Rite-Hite recently made improvements to its Eclipse shelter, which blocks light and seals gaps, providing a dark, environmentally secure dock.
“Loading dock enclosures are designed to create a barrier between interior and exterior environments,” said Kyle Justice, product manager. “But, even the best seals and shelters sometimes leave gaps. Gaps allow contaminants to enter your facility and expensive energy to escape.”
In a single piece of equipment, the Eclipse shelter provides a tight, consistent seal all the way up trailer sides, across the top, and at the corners, Rite-Hite said.
On the sides of the trailer, GapMaster hooks wrap around swing-open trailer doors, sealing the gaps created by the door hinge—gaps that amount to more than 2½ square feet of open air if left unsealed. The hooks are constructed of a rugged material for durability and wrapped with a flexible vinyl sleeve that conforms around the hinges for a better seal, Rite-Hite maintained.
Side curtains are built with high-strength Durathon fabric, which features a friction-resistant surface that resists wear.
Along the top of the trailer, a weighted head curtain applies more than 100 pounds of pressure across the full width of the trailer top. This gravity-based system keeps the curtain in constant contact with the trailer during loading and unloading, ensuring a tight, consistent seal without requiring an additional rain diversion header, the company claimed.
This weighted curtain automatically adjusts to a wide range of trailer heights, eliminating the need for manual pull ropes, effectively sealing low and tall trailers alike.
At the top corners, the Eclipse side curtains and weighted header work together to seal gaps that ordinary shelters don’t address. Fabric corner pockets connect sides to top, providing a dark, complete seal when trailers back into place.
Below and around the dock leveler, Rite-Hite’s PitMaster under-leveler sealing system provides a barrier against environmental infiltration on the exterior of the dock. Meanwhile, lip corner seals, filler pads and other components block gaps on the inside of the dock. Working together, the Eclipse shelter and PitMaster under-leveler sealing system provide an effective seal on all four sides of the dock door opening when trailers are in place, Rite-Hite said.
“Our best dock shelter just got better,” said Paul Rowlett, president of Rite-Hite Environmental Enclosures Corporation. “The Eclipse shelter improves employee comfort and safety. It helps protect products and equipment from weather-related damage. And it helps keep contaminants from entering your facility, contributing to the safety, cleanliness and overall environmental quality of your operations.”
Visit ritehite.com/products/seals-and-shelters/shelters/eclipse-dock-shelter for more information.
