Preventive maintenance of loading bay equipment is an essential logistical requirement to maintain the efficiency of work processes. As the connecting component between the building and the vehicle, loading systems and dock levelers must withstand heavy use and be fully operational at all times.
The principal aim of preventive maintenance for docking is to ensure the most seamless system operation on a daily basis. If handled correctly, large parts or even the entire loading bay rarely have to be replaced.
The most common maintenance for hydraulic dock levelers involves replacing wearing components in the hydraulic system and the sealing around the edge of the deck.
Of course, preventive maintenance also includes checking numerous other components, and our maintenance service for loading bay equipment also includes the legally prescribed tests.
Hydraulic hoses must be renewed after six years. This period does not refer to the service life, but is calculated from the date of manufacture. You can find this directly on the hydraulic hose via a date stamp. Since oil is fed through the hoses at very high pressure every time it is used, increased wear and tear due to natural material fatigue or weather-related aging can occur even before six years have elapsed.
Surface cracks, leaks or a complete rupture of the hydraulic hose is a potential risk. Since oil escapes when damaged, this impacts more than just the loading facility itself. Environmental pollution such as groundwater contamination is a risk that should not be taken lightly. Timely or preemptive replacement of the hydraulic hoses is therefore in the interest of every company as part of preventive maintenance.
A key aspect of preventive maintenance for dock levelers is regular inspection of moving parts. For instance, hydraulic oil is pumped under high pressure from the hydraulic unit through the special hydraulic hoses to the cylinders. To be able to continuously guarantee safety during this process - both for equipment and your employees - every individual component must function perfectly.
Connecting elements such as valves can easily clog or erode - for example, if the hydraulic oil is contaminated by air (and water molecules) after a certain period of operation. Preventive maintenance significantly reduces the risk of “silting up”, which causes corrosion on the steel parts inside. The resulting rust causes increased wear on the moving parts, leading to complete failure of the dock leveler.
In general, all individual and small parts should be checked as part of the maintenance of loading systems.
Since both the platform and the hinged lip of the dock leveler are subjected to great loads, intact weld seams at all connection points also play an important role and should be checked regularly.
The condition of the various cable connections and the cable harness should also be checked, as well as the function of various valves on the hydraulic system. Our professional service technicians also focus on the lubrication of the platform hinges as well as the hinged lip.
Preventive maintenance for loading systems consists not only of the legal requirements for dock levelers and mobile ramps, but also according to manufacturer specifications from ASSA ABLOY.
This ensures your loading bay equipment will be fully operational at all times and also meet all important safety requirements.
Request a maintenance quote now to make sure your loading bay equipment stays safe, compliant, and efficient.
