In A Stable Condition: Mobile Loading Platforms

There's an old adage about a jack-of-all-trades being a master of none. It's fair comment but it could be considered rather short sighted. When it comes to load-handling equipment, there are assemblies that are in effect jacks of two trades - and masters of both. Here's how mobile loading platforms can be both stable and flexible.

Picture the scene: you have a number of dedicated loading bays but undertaking hand unloading of deliveries represents inefficiency at best, and downtime at worst. In another scenario, you may not have any fixed loading bays. The solution in both these settings is using one or more mobile loading platforms.

"If Mohammad can't go to the mountain, let the mountain come to Mohammad.", said the English philosopher Frances Bacon, in 1625. In this instance, however, the mountain (the loading facility) can go to Mohammed (the truck to be unloaded). How? Mobile loading platforms are equipped with forklift pockets and can be placed next to the truck in question, wherever the terrain permits.

So, what about stability and safe working? Mobile loading platforms are available with safe working loads of 3,000kg or more. They come in various sizes and may even be designed to answer your specific needs. They have flaps that sit on the load bed of the truck being unloaded, and chains are used to close off openings that are not in use. An access ladder is provided and handrails are included. You may have noted by now that there is no mention of a power supply or hydraulic operation. Mobile loading platforms need neither - no hassle, minimal service and maintenance requirements, no problem.

Mobile yard ramps are of a tried, tested and trusted design, as well as being simple, strong and stable. Consequently, the list of optional extras is small. There is the abovementioned range of alternative sizes, and bespoke platforms for special situations are available. A variety of gates and handrails are also offered; mobile loading platforms may be tailored as individual items or as part of a collection. Stability in use - and therefore safety - can be enhanced with the aid of securing chains and/or vehicle chocks, and additional anti-slip surfaces may be specified. Moveable castors are also on offer to augment mobility. Plus, British (and Northern European) weather being what it is, canopies are available to keep your personnel, and the goods in transit from truck to destination, unaffected by rain, or worse.

You could say that usually, a problem is a solution waiting to be discovered. Mobile loading platforms can represent the solution to any number of problems at the business end of the logistical chain. They can be stored until needed, placed with remarkable ease, need very little servicing and maintenance, and they can pay for themselves many times over. Their simplicity gives them a satisfyingly long service life and, in comparison to that of a fixed, dedicated loading bay, their cost is modest.

In the case of a loading bay on which the demands are particularly variable, the flexibility of the loading and unloading arrangements made possible by mobile loading platforms is a positive advantage. However, using them as an adjunct to dedicated loading bays also facilitates the handling of unusual – and even one-off – cargo-handling tasks.

Chase Equipment are a leading international supplier of mobile yard ramps. See our website at Chase Equipment for more information.

Seal Appeal: Dock Seals' Saving Graces

A modern loading dock may be extremely efficient in many ways. Capable cargo handling depends on a number of factors but two specific features stand out over the rest. Moreover, they interrelate.

The two allied notions of getting the trucks to the goods and getting the goods to the trucks sound simple. They are simple enough but in relating with one another, they have a downside. Placing the truck to be loaded close to the dock that will load it is an obvious requirement. Having an aperture that allows the goods to be taken on or off the truck is equally obvious; the resulting disadvantage isn't necessarily so apparent. Simply, where goods can go, so can wind, rain, sleet and snow, which is why a means of protecting the goods concerned, as well as the personnel handling them, is needed.

There are two devices for keeping the elements at bay, while also keeping the expensively-heated interior of the loading dock at a comfortable working temperature. Dock shelters and dock seals both offer weather protection and the maintaining of loading dock temperature; here, we'll look at the latter.

To work effectively, dock seals must meet a number of needs. To work effectively over time, they must meet further needs. The good news is that, as they are made to a proven design and constructed using modern materials, good quality dock seals will do what their name implies over a lengthy service life.

So, what must dock seals be capable of doing? As the compressible medium that temporarily makes the loading dock and a truck into a single unit, they have to be able to…

• Accept the compression load imposed as the truck is reversed against them.
• Spread this compression load evenly over their mounting surface.
• Maintain a heat-retaining, weather-resistant seal between the truck and loading dock.
• Resume their original profile quickly when the truck is driven away.

Modern dock seals fulfill these demands without demur, by courtesy of the experience that goes into making them and through the materials used in their manufacture. They have an energy-absorbing core that transmits the load the truck puts on them evenly around the aperture they're protecting. Their external skin is resistant to chafing, proof against damage by heat and penetration, and is capable of re-forming quickly even in low temperatures.

What happens if the truck is pressing too hard against the dock seal? In a word, nothing, because over compression cannot happen. Generally, the maximum allowable compression (i.e. the minimum permitted thickness of the dock seal) is in the order of 150 millimetres. A buffer stop is incorporated into the installation and this allows the truck being unloaded to compress the dock seal so far and no further.

This is all well and good but for two parameters relating specifically to trucks. In an ideal world, trucks' tails are vertical and a dock seal with a square section profile will work perfectly. The world, however, isn't always ideal and some trucks don't have a vertical tail. This is solved by the availability of dock seals with an angular section profile. Similarly, vehicle heights vary; to cater for this, dock seals can have adjustable head pad units – problem solved.

As will now be clear, dock seals provide a workable, efficient solution to keeping goods clean and dry, and the loading dock warm, in all conditions. Choose a high quality, well designed, durable dock seal installation and efficiency will be enhanced.

Chase Equipment are a leading international supplier of dock seals. See our website at Chase Equipment for more information.

Weather Eye: Looking after Loading Bay Equipment

Loading bay equipment represents a major investment to any cargo-handling concern. True, much of it is made of particularly heavy metal but like any other mechanism, it can't look after itself. The upside is that, in many instances, loading bay equipment maintenance is relatively simple. The downside is the dreaded 'D word', downtime.

Loading bay equipment may be costly in the first instance but it can pay for itself. Downtime can be costly and the frustrating thing is that it can be avoided with a little intelligent attention. There is, however, a caveat to be borne in mind. Many loading bay managers budget for and use professional equipment servicing and maintenance teams, for a reason. There are certain tasks in servicing and maintaining this hardware which are best left to the pros, for the sake of safety as well as that of continued usability. Nevertheless, loading bay equipment can be monitored and simple maintenance and servicing tasks can be carried out.

So how do you monitor loading bay equipment? The answer to this is perfectly simple and concerns developing a good habit within the workplace. What habit? We can give this the acronym 'E.E.E.' and apply what it stands for. Examination, Evaluation and Execution is a trio of words that is easy enough to remember; let's see how they work.

Anyone employed in a fully equipped loading bay soon develops a sense of why each piece of equipment is present and what each does. The first part of the 'E.E.E.' principle stems from this. Appoint one person to 'do his/her rounds' say, once a week, checking over each part of the loading bay equipment in turn. Is it all working as it should? Could it be better? Is it broken? These questions are easily answered.

The process of examination needn't be limited to a weekly round. As loading bay personnel necessarily use items of equipment on a daily basis, any shortcomings could be reported as and when they develop. A marker board and pen in the loading bay could be used for personnel to log the fault(s).

The second step, evaluation, is important. Americans say "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"; in this context, "If you don't know how to fix it, don't try" would be more appropriate. Should the problem be a simple one, a matter of applying lubrication or tightening a fastening, personnel can go on to the next step. However, should a less amenable problem arise, it makes sense to seek professional help. This should be done, no matter how tempting a fast and easy fix might be. If a repair was to be carried out inexpertly, it could lead to a real, imminent or actual danger to personnel or equipment. Apart from the evident risks of damage or injury, it's more than likely that such a repair would render the relevant insurance cover null and void.

This leads us to the notion of execution and whether it can or cannot be done. Once again, it's a matter of applying intelligent forethought. For example, if some pivot or track squeals loudly in use, lubricating it is hardly rocket science. Similarly, a loose bolt, a blown bulb or the like can be sorted out quickly and easily. More complex repairs might not be so easily executed.

In the end analysis, the 'E.E.E.' principle has value in ensuring that most loading bay equipment failures can be discovered before they happen. Even if the necessary repair or refurbishment is a matter for experts, finding the trouble early can save money, and avoid the dreaded downtime.

Chase Equipment are a leading international supplier of loading bay equipment. See our website at Chase Equipment for more information.

Knowledge is Power: What You Should Know When Hiring Mobile Yard Ramps

For cargo handling tasks, what you have isn't always what you need. Then again, even the most efficient operation can't possibly own and offer every conceivable piece of hardware and remain competitive.

Take mobile yard ramps, for example. What seems a simple item actually comes in such a variety of sizes and specifications that it's highly unlikely that any one concern could even store all the different units, let alone keep them ready for use. There is an option used by most sensible cargo-handling firms. Like a lot of loading bay equipment, mobile yard ramps can be hired, on a short or long-term basis.

Starting with the basics, we can consider what you should look for. Steel construction is a worthwhile primary requirement, especially if the steel is protected with top quality paint that boasts rust inhibiting additives. However, sturdiness and good looks aren't everything. By definition, mobile yard ramps must be moveable and outstanding design and manufacturing standards are essential to ease of use.

Well-designed mobile yard ramps will be capable of transferring throughout their structure the substantial dynamic loads they must accommodate. Their ability to do this with loads up to, say, 12,000kg, transferring this to twin axles should be a given. The same goes for longevity – they have to cope with such loads day in, day out – for life.

Ease of use is another important factor. Mobile yard ramps may be moved using a forklift truck. Some have a pushing attachment for this purpose. The presence of a tough run-on plate is desirable; after all, having positioned the ramp, a forklift will have to use it. It's also desirable for mobile yard ramps to be finely balanced, making them easy to handle and manoeuvre. There is, in addition, the matter of setting the ramp to the required height. The inclusion of a hydraulic hand pump makes for quick and easy raising and lowering.

Hiring mobile yard ramps makes a lot of sense in terms of both practicality and economy. That said, it's well worth considering any hidden costs when negotiating hire arrangements. What hidden costs? The first that springs to mind is servicing. Mobile yard ramps might not look too complicated but they do have moving parts and there is also the matter of fatigue servicing. Are these included in the hire charge?

The same might apply to transportation. To cope with big, heavy loads, mobile yard ramps must themselves be big and heavy. For example, a 12-tonne ramp can be 11.7 metres long, 2.6 metres wide and weigh nearly 4,200kg. You may have the very vehicle to collect and return a ramp like this but if you haven't, face facts; one isn't going to fit on your car's roof rack. Are delivery and collection included and if they aren't what are the costs?

When hiring, as in many other contexts, knowledge is power. This principle has been known since the 16th Century and it remains useful to this day. Knowing about all the costs – including those that aren't immediately obvious – empowers you to strike the most enticing deal for you, your company and its clients.

If you are considering replacing your mobile yard ramp then contact us. We have designed the 'Titan' range of portable yard ramps to be hard wearing, easy to manoeuvre and simple to operate. Our website has more information at http://www.chaseequipment.co.uk/.

Mobile Loading Platforms: to hire or buy, that is the question

It's a known fact that, in order to unload a truck swiftly and safely, you have to be on a level with it. You may have dedicated loading bays but if you haven't or if the hand unloading of deliveries hogs them for too long, mobile loading platforms are a practical, economic alternative.

Mobile loading platforms do exactly what is says on the tin, or in this case, on the steel. They boast tough, welded steel frame construction, with a strong loading floor. An access ladder facilitates getting up to this; flaps are fitted to give a strong, secure pathway to and from the truck's cargo floor, and there are chains to close openings when they're not in use. A safe working load of 3,000kg – or more if necessary – makes handling heavy goods easy. In fact, mobile loading platforms make dealing with goods that are not packaged on pallets a simple and speedy exercise.

The mobility of mobile loading platforms can be assured in two ways. Forklift pockets form part of their construction, allowing them to be manoeuvred into place with the aid of a standard forklift truck. In addition, movable castors are available as an option. However, when the platform is in use, mobility is the last thing you want. So among the options on offer are securing chains and vehicle chocks to ensure the mobile loading platform and the vehicle it's serving stay put.

Further options include an assortment of gate and handrail configurations from which to choose, as well as supplementary anti-slip surfaces. As pleasant climatic conditions can't be guaranteed, a means of coping with inclement weather is available. At its simplest, this may be a straightforward top canopy. However, side curtains are also available to keep the worst of the weather at bay. More importantly, mobile loading platforms are available in a range of sizes so it's likely you'd be able to find an item that meet your needs perfectly.

The above description shows that mobile loading platforms are a useful adjunct to any loading bay equipment. In some instances, they may represent all the equipment that's needed. In use, they're very much 'fit and forget' items, particularly as there is no need of a costly, complex hydraulic system or power source.
In many instances, mobile loading platforms can be used as stand-ins for busy fixed loading bay equipment. You may also have to offer a short-term solution to a specific cargo handling problem. Here's where the option of hiring mobile loading platforms comes to the fore.

In such a scenario, you can take advantage of the range of sizes and types of mobile loading platform that is available for hire. Investing in a specific size or configuration of platform only makes sense where it will be in regular use for a number of tasks. Often, hiring mobile loading platforms means that, as well as having the use of equipment that's perfect for the job, you might have any necessary servicing included at no charge; a point worth checking with the hire company.

Whether hiring mobile loading platforms, or buying one or more to suit your requirements, the path to suitable units is liable to be no more than a phone call – or mouse click – away.

Chase Equipment are a leading international supplier of mobile loading platforms. See our website at Chase Equipment for more information.

Dock Shelters

Before and After

Dock Shelters are a relatively overlooked part of the overall loading bay equipment and yet they perform 3 vital roles.

Firstly they have an important part to play in reducing the heat loss through the open door, Not only is this an employee welfare issue, but dock shelters that do their job correctly can quickly pay for themselves.

Secondly they protect the goods being loaded from the elements.

Thirdly if you are at all concerned about your company’s image, poor fitting Dock Shelters can leave a lasting impression.

At Chase Equipment we manufacture our Dock Shelters out of proven material that will stand-up to both the environment and the wear and tear of constant use.









Our Shelters are made to suit your needs, we manufacture and install them ourselves.Using different materials on the sides , fronts and head curtains give flexibility or rigidity as required . Made in any size and quantity , from 1 off to 100plus .

St Pancras Upgrade with dock levellers and loading bay equipment from Chase

Chase Equipment Ltd have recently completed a project for Eurostar at the spectacular and newly refurbished St Pancras station.

Solving the problem of how best to utilise a loading bank with a height of just 900mm - significantly below normal which precluded the use of standard loading bay equipment - Chase provided bespoke 6m long levellers, designed to ensure gradients were kept within regulation.

The levellers were a small part of a modular dock scheme designed and manufactured by Chase, totalling some 64m2 which also included an insulated, clad wall with roller shutter doors to secure the front of the customs controlled area.

Elsewhere on the development, Chase were tasked with designing a raised platform area with island unit to assist in loading foodstuffs into trailers pulled by electric tugs. Setting up a simulation in their Midland factory and heavily testing the system in conjunction with Eurostar prior to build, ensured that the most cost-effective solution could be designed. An antislip surface was specially developed and included, to ensure safe footing for operators, even in the wet.

Chase’s design expertise was further tested when a simple scissor lift that they provided to London and Continental Station Properties required added safety features. Required to move materials from the loading bank to the ground level, Chase designed and incorporated interlocking drop-arm barriers on the lift and upper bank, in addition to installing a small ramp complete with handrails.

Chase’s MD, Derek Sweeney commented, “Although only a small part of the near £800 million re-development, we are proud to have been involved in developing innovative solutions for what has become a major international destination in it’s own right.”

For further information on Chase Equipment visit www.chaseequipment.co.uk