A well planned and maintained dock area promotes productivity, safety and energy efficiency.

Unfortunately the dock area of your facility is probably given low priority when it comes to the operation of the company as a whole. Being the "back end" of the operation does not necessarily mean that it should be thought of last. With the current trend in "Just in Time" inventory, the dock loading area's effectiveness has become increasingly important now more than ever. Special attention needs to be paid specifically to this part of a facility.

An evaluation of the existing loading dock and receiving areas should be made with three major considerations in mind--Safety, Productivity and Energy Efficiency. A well planned dock area will benefit your company and your employees by making it a better environment in which to work. The ultimate goals for your loading dock area should be high productivity, energy control and zero accidents.

Improperly applied equipment can cause problems. For example, if a dock seal (the foam pad around a dock door opening) is misapplied, it can tear out quickly, leaving large gaps which can allow rain or snow to enter the facility. This can cause unsafe conditions for personnel, slow dock procedures and create the possibility for accidents, not to mention the loss of the controlled temperature within the facility. All of these factors reflect on the companies bottom line in regard to productivity and profits.

For evaluation purposes the dock area can be broken down into basic areas:

1. Approach to dock--The ideal approach to the loading dock area would be level, but unfortunately this is not always possible due to the building's location. When the driveway slopes down and away from the loading dock area, this is called "incline to dock" and poses a problem for anchoring the docked trailer securely so as to prevent drifting or "trailer creep." Wheel chocks or truck restraints should be used in this situation to eliminate any movement of the trailer.

"Decline to dock" is when the driveway slopes down towards the loading dock area and presents a different type of problem. When the trailer is backing into the loading dock area and the trailer is not square to the building face, it can hit the building if the proper precautions are not met. Dock bumpers and dock seals when properly applied will help to protect the building from accidental impact from the docking truck and create and efficient and environmentally safe work area. In situations where the decline to dock is too steep, a dock shelter should be specified.

A dock shelter is a rigid frame enclosure that projects from the wall and is wide enough so that trucks actually pull into the unit causing the face panels to wrap around the sides and top of the truck. A dock shelter is also desired when servicing a wide variety of truck heights.

Other considerations when evaluating the approach to the dock area is sufficient bumper projection, proper drainage and ease of snow removal, guide lines and the ample apron space for the docking trucks to maneuver.

2. Dock platform--Dock heights all vary in height from the ground as does the height of truck beds. Dock levelers bridge the gap created by these shortcomings. Dock levelers are actually installed into the dock platform called a pit. The width, length and weight capacity of the dock lever is determined by the types of trucks that are being serviced, type of material handling equipment to be used and weight of total loads that are to be transported over the leveler.

An Edge-of-Dock mount leveler is mounted on the exterior outer ledge of the dock platform and provides operating speed and efficiency at the loading docks where the dock height is within 2 to 3" of the truck height. Both the dock leveler and edge-of-dock are available with manual or hydraulic and automatic features. There are a variety of different products available for the dock platform to make it a safer environment, such as dock lights and vehicle restraints. Light communication systems are available that tell the truck driver if the lift truck's loading.

A wide assortment of doors are available for various applications at the dock door opening. High speed rollup doors with a variety of different activations are a consideration for high traffic areas. This style of door conserves energy and is very effective in keeping the flow of goods moving. In the warmer months of the year, open dock doors can create problems. Nylon mesh insect barriers that slide or roll-up are options that control air borne contaminates, insects and birds from entering the building, while maintaining a clean, safe working environment.

There are many aspects to the dock loading area of a building that need to be evaluated and maintained in order for it to be smooth running, and efficient. A neglected dock area will create problems and ultimately be a drain on the company profits. A smooth running dock operation will be a safe, comfortable and productive area for the employees to work.

With our 20 years experience in the Industrial Door & Dock Equipment business, Flexion, Inc. has supplied quality products to the Food Processing Industry.

Michael L. Boyle President Flexion, Inc.