MAKING A SMART INVESTMENT: WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN LOADING DOCK SEALS AND SHELTERS

For all intents and purposes, loading dock seals and shelters represent a fairly simple twofold concept: they keep the elements out to ensure a safe working environment for loading dock personnel and climate-controlled air in to maximize energy efficiency while maintaining the cold chain.

But make no mistake, the material handling industry would be vastly different without them. 

Without seals and shelters, every time a trailer is backed into a loading dock position, the perimeter around a trailer’s rear edges would be fully open to the elements.

Without seals and shelters, unwanted moisture (and lots of it) would constantly penetrate loading docks. From wind-driven rain or water accumulation on top of trailers to layers of snow during the winter months in colder climates, loading dock personnel and forklift operation would be exposed to a wide range of safety risks due to slick surfaces.

Without seals and shelters, climate-controlled and cold storage environments would suffer greatly costing companies a considerable sum of money due to energy loss.

The right seal or shelter for the right application

Fortunately, the right seal or shelter exists for practically any loading dock environment, including those serviced by rail sidings.

According to the Material Handling Institute’s Loading Dock Equipment Manufacturers (LODEM) Industry Group:

Selecting the optimal product for a particular application is a trade-off of compromised considerations, which will direct you to the best solution for the majority of the fleet. To properly size and select a specific product for a user receiving a high range of trailer variation, it may be important to consider the common 80% of the fleet. A trained professional will consider many factors when recommending a product such as:

·         Door sizes

·         Building structure

·         Material handling (needs and requirements)

·         Type of cargo handled at the loading dock

·         Truck type and size

Whether you’re new to the material handling industry, or a seasoned veteran who’s been tasked with making an informed decision about your company’s need for replacement or new loading dock seals or shelters, there’s no reason to worry.  Kelley, with our decades of experience in the industry, has you well covered.

Loading dock seals and shelters in and of itself is a huge topic. To keep things simple, we’ve narrowed down what we believe are the three most important considerations for any company to seriously consider when evaluating loading dock seals and shelters.

Dependable frame construction

Just like houses and commercial structures, which are only as good as their foundations, the same can apply to loading dock seal and shelter frames.

What's visible on the surface hides what you would expect to be a carefully engineered framework that's built to withstand heavy use and abuse day in and day out. However, not all seals and shelters are built to Kelley's stringent standards.

In contrast with conventional wood framing, notable seal and shelter features to consider include roll-formed galvanized steel boxed framing for long-lasting durability or a flexible frame that maintains a downward tendency due to the gravity-biased design, providing a tight curtain seal against the trailer, even when trucks are positioned off-center.

With conventional wood frame construction, the seal or shelter won’t yield under compression which may lead to building damage. Not only that, conventional wood frame construction is susceptible to rotting, splitting, cracking, and warping. In addition, staples and nails used as cover attachments will eventually rust and, over time, create weak spots in the wood frame.

High fabric wear resistance

Loading dock seals and shelters can be a huge investment depending on a facility’s size, so you can’t afford to risk substandard materials that will start to fail only after a few months of use.

The fabric used to cover loading dock seals and shelters must be highly durable against premature wear and also be able to withstand harsh exposure to the elements, such as extreme heat and cold, over time.