Vehicle Restraint System Launched for Accident Prevention

GMR Safety, designer and manufacturer of wheel restraint systems for loading docks is introducing the newest evolution of its highly successful and patented Power Chock® product line with the addition of Power Chock Auto, an automatic version of the system.

The Power Chock Auto is equipped with high-quality optical sensors that can detect all types of vehicle wheels, including semi-trailers, straight trucks, and delivery vans, up to 21.5 feet from the loading dock wall. By simply pressing a control panel button inside the facility, an operator automatically positions the wheel chock in front of the vehicle’s wheel, requiring no driver intervention to set and secure the vehicle.

To ensure safety, the dock door or dock leveller can only be operated if the chock has been properly set in front of the wheel and the correct position of the chock is confirmed by a sensor. Visual indicators and audible alarms inform inside warehouse personnel and the driver outside about the position of the chock and the safe availability of the loading dock.

To provide full visibility and better control, the Power Chock Auto is equipped with a camera on the outside, facing the loading area, and a screen on the inside, next to the control panel. This visual communication system allows the operator to ensure that the loading area is devoid of any human presence prior to deployment of the wheel chock.

The mechanical movement system is not subject to any torsional forces as all the pressure from the truck is transferred on the Power Chock gripping to the ground plate. Using simple physics to restrain any type of vehicle, the Power Chock systems feature a patented combination of a 23-inch high-tensile steel wheel chock and a hot-dip galvanized restraining plate anchored to the ground. The system immobilizes the wheel, the sturdiest part of any vehicle.

“Accidents at loading docks pose a significant threat to warehouse operators and contribute to a substantial portion of workplace injuries,” said Gaétan Jay Jetté, founder and CEO of GMR Safety. “Automating our Power Chock system provides loading docks with additional safety measures to ensure safety at this vulnerable area in the logistics journey.”

The company’s innovative solution is a direct response to statistics that point to the prevalence of workplace accidents, with more than 10 percent of them rated as fatal. The fatal injury rate in the transportation and logistics industry segment is twice the all-industry rate, which no company should ever ignore.

Other key benefits to this life-saving system include universal compatibility with all vehicle types, including those with liftgates. It is also highly adaptable for seamless installation on any driveway approach and requires minimal maintenance. Loading dock accidents consist of various scenarios, including trailer creep (vehicle movement caused by forklifts entering and exiting the trailer), unexpected trailer departures — often leading to falls from the dock edge.

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Loading bay safety without high maintenance costs

 

 

Completion of Warehouse Phase 1

St. Modwen Logistics, one of the UK’s leading logistics developers and managers, has successfully completed Phase 1 of the development at St. Modwen Park Derby. The 67-acre industrial and logistics park, which is the largest brownfield regeneration site in Derby, was developed in partnership with Derby City Council and Network Rail. It occupies a prime position, strategically located off the A52 providing direct access to Derby City Centre and just five miles to Junction 25 of the M1.

Rated BREEAM ‘Excellent’, Phase 1 of the project sees the completion of four sustainable, high-quality warehouses, with Phase 2 of development on the site already underway, providing a further c.350,000 sq.ft of high-quality logistics and warehouse space.

As a preferred St. Modwen Logistics supplier, Hörmann UK worked closely with main contractor Winvic to supply full loading bay solutions together with safety and operational equipment including dock buffers, dock lights and traffic lights, plus sectional level access doors and fire exit doorsets.

Across the four buildings that make up the first phase of the site a total of 27 loading bays have been installed. Twenty-three standard height loading bays have been fitted with HLS-2 swing lip dock levellers, with four Eurodock bays being fitted with an HTL-2 dock leveller which features a 1 metre telescopic lip. This provides an optimal range loading platform enabling the precise bridging of a variety of vehicle types and a guarantee of fast, efficient, and most importantly safe loading and unloading. In addition, 23 ‘single bay’ and 4 DSS-G ‘double/euro bay’ scissor arm dock shelters have been installed to provide protection from the elements for both operatives and goods, helping to reduce heat loss during loading and unloading operations.

With the St. Modwen Logistics site achieving an impressive EPC ‘A’ rating, each loading and level access bay is fitted with a robust Hörmann SPU F42 sectional door. The doors feature double glazed vision panels and provide excellent thermal insulation with an impressive overall U-value of between 1.1 and 1.3 Wm2.K. Stucco textured profiles deliver a durable and resilient finish to withstand the external elements, while rubber draught seals to the edges of the leveller’s help minimise heat loss during loading and unloading operations.

Other elements of the Hörmann loading systems include reinforced dock buffers which are constructed from recycled tyre rubber with 15mm thick steel faceplates. The buffers are designed to minimise any potential damage to the bay in the event of a vehicle making direct contact with the building. Traffic lights and LED dock lights complete the loading bays offering the highest standards in safety and operational efficiency during the docking and loading processes.

A total of 23 Hörmann STU steel fire escape doorsets have also been installed throughout the 4 units, completing an impressive range of products supplied, all chosen for their quality construction and the impressive service offered by the company.

Phil Thorpe, Industrial Division Manager at Hörmann UK, comments “St. Modwen Park Derby is a landmark logistics development for Derby and Hörmann are proud to be working with St. Modwen Logistics and Winvic on the completion of the site. Our loading solutions have been designed to deliver unbeatable levels of safety and functionality, together with excellent thermal properties. At Hörmann we are committed to providing St. Modwen and their clients with first-class solutions and service to help streamline business needs and processes.”

Telescopic Lip Dock Leveller

The continuing growth of e-commerce and last-mile deliveries within the UK logistics sector results in distributors and operators looking for even greater flexibility and speed when loading/unloading all types of fleet vehicles. The innovative HTLV4 dock leveller from Hörmann UK can provide a safe and adaptable solution with its unique 3-part telescopic lip making it suitable for all vehicles sizes including euro-trailers, through to transit vans.

Removing the need for separate loading bays with different ramp heights to accommodate either lorries or vans, the HTLV4 dock leveller is a cost effective and space saving solution. Designed with a three-piece telescopic lip and variable weight compensation the HTLV4 can operate either across its full telescopic lip as a conventional dock leveller or with the extension of only the middle section to accommodate smaller vehicles and transit vans. The dock leveller has a self-supporting articulated design and is manufactured in accordance with EN 1398. It is available in three standard widths and four standard lengths making it suitable for the majority of operational conditions.

For the loading and unloading of vans the HTLV4 has been manufactured with a patented, intelligent hydraulic system. Two hydraulic cylinders allow the dock leveller to follow the movement of the loading surface of the vehicle, reducing the transference of weight from the leveller onto the back of the van. This, combined with the positive positioning of the leveller at every point of the loading operation, results in a safer working environment for loading operatives, protects the vehicle from harsh loading forces and prevents overloading of the leveller.

For lorries the HTLV4 operates across its whole telescopic width without any compromise in performance and safety when compared to a standard dock leveller. Fully extended the HTLV4 provides an impressive maximum rated load of 60kN and when the leveller is operating with just the middle section extended for smaller vehicles, a maximum load of 20kN can be accommodated.

Industrial Division Manager for Hörmann, Phil Thorpe comments, “At Hörmann our aim is to provide a loading solution suitable for every situation and environment, and to find ways to help streamline processes for more efficient workflows. The HTLV4 dock leveller is an update to our successful HTVL3 model and just another example of how we have used our expertise to create an innovative solution to what is a growing issue within the logistics sector. Whilst there are other products on the market that facilitate the loading and unloading of different sized vehicles, Hörmann is the only manufacturer to offer a product that has been designed specifically for this purpose.

Not only does the HTLV4 continue to offer maximum flexibility, but it also ensures that operators can extend their loading capacity in terms of performance, whilst not compromising the safety of their workforce.“

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