TKO Doors Blog

If you work in the food and beverage industry, you know how important it is to maintain the integrity of your facility.  Whether you work in a temperature-controlled cold storage facility, a dry goods warehouse, or some combination of the two, you need to make sure that your food is as protected as possible from outside contaminants and temperature fluctuations.  So what are you doing to ensure this is happening in your warehouse?

Here are a few things to look for when finding the right dock door for your food and beverage facility.

• Damage-resistance: When you have forklifts that move in and out of trailers at different dock positions every day, it’s easy for your doors to sustain some type of damage.  A good dock door will be able to withstand a forklift impact without causing damage to the panel or track.  If either one of these sustains a large amount of damage, it could put your dock position out of commission.  Even small dents can cause air leaks, which could affect the integrity of any product staged at that position.
• Insulation: If you work in a cold storage facility, chances are your walls are insulated to help regulate the temperature.  Shouldn’t your doors be insulated as well?  Having a door with 2-4 inches of insulation can provide a good R-value and keep your temperatures consistent around the dock.
• Weatherseal: Every facility wants its overhead doors to seal up tight, but that’s especially important in the food and beverage industry.  It’s a good idea to select a dock door that keeps its weatherseal on the door instead of the track.  This keeps the seal out of the way of forklifts, helping it to stay effective for a long time.
• Tracks: Most door tracks as some point are going to be hit by forklifts and other equipment.  If a door track is damaged, it can make it more difficult for the door to open and close, which can put strain on your workers.  If it gets really bad, some workers may opt to keep the door open between loads…which will definitely affect your dock’s temperature.  Get a door with a solid track, and one that uses retractable plungers instead of traditional rollers.

Your dock door should be the last thing that comes between you and a productive, safe facility.  For the sake of your product, investing in the right loading dock door will help keep everyone in the supply chain happy – from the manufacturers to the consumer.