Loading Dock Equipment Archives | Lots-a-Ramps Material Handling
Copperloy Yard Ramps | Portable Forklift Ramps
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Loading Dock Equipment

Steel Yard Ramps | Superior Strength | Lots A Ramps

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A572-50 High Strength Steel Yard Ramps 

When it comes to steel yard ramps, we insist on leading the industry, and to achieve this we only employ the best materials. A572-50 HSLA steel plates make it possible to create ramps that provide superior strength in a surprisingly light package; two attributes that have our customers beating a path to our door.

Steel Yard Ramps being a little harder to form and a little heavier than aluminum; If moving a slightly heavier ramp isn’t a concern, Steel Ramps is the best option when dealing with heavyweights. Make dealing with is ramps that can’t handle the loads a thing of the past. Trust the strength and durability of A572-50 Steel and you will never be disappointed.

They employ hot rolled structural steel A572-50 plates being the ideal material for the job. Tolerance, concentricity, and straightness are major factors in constructing the ultimate ramp. Additionally, strong carbide and nitride formers produce a small and fine grain, giving the best notch toughness. Each halving of the grain diameter produces a 50% increase in tensile strength.

A572-50 steel is tailor-made for our portable or mobile yard ramps, and our dock-to-ground ramps, where extra strength and reduced end product weight are paramount. These ramps being constructed with solid steel side curbs to help prevent runoff including serrated grating for high traction and durability. Snow and rain will fall right through, along with an incredible lifespan and durability.

Main Features of A572-50 Plate Steel

A572-50 steel is a complex blend of materials that work together to form the ultimate in strength and functionality. Some of its features when used in our ramps include:

 

  • Blend of columbium and vanadium.
  • Trace elements of manganese, phosphorus, sulfur, and silicon.
  • Increased corrosion resistance with the addition of copper, nickel, silicon, and chromium.
  • Superior resilience and durability from a manufacturing process that requires 25% – 30% more power than standard carbon steel plates.

 

Normal hot rolled steel does not guarantee structural properties. When employing the steel to A36 it guarantees the steel strength to 36k min yield. At Lots A Ramps they upgrade to A572-50, which has a 50k pound minimum yield thanks to its more refined alloys, which give it more strength and weld-ability. Making this is the best by far material to construct a yard ramp.

Contact us at 800-321-4968 for more information about our steel ramps and how they can help you.

Dock to Ground Ramp | How To Use Correctly | Lots A Ramps

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The Correct Set Up Of Your Dock To Ground Ramp

Congratulations on the investment of your dock to ground ramp ensuring proper setup is crucial for safety. Lots A Ramps provides all of our customers with detailed installation instructions and a comprehensive user manual, however, this quick guide can be used as a resource as well.

Upon arrival unload your ramp. Position two lifts, one on each side of the ramp, and have them engage the ramp, clearing it of the carrier and any supports. Then drive forward clearing the ramp, and then slowly lower the ramp to the ground, placing it atop wood blocks.

Next, you’ll be able to position the ramp into place. Setting up your ramp, first, attach safety chain brackets to the dock face. Keep bumper plates close to the dock face preventing movement, square up the ramp in position on the dock surface. Attach safety chains to the brackets on the dock face, with as little slack as possible to keep it secure.

You have now successfully set up your facility’s dock to ground ramp. Yes, it’s that easy. 

Safety Practices For All Models

  • Do not exceed 5 mph when driving ramp.
  • Never exceed the rated capacity of the ramp.
  • Never travel on-ramp unless lip is securely on the dock floor and attached safety chains are securely in place.
  • Do not use the ramp with equipment, material, or people on or in front of the ramp or lip.
  • Do not use the ramp if it looks damaged. Tell your supervisor it needs repair right away.
  • Do not use this unit to dock heights outside its intended working range.
  • If you have any problems or questions using the ramp, contact your supervisor for assistance.
  • Do not stop the truck or attempt to change gears while ascending or descending the ramp.
  • Always traverse the ramp with the forks toward the dock or elevated end.

Operating

  • Approach the ramp with the fork truck or vehicle in low gear and maintain an even rate of ascending speed.
  • DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ACCELERATE WHILE ASCENDING THE RAMP.
  • When traversing up the ramp toward the dock or elevated end be sure of door clearance with large loads.
  • The loaded end of the lift truck should always be toward the raised end of the ramp with the forks and load
    above the grating.
  • Fork trucks should ascend and descend the ramp in the lowest gear.
  • DO NOT STOP THE TRUCK ON THE RAMP TO CHANGE GEARS. This could cause lift truck tire spin and loss of control or undue wear and tear on the lifts tires.

Maintenance

Annually inspect ramps enamel finish, touch up any areas indicating rust with a rust inhibitive coating.
Inspect grating for excessive wear and replace as required.

Questions Or Concerns

If you have any questions, please call our team at 800-321-4968. We’ll be happy to provide you with more information or with another copy of your manual.

 

Purchasing a Used Yard Ramp | Lots A Ramps | Here To Help

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 Questions To Ask When Purchasing A Used Yard Ramp.

Lots A Ramps wants to simplify the purchase of a used yard ramp. Used ramps are in stock and available faster than a new ramp made to order, and the price is usually lower than purchasing new.

Buying used allows you to increase productivity at your facility that much faster. While concerns about reliability are valid, you can alleviate those fears by asking a few simple questions prior to making your purchase.

Has the used ramp been inspected?

At Lots A Ramps, we employ a 44-point detailed inspection checklist to certify that your used yard ramp is in excellent working condition. Some examples of things we check are structural integrity, hydraulics, and overall working order. The more detailed the inspection, the better.

Does The ramp Include any kind of warranty?

At Lots A Ramp, we inspect and then resell only Lots-a-ramps-branded yard ramps. Additionally, offering a 6-month warranty on the hydraulic portion of the ramp, as well as a 3-year warranty on the ramp structure. If the used ramp you’re considering doesn’t offer any type of warranty, you may want to reconsider your purchase.

Are used ramps available to Lots A Ramps distributors?

Absolutely! Send us the details of what your customer needs, and if we have a used ramp in stock that matches those specifications, we’ll certainly let you know. You fulfill your customer’s request that much faster and at a lower cost.

Need a ramp in a hurry?  While our standard ramps are usually constructed in about 2 weeks, we have found that the majority of the time we happen to have a used ramp in stock that will fit your needs.

In the market for a used ramp for your warehouse or industrial facility? We can help narrow down your search. Contact us today to find out more.

Boost Productivity | Custom Yard Ramps | Lots A Ramps

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How To Boost Your Productivity With Custom Yard Ramps.

Let Lots A Ramps help your facility boost its productivity with custom yard ramps. Your loading dock needs to be efficient as well as safe. Docks can be a dangerous place, especially when forklifts are in use on uneven grades. The risk of injury increases adequately.

Dock boards, as well as yard ramps, bridge the gap between elevations to help stabilize forklifts and keep your employees safe. With a dock board or a yard ramp, you’ll enjoy a more productive, more efficient and safer work environment.

Lots A Ramps produces a huge array of dock boards and plates with different capacities, features, and specifications. Did you know that a dock board can be a ramp as well? Even if there isn’t a height difference at the dock, dock boards are still ramps and vital to safe material handling. We offer dock boards as well as plates in both aluminum and steel, with multiple curb options.

Custom Dock Solutions For Your Facility

Have a unique loading dock situation? Even if your warehouse design is unique, our engineering team can help with a custom solution. There’s no challenge too difficult, and no specification or circumstance too unique—we can develop the perfect solution, tailor-made for your real-world application in three easy steps.

  • Initial Call – Upon your initial call, we’ll gather the details for your specific application, including any necessary measurements, such as dock height, the weight of your equipment, width requirements and any restrictions.
  • Engineering Department – Our team of talented engineers reviews your specifications and a meeting with the production manager then provides you with the time it will take to construct your custom solution.
  • Final Design and Pricing – Next, we reach out to local material providers to obtain current pricing. A design is drawn for approval, and cost determined. We send the quote to you for review.

Our custom solutions aren’t specific to industrial or warehouse settings. Their engineering team has supplied a number of custom solutions. Our team welcomes any challenging design to fit your facilities needs. Have a unique material handling or dock ramp need? Lots A Ramps is here to help with your custom design solution.

Determining Loading Dock Needs | Lots A Ramps |

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Understanding Your Loading Dock Equipment Needs.

Does your current loading dock equipment meet the needs of your facility? Perhaps your loading dock equipment has seen better days, or you just want to improve efficiency in your warehouse facility. No matter what the reason, you first need to understand your current layout before changes can be made. Understanding your loading dock needs before you update and understanding your current workflow. Find out how to make your operation more efficient.

Situation Report: Current Dock Equipment

Before we can suggest the right loading dock solution for your facility, we need to understand exactly what your needs are. What type of equipment are you currently using? Have your material handling needs adjusted since the starting operations in your warehouse?

We’re usually able to gather all the information we need over the phone, but we do rely on our distributors to supply further details. When necessary, we’ll visit your facility to get a better understanding of your present workflow.

Understanding the Equipment

In order for us to determine what particular yard ramp is the best solution for your facility, we need to determine the needed capacity. For that, you need to know your equipment specs.

Will you be running forklifts on the ramps? What is the weight of the forklift and the max load it will be carrying? Other important measurements include dock opening, truck height, the width of the door opening and the width of what is using the ramp.

These details are critical for ordering loading equipment that will work seamlessly with your current dock setup.

Ready To Ship

We understand that sometimes customers need a solution sooner rather than later. In this case, we usually recommend an in-stock item. From yard ramps to dock lifts, we have a variety of solutions ready to ship to your location.

But what if you have a unique loading dock needs? We can handle that, too.

Is your facility in need of a loading dock equipment upgrade? We’re here to help. Contact us to find your solution today.

Edge of Dock Leveler Maintenance | Lots A Ramps

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 Edge of Dock Leveler Maintenance

When was the last time you thought about your edge of dock leveler maintenance?  With moving loads in and out of your facility all day, every day is your main goal, until your equipment doesn’t function properly. Taking time for recommended maintenance of your dock equipment can seem like a time drain—but you’ll be thankful you did.

And better to schedule time now rather than endure downtime when a critical load needs to leave your facility. Fortunately, our EOD levelers require minimal maintenance, including the simple lubrication of hinges, which come equipped with grease fittings. With Lots A Ramps edge of dock leveler maintenance truly couldn’t be any simpler or quicker.

Read on for step-by-step procedures for keeping your EOD leveler functioning properly.

Safety Precautions

First things first.

Before you service your edge of dock leveler, be sure to take necessary safety measures to avoid injury (and by injury, we mean serious injury. This is, after all, heavy-duty steel equipment capable of handling several thousand pounds.) Reading manuals can be tedious, but in this case, you’ll be glad you did.

Be aware that:

  1. The EOD leveler moves toward you.
  2. For maintenance, the leveler should be in the raised position and secured with the maintenance strut. (More on that important piece of equipment below.)
  3. Always return the edge of dock leveler to the stored position after service.

Got it? Good. Now you’re ready to insert the maintenance strut.

  1. Using the hand lever, position the EOD leveler in the full back position. See Fig. 18 from the manual for reference.Maintenance Lever for Edge of Dock Leveler Maintenance
  2. While one person holds the hand lever down (Fig. 18 again), another person standing on the drive surface must position the lip to its full upright position. Take a look at Fig. 25 from the manual to confirm correct positioning.EOD Leveler Maintenance Positioning
  3. With the ramp and lip in the full upright position, move the lever to the maintenance socket location. See Fig. 25 again for reference.

By the Manual

Safety precautions? Check. Equipment prep? Check. Now you’re ready to tackle the task at hand. Remember, your Lots A Ramps equipment is warrantied to be free from defects in material and workmanship under normal use for a period of one year, provided that the purchaser maintains and operates the edge of dock leveler in accordance with the owner’s manual. Go by the book!

  1. Every 90 days, with the dock leveler in the maintenance position, inspect all moving parts for wear or damage. Repair or replace as necessary.
  2. Inspect all welds, and repair or replace as necessary.
  3. If linkage parts must be replaced due to wear or damage, raise the leveler to its rear-most position by means of the hand lever and secure with the maintenance strut. Again, reference Fig. 25 from the manual.
  4. Lubricate all grease fittings every 90 days.
  5. To increase spring tension, turn bolts in evenly. To decrease spring tension, turn bolts out evenly.
  6. Every 90 days, inspect the dock bumpers: 4” of bumper protection is required. Worn, torn, loose or missing bumper must be replaced.
  7. Every 90 days, check all labels and replace as necessary. You can find a list of part numbers for your edge of dock leveler on page 26 of your owner’s manual or download the PDF.
  8. Every 6 months, verify that you have the latest manual. Follow the link above for the most current version.
  9. Hydraulic edge of dock levelers only: Seasonally change the hydraulic fluid for ambient temperatures, or if there is any evidence of accumulating condensation creating water contamination.

Fluid Recommendations

Finally, don’t use brake fluid or any other fluids not approved by Lots A Ramps. Use of such fluids may degrade the hydraulic system’s seals and hoses.

The first choice for fluid is Citco AW-46(200) hydraulic fluid. This is the fluid we normally supply with your unit. It’s suitable for an ambient temperature range of -10°F to 100°F (-23°C to 38°C).

We’re confident these steps will become second nature, once you get on a routine maintenance schedule. Have other maintenance-related questions? We’d love to hear from you. Contact us today.

Loading Dock Safety | Lots A Ramps | Essential Tips

heavy duty ramps for trucks

Taking Loading Dock Safety Seriously

Here at Lots A Ramps, Taking loading dock safety seriously is our main goal. We take every precaution in our own facility, and we want to share some of our top tips for keeping your loading dock clear of potential hazards—and your employees safe. Also, be sure to check OSHA for the latest loading and unloading regulations.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, falls, slips and trips accounted for 247,120 cases of on-the-job injuries at U.S. private industries in 2014. Warehouse and manufacturing facilities have the potential for workplace accidents.  That’s not surprising when you consider all the equipment required to load and unload trucks.

 

Loading Dock Safety

 

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Benefits of Yard Ramps with One-Cylinder Pump Design

Smooth side plates on a yard ramp

One Cylinder Pump Yard Ramps at Lots A Ramps

How can one cylinder pump yard ramps benefit you? Still using traditional two cylinder yard ramps at your warehouse facility?  If so, you may be missing out on more efficient loading and unloading of materials.

We’re proud to announce we’ve updated the hydraulic pump design on Lots-a-ramps’s lineup of OHSA-compliant industrial yard ramps, and the results are in! These re-designed one cylinder yard ramps are the time savers you’ve been looking for.

How Our One Cylinder Pump Yard Ramps Save You Time

1. Faster Raise Times – Lots-a-ramps’s revamped, the one-cylinder design uses less pressure to lift the ramp when compared to traditional yard ramps with two-cylinder hydraulic systems. This allows for not only easier operation, but faster raise time as well—up to two-and-a-half times faster than the average industry ramp.

2. Reduced Wear – A traditional two-cylinder pump can rise unevenly due to a variety of conditions, including general wear. Lots-a-ramps’s one centrally located cylinder guarantees that the ramp will rise evenly every time.

3. Improved Safety – Our new design provides greater stability because the hydraulic system is disengaged while the ramp is in use. This allows the ramp to work in unison with raising and lowering of the truck.

4. Easy Pump Access – The pumps location on the outside of the ramp frame allows for easy access at all times.

5. Reduced Potential for Tire Issues – Solid-filled pneumatic tires can handle rugged terrain without the potential for punctures or air pressure problems.

6. Relocated Rotation Point – Rotation occurs on the redesigned positioning sleeve instead of the ramp connection, reducing wear on the ramp structure.

7. Improved Position Sleeve – Three points of connection greatly reduces the likelihood of disconnection during irregular maneuvers.

Watch the comparison video below showcasing the time-saving efficiency of Lots-a-ramps’s redesigned yard ramp versus standard industry ramps. Contact Lots A Ramps to find out more about the benefits of one-cylinder hydraulic yard ramps.