- Location
- Montrose, Dundee and Angus
- Main postcode district
- DD10
- Nearby (straight line)
- Arbroath (11 miles), Forfar (17 miles) and Stonehaven (20 miles)
- Survey and quote
- Free, with a fixed written quote
An inflatable dock shelter is a dock shelter with air-filled fabric cushions at the top and sides of the opening, kept deflated and close to the building until a trailer has reversed in. A fan then inflates the cushions so they press against the trailer roof and sides, giving a close seal that adapts to different trailer widths and heights, and deflates again before the trailer leaves.
What matters for inflatable dock shelters in Montrose?
Fresh produce cooled at a packhouse in Montrose stays colder during loading when the gap around the trailer is sealed by inflated cushions. Mixed fleets arriving at a cold store in Montrose, from rigids to double-deck trailers, are exactly the situation inflatable cushions are designed for.
Driving rain and wind at an open bay in Montrose can wear cushion fabric, so a protective outer cover is worth considering on exposed docks.
Any project involving inflatable dock shelters at a working site in Montrose takes planning. We survey free of charge, quote a fixed price in writing, and then agree a programme that keeps as much of the dock running as possible. Specialist installation engineers carry out the work under our management, out of hours if that suits you better. On completion we test each item, show your team how it operates and leave the documentation with you.
What maintenance does an inflatable dock shelter need?
An inflatable shelter needs regular checks on its fabric, fan and controls, because a puncture or a weak fan stops it sealing properly. Planned servicing catches most faults before they affect the cold chain.
- Cushion fabric: inspect for punctures, abrasion and failed seams, and patch or replace cushions as needed.
- Fan unit: check filters, motor and airflow so the cushions inflate fully and promptly.
- Retraction system: straps, weights or springs must pull the cushions back clear of the trailer.
- Controls and interlocks: confirm the sequence with the door, leveller and restraint still works.
- Frame and fixings: look for impact damage and corrosion.
Snow and ice on the top cushion can stop it retracting, so a check before winter is worthwhile. Service and repair visits are chargeable, and the price is agreed before anyone attends.
How much does an inflatable dock shelter cost?
An inflatable dock shelter typically costs £6,800 to £12,800 per shelter, excluding VAT, supply and fit. It costs more than a curtain shelter or foam seal because of its cushions, fan and controls, and the closer seal it gives.
Costs are driven mainly by:
- Size: door width and height, and the range of trailers to be sealed.
- Cushion layout: a top cushion only, or top and side cushions.
- Fan and controls: standalone push-button control or full integration with the door, leveller and restraint.
- Frame and covers: the steel frame and any protective outer curtains.
- Cold store features: insulated frames or heating where ice is a concern.
- Site work: wall fixings, power supply, powered access equipment and removal of an old shelter or seal.
We fix the price in the written quote after a free site survey, which also confirms whether your trailer range suits an inflatable shelter.
The same published guide range applies across Scotland; access, out-of-hours working and site conditions are confirmed at the free survey.
What does the free survey cover?
- Whether planning, building control or a building warrant may be needed
- Temperature requirements for chilled, frozen or ambient goods
- Clear opening width and height for each door
- Gaps around trailers where heated or chilled air escapes
- How drivers are prevented from pulling away too early
- Drainage on recessed or sloping dock approaches
Options to discuss
Interlocked controls
Controls linked to the door, leveller and restraint so the shelter inflates before the door opens and deflates only once it has closed.
Top cushion only
A single inflatable cushion across the top of the opening, paired with fixed side pads or curtains, for docks where trailer heights vary more than widths.
What do the rules in Scotland mean for the work?
In Scotland, building work such as forming a new opening or a dock leveller pit may need a building warrant from the local authority before it starts. For sites in Montrose, external structures such as loading houses or canopies may also need planning permission from the council. We check what applies at survey and factor any approvals into the programme.
Questions about inflatable dock shelters in Montrose
What details do you need from us to quote for inflatable dock shelters?
To get started, send the site address in Montrose, the number of bays or openings, approximate sizes, and photos of the dock from inside and outside. Tell us what vehicles you load, what goods you handle and any temperature requirements. Drawings help on new builds. We then arrange the free survey and confirm the details before the written quote is issued.
How do you price inflatable dock shelters for a site in Montrose?
Guide budgets for supply and fit are £6,800 to £12,800 per shelter, excluding VAT. The figure moves with size, insulation, the operator, electrics, access, any pit or groundworks and out-of-hours working. Where levellers are involved, the guide assumes an existing, sound pit. After the free survey you receive a fixed written quote, and that is the price for the agreed scope.
Is the site survey in Montrose free?
Yes. For new installations, replacements, upgrades, conversions and complete bays, the site survey and written quote are free and come with no obligation. The survey lets us measure the openings, check the dock and structure, and understand how the bay is used, so the quote reflects your site. Repair and servicing visits are different: they are chargeable, with the price agreed before anyone attends.
What happens to an inflatable shelter if the power fails?
If the power fails, the fan stops and the cushions gradually deflate, so the trailer can leave once loading has been brought to a safe end. At a cold store, the dock door should be closed by hand where possible to protect the store. We explain the power failure routine at handover.
Will we need to change the rest of the dock?
Usually not. Most inflatable shelters fit around an existing door opening, though the leveller, bumpers and door controls are reviewed so the cushions clear them and the interlocks work. Where the wall cannot carry the frame, a subframe is added. We confirm what is needed at survey.
Inflatable dock shelters near Montrose
The same survey, quote and repair service is available in towns around Montrose, such as Arbroath (11 miles), Forfar (17 miles) and Stonehaven (20 miles).
Other loading bay services in Montrose
Full guide to inflatable dock shelters · Everything we do in Montrose
Phone us to discuss your loading bay in Montrose, or start with the online quote tool if you prefer to send details first.