New dock products stress flexibility
Dock leveler with hydraulically adjustable side "bumpers" (arrows) which are "up" in inset photo, "down" in larger photo, permits easier access to wider loads.;Automatic, above-ground wheel chock secures truck by acting against a rear wheel.;Combined dock lift/leveler offers dual functionality in a single unit.
By Tom Feare -- Modern Materials Handling, 1/1/1998
DALLAS-Serco has again demonstrated that there's still room for innovation in dock equipment. At a recent Editors Day held here, top company execs gave business publication writers their first look at a range of new products.Three of the new products are designed to improve productivity and safety. But equally important are their advantages to end users of greater flexibility and versatility at the dock.
Here's the point: There's a variety of trucks, tractor-trailer rigs, and other vehicles pulling up at docks these days. And so not just one type of equipment will perform the vital functions of either (1) creating a safe "bridge" from the dock to the truck bed, or (2) securing the vehicle and preventing a premature departure of the truck.
Serco's designs for a new dock leveler, vehicle restraint, and leveler/lift in each case extend functionality beyond that of more conventional equipment.
Versatile dock leveler.
The design of this new hydraulic leveler (Versa-Dock XL) enables a single dock position so equipped to service conventional trailers along with high cube, "low-boy" trailers with wide rack loads. Dock operations are far easier for the wider loads using this new unit than operating with a more conventional, 7-ft-wide leveler, and far less expensive than investing in a truck leveler.
Through its unique design, the unit permits 9-ft-wide access by forklift in below-dock receiving or shipping where a truck or trailer contains 8-ft-wide custom racks. The trend to maxing out loads across the trailer's width is gaining in certain industries, notably autos.
Here's what makes wider forklift access possible: the unit has, on both sides of a standard, 7-ft-wide hydraulic leveler, 12-in.-wide hydraulically-powered, vertically-adjustable side "bumpers."
To this editor's eyes, the "bumpers" are better described as horizontal, foot-wide strips of powered leveler decking. In any event, the bumpers can move up or down in tandem with or independently of the central leveler deck. When in the "down" position, the pit wall won't obstruct the truck bed opening for forklift access.
Automatic, above-ground wheel chock.
After a sensing roller moves on the pavement and contacts a rear wheel, it activates the chocking "blade" of this truck/trailer restraint (Safety-Chock), which applies a 32,000-lb pullout force against a wheel until it's safe to drive away. There's no "locking" onto an ICC-bar, which may be missing or damaged. And the chock works when hy-draulic lift gates or special bumper configurations prevent using the more customary ICC-bar restraint.
The chock will secure all standard trailers, pup trailers, "low boys," and liftgate trucks-no matter what the axle placement or landing gear position, Serco says. Designed as a low-maintenance, above-ground unit, this restraint has a galvanized steel, chocking mechanism riding on a 4-in.-high steel rail mounted to the driveway. The rail is positioned on the truck driver's "blind," or truck right side, to help guide the driver when reversing and limit shelter damage. A hydraulic power-pack installed inside the dock building is away from inclement weather and offers easy access for maintenance.
Combined leveler/lift.
This device (Level-Lift) pairs a dock scissor lift's versatility with a dock leveler's speed and efficiency all in one unit. Over an operating range of 59 in., the unit can load/un-load virtually any truck, from the driveway grade to the height of the dock. And, unlike simple scissor lifts, this unit has powered-in, powered-out lip control for fast cycling time and the safety of a hydraulic leveler.
This device eliminates the need to dedicate a dock position to a concrete or portable ramp, or to a simple scissor lift.
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