Dock Shelter or Dock Seal – what is the difference?

Well, a fair bit really. Although both are designed to create a seal between a vehicle and your loading bay, they both achieve this in different ways. In this blog, we will explore the who, what, where and why of both products which will allow you to make the right choice for your loading needs. 

1. What are they used for? 

 

Both products provide an effective seal between the outside world and your loading bay. When a vehicle loads or unloads at a loading dock, there may be small gaps which can let in air, dust, insects and other debris. These products eliminate these gaps, thus keeping your loading bay clean, insulated and at a consistent temperature with the rest of your premises. 

 

 

An uninsulated loading bay may not just be a potentially cold place to work, it can also be very wet. And wet floors can lead to accidents. Dock Shelters and Seals can help prevent this and thus allow your workers to do their jobs with confidence. 

In addition, Dock Seals and Shelters can help increase the life of your loading dock doors by protecting them from the elements. Meaning you can save money on your energy bills as well as on repairs. Win win! 

 

 

Dock Seals are foam pads which are attached to your loading bay. The vehicle backs onto them and they create a tight seal around three sides of the vehicle. This effective seal is one of the reasons they are a popular choice for environments that are temperature controlled. 

Dock seals are very hard wearing and can also include wear pleats for additional protection, depending on how often they are used. Dock Seals can also be fitted with an adjustable header to suit different trailer heights which means that the formation of any gaps can be reduced and your site well-insulated. 

 

 

Traditionally a common sight on warehouse loading bays, the Dock Shelter is becoming a more and more popular option for the savvy factory owner. Basically, they are fabric enclosures which the vehicle pulls into. These fabric curtains apply pressure around the sides of the trailer, thus forming an effective seal – no matter the size of the vehicle. Thanks to their modular design, they are less prone to damage. With different types and options available (including inflatable ones – we’ll talk more on these later), they are a flexible, versatile and durable choice for your loading bays. 

 

 

This is a more difficult question, and it depends on a lot of factors including the type of business that you conduct, frequency of delivery and the variety of trailer which delivers to your site. One thing is clear though. Both products WILL make a definite improvement on a bay equipped with nothing at all.  

 

 

If, after reading this, you are still not sure, then please do contact our friendly team to arrange a free no obligation site visit to discuss your requirements in more detail. Call Stanair on 01536 482187 to arrange your free no obligation site visit today.