Loading bays continue to evolve as the twin demands of improving safety and saving energy lead to more complete loading bay solutions. To achieve these twin goals, loading bays have become much more integrated, with doors, dock levellers and traffic management systems linked together.
For new warehouse developments sustainability is a highly important consideration, so there is also a need to create more flexible and adaptable loading bay designs, to maximise longevity while meeting changing business needs.
As a one-stop-shop for all loading bay equipment Hörmann has been at the fore-front of new developments, with products and design ideas continuing to improve loading bay efficiency.
For example, the simple design that allows an insulated door to close in front of the dock leveller, to prevent it acting as a thermal bridge, has now become a standard on many new builds. Work with Prologis has further developed this design with the use of longer dock levellers to increase the range of vehicle heights that can be accommodated.
The Hörmann Energy Saving compass has proved popular with architects, designers and operators. This free, modular planning tool not only examines all the key aspects of energy saving that can be effected by industrial door systems and loading technology solutions but also calculates the payback time for chosen options.
These initiatives are backed up with a continual improvement approach which has led to a number of incremental improvements. The adoption of LED dock lights which use less energy, also improve the spread of light in the back of a trailer being loaded or unloaded improving safety. For Asda Hörmann now incorporate a PIR sensor so these lights are only on when needed. LED traffic lights improve safety too, as an array of lights is unlikely to fail as a single bulb can and the use of arrow shaped lighting ensures that drivers of left hand drive vehicles, in particular, are not confused when on a busy loading bay.
The new HFB fork lift barrier is the latest loading bay safety innovation from Hörmann that adds to fully integrated loading bay. Available with new dock levellers, the barrier comprises solid bolts that protrude from the platform when the leveller is in the parked position. Only when the leveller is activated do the hydraulically operated bolts recess.
The barrier not only stops lift trucks from driving through an open door, before a vehicle is in position and the leveller properly engaged, but also prevents accidental collision damage to the closed door.
The new device is linked to the leveller through the integrated control panel. As such it can be incorporated into the Hörmann Dock Control, a comprehensive safety control system for loading bays. This system links the loading door and dock leveller controls to proximity sensors and warning traffic light systems.
With Dock Control, a proximity sensor, embedded in the dock buffer, guides a vehicle onto a loading bay via the external traffic light system. Once on the bay, a wheel chock, also with integrated sensor, needs to be correctly positioned before the loading bay controls will operate. Only when a truck is docked securely on the bay can the dock leveller be operated, releasing the HFB fork truck barrier.
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