DOCK & DOOR TEC
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Blog

5 Ways to Avoid Service Calls

3/11/2022

 
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Whether it’s malfunction or misalignment, many service calls we receive at Dock and Door Tec can be avoided. We’ve gathered 5 of our top service call culprits that cause operator and equipment damage as well as affect the entire facility’s efficiencies and safety.
1. Overhead Doors
2. Debris
3. Obstructions
4. Bumpers
5. Slide Locks
 
While some of these reminders may seem minor, they can trigger other, more significant issues that lead to inoperability. Often, the reason a dock door does not operate properly is a simple one that can be addressed in-house, saving you time and money.
Do you want to avoid a service call? Ready to save time and money at your facility?
​
Our team put together 5 short videos that show you what to look for at your facility to stay at peak performance.
 
Watch the video series to see what you can do to keep your dock working properly and safely.
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P.S. Get more tips like this on our LinkedIn page.
FOLLOW US HERE

Are You Headed For A Break-Up? Say Goodbye To High-Maintenance Dock & Door Springs!

1/25/2022

 
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Servicing a door spring brings a multitude of safety risks to you and your team. Combine this with an out of adjustment spring and employee risk is multiplied.
 
Common hazards include:
  • Spring Adjustments – Over the life of the spring door, spring adjustments are necessary to keep the doors operable. When your doors are used at a high frequency and springs are not adjusted properly, your employees face operational dangers every day.  
  • Springs used for Counter-balance - Mechanical equipment, such as a door using springs as counter-balance, is a danger when binding, added weight or resistance, worn parts or damage prevents a door from operating properly.

    With every cycle (defined as one open/close) the employee must take physical action twice. Any deficiency in the operation will require greater effort by the employee, which could result in pinched fingers and injured shoulders, neck, back or worse.

    Even doors with powered operators have a higher risk when spring counterbalanced. The motors on operators often will overcome an out of adjustment door spring. Some can even lift a door with a broken spring. As the motor cannot hold that much weight, the door could crash causing catastrophic results. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3BxH4VGwBg​
Why break-up with dock and door springs and opt for a springless counter-balance system?
A springless counter-balance system for doors will increase your workplace safety, protect your employees and your bottom line.
 
The benefits:
•          designed to install on new or existing docks & doors
•          designed to work in all applications
•          reduced annual maintenance and repair costs
•          reduced injury and Workmans Comp risk
•          reduced downtime
 
Why are springless counter-balance systems not commonplace?
 
The answer: Knowledge and upfront cost.
The education around industrial doors is dominated by the door company manufacturers. They focus on high volume sales of door sections and panels, their primary product. Cost is the focal point on most new construction projects. The upfront cost of springs is less than springless options. However, the cost of ownership is much less with springless doors and is a wise investment, providing you with operable, safe door systems.
SPRINGLESS SOLUTIONS

5 Evil Myths about Dock and Door Springs

12/6/2021

 
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There are many types of springs: torsion springs, extension springs and compression springs to name a few. While they are a nifty invention and help make mechanical devices work, move or reset, they cause more problems than they solve. And unfortunately, they are brought up most often when they break or come out of adjustment.
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New springs won’t need adjustment for at least a year.

Springs are a wear-and-tear item and will slowly lose strength and need to be adjusted. When adjustments should happen depends on many variables. Our data shows that over 15% of new torsion or extension springs on sectional doors or mechanical dock levelers need to be adjusted within one-year.
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I can’t predict when a spring will break.

The exact day and time cannot be predicted but all springs have a life cycle. For torsion springs on sectional, rolling steel doors, and rolling fire doors there is a spring rating referred to as cycle count. You can better predict when a spring will break by knowing the cycle count rating of the spring and keeping track of how many cycles have occurred on your door. Most sectional doors can be upgraded to a higher cycle spring, at a minimal cost of replacing broken springs.
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​Doors with electric openers (operators) don’t need properly working springs.

Openers are designed to only lift the engineered weight of the door, with properly working springs. Reduce the lifting force of a spring by having it out of adjustment or if it were to break and continue to open with an opener, expect to damage the opener and create a huge safety hazard for employees!
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​Springs are impervious to temperature.

​​​Our volume of calls for broken springs goes up dramatically when temperatures warm up above freezing then drop below freezing overnight. The larger the jump in temperature the more broken springs we see.
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​Bigger springs can be installed on my dock or door.

This is a BIG no if you expect the dock or door to work properly. Too strong or too light of a spring won’t cut it. While cycle count can be increased it has to be the correct torque or force of spring for the door or dock. On dock levelers it is critical to match the spring exactly when replacing. Some levelers are designed to have up to four different size springs! On doors the IPPT (inch pounds per turn) must match.
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Explore Springless Systems

You can eliminate springs with Dock & Door Tec’s Springless Systems for doors and hydraulic conversions for dock levelers.
EXPLORE SPRING SOLUTIONS

6 Steps to Keep Winter Out

10/29/2021

 
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Old Man Winter will be here soon. Keeping him at bay will keep your employees happy, reduce heating costs and prevent issues with any processes which require a controlled environment. 
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Inspect Weather Seals

​Most weather seals on docks and doors are visible and it’s easy to spot damage or gaps. With the door closed can you see light? If so, something is wrong. Damaged sections or slats on a door are another visible sign of possible air infiltration. Other areas of the seal, such as between sections of a door or around a door edge may not be as visible. Holding your hand up on a windy day or if your facility has negative pressure will help determine problem areas.
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​Inspect Dock Enclosures

​You don’t even have to go outside for this one, as you can check it with a truck backed in and your dock door open. Don’t accept gaps in the enclosure as there are many solutions available to seal all types of trucks.
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Test Area Heaters Now

Once the temperatures drop for good HVAC companies will be busy, so get ahead of the curve. Better yet, have them on a maintenance plan so this step is delegated.
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Test Docks and Doors

​If your docks or doors are not working right on a nice day, how will they perform on an icy day?
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​Look for Water

​During your walkthroughs for the other items keep on the lookout for water infiltration. Of course this is best to do on a rainy day. Any water leaking in through the dock equipment or doors is not right and can be prevented. As you know, water turns to ice in the winter and will cause serious issues, especially safety issues.
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​Check your Records

​Do you maintain your docks and doors with a proactive maintenance program? Having a breakdown on a cold and windy day is the worst, as the door or dock could be stuck wide open.
These six easy steps will help prepare you for winter and get you one step closer to warmer weather.

About Our Blog...

9/4/2020

 
We are an industry leader through never-ending education, evolving thought and continuous improvement.  We enjoy sharing our knowledge and information to help others.  From energy savings to safety to cost cutting to pest control – we cover it all.   Since we are not contractually obligated to a conglomerate manufacturer our views are much more objective than our competitors. 
​

We hope that you enjoy our blog posts and learn something from our 22 years of industry experience.  If you have an idea, issue, question, concern or just need more information that is any way related to loading dock equipment, doors, in-plant equipment, warehouses or facilities, contact us.

Keep current on industry trends and news by joining our mailing list. 
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Dock & Door Tec
Serving Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota & South Dakota
  • Home
  • About
    • Accreditation
    • Community
    • Our Story
    • Our Team
    • Case Studies
    • Testimonials
    • The Dock & Door Tec Difference
  • Career Opportunities
    • Office Manager
    • Warehouse Assistant
    • Service Door Technician
    • Field Service Technician
    • Account Manager - Central Wisconsin
  • Services
    • Springless Solutions
    • Enlarged Openings / Concrete Work
    • Facility & Equipment Analysis
    • Fire Door Drop Testing
    • Loading Dock Equipment Installation
    • Loading Dock Repair
    • Proactive Maintenance
    • Service Areas
    • Request Service
  • Equipment
    • Dock Locks (Truck Restraints) >
      • Impact
      • Non-Impact
      • Non-Conventional
      • Wheel Chock Systems
      • Pit Hooks
    • Fans & In-Plant Equipment >
      • HVLS Fans
      • HVHS Fans
      • Trailer l Dock Fans
      • Lifts, Various
      • Vertical Reciprocating Conveyor
      • Mezzanine Platform
    • Industrial / Commercial Doors >
      • High Speed Fabric Doors
      • Security High Speed
      • Rubber Doors
      • Fire Door
      • Rolling Steel
      • Impactable Dock Doors
      • Cooler / Freezer
      • Fabric Roll-Up
      • Impact / Traffic / Bump
      • Overhead / Sectional Doors
      • Operators / Activation
      • Air Curtains / Screen & Bug Doors
      • Strip Doors
      • Door Entrapment Protection
      • Door Protection
      • Overhead Door Upgrades
    • Loading Dock Levelers & Lifts >
      • Hydraulic Levelers
      • Air Powered Levelers
      • Mechanical Levelers
      • Edge of Dock Levelers
      • Cold Storage Telescoping Lip / Vertical Storing & Rail Car Levelers
      • Dock Lifts
      • Dockboards, Dockplates & Dock Ramps
      • Bumpers
    • Loading Dock Seals & Shelters >
      • Dock Seal & L-Pad Seal
      • Soft-Sided & Rigid Shelters
      • Specialty Enclosures
      • Under-Leveler Dock Seal
      • Rain Stops l Canopies
    • OEM & Aftermarket Parts
    • Safety / Energy / Security / Employee Comfort >
      • Energy Saving / Employee Comfort
      • Security Solutions
      • Safety Straps / Barrier Systems
      • Dock Lights & Communication Lights
      • Trailer Stands
    • Yeti Snow Removal
  • Markets
    • Food & Dairy
    • School Districts
    • General Contractors & Architects
  • Blog
  • Contact