The Dallas House of Blues, opened in 2007, calls the historic White Swan building at the crossroads of Dallas’ West End and Victory Park, home. The rich history of the building, dating back to the 1920’s when it was a coffee processing plant, perfectly complements the House of Blues unique representation of art and music. The only feature of this vintage building that wasn’t working for the House of Blues staff was the loading dock. A problem until Kelley HULK Hydraulic Dock Lifts appeared and said “the show must go on.”
The background beat.
The building wasn’t designed to handle constant dock traffic. According to House of Blues
facilities manager Joshua Kibbe, “we have just one door into the back from the dock and from there we have everything that is going to be played, served, worn or used in the club going across this dock.”
The limitations of the dock became even more apparent after the building underwent a major remodeling. Laura Harrison and team, from Corgan Architects, realized that they only had a 24” dock height on the existing building. A lower dock meant more bending and lifting during loading and unloading. This was a safety problem that needed a solution, and fast, before a setup crew suffered a serious back injury.
Harrison who had worked with Kelley in the past reached out to Doug McLeod, Kelley’s Director of Lift Products. After detailing the issue, McLeod offered Harrison the best approach, HULK Dock Lifts. From the Deftones to the Dave Matthews Band, this application called for national musical acts coming to the club and mounting their full stage show. This involved carrying their equipment into the facility in large cases containing instruments, amps, stage lighting and backdrops.
“That’s quite a stream of equipment cases coming in and out on a daily basis. We needed a reliable way for the band trucks to access our facility,” adds Kibbe.
Getting the tune right at the loading dock.
The overarching objective was to ensure the loading dock was safe and sufficiently capable of handling the loads. Knowing that heavy loads were going to be the norm for this lift, McLeod recommended a hydraulically activated scissor lift with an 8,000 lb. capacity.
Two loading dock lifts create the perfect harmony.
To ensure efficient offloading capability, two Hulk Hydraulic Dock Lifts were installed. The lift design brings the dock to the trailer and it can adjust to any truck height, and can raise or lower right to where the operator wants it in under a minute using its two powerful hydraulic cylinders. The operator has full control over the dock lift motion with the pre-wired, NEMA-4X hand-held push-button controller. The lift reduces the ramp angle to the back of the trailer, so roadies gain more control during off-loading and prevent back strain.
Thanks to Kelley, off-loading and loading at the Dallas House of Blues is now more ergonomic because the Hulk Hydraulic Dock Lifts bring the equipment to the worker. It doesn’t require any awkward bending and reduces the amount of physical strain required to complete a task. This means that bands, other acts, and Dallas House of Blues staff can get groovy without the back ache.
Saving Energy saves you money.
Just take loading dock lights, for example. You could go for the standard and install incandescent bulbs through-out your facility and wave hello to ‘unnecessary’ energy loss. Yep, you could do that! Or, you could break the energy-guzzling mold and change to energy efficient warehouse lighting, LED lamps. For inspiration sake let’s take a look at the High Impact LED™ Dock Light from APS Resource. This LED light delivers on two key accounts where energy consumption is concerned. It’s durable so it will last longer even on the tough loading dock where impacts are a common occurrence, and it will light for longer boasting 60,000 hours of lamp life. LED is an energy-saving winner!
Saving energy is a good business decision.
Check out this formula: good business decisions + valued employees = higher productivity. No, you’re right, this is nothing new but it is worth reminding. Good business decisions are a result of a holistic perspective. Energy saving companies view the business and resources (yes, employees are number one) as a whole and as imperative to success. With summer fast approaching, there is no better way to keep your employees cool on the job than with a HVLS large fan such as the Kelley FUSION™ High Volume Low Speed (HVLS) warehouse fans. These large ceiling fans are designed to move massive volumes of air, while conserving energy. A good business decision that keeps money in your wallet saves energy and ensures comfortable employees.
Saving energy feels good.
When have you ever heard someone complaining “oh jeez, I saved all that energy and now I just don’t know what the heck to do with it?” Exactly, never! Saving energy is always going to make you feel, well…good! A superior seal on your loading dock can make your temperature sensitive product feel ‘good’ too. Consider energy; keep it inside the facility rather than allowing it to leak out through gaps (which occur commonly on loading docks without efficient seals). ENERGY GUARD™ provides a superior perimeter seal along the sides and rear of your dock leveler which stops the flow of air. In fact, you can choose to have this factory installed on your new dock levelers saving you time and money right from the get-go or retro-fit it to existing levelers to reduce operational costs.
Energy saving, it’s a good deed that is beneficial for you, your business, your employees and of course, the planet. So the next time you think about scrimping over your budget and opting for the cheaper piece of equipment, instead try identifying which investment will actually end up saving you energy and money in the long-run.
Check out our Kelley Website for even more energy-saving loading dock equipment or contact one of our loading dock specialists today at 877-558-6960
A recent article in the March edition of Buildings echoed the importance of fire safety. Discussing how the oversight of the ‘small stuff’ can lead to disastrous fires. Some common breaches and small oversights such as painted fire sprinklers, poorly marked exits, blocked water piping have the tendency to flourish into larger problems.
Get it before it starts.
Fighting fires begins long before the first spark or sign of smoke. Fire safety is a top consideration during the design process of any building construction. It is also an early phase consideration in the products and equipment choices you make. Take for example the cooling systems you install in your building, fans and the like are all important players.
What can help?
The NFPA’s Research Foundation awarded a research project a medal in 2012 for its work evaluating the implication of HVLS industrial fans on the effectiveness of automatic sprinklers. This award promotes safety guidelines for fans as well as establishes confidence and reassurance in the facilities utilizing them.
The research project was conducted in two phase’s with the first in 2008 and the second phase in 2010. Numerous scenarios of testing including installation spacing, speed and other variables of HVLS fan operation on both early suppression, fast response (ESFR) and control mode density area (CMDA ) sprinkler systems upon fires started within rack storage and palletized commodities. The project found HVLS fans, when installed in accordance with NFPA 13 requirements; do not impact the performance of sprinkler systems.
Know the facts.
Education is an important piece of fire protection, flex those mental muscles and generate extensive fire safety plans.
The project discussed above was an important milestone in fire safety and debunked concerns of HVLS fans and fires, stating that it does not interfere with sprinkler systems. In fact the project evaluated HVLS large fans as minimizing the possibility and effects of fire and other risks.
These tests are great news for HVLS big fan users and potential users and the safety of their facilities.
If the Fire Marshall says so.
What if it is mandated that Kelley HVLS fans automatically shut down when sprinklers are activated from a fire alarm? Is there an automated system to shutdown HVLS fans from a central location?
iFAN™ by Kelley® may not be able to help prevent fires but it can certainly assist with fire suppression and fire code compliance. This system’s intelligent software can control all of your large HVLS fans from one location, fan automation. Giving your system of fans the ability to interconnect with fire suppression systems so that in the event of a fire, fans will shut down within -- seconds.
Call one of our HVLS fan experts today at 1-800-558-6960 or visit KelleyFans.com
HVLS Fans or High Volume Low Speed Fans are, in a word, efficient. The next generation of air movement has landed on the doorstep of many facilities looking for a sustainable means of keeping their employees comfortable and productive.
These large industrial fans move air in buildings ranging from 2,500 to 1,500,000 sq. ft. Gone are
the days of employees sweating their way into a heat related illness or racking up enormous energy bills from the HVAC unit working overtime.
One smokin’ hot fan.
These fans move large volumes of air at low speeds. At Kelley we don’t just say, we do. Come visit our ‘Fan Lab’ and see for yourself if we are ‘blowing smoke’. Come witness our engineering test's which clearly displays how KELLEY FUSION HVLS fans move more air. The fan blades produce a massive column of air that flows down to the floor and outward in all directions, creating a deep “horizontal floor jet” that circulates air up vertically and gets drawn back through the top of the fan. KELLEY FUSION HVLS fans have become known as the fans that move more air for less and here are two reasons why:
KELLEY FUSION HVLS large fans boast unique design features.
• Winglet Design maximizes the efficiency of the airfoil
• 6-Blade Design weighs 40% less, reduces stress on the building
You don’t need to run out and search for inventive ways to keep your employees cool without spending crazy amounts of your budget. You don’t need to write up a super impressive proposal plan or convince your boss that you need to spend tons on a new air circulation system. Instead, save your money and perhaps your reputation and let the benefits of the KELLEY FUSION HVLS fan do the talking. The benefits are sure to impress anyone with even a slight interest in your business.
Wondering what all the ‘whoosh’ is about?
Then let’s get down to the nitty-gritty of fan talk, pay attention to the benefits of owning a KELLEY FUSION HVLS fan.
- Better air quality will result in protecting product integrity, followed by a more even distribution of oxygen which also causes improved air quality.
- Your employees will be cooler and more comfortable. The large fan’s slow breeze moving at 2 to 3 miles per hour is responsible for the perceived temperature reduction equivalent to 7 to 11 degrees. Providing a more comfortable work environment and giving way to increased productivity.
- You will also notice a reduction in energy consumption. Kelley HVLS fans can work with HVAC units to help regulate a facility’s temperature year-round from floor to ceiling permitting an increase or decrease in thermostat temperature setting between 3 and 5 degrees. This will generally cause an overall energy savings of up to 4 % per degree change.
- And it’s not just a 3-6 month benefit. KELLEY HVLS fans can be run in reverse in the winter months providing the same comfort benefits while still remaining efficient.
iPocalypse of inefficient air movement.
While Kelley FUSION HVLS fans cannot kill zombies and the like, when it comes to moving air, we can do one better. Meet iFAN, now facilities have the ability to network and control multiple fans from a centralized location collectively, individually, by zone or facility. You can use a touchscreen computer or tablet to interact with the unique software interface. Tailored navigation buttons provide access to operating parameters and can be programmed to selected date and time settings or temperature variances.
From fan labs and smoke tests to happy customer’s reporting endless HVLS fan benefits, Kelley has the data to back up the promise. The only thing missing is YOU.
Call one of our HVLS fan experts today at 1-800-558-6960 or visit KelleyFans.com
Anyone who is familiar with the material handling industry knows that one of the higher risk elements in any supply chain is the loading dock. Loading docks, with a variety of different functions occurring simultaneously, can be dangerous places and workers face many high-risk hazards. It is within everyone’s interest to ensure safety measures are adhered to at all times. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, slips and falls cause 15 percent of all lost-time accidents, with a disproportionately high number of these injuries occurring at the loading dock.
Nevertheless, dock safety is possible. There are steps you will need to take in order to achieve a safer workplace and there are products available to help you. Take a look at these five tips for a safer loading dock:
1. Goal? Prevent dangerous slick floors.
Kelley offers an extremely effective Dock Seal to help keep the elements out and ensure a drier loading dock.
For example, take a look at our AquaShield® Rain Sealing System. This system keeps external moisture out of the loading or unloading area through the use of its “wiper" pad that engages the vehicle at the door. This system has been tested during 2 inches of rainfall which fell every two hours, on a loading dock with a 6% slope and a 48” trailer engaged. The AquaShield dock seal was 96% effective at keeping rain out even during these harsh conditions. If you want to keep loading dock floors dry, invest in an effective loading dock seal.
2. Goal? Keep things well lit.
Shadows or poorly lit areas will increase the chances of slips and falls occurring. A slip or fall in an office setting is bad enough but imagine the implications on a loading dock. Dock safety diminishes when dock lighting is lacking. One way you can reduce the chances of loading dock accidents is to ensure work areas are always well lit with loading dock lights.
First and foremost, ideal loading dock lights are rugged and built to withstand even the most severe fork lift, trailer and product load impacts. The High Impact LED™ Dock Light from APS Resource delivers maximum light output using only 18 watts. It is the ideal light for any busy loading dock. Keeping your work areas safe and well lit shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg. An LED bulb also offers longer lamp-life and saves tons on energy bills. It’s an all-round winner at reducing loading dock energy costs and greatly increases visibility and subsequently safety inside trailers.
3. Goal? Use clear communication systems.
Install light communication systems that provide clear visual confirmation to the truck driver and the loading dock operator as to the status of the loading dock.
This is another extremely important safety tool for dock workers and truck drivers. These dock lights increase dock safety by communicating certain actions between workers and dock equipment. High visibility LED flashing green/red lights reduce the potential for accidents from truck drivers pulling away before loading/unloading is finished.
- Flashing green, the truck driver knows it is safe for him to pull away.
- Flashing red is an indication that loading/unloading is not complete.
4. Goal? Save employees backs.
Last year, OSHA Assistant Secretary of Labor David Michaels reported, “Every year in America, nearly 4 million people suffer a workplace injury from which some may never recover.”
The good news is that with Kelley's full line of HULK in-plant ergonomic lifts you can reduce the physical strain required to complete a task. Don’t make your employee bend over and strain their backs, instead use a dock lift or a lift table and increase dock safety.
The Kelley HULK Turntable is ideal in the event that an employee needs to rotate their work to them. This lift table combo cuts back on the amount of times an employee will need to reach, bend or twist. Therefore making the process more ergonomic, while making back injuries less likely to occur.
5. Training, training, training.
Training is needed with each new employee, new policy or new piece of equipment. Effective training can save time, money, and most importantly, lives. The goal with training is to make sure your employees fully understand how to operate and control the dock equipment. In the event that they are faced with a hazard, an employee who has been trained (and trained-well) will react much faster and more accurately than an employee who has not experienced training. One often overlooked aspect of this issue is clear, easy-to-understand instructions on all equipment controls. Kelley control panels provide simple, clear instructions and can be customized to be bilingual as well as customers’ other unique needs.
If you can achieve all of these goals at the loading dock you are sure to score big on dock safety.
For more information, please contact one of our dock equipment experts at 1-800-558-6960 or Sales@KelleyCompany.com
Product damage is a costly issue and a lot of companies try to recoup some of the financial loss of damaged inventory by selling it at discounted prices. You know all of those liquidation centers that have those great T.V. commercials we love so much? Instead of banishing your valuable assets off to the ‘damage lot’ along with their scratched and dented cousins, take the precautions necessary to keep your commodity safe. With unpredictable weather conditions becoming all the more common it is increasingly important to ensure your loading dock is prepared to resist the elements.
Consider this, a trailer loaded full of valuable -water-intolerant- product pulls into your yard. Its lashing rain, the driver jumps out onto the wet concrete and runs back to open the trailer doors, before backing into the loading dock. The trailer is engaged and off-loading begins. By now the wind has picked up and the heavy rain is spitting through the gaps between the trailer’s door hinges. I bet you can guess what happens to your water-intolerant product.
Kelley is all about solutions. That is what engineers at Kelley have spent the past 60 years producing, solutions.
Kelley Dock Seals have fabric covered foam pads that compress on impact or when a trailer makes contact. This action provides a tight seal around the sides of the trailer, closing off any gaps that may have existed between the dock walls and the trailer hinges. Another value-added benefit of a dock seal is keeping air conditioned energy inside. The seal prevents unnecessary amounts of energy from rapidly flowing through gaps or openings.
So who needs a dock seal? Well just about anyone who plans on shipping and receiving product through a loading dock. Nevertheless, one size does not fit all. Kelley Dock Seals feature an entire portfolio; each seal is unique and reserved for a specific application.
Have a look at these four application/industry specific Kelley Dock Seals.
DSS Foam Dock Seal with Head Pad
- Ideal for smaller doors
- It seals automatically
- Built of heavy-duty construction including roll-formed TufSteel® galvanized steel
DSH Foam Dock Seal with Head Curtain
- A hood-style head curtain seals the rear of the vehicle
- Ideal for doors that are 9' high or taller
- End caps secure the drop curtain to the side pads
- Fiberglass stays provide stiffness in the top of the curtain for better moisture drainage
- Seamless aluminum tubing provides support for the head curtain
DSSL L-Shaped Side Pad Foam Dock Seal with Head Pad
- Full-width access to the vehicle when docked at doors up to 9' high
- Compression foam head pad with L-shaped side pads, roll-formed galvanized steel framing
- Side pads are equipped with triangular-shaped foam wedges that support the "L-shape"
- Available for Door Sizes Up to 10'-0" Wide
V-Seal® VSH Foam Dock Seal with Head Curtain
- Patented V-Seal model offers a tight sidewall seal
- Added benefit of a hood-style head curtain for application with taller doorways
- Modular hood configuration includes extra durable TS-55® Super Fabric curtain
- Support pads on seamless aluminum tubing for front support
Suggestions for keeping your loading dock and product dry boil down to prevention. Rewrite your severe weather playbook and install a durable loading dock seal to provide an effective barrier against the elements. Not only will you benefit from hanging onto to your valuable assets ‘undamaged’ (and out of liquidation centers,) but you will also enjoy the added perks of keeping your floors dryer, and consequently, keeping your employees safer by preventing the all-too-common workplace slips and falls.
To find out more about Kelley’s line of durable dock seals and to increase loading dock energy efficiency, discuss which seal fits you and your unique application, contact a Kelley Dock Seal Specialist today, at 1-800-558-6960 or Sales@KelleyCompany.com
When we go to work, we expect a safe work environment. Everyday employers are focusing more and more on ergonomics in the workplace to optimize worker safety and well-being, but also to simplify tasks, increase efficiency and strengthen productivity.
Last year, OSHA Assistant Secretary of Labor David Michaels reported, “Every year in America, nearly 4 million people suffer a workplace injury from which some may never recover.”
The good news is that with Kelley's full line of HULK in-plant lifts you can reduce the physical strain required to complete a task. By making the process more comfortable and more efficient for the worker, you have also made it more ergonomic.
The study of ergonomics emphasizes the risk of awkward postures. This occurs when joints are not in the neutral (or natural) position. Some awkward positions are extremely common and occur frequently:
- bending the trunk to either side
- twisting the trunk
- turning the head to either side
- bending the neck to either side
- bending the neck backwards
During a regular work day in the material handling or any industry, you can guarantee an employee will have to bend, twist and reenact some of the above movements over and over again. Replacing, outdated equipment with ergonomic products is a sound business decision. Number one, it protects your best asset, your employees. Furthermore, it boasts a high return-on-investment. As soon as these new products and processes are implemented you will increase the productivity levels at your facility.
Some ways ergonomic products increase productivity are:
- Simplifying the task and saving time
- Optimizing employee well-being
- Reducing the amount of physical strain required to complete a task
Depending on the job demand, Kelley HULK Dock Lifts and Ergonomic Lift Tables provide a safer innovative solution to moving product within your plant.
Reach less with a Kelley HULK Turntable which is ideal in situations whereby an employee needs to rotate their work to them. This lift cuts back on the amount of times an employee will need to reach, bend or twist. Thanks to the Kelley Hulk Turntable this new process is more ergonomic because it improves the fit between workplace conditions and job demands.
Tilt less with a Kelley HULK Titler. This lift positions parts and hard to reach objects within easy access, minimizing stretching, bending, and ultimately, preventing back injuries.
Bend less with a Kelley HULK Scissor Lift Table. This lift provides a versatile and ergonomic solution to essentially any material handling application. Due to the fact that an in-plant lift table greatly saves on time by simplifying tasks, it also saves on employee energy. Employees use less energy to complete a task, rather than the employee bending down to reach the work, the lift will bring their work to them. Employees are less fatigued and can complete more work in less time.
Be proactive and incorporate more ergonomic products into your plant. See how Kelley loading dock equipment can help reduce the potential for what the U.S. Department of Labor calls work-related musculoskeletal disorders. When you weigh the potential gains against the potential missed days, lowered productivity and financial loss, it is clear that an ergonomic workplace is a far more efficient and cost-effective choice.
Learn more about these ergonomic solutions, visit kelleycompany.com.
iFAN by Kelley is designed to provide facilities the option of networking their HVLS big fans and controlling them from a centralized location. iFAN, was created to ensure maximum performance, functionality and energy savings year-round from your HVLS big fans.
A single iFAN system can accommodate a variety of HVLS big fans per configuration, and in many cases additional fans can be included depending on the application. The fans are networked to a 21-inch touch screen computer, complete with custom graphics representing the facility’s exact fan layout. This screen allows administrators to control fans individually, by zone and for the entire facility. iFAN allows HVLS fans to be monitored and controlled by time settings, temperature settings or temperature variance. The system can also display a variety of tailored performance metrics for individual fans, a particular zone or the entire facility that can be archived and viewed later for trend analysis.
Centralized fan controls restrict access to ensure unauthorized employees are not changing the fan’s settings. Constantly changing fan speeds and adjusting them from their most efficient settings, generally around 70 percent power, can lead to substantial decreases in your energy saving potential and can even end up costing you more money. iFAN prevents this energy loss to help keep employees confortable and productive and facilities energy efficient year-round.
These systems can help make sure that operational and energy savings goals for your HVLS warehouse fans are realized through built in tracking metrics that allow you to generate reports. The system displays a variety of unique metrics for each fan, zone and entire facility which can be archived and reviewed later for trend analysis to help make decisions about optimizing your fan’s performance to increase energy savings and employee productivity.
For more information, visit kelleyfans.com.
From all of us at Kelley, we would like to you wish you, your family and friends a very Happy Holiday season! It is a very special time of year for all of us to spend time with family and loved ones, reflect on the past year and look forward to what 2013 (hopefully) has in store!
We would like to thank all those who took the time to visit our exhibition located at the India Warehousing and Logistics Show on December 7th, 8th and 9th to learn how Kelley India provides customers the highest quality, dependable products at a lower cost of ownership than other industry brands.
During the three day show, we saw nearly 200 customers from Western and Southern India who spent time with our trained engineers learning about our products. Some of the featured products in the Kelley India stall customers were able to interact with were the Kelley® Hydraulic Dock Leveler with Robotically Welded Platform, Lambda beam & Lip Lug design and the energy efficient Kelley® Fusion HVLS Fan (High Volume Low Speed Fan) of 24 Feet diameter fitted with 2 HP motor.
If you would like more information about the products and services demonstrated at the show, visit kelleyindia.com.
