Use the Best Solutions and Components

Oftentimes the overall lifetime equipment cost isn’t considered at the time of purchase. It’s common to see that within an industrial facility, equipment is accepted with only “inferior” components rather than “optimal” at the time of purchase and installation. Unfortunately, “inferior” components result in more service calls and downtime. With today’s supply chain challenges this issue is magnified, not only through inflation, but through limited supply of components and parts.

Let’s take the sectional door for example (it’s the most common dock door in the Midwest). Facilities oftentimes install 2” rollers and track because they are less expensive upfront than 3” rollers and track. However, the 3” roller can never “pop out of the track” unlike a 2” roller. So even though the initial cost for the 3” roller/track may be more, it ultimately costs less with reduced downtime, safety risk, service calls, parts failure, and operating/ownership costs.

When it comes to docks, we’re seeing a shift towards converting mechanical dock levelers to hydraulic operated dock levelers for a handful of reasons:

1. Right now some manufacturers are out close to a full calendar year for mechanical leveler replacement. While lead times for the hydraulic components needed to make the conversions are only days.
2. Hydraulic operated dock levelers contain fewer components and parts with an extremely low failure rate compared to springs, brakes, pawls, and chains found on a mechanical leveler.
3. Increased safety for dock operators.

There are certainly many more examples to share like the two above. Bottom line? Make sure your equipment contains optimal components and is suited to your facilities and employee’s needs. Then supply change challenges will no longer be a consideration.

​Click here to learn more about hydraulic operated dock levelers.