- Location
- Melksham, Wiltshire
- Main postcode district
- SN12
- Nearby (straight line)
- Trowbridge (5 miles), Chippenham (6 miles) and Devizes (6 miles)
- Survey and quote
- Free, with a fixed written quote
An edge-of-dock leveller is a compact leveller mounted on the front face or top edge of a loading dock, with no pit needed. A short hinged plate and lip bridge the gap between dock and trailer, but it can only cover a small height difference above and below dock level, so it suits sites where trailer bed heights are consistent.
What matters for edge-of-dock levellers in Melksham?
On older buildings in Melksham where drains or services run close to the dock, avoiding a pit can make an edge-of-dock leveller the sensible route. Replacing loose bridge plates at a dock in Melksham with a fixed edge-of-dock leveller removes the need to lift and position heavy plates by hand.
Smaller distribution units in Melksham without dock pits can add a practical loading position with an edge-of-dock leveller fixed straight to the dock face.
We never ask you to commit before you have a fixed price. A free survey at your Melksham site comes first, followed by a written quote. When the order goes ahead, we plan the installation around your operation, book any out-of-hours working you need and manage the specialist installation engineers on site. The job ends with a full test, a run-through for the people who will use the equipment and a set of handover documents.
How much does an edge-of-dock leveller cost?
An edge-of-dock leveller typically costs £1,800 to £4,400 per leveller, excluding VAT, supply and fit. That is considerably less than a pit leveller, because there is no pit to form or maintain and the unit itself is smaller.
The price depends on:
- Operation: mechanical units with a lever and spring assistance cost less than hydraulic push-button units.
- Width and capacity: wider plates and higher ratings for heavier forklifts.
- Fixing method: bolting to sound concrete, welding to an existing steel edge, or fitting a new edge angle first.
- Dock face condition: spalled or damaged concrete may need repair before fixing.
- Bumpers: often replaced or repositioned at the same time.
- Power: hydraulic units need a supply at the bay.
Concrete repairs or new edge steel are priced as separate items after survey, so you can see exactly what the leveller costs on its own. The written quote is the fixed price.
Do edge-of-dock levellers need the same inspections as pit levellers?
Yes, an edge-of-dock leveller is work equipment just like a pit leveller, so it must be kept in a safe condition and inspected where deterioration could lead to danger. Its small size does not exempt it.
- Great Britain: PUWER 1998 applies, with HSE as the regulator.
- Northern Ireland: PUWER (Northern Ireland) 1999 applies, with HSENI as the regulator.
- Insurer inspections: engineering insurers commonly inspect dock levellers under PUWER at 12-month intervals, so ask your insurer to confirm edge-of-dock units are on the schedule.
- Standard: the dock leveller safety standard is BS EN 1398:2009, which is current and under review.
- Trapping points: HSE guidance notes that guards or skirting may be needed on dock levellers where something could be caught, so hinge areas and plate edges are checked.
Mechanical units rely on springs and hinges that wear, so an inspection should cover these as carefully as the hydraulics on a powered unit.
The same published guide range applies across England; access, out-of-hours working and site conditions are confirmed at the free survey.
What do we check at the survey?
- Condition of any existing leveller pit, kerb angles and pit drainage
- Temperature requirements for chilled, frozen or ambient goods
- Escape routes and pedestrian doors close to the bay
- Lighting inside trailers and at the dock face
- Access for deliveries, cranes or lifting equipment during installation
- Forklift and pallet truck loads crossing the leveller platform
Options to discuss
Hydraulic edge-of-dock leveller
Push-button operation with a compact power pack, easier for frequent use and able to be interlocked with dock doors and traffic lights.
New edge steel and bumpers
A replacement steel edge angle and correctly positioned bumpers to give a sound fixing and protect the leveller from trailer impact.
What do the rules in England mean for the work?
Sites in Melksham fall under the rules for England. Structural changes such as forming a new opening or a dock leveller pit may need Building Regulations approval, and external structures such as loading houses, canopies or new dock approaches can need planning permission from the local planning authority. We check what applies at survey and build any approvals into the plan.
Questions about edge-of-dock levellers in Melksham
Which building and safety rules apply to a site in Melksham?
It depends on which UK nation the site is in. England and Wales use Building Regulations approval, Scotland uses building warrants and Northern Ireland uses building control approval from the council. Workplace safety is regulated by HSE in Great Britain and HSENI in Northern Ireland, and energy rules differ between nations. For your site in Melksham, we check what applies at survey and design to it.
Do you remove and dispose of the old equipment?
Yes, where it is part of the scope. When we replace doors, levellers, shelters or seals at a site in Melksham, removal and disposal of the old equipment can be included and is itemised in the quote, so it is clear what is covered. If anything should be kept, such as a frame or motor that is still serviceable, we agree that at survey.
How long does installation take at a site in Melksham?
It depends on the equipment, the number of bays, the condition of the dock and whether any building or electrical work is needed. We agree a programme with you after the survey, setting out which bays are out of use and when. Larger jobs are usually phased so that part of the dock stays open, and out-of-hours working can be arranged.
Can an edge-of-dock leveller be fitted to any dock?
Most docks can take one if the dock face or edge steel is sound enough to fix to. Damaged concrete or worn edge angles may need repair first. The more important question is whether your trailer heights fall within the leveller's small working range, which we check at survey.
Do edge-of-dock levellers need servicing?
Yes, they should be serviced and inspected like any leveller. Mechanical units need their springs, hinges and lip checked and lubricated, and hydraulic units also need hoses and the power pack inspected. Service visits are chargeable and agreed before anyone attends.
Edge-of-dock levellers near Melksham
Other towns within reach of Melksham on our coverage list include Trowbridge (5 miles), Chippenham (6 miles) and Devizes (6 miles), all covered on the same terms.
Other loading bay services in Melksham
Full guide to edge-of-dock levellers · Everything we do in Melksham
Request a quote for your loading bay in Melksham, attaching photos of the dock, the equipment and any damage.