Our Comprehensive Guide to Loading Dock Seals

If you run a commercial business, you know how important it is to have the right equipment at your loading dock. That includes the dock seals.

Dock seals provide custom solutions for essential parts of your business, including safety, value, and energy conservation. With a variety of brands and types available, understanding the differences can help you choose the best option for your specific needs. What are the benefits of dock seals? Let’s explore the subject more.

wayne dalton fixed black dock seal

Dock Seals vs Dock Shelters

When it comes to loading dock solutions, understanding the differences between dock seals and dock shelters is crucial for making the best choice for your facility.

Dock Seals

Loading dock seals are foam pads that form a seal around a trailer when it backs into the loading dock. It compresses when a trailer backs into it, resting against the dock bumpers, which creates the seal around three sides of the trailer.

Dock seals provide a tight seal at a relatively affordable price and are best used in scenarios where there is minor variation between the size and style of trailers that are served at your loading dock. Dock seals also take up less space outside the dock, which makes them a great choice if space is at a premium.

Dock Shelters

Meanwhile, loading dock shelters are similar to dock seals in that they both seal the perimeter of the trailer at the loading dock. However, dock shelters apply pressure against the sides of the trailer using fabric curtains that are fitted with fibreglass stays, which means they can’t seal the space quite as effectively as dock seals do but can provide some coverage.

Shelters aren’t subject to the same wear and tear as seals as they’re not compressed constantly by delivery trucks. They can also fit larger dock doors and can accommodate a wider variety of trailer heights and styles.

dock shelter

Why Do Businesses Use Dock Seals?

Dock seals provide an airtight seal around your loading dock, providing several advantages to your business. These benefits include:

  • Climate control – having airtight seals allows you to keep out the frigid air in the winter and the hot air in the summer. That means your HVAC doesn’t have to work as hard to maintain a comfortable temperature. It also means your employees will be more productive and efficient.

  • Reduce utility bills – your HVAC systems no longer need to work as hard which translates to lower electrical and gas bills. Over time, those savings will start to add up and your dock seals will have paid for themselves.

  • Increased safety – quality dock seals keep rain, snow, and hail from entering the loading bay work area. Keeping your work area dry reduces the likelihood of slip-and-fall accidents. Additionally, your employees will feel safer, which makes them more productive and more efficient.

  • Protect your assets – seals provide more than just protection from the elements – they can also protect your facility from accidents. A dock seal forms a soft barrier between a moving truck and your building, which protects your facility and loading bay from damage due to an errant driver.

  • Improve the lifespan of your dock – adding dock seals to your loading dock can reduce the wear and tear on the exterior edges. That can mean an extended lifespan for your dock doors with fewer repair and replacement costs.

  • Improve your productivity – your employees work best when they don’t have to worry about safety at all. When they can step from the loading dock onto the trailer without worrying about whether it’ll move under them, they can work with confidence, which keeps the loading and unloading processes going smoothly and quickly.

Whether you value safety, energy efficiency, or productivity, selecting the right brand of dock seal will have you covered.

curtain seal

The Best Brands of Dock Seals

As with any product, getting top-of-the-line quality loading dock seals ensures you get the best performance and biggest advantages. At Creative Door Services™, we’re proud to offer you a wide selection of options to choose from.

  • Wayne Dalton – Wayne Dalton’s new DaltonDock™ dock seals are designed for superior weather protection and are adjustable to varying trailer heights. They offer innovative solutions that protect against harsh weather and save on heating/cooling.

  • Pentalift – Pentalift has offered high-quality dock seals for over 35 years. You can choose from foam or air inflatable seals that fit a variety of heights and widths of overhead doors, plus features such as adjustable head curtains.

  • Blue Giant – These are available in compression or air inflatable models, so you can conserve energy and protect against debris, snow, and rain. They can be customized with a variety of durable fabric options and are ideal for tailgate and standard trailers.

  • Super-Seal – Super-Seal is a leading provider of loading dock systems. They are a family-owned company that offers economical, airtight seals for servicing standard trailers of varying heights. Choose from a variety of materials and fabric cover options.

Wayne Dalton Loading Dock Seals

Wayne Dalton’s DaltonDock™ loading dock seals that provide tight compression around the top and sides of trailers docking at your loading bay, ensuring nothing can get through. The seal helps to keep out the weather and save you money on heating and cooling costs.

These loading dock seals are available with an adjustable curtain seal or as a fixed dock seal, and both offer high-quality construction via high-strength polyester thread that are UV-treated for long-term durability. The premium-grade foam used in the column and top pads ensures you get full compression and recovery, even in temperatures as low as -40°C.

Wayne Dalton uses fire-resistant fabric that is available in multiple weights. That includes a premium 40 oz option that offers 6 times the abrasion resistance. Additionally, all fabrics are treated to prevent damage from UV rays.

Wayne Dalton dock seals are used in a wide range of industries, such as retail, warehousing, manufacturing, food distribution, and even in hospitals.

Call Creative Door Services™ for Loading Dock Seals

Creative Door Services™ offers a diverse selection of warehouse and loading dock equipment and accessories to help you transform your warehouse operations. Our products allow you to accommodate trucks and trailers of varying sizes, which gives you more flexibility when loading or unloading your product. You can choose the option that is best suited to your operations.

Once you have your loading dock seals installed, you can count on us for any ongoing planned maintenance so you can extend the lifespan of your seals and equipment even further.

Creative Door Services™ has been Canada’s choice for loading dock equipment since 1969. Please contact us today to request a quote. You can find us in Kelowna, British Columbia; Vancouver, British Columbia; Calgary, Alberta; Edmonton, Alberta; Fort McMurray, Alberta; Regina, Saskatchewan; Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; and Winnipeg, Manitoba.

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