Dock Design
Dock Leveler Types
Blue Giant offers a wide range of dock leveler types. Selecting the best match for your dock is a critical step.
Recessed Dock Levelers: They are available in hydraulic and mechanical versions. The recessed style dock levelers have several available pit styles; self-contained (self-standing), formed concrete pit (pit installed), pour-in pans and pit-kits.
Vertical Dock Levelers: Are available in a hydraulic version only. Vertical dock levelers have two standard pit styles; T-shape and continous pit.
Recessed Dock Levelers
Pour-in versus Pit-installed: A pour-in dock leveler eliminates the need for pit forming. However, a pour-in has to be installed when the slab is poured, many months before the dock leveler is actually required. This means the dock leveler is paid for before it is needed, and it is subject to potential pre-use damage. A pit installed dock leveler is installed into a previously constructed pit at the latter stages of building construction.
The best features of both styles can be obtained by using Blue Giant Pit Kits during installation. A pit kit is a set of pre-fabricated steel panels that are bolted together on site to yield a true, square pit for less money than wood forms. For more information please see refer to our Dock Reference Center for Pit Detail Submittals.
Formed Pits
Blue Giant offers several curb angle configurations are available with this style of pit construction, which include 4 PC, 6 PC and 8 PC curb anlge kits.
Pour-In Pans
Blue Giant offers two styles of pour-in pans, 3-sided and 3-sided with bottom. The dock leveler is pre-installed in the pour-in pan and is required to be installed when the slab is poured.
Pit-Kit
Provides all the construction advantages of a pour-in dock leveler while eliminating the problems of handling and positioning the dock leveler months before it is needed. Ensures accurate pit dimensions and squareness.
