Keeping things moving: why it’s important to service your docking systems

Through our dedicated maintenance and servicing programmes, we help some of Ireland’s largest distribution and logistics specialists to keep their operations and essential equipment moving as they should. Our experienced team of engineers is the largest of its kind in Ireland and gives our customers access to hands-on expertise and knowledge, supporting them in three key areas: to improve safety, raise productivity and become more efficient. 

1. Safety management

With a constant flow of large vehicles and thousands of items passing through the doors every minute, the high volume of traffic at loading bays and docking stations makes safety a top priority.  

As one of the busiest areas of a distribution hub, the potential for accidents is high, but incorporating various design features into individual docking stations and implementing a schedule of regular maintenance can minimise the risks. Components including dock doors, levellers, shelters and load houses, can all play a part. 

Dock shelters provide protection from the elements and can reduce weather-related safety issues such as slippery surfaces, which may increase the likelihood of workers tripping or falling. Dock levellers safely bridge the gap between the docking bays and the vehicle and further safety features come in the form of manual or automatic restraint systems which can be linked to dock doors so they can only be opened when a trailer is secure. This helps to keep trailers stable and prevent the serious hazard of trailer creep during loading and unloading. 

As with all machinery, if they are to work effectively, these essential components must be kept in optimum operating condition, which we do through regular servicing. By looking at key factors such as the age of components and how regularly they are used, we develop a tailored maintenance programme suited to each customer's operations.

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2. Greater productivity

Malfunctioning equipment doesn’t just present a safety issue, it also causes problems with productivity, especially during busy periods. 

In Ireland, millions of parcels are delivered every day, each of which passes through national and regional sorting and distribution hubs. Reliable entrance systems are key to keeping those packages moving and making deliveries on time - and unexpected downtime can be a serious and costly issue. 

Not only does it cause delays, but it also has a direct impact on performance, can lead to other operational problems and even impact on health and safety. Therefore, facilities managers want to ensure the entrance systems used across a site are well-built and reliable, to minimise breakdowns and unscheduled maintenance.  

Entrance Systems from ASSA ABLOY feature IoT (Internet of Things) technology, which allows for instant reporting on the health and performance of the door and docking solutions. This gives facilities managers insight into specific pieces of equipment and their service history, allowing them to devise more accurate maintenance schedules. When maintenance is planned in this way, downtime can be minimised and as a result, productivity improves. 

3. More efficiency

Productivity and efficiency go hand in hand, and by maximising both, distribution and logistics facilities can not only reduce their operating costs but their environmental impact too. 

Government targets on carbon emissions and energy saving mean modern building standards require commercial buildings to be more efficient than ever. And, as industrial doors, loading bay equipment and other entrance systems are key parts of a building’s fabric, it follows that they should be a focus when it comes to improving sustainability. 

Long-term, a comprehensive service and maintenance programme is a proven way to maximise efficiency, keeping assets working effectively and to their full potential. All systems benefit from regular upkeep to extend their service life and reduce the lifetime cost of ownership. 

Servicing can also help to detect any problems before they occur and identify ways to improve the performance of industrial door assets, such as increasing the speed of operation or greater automation. These types of modifications are especially beneficial to businesses at a time when energy demand and costs are greater than ever, helping to balance budgets as well as improve their sustainability credentials.

Servicing from ASSA ABLOY

At ASSA ABLOY we combine local expertise with global operations, providing the type of specialist expertise you need to fully realise the benefits of routinely servicing and maintaining your industrial doors and docking systems. 

Including preventative maintenance, actionable insights and a real-time overview, our flexible and tailored service packages help logistics and distribution specialists to maximise the full potential of their entrance solutions. Our team will perform planned service visits, replace old parts and can carry out modernisation and upgrades to keep components functioning properly – even where solutions from other brands are installed. With advice available 24/7, over the phone and in person, our skilled service engineers help to solve challenges as they arise, minimise downtime and keep operations moving smoothly.

We recognise that businesses grow and change and our flexible and tailored packages reflect that, evolving alongside you and your operations. But whatever the size or stage of your business, our commitment to delivering an uncompromising service remains the same.