The modern day distribution centre often operates 24 hours a day and accommodates a wide variety of commercial vehicles and all building situations. Specifically in the loading bay area, efficiency is critical if a business is going to successfully increase its delivery service capacity. Safety is also paramount and operators are looking for safety solutions which can prevent premature departure of the vehicle from the loading bay and vehicle creep, among other challenges. Owners want to keep their operations running, warehouse personnel safe and vehicles, buildings and merchandise undamaged and secure.
This article was first published in the June 15th 2021 issue of Warehouse & Logistics News, subscribe to the magazine by clicking here.
Congratulations to EFAFLEX, which has designed an array of high-speed industrial doors, including interior and exterior doors, using opening mechanisms that either spiral, fold, or roll up. The turbo spiral door is particularly suited to the loading bay area. Opening at speeds of up to 3 metres per second and capable of up to 200,000 operating cycles per year, it features crystal clear acrylic glass laths for increased visibility and user safety.
Stertil Dock Products has introduced the COMBILOK G2 automatic vehicle restraint system. This compactly designed new generation automatic vehicle restrain system allows for extra shunting space and vehicle manoeuvrability at the loading bay. The COMBILOK G2 safely restrains any commercial vehicle preventing both premature departure of the vehicle from the loading bay dock as well as vehicle creep.
Rite-Hite’s Dok-Guardian safety barrier helps prevent fork trucks, pallet jacks and pedestrians from falling off a loading dock. It helps protect the dangerous 4-foot drop off at the loading dock that can result in serious injuries that are sometimes fatal. Designed to stop up to 30,000 lbs, the barrier’s 1120 mm high bright red PVC-coated fiberglass mesh curtain with three bright yellow heavy-duty restraint straps serves as a highly visible warning sign.
Well done to Hörmann UK, which has launched a new high speed industrial sectional door, the Series 60, designed and developed to provide the Hörmann guarantee of quality construction, high security, and easy installation. When fitted with the new WA 500 FU operator, the Series 60 can achieve an impressive door opening speed of up to 1 m/s making it the fastest sectional door on the market. Not only does the Series 60 door offer an exceptional opening speed, but optimised track radii and enlarged rollers result in up to 5 dB(A) quieter door operation together with improved stability, leading to low wear and smoother door travel.
Warehouse operators want the loading bay to keep busy. It is however a high-risk environment and operators need sufficient space to allow for the constant interaction between employees, trucks and forklifts. With efficient spatial planning, operators can establish a strong safety culture while minimising bottlenecks and maximising productivity.
George Simpson
Features Editor
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