The Hörmann HIB-Pro intelligent dock buffer is the latest safety option that can be included as part of Hörmann’s comprehensive dock control system.
An integral sensor links the buffer to the door control and to the external traffic lights. A driver reversing on to a bay will see the green light to approach, an amber light as the vehicle gets close to the buffer and a red light on contact. More than a reversing guide, the system allows a vehicle to dock before the external door can be opened. This safety feature also ensures that the green light for a vehicle to leave a bay is only given once the external door is closed. There is also the added benefit that heat loss is minimised by ensuring the external doors are closed until loading or unloading commences.
If higher levels of security and thermal integrity are required this design can be taken a step further with the Hörmann DOBO system, that allows a vehicle to dock on the bay without needing to open its rear doors.
As part of the drive to improve loading bay safety, these devices add incremental improvements. Other recent options from Hörmann include directional traffic lights and a driver’s light guide. Directional arrow traffic lights make it clear to drivers of both left and right hand drive vehicles which lights are meant for them, while the LED light guide helps drivers to position their vehicle correctly on a bay, particularly when there is limited visibility, at night or in poor weather for example. These simple devices are a part of the whole encompassing approach that Hörmann applies to loading bay safety.
The addition of these new devices to the extensive range of loading bay equipment, that Hörmann develops and manufactures, is driven by a desire to meet the changing needs of the logistics industry. Industrial doors and loading bays have benefitted from numerous technical advances, developed in response to the growing demand for improved environmental and operational performance.
Alongside these requirements, accident prevention is now at the forefront of design, especially as new technologies bring with them different safety considerations. Fast action doors and additional partitions are now a common feature of many warehouses, as businesses look to reduce thermal losses and better control temperatures in both standard and refrigerated buildings. Additional and potentially fast-moving parts do, however, pose new risks that must be addressed.
Health and safety planning has consequently become a central part of warehouse and loading bay design. As with other elements, safety needs to be carefully considered and a building’s operational requirements (and any resulting risks) should be thoroughly assessed, and if possible designed-out.
The introduction of these additional safety features and devices by Hörmann is part of the process of continual improvement. This approach is driven by the needs of the customer and, as such, depends on good communication and an in-depth understanding of the specific needs of both individual sites and the overall operational needs of a business.
By working onsite, Hörmann’s projects teams have first hand knowledge of the exact needs of their customers. Consequently they are perfectly positioned to offer the right advice on the options available to improve both safety and operational efficiency.
Whether it is a new development or a refurbishment project, early consultation with Hörmann’s experts could help to define your plans and ensure that the latest thinking is incorporated into your investment, to maximise both value and safety.
Hörmann Group
Tel: 01530 516888
Email: info@hormann.co.uk
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