LOADING DOCK FACT SHEET

““DDOOCCKK BBUUMMPP”” FFAACCTTSS TTHHEE FFLLEEXX--LLIIPP™™ SSOOLLUUTTIIOONN TTOO SSMMOOOOTTHH TTRRAAIILLEERR LLOOAADDIINNGG

THE ISSUE - The process of loading trailers from a loading dock has always required some type of bridge for the gap that exists between these two, that can also move up & down with the trailer’s suspension system. Varying trailer heights, forklift weights, forklift clearances and suspensions force designers of these bridges, or loading dock levelers, to build equipment that can safely and efficiently bridge these gaps. To accommodate the up & down movement of every trailer bed at every dock, our industry designs a “crown” where the lip and deck meet. This crown is usually around a 10% grade difference between the lip and deck surfaces and allows the leveler to incorporate a service range for the difference between the dock height and the trailer bed (around 12” above and below dock height for an 8’ long dock leveler). This crown is stationary and does not change throughout the up/down movement of the trailer bed during loading. It creates a “Dock Bump” that forklift drivers must roll over every time they enter or leave the trailer. THE MATH - A dock position that receives a trailer on average has 16 pallets to remove. That’s 16 trips into and out of a trailer over the Dock Bump – 32 total trips. At 5 trucks a day for 5 days a week for 52 weeks the math is: 32 x 5 x 5 x 52 = 41,600 Dock Bumps all year long per position. The life expectancy (depending on usage) may be around 15 years. Per position, that is 624,000 Dock Bumps that must be absorbed. Over 20,000 dock positions, the total is now 12.5 billion Dock Bumps over a 15 year lifespan. THE COST Excessive Lip Crown – When the lip crown angles are too great, low clearance vehicles such as electric pallet trucks impacting the lip or trailer bed can damage the forklift, the forklift tires and even the dock leveler itself. Reducing the crown in certain situations can elongate the life of this equipment. For instance, forklift tires average $250 to replace (forklift dealer survey 3/10). By saving at least one tire replacement per year per position, the FLEX-Lip can save $250 each dock leveler used. The savings can increase when the forklift and leveler themselves are included. GOODS DAMAGE – Every bump a forklift has to negotiate jostles the load it is carrying. Reducing these bumps by 50% to 95% will mean less shaking, vibration and actual load spills for goods. If even one load a month can be saved from damage, depending on the goods type, hundreds of dollars can be saved. Fragile goods (TV’s, electronics, glassware) would cost even more. Damage to packaging, where consumers will not purchase damaged containers, would mean even further savings of hundreds of dollars a month per position.

STANDARD CROWN

FLEX-LIP™

LOW CLEARANCE LIFTS

EXCESSIVE LIP CROWN

LOADING DOCK FACT SHEET

PERSONNEL INJURY – Personal injury caused by whole body vibration is a growing problem in the workplace. Injuries lead to claims and lost time due to employee absences. The Bureau of Labor Statistics sites that back injuries have grown to almost 20% of reported workplace illnesses. Whole body vibration is exposure to the vibrating of a machine throughout the entire body. A loading dock attendant, either as a rider or a stand-up walkie operator, will be exposed to all of the Dock Bump shocks previously listed. A single back injury can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars to treat. The worst cases can force an employee to receive hospitalization or extended care costing even more over a period of years. Employees are at greater risk to neck, back and muscle fatigue when exposed to this vibration caused by the Dock Bump. THE SOLUTION THE FLEX-LIP Dockleveler is a revolutionary design. Its lip crown is designed to move from the highest above dock service position, through dock height to the lowest service range. The FLEX-LIP crown will automatically adjust as the lip & deck of the dockleveler move through the service range. As the crown changes, the Dock Bump is minimized or completely removed. Not only is the FLEX-LIP feature automatic, it is also strong. Backed with extended warranties, the FLEX-LIP will last in the most difficult applications and help to save the customer from the Dock Bump that occurs each and every ride over the dockleveler crown. THE SAVINGS The FLEX-LIP will help to save hundreds or even thousands of dollars of cost per dock position a year associated with the following due to the Dock Bump: Forklift Tire Damage Forklift Damage Dock Leveler Damage Due to Bottoming Out Impacts of Forklifts Goods Damage Due to Vibration Goods Damage Due to Falling Product Fragile Goods Damage – The Most Expensive Product Package Damage Reduce Whole Body Vibration Reduces The Constant Vibration of Potentially Billions of Dock Bumps Per Year

DDOOCCKK ““BBUUMMPP”” FFAACCTTSS TTHHEE FFLLEEXX--LLIIPP™™ SSOOLLUUTTIIOONN TTOO SSMMOOOOTTHH TTRRAAIILLEERR LLOOAADDIINNGG