Businesses use loading dock equipment for the loading and unloading process. The loading dock offers safe and smooth goods transit to rail cars, shipping containers, and trailers. Facilities use a loading deck leveler as a bridge between the trailer and the facility. Since the loading dock is a high-traffic area in a warehouse, there is a risk of injuries and product damage. But, loading dock equipment makes the process safe and quick. But, when the equipment fails to work, facilities can experience inefficiency in the loading and unloading.
8 Common Problems and Repairs of Loading Dock Equipment
Many problems in the dock levelers are minor but become major problems with time. Therefore, managers have to regularly check the levelers’ condition. Here are possible problems that should be addressed and fixed before it gets too late:
1. Worn-Out Cables
Heavy-duty cables supporting the loading dock and overhead doors contain many galvanized wires. These wires hold the weight of the door and maneuver through buttons. If you have a new machine, these wires can operate without risks of incident. But, over time, wear and tear can snap and fray the cables. Shaking or squeaking doors is a sign that cables are wearing out. In this condition, you must contact a professional garage door company to identify and repair the fault.
2. Dock Doors and Vehicle Restraints
To avoid major problems, you must inspect the vehicle restraints and loading dock doors. The problems that may occur with the dock doors are weak cables, misaligned tracks, sensor problems, and spring malfunctions. Having a proactive strategy rather than a reactive one will enable you to fix problems before it disrupts the loading and unloading process.
In the shipping business, you can’t afford to wait until a minor issue becomes a big problem. You must notify the problem and take preventive measures. You must collaborate with an expert team to maintain the equipment. Early inspection reduces downtime and improves productivity and safety.
3. Excessive Rust or Corrosion
Do you notice rust or corrosion on the loading dock equipment? If yes, it clearly indicates that you must replace the aged dock leveler. Dock levelers exposed to harmful elements and chemicals develop excessive rust. If the rusted material is causing an interruption in the loading process, you need new equipment.
A professional dock leveler repairing team will inspect the door. They will check every moving part for rust and corrosion and improve the loading dock equipment performance. They offer high-quality repairing service upon noticing malfunction in the process.
Ignoring routine maintenance can damage door components, negatively influencing workers’ performance. They won’t be able to complete their tasks quickly and efficiently. Here are some issues you might experience due to rust and corrosion:
- Malfunctioning springs
- Wear out loose cables
- Misaligned loading dock door
- Unresponsive sensors
Having an expert team along your side for regular maintenance will ensure a fully functioning and smooth loading process. Your employees will thank you because they don’t have to put extra pressure and effort into dealing with malfunctions.
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4. Damaged Torsion Springs
If you know the components of loading dock equipment, you will agree that torsion springs are the most vital part. Torsion springs balance the door’s weight and allow smooth opening and closing. Torsion springs have a 10,000-cycle rating. As a result, if you manage high traffic in the loading area, your torsion springs may deteriorate after only a few years.
If the door isn’t opening smoothly, you should get the door inspected and repaired. Torsion springs are put under a lot of pressure. Thus you should never try to fix them yourself. This could result in severe injury or major damage. The best strategy to handle damaged torsion springs is consulting professional loading dock equipment repairing team.
5. Misaligned Tracks
Loading dock equipment contains metal tracks to move the doors up and down. The tracks frequently become twisted, broken, or out of alignment after being accidentally hit in high-traffic areas. The system won’t work effectively if these tracks experience damage. Skilled technicians can straighten or fix the track. But if the harm is severe, you must replace the entire track.
6. Broken Panel
High-traffic facilities experience occasional damage to the overhead door panels. However, the rollers, rails, and opener will malfunction if you delay fixing the broken panels. In worse conditions, two or more panels stop working, jeopardizing the door’s integrity and safety. In this condition, you need to replace the damaged panels with new and high-quality ones. Fortunately, repairing damaged panels is a quick and simple process.
7. Unextending Lip
Lip forms a bridge between the parked trailer and loading dock equipment. Extreme damage to the leveler prevents the lip from extending. Several mechanical problems cause an unextending lip. You must contact a professional team for inspection if the lip can’t extend.
8. Diamond Plating Worn-Out on Deck
The deck and lip contain diamond plating that prevents slipping or falling and provide traction. But, aged levelers cause wear and tear to the diamond plating. Replacing the leveler’s deck is the best solution in this situation. However, a professional team will ensure whether they can save the diamond plating or need to replace it. Also, they will fix the problem causing friction to the plating.
Conclusion
Regular maintenance is the perfect method to extend the life of your loading dock equipment. We provide a planned maintenance program at Overhead Door Company of Tampa Bay. When you contact our professional team, they will schedule a visit to inspect the loading machine. Moreover, you can register for regular inspections and repairs.
You can offer proper security and safety to your employees. Fixing the loading dock equipment can boost output, improve security, and reduce downtime. As a result, your business will drastically grow and extend.
When carrying out routine warehouse activities, reliability and safety are paramount. Fortunately, Overhead Door Company of Tampa Bay supplies a wide selection of secure, dependable, and robust loading dock equipment and overhead doors for commercial purposes. Moreover, our skilled technicians can install, repair, and maintain the door system.
Contact Overhead Door Company of Tampa Bay for your Loading Dock Repair or Installation.
