Dock Lifts suspend a boat or personal watercraft above the water when it isn’t in use, protecting it from damage. Learn more about our selection of these vital materials handling solutions.
Loading dock lifts are safer than ramps and easier to operate compared to traditional dock heights. They keep loads level, making them easier to load and unload. Available in pit-mounted and surface-mount models with various capacities, sizes and installation configurations.
A hydraulic lift is powered by a pressured fluid, and it’s often used to raise people or materials vertically in automotive service shops, warehouses, commercial businesses, and residential applications. It’s especially useful in auto repair facilities, where it can help workers access vehicles for repairs or maintenance tasks at different levels of a building. Hydraulic lifts are also popular in warehouses, where they’re used to transport heavy items between storage locations.
Unlike other types of lifts, hydraulic lifts don’t use cables to move materials. Instead, they rely on the power of compressed fluid to provide vertical movement. The core principle behind the technology is force multiplication, which allows a small amount of force applied to a piston to produce a greater force. This enables the lift to lift heavy loads that would be too difficult to handle manually.
The pressure of the hydraulic fluid is controlled by a series of valves. When the control valves are opened or closed, they manage the flow of liquid into and out of the cylinders to start, stop, or control the speed of the lift’s movements. These valves are crucial for ensuring precise lifting and lowering, as they can be adjusted to match specific requirements.
Another key benefit of hydraulic lifts is their heightened safety. Because they don’t require a cable, the risk of an accident is considerably lower. Additionally, there is no free-fall if the lift fails, and descent takes place through the force of gravity rather than by descending over a cable.
As with all industrial equipment, it’s important to regularly inspect and maintain a hydraulic lift to prevent accidents and damage. It’s also essential to train employees on proper operation and maintenance techniques. Regular cleaning can also reduce the buildup of dirt, which may contribute to equipment failure.
If your application requires a large number of lift cycles per day, or if you need to move very heavy loads, a hydraulic lift may not be the best option for your business. In these cases, a pneumatic lift can be more efficient and economical.
Zero-Low Lifts
Often compared to the magic carpet of Aladdin, these low maintenance units eliminate hydraulic oil, leaks, drift and noise. They perform reliably in demanding industrial operations, and they are available with a lift height up to 48 inches for maximum accessibility to loads. By lifting loads to the correct “ergonomic envelope” for work, Zero-Low tables put materials within easy reach and improve efficiency in manufacturing, machining and processing applications. Units can be powered with manual, battery, air or electric power. They can also be tilted up to 45deg (capacity drops 50% at 90deg) for easier handling. Models are available with 2,500 or 4,000 lb capacity.
Floor Level Lifts
Designed to bridge the gap between a loading dock and truck bed or warehouse floor, dock lifts allow for smooth transitions without the need for ramps and inclines. These hydraulic lifting platforms are typically seen in industrial and commercial facilities that handle large amounts of freight, such as logistics & distribution centers and manufacturing locations. By streamlining loading and unloading processes, these essential pieces of equipment reduce manual labor efforts and increase efficiency.
Dock lifts are also far more versatile than dock levelers, allowing them to accommodate a variety of trucks from low step vans up to high reefer semis (see the “Click for range” box above). They can lower forklifts to ground-level so that they can access trucks that have very low or high bed heights that fall outside the operating range of dock levelers or other off-loading solutions like recessed dock wells and ramps.
Some types of dock lifts are a scissor-lift design that raises and lowers loads as they enter and exit trucks. Others are fixed dock lifts that transfer loads between the dock area and truck beds of varying height. These fixed lifts can be installed in the dock pit or flush-with-the-floor and can be single or triple-axle.
In addition to their load-transferring capabilities, many dock lifts can be customized to suit specific needs. This can include different sizes, load capacities, and additional features such as tilting capabilities and turntables. They are also often built from heavy-duty materials to withstand frequent use and harsh environments, resulting in reduced maintenance costs over the long term.
Another type of dock lift is the drive-on dock lift, which is designed to accommodate PWCs (personal watercrafts) such as jet skis and wave runners. These lifts are a bit like a boat lift in that they can be located either on the shore or the edge of the dock and have rollers that the boats can glide onto so they can be safely secured. These lifts can also be equipped with a winch to easily pull the watercraft in and out of position as needed.
Rail Lifts
Whether your facility relies on rail transport or just needs to bridge the gap between a dock and warehouse floor, a dock lift can save you time, money and labor by providing a safe and stable platform for loading/unloading. These industrial grade platforms are designed to bridge the gap between a truck bed and warehouse floor, allowing for smooth transitions between surfaces without the need for ramps or incline.
Unlike dock levelers, dock lifts provide full truck access to all sizes of trucks from low step vans to high reefer semis. They can also accommodate truck to ground movement for reverse operations where goods are loaded from the ground up to the trailer. This is especially helpful when operating a mixed fleet with many different trucks and trailer types.
These hydraulic lifts are typically a scissor-lift design that provides 6 ft of vertical travel. They are equipped with lips on both the dock and the truck that allow for movement of forklifts to and from the truck. The lifts can be positioned on the floor or on the side of the dock to service any type of vehicle that backs up to it.
By keeping loads level, dock lifts make it safer and faster to load and unload trucks than using ramps or inclines and are less expensive than recessed dock wells. The loading dock lifts are structurally reinforced with heavy duty steel plates for increased rigidity and to minimize deflection. Wide base designs increase stability and can withstand the most demanding environments.
The DL series dock lift from Blue Giant is perfect for endless material handling applications at grocery stores, schools, hospitals and postal services as well as distribution centers or any location that requires a versatile workhorse. These versatile dock lifts are far more useful than the truck tailgate lift and much less expensive than recessed truck wells.
Whether you’re looking to reduce damage to your powerboat or simply want to avoid the banging and sinking caused by mother nature’s winds and waves, a dock lift is a great investment for anyone with waterfront property. These hydraulic systems are able to lift boats up out of the water and securely suspend them in place for easy and convenient storage. They also keep the boat from banging up against the dock or the wall which can cause costly damage and abrasions over time.