Introduction
When goods of varying sizes and volumes are loaded or unloaded into trucks, you need proper accessibility and protection for both personnel and the merchandise. Several warehouses have temperature-controlled and pressure-controlled interiors, which if not protected properly against the external environment could result in material damage and infrastructure issues. Also, it’s not feasible to establish a trailer or conveyor system from the interior to the external compound to automate the loading and unloading of goods into the trucks.
That’s why most warehouses are reinforced with docking equipment units, specially designed to form a barrier between the internal chamber of the warehouse and the external environment during loading and unloading operations. These are dock shelters and seals, which might sound similar but have distinct functions and designs. Identifying the right product category for your warehouse needs is imperative so that operational efficiency and personnel and material safety won’t be compromised.
What Are Dock Shelters?
Comprising a flexible frame covered with a durable curtain made from rubber or thick fabric, a dock shelter protects the trucks at the loading docks. When a truck moves towards the dock shelter, it exerts pressure on the frame, which then automatically wraps around the vehicle without forming a tight seal.
Types Of Dock Shelters
- Inflatable dock shelters are mainly used at warehouses where temperature needs to be controlled stringently, like refrigerated warehouses and cold storage units. They are made up of inflatable material, which automatically forms a tight seal around the vehicle to prevent heat exchange and maintain optimal temperature inside.
- Curtain-like dock shelters are usually used at warehouses where heavy traffic flow has to be maintained while allowing large-sized shipping trucks to move in and out without much restrictions. Usually, the vehicles here need to be docked at an angle, which is why the curtains offer a flexible but tight seal to maintain the protective environment.
- Retractable curtain dock shelters are used for versatile vehicle sizes and facilitate general logistics operations. When the trucks press against the flexible frame, it retracts and form a tight seal to streamline loading and unloading operations.
Advantages Of Dock Shelters
- A dock shelter protects the warehouse’s interior chamber and the vehicle from external weather conditions, like rain and wind.
- Also, the interior of the warehouse facilities remains cleaner since the dock shelter prevents debris and dust from entering.
- Thanks to their flexible structure, they can accommodate trailers of varying sizes without needing any additional reinforcement.
- Personnel safety is enhanced by several notches, thereby reducing workplace injuries.
What Are Dock Seals?
Although serving the same primary function of protecting warehouses and vehicles from external weather conditions as that of dock shelters, a dock seal has a different design and performance. It covers the top and sides of the trailers, leaving the bottom open for easy movement. Thanks to the inflatable or core foam material, it can form a tight seal around the trailer or truck, preventing any airflow or energy exchange between the interior and exterior of the warehouse.
Types Of Dock Seals
- An inflatable dock seal is more flexible and can accommodate varying truck or trailer sizes. When pressed, the material inflates and forms a tight seal around the vehicle.
- A retractable dock seal has a compressible frame that is pushed back to form a tight wrap around the vehicle during loading and unloading operations.
Advantages Of Dock Seals
- Thanks to the tight seal formed, no energy is exchanged between the warehouse interior and the external environment, thereby enhancing energy efficiency.
- Dock seals are better suited to control the interior climate and temperature conditions of the warehouses due to the tight seal formed.
- Also, a dock seal is better in protecting the vehicles from external weather conditions during loading and unloading operations.
- Thanks to the durable structure, dock seals do not require too much maintenance and can last for long years.
Key Differences Between Dock Shelters and Dock Seals
| Dock Seals | Dock Shelters |
|---|---|
| It creates a tight seal around the trucks or trailers for optimal weather protection. | Although it provides weather and climate protection, shelters do not form any tight seal around the vehicles. |
| These are made with foam or inflatable rubber material to ensure the seal formed is airtight. | The dock shelters have a curtain-like fabric that forms a shelter around the vehicle. |
| A dock seal is highly useful in making the warehouse’s energy efficient by preventing airflow with an airtight seal. | While dock shelters also prevent the energy exchange between the warehouse and the external environment, they are less efficient than dock seals. |
| Installation involves high costs due to the use of premium-quality materials. | No added reinforcement is needed during installation. |
Factors To Consider When Choosing the Right Product
Below are some of the factors that you need to consider to choose the right docking equipment for loading and unloading operations.
- The types of goods handled will influence your choice. For instance, if you are handling temperature-sensitive goods like frozen food items, it’s better to have a dock seal as it prevents temperature exchange by all means.
- If your warehouse receives trailers and trucks of varying sizes with a heavy traffic flow, dock shelters will be the best choice since they are more flexible compared to dock seals.
- Dock seals are best suited for warehouses where loading and unloading operations are less frequent.
- Also, you need to pay attention to the local weather and climate conditions while choosing the right dock seal or shelter based on the warehouse requirements.
