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An elevating dock from Equipment World can turn almost any ground level area into a safe, efficient and functional loading dock.  A tremendous return on investment, an elevating dock from Equipment World can save your company time and reduce the potential for injuries and strains to workers.

A simple and flexible means of accommodating vehicle height variations is the installation of a hydraulic dock lift. Elevating docks can be built in virtually any size and capacity required for the application. They provide the ability to service trucks at any height and can also offer access to ground level for fork trucks. Pit mounted dock lifts are capable of height adjustments between 0" and 60". Their only disadvantage is that they must cycle up and down every trip into and out of the trailer. Greater efficiency can be achieved by utilizing a dock lift wide enough to allow side-by-side pallet loading. It is common for a dock lift to be set into a three-sided pit, recessed into the dock wall. It can also be mounted at the face of the dock, but may be an unwanted obstruction.  Dock lifts are also available in a low-profile design to facilitate ground to truck loading/unloading without the necessity of a pit. This is particularly beneficial when dealing with a hand pallet truck and low volume product movement. When incorporating a dock lift into the overall dock design, it is important to choose a unit that will offer the greatest flexibility for the loading operations. Efficiency should always be one of the most considered factors. Dock lifts must be raised and lowered for each product transfer from dock to trailer; consequently they are less efficient than dock levelers.

Blue Giant: LoMaster ED-Series Stationary Model

The LoMaster ED-Series Stationary Dock Lifts from Blue Giant provides a safe and efficient way to handle endless materials handling applications at grocery stores, schools, hospitals, postal services and distribution centers - anywhere a low-profile workhorse is required. Typically, a dock lift will cost 1/3 the price of a fork lift truck and will have a quick and favorable payback when compared to the long-term cost associated with operating a forklift and manually loading/off-loading a trailer. A LoMaster ED Series Dock Lift will also greatly reduce handling costs, cargo damage and employee injury common to vertical transfer operations. Blue Giant LoMaster Series Dock Lifts are available in many sizes with standard capacities up to 20,000lb (9,091kg). No Hidden hook-up costs. User ready. Before choosing, compare the benefits of Blue Giant's standard design features Blue Giant LoMaster ED Series Dock Lifts can be mounted in a pit or a concrete pad. Standard deck sizes to 96" wide x 144" long

• Capacities to 20,000lbs
• Safety electric trip bars
• Power packs ranging from 1 hp to 10 hp
• Mechanical "pop up" wheel chocks optional
• Hydraulically actuated lips optional

Blue Giant: LoMaster S-Series Semi-Portable Model

In the event you find the cost of forming a concrete pit/pad expensive, an economical solution is a LoMaster S Series Semi-Portable Dock Lift. The unit is installed at the dock face and mounted on locating cradles and wear plates. With its extremely low profile, the LoMaster S Series provides added versatility for ground level loading/unloading operations. The same high quality contruction features fount in the stationary models are incorporated into tall LoMaster S Series lift. Each lift cytlinder is encased in a weather-resistant, all steel housing. Precision velocity fuses on each hydraulic cylinder eliminates platform free-fall. All hard chromed pivot points are fitted with lifetime-lubricated bearings or Teflon coated bronze bushings. Indicator sensor bars and high visibility striping provide four sided toe protection. Sturdy steel handrails with 4" (107 mm) kick plate and barrier chains ar both ends provide added operator safety. An 18" (457 mm) long lip with lifting chain on the rolling end is standard. Minimal maintenance and product longevity - put a LoMaster S Series to work at your facility. Standard deck sizes 84" wide x 120" long

• Capacities to 6,000lbs
• Power packs ranging from 1 hp to 7.5 hp
• Lips & handrails located to suit
• Safety electric trip bars
• Portable dolly
• Locating cradles and wear plates

Consider these factors when selecting an elevating dock:

Deck size. 
- It is essential to ensure there is sufficient room on the deck to accommodate vehicle/product turning radius and overall length.
- Determine the required radius needed to maneuver the loading vehicle when loading/unloading product. This should be the basis for selecting deck size.
- Side-by-side pallet loading onto the dock lift will increase the efficiency of the operation. Two pallet loads are placed onto the deck and then positioned for loading or unloading.
- One trip can achieve what would otherwise take two. However, the deck must be wide and long enough to accommodate this type of loading.

Common deck sizes range from 72" wide x 96" long to 96" wide x 144" long. Larger and smaller sizes are available. Loading Vehicle Turing Radius A vehicle with loads that require a 75 turning radius will need an 84 wide deck size to allow access without damage to equipment and product. Side-by-Side Pallet Loading A 96 wide deck will accommodate most side-by-side pallet loading operations.

Lifting Capacity.
- Capacity selection for dock lifts is straightforward, but should be given careful consideration. Dock lifts are not subject to dynamic loads like dock levelers.
- The dock lift must be capable of lifting the total gross load of the vehicle and product. For applications of higher frequency such as 20 times per day, it is recommended to overrate the capacity to prolong the unit's life.
- If side-by-side pallet loading is a possibility, the capacity should be determined based on the heaviest possible load. Make sure the unit selected offers axle load capacity respective to the axle loading characteristics of the vehicle. Some vehicles may have an axle load that is the equivalent of 80% of the gross load.
- Capacities are available from 3,000 lbs. to 25,000 lbs. and higher.

Lifting Speed.
- The lifting speed is determined by the size and capacity of the dock lift and the size of the power pack. Power packs are available in virtually any horsepower.
- Selecting a small power pack to save money can result in a substantial loss of efficiency. Specify the desired speed at which you want the lift to operate. A recommended time for full lift is 20 - 30 seconds.
- Lowering times should also be considered.

To determine the proper dock lift requirements for your application, contact an Equipment World Sales Representative.