatic ranges

Pneumatic Dock Levelers

Pneumatic dock levelers operate similarly to hydraulic levelers in general but rely on an air bellows that’s inflated by a blower motor. It’s a high-volume, low pressure air system and allows for smooth movement similar to hydraulic systems.

Edge of Dock Levelers

These narrow levelers are mounted at the dock edge and ideal for docks with minimal height difference between the dock and the truck bed. These are best suited for facilities with low-volume material handling. They’re available in mechanical torsion spring assist and hydraulic configurations.

DOCK LIFTS (Truck Scissor Dock)

Where an appropriate dock is not available, these lifts take the load from ground level and raise it nearly 5ft. to the level of the truck bed where the load can be transferred. It obviously works in reverse for deliveries. Loads are kept level during loading and unloading as opposed to moving up steep ramps.

• Versatile for serving varied fleets
• 5,000 lb. up to 16,000 lb. units available
• Control Panel and Power Unit are pre-wired
• Easy to service
• Push-button control with pendant
• Adjustable lowering time
• Excess flow protection to slow decent should a hydraulic line rupture
• Options like:
  • NEMA 4 enclosures
  • Biodegradable hydraulic fluid (environment friendly)
  • Various platform sizes from 6ft. x 8ft. to 8ft. x 12ft.
  • Variable load capacities
  • Mechanical wheel chock for fork truck while elevated
  • Accordion skirting or roller shade
  • Warning bell with flashing light

TRUCK RESTRAINTS

Truck restraints secure trucks to the dock during loading and unloading. This promotes safety by preventing accidents caused by premature trailer departure or trailer creep while forklift operators are loading and unloading.

There are various models of truck restraints ranging from manually-operated to fully-automated types that adapt to a wide variety of truck heights and configurations.

Operational Efficiency

By offering push-button engagement & release convenience and a diverse range of communication methods from visual light signals and signage to auditory alerts, efficiency is improved by reducing the time needed to secure trailers.

Universal compatibility with various trailer heights and sizes, including those with lift gates, reduces the need for multiple types of equipment – streamlining dock operations.

Reliability and Durability

Truck restraints must endure the harsh outdoor elements and temperature swings as well as tough usage. It only makes sense that our manufacturer partners have designed their truck restraints to handle industrial environments and harsh weather, thereby reducing the need for frequent maintenance or repair.

DOCK COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

Docks are busy places with people working toward different goals. To help ensure everyone operates safely around the loading dock area, it’s critical that important information is communicated in a highly visible, clear easy to understand manner.

Our vendors not only provide clear and prominent communication systems, but they also integrate those systems to work seamlessly with their vehicle restraint systems.

They further offer Inside/Outside Communication that features LED lights and signs to facilitate clear immediate communication about docking status to enhance dock worker and truck driver safety.

DOCK SEALS and SHELTERS

Dock seals and shelters protect dock personnel from the elements, help keep indoor temperatures stable, and reduce external dust and contaminants. They are designed to cater to different door openings and loading dock requirements.

Foam Pad Dock Seal

These seals feature foam-filled head and side pads. They provide a tight, energy efficient seal.

The structure uses pressure-treated kiln-dried wood. Wear pleats, tapered units, scuff guards, metal hoods, and bottom door flaps are optional.

Rigid Frame Dock Shelter

These are intended for larger openings, up to around 12ft. X 12ft., and offer a sturdier solution.

Gap Sealer Dock Shelter

These are also for larger door sizes but are engineered for exceptional sealing.

DOCK SAFETY ACCESSORIES

Bumpers and Wheel Chocks

These simple items are some of the most important safety aids.

Chocks keep trucks from shifting when lift trucks move in and out of the trailers.

Laminated bumpers protect the dock wall when the trailer backs up to the dock by absorbing 80% or more of the impact force. This helps protect the concrete around the leveler pit from damage.

Protection Guards

• Door track guards to prevent downtime from lift truck or skid damage
• Guard rails to protect equipment and personnel
• Bollards for indoor and outdoor protection of infrastructure and pedestrian zones
• Down spout protectors
• Post protectors
• Racking guards
• Dock Safety Gates for personnel and equipment near open dock doors or other dangerous areas
• Safety barrier gates

HVLS FANS – (High-Volume Low-Speed)

Air movement is key to worker comfort and helps reduce A/C costs. Because of their energy savings, High Volume Low Speed fans are often eligible for energy credits.

OTHER LOADING DOCK AREA ACCESSORIES

• Traffic Lights to warn dock workers when to stay out of the trailer and tell truck drivers when it’s safe to move the vehicle.
  • LED for Energy Savings
• Caution Signs to accompany loading dock traffic lights.
• Loading Dock Guide Lights for covered dock areas – so truck drivers can see darker dock areas.
  • Super Bright LED for energy savings.
• Portable Dock Boards for Truck and Rail.
• Steel Yard Ramps
• Doorway Air Curtains
• Plastic Strip Doors for cleaner & more efficient work environment
• Security Gates
• No-Pest Ventilated Doors

ADVANTAGES of BLACK’s PROFESSIONAL DOCK & DOOR INSTALLATION, PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE, and REPAIR SERVICES

EXPERTISE

We have the knowledge and experience to work with you to assess and design the most suitable docks and doors for your particular operational needs. Our crews are trained, tooled, and equipped with checklists to ensure all of your dock assets are regularly evaluated and maintained. Our crew’s experience and training help keep you up and running faster, safer, and more reliably while letting you focus on serving the demands of your customers.

PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE

Regularly scheduled checks and maintenance allow us to detect early signs of wear, tear, and minor damage that can quickly lead to unexpected downtime. By staying ahead of mechanical and other issues, we help extend the lifespan of your equipment while reducing larger impacts to your shipping and receiving productivity.

SPEEDY REPAIRS

When unexpected issues or damage occur, Black’s professional dock and door service can dispatch our parts-equipped service trucks to your facility for quick repairs that minimize your operational disruptions.

SAFETY COMPLIANCE

Our professional crews help ensure that installations, installed equipment, and maintenance practices comply with safety regulations, which helps reduce the risk of accidents and legal liabilities.

ENERGY SAVINGS

Dock seals and doors slowly degrade and lose their ability to help you maintain climate control within your facility. Preventative maintenance catches these breaches early to prevent unnecessary energy costs.

PRODUCTIVITY and EFFICIENCY

All of these services work together to keep your people safe and your operations productive. There are a surprisingly large number of dock assets to monitor and maintenance. Regular checks and maintenance are the only way to help prevent them from negatively impacting your business and potentially your reputation

Contact Black Service today to speak with someone who can answer your questions about our Docks and Doors Service.