35_SHD_May:ShD re-design 1/5/07 09:36 Page 35
Loading Bay Equipment ■
Cost vs. value
Mike Bunn, general manager of Stertil UK’s loading bay division, explains the importance
of considering manufacturing quality when fitting out your loading bay.
“There is scarcely anything in the world
that some man cannot make a little worse
and sell a little more cheaply. The person
who buys on price alone is this man’s
lawful prey.” (attributed to John Ruskin).
In this respect, loading bay equipment is the
same as all other products - if you buy cheap,
you often buy twice. Procuring equipment on
price alone is not an ideal long-term strategy.
Thankfully, industry leaders are not all ‘pile it
high, sell it cheap’ merchants, so clearly there transition between leveller and vehicle and a Reducing the number of longitudinal supports
are still people basing decisions on quality reduced crown angle between the lip and the has the same effect. Stertil has long pioneered
and value for money. But the drive towards platform. This gives a lower impact on the use of an open hinge on the bridging lip.
ever cheaper products is disturbing and could materials handling equipment and – an There is far more steel available to weld and
impact, not just on the long-term finances of a example of how better quality can actually there is the added benefit of the lip hinge
business, but also on the safety and well-being save costs - a reduction of up to 50% in MHE being self cleaning. Stertil guarantees its lip
of its employees. maintenance costs. hinge for life.
The quality of materials plays a part too.
Dock Levellers – Greater availability of high-tensile steel Dock Buffers – high levels of
how hard-wearing is yours? means it’s used increasingly in the protection in a small package
A dock leveller is not a piece of high manufacture of dock levellers, including Dock buffers may be small and appear rather
technology, but it is designed to twist and flex Stertil’s HW Ergonomic Leveller. The insignificant, but they protect your building
through its length, to take up not only height temptation, however, can be to reduce the from being hit by reversing vehicles, whether
differences but also differences in level (up to plate and lip thickness, but it’s not always at three or four miles an hour or at normal
100mm in current European norm terms). If beneficial: high-tensile plate can harden easily speeds. Since the vehicle hitting the building
the platform design is poor, it will soon be and become brittle and lips can crack across could easily weigh 30 tonnes, it makes sense
apparent by the effects of continual fork lift the width, especially longer-projecting lips. to fit dock buffers that can cope efficiently
truck traffic. take a good look at the thickness of the with this hazard.
Stertil’s HW Ergonomic Dock Leveller has materials being offered especially with longer Steel or aluminium cladding and brickwork
a patented lip design and an energy-absorbing lips. does not respond well to being hit by 30
rear hinge, providing faster, smoother Additionally, some manufacturers use more tonnes, even at low speeds. It’s important to
than one piece of install dock buffers that can absorb energy, as
plate to ‘skin’ a well as stay on the wall. They also need to be
platform, welding it pretty hard-wearing!
across the width of Stertil’s PE dock buffer does just this;
the deck. Whilst steel incorporating a heavy-duty, galvanised steel
is expensive, the frame that houses impact-absorbing rubber
labour required to do blocks and guides for the low-friction
this probably offsets polyethylene front plate. It’s fitted with
the cost of a one- unique energy-absorbing strips with a flush
piece platform, which smooth face and can present four new clean
is more desirable for wear faces from just one pair of buffers.
both strength and These strips may cost a little more than
durability. Platform traditional rubber, but last ten times as long.
‘dishing’ is often a And they absorb more impact than nylon
signature of a poorly buffers, which generally have no cushioning
designed platform. at all.
www.PressOnShD.com May 2007 ShD 35
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