- Location
- Holyhead, Gwynedd
- Main postcode district
- LL65
- Nearby (straight line)
- Llangefni (14 miles), Caernarfon (19 miles) and Bangor (22 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.
Why do sites in Holyhead choose this?
Fresh produce cooled at a packhouse in Holyhead stays colder during loading when the gap around the trailer is sealed by inflated cushions. Pharmaceutical distributors around Holyhead working to tight temperature limits may want the close seal an inflatable shelter gives during every load.
Operators replacing foam seals in Holyhead that keep wearing out against ill-fitting trailers may find an inflatable shelter suffers far less rubbing.
Our part of the job in Holyhead is to survey, quote and manage; the fitting itself is done by specialist installation engineers working under our management. The survey and the written quote are free. Once the fixed price is accepted, we agree dates that work around your deliveries and shifts, including out-of-hours working where needed. Every installation is tested before handover, and you receive the documentation for each item fitted.
In the wider area around Holyhead, the Port of Holyhead is a major ferry port for Ireland. Docks with frequent trailer movements put more cycles on doors and levellers, which is why planned servicing matters.
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.
What is involved in installing an inflatable dock shelter?
Installing an inflatable shelter involves fixing a steel frame to the building around the dock door, mounting the cushions and fan, and wiring the controls, usually over one to two days per bay.
- The wall is checked and fixing points or a subframe prepared.
- The frame is fixed from powered access equipment in the yard.
- Top and side cushions are fitted, with protective covers where specified.
- The fan unit is mounted and the control panel wired, including interlocks to the door, leveller or restraint.
- Inflation, deflation and cushion retraction are tested with a trailer in the bay.
You will need to provide a clear yard area in front of the bay, take the bay out of use and arrange a power supply near the door, or ask us to include one. At cold stores we plan the work with the dock door kept closed, so the store stays at temperature while the shelter goes up outside.
The same published guide range applies across Wales; access, out-of-hours working and site conditions are confirmed at the free survey.
What do we check at the survey?
- Wheel guide positions and yard markings for reversing vehicles
- Wind exposure at the dock, which affects door and shelter choice
- Forklift and pallet truck loads crossing the leveller platform
- How drivers are prevented from pulling away too early
- Scope to convert ground-level doors into docks or add lift tables
- Drainage on recessed or sloping dock approaches
Options to discuss
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.
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.
Planning, building control and safety law in Wales
Equipment fitted in Wales may carry the UKCA or the CE mark. For each door, leveller or shelter installed in Holyhead, we hand over the documentation that comes with it. Permissions are never assumed either way: whether planning permission or Building Regulations approval is needed, we check what applies at survey and tell you before dates are agreed.
Questions about inflatable dock shelters in Holyhead
What details do you need from us to quote for inflatable dock shelters?
To get started, send the site address in Holyhead, 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 Holyhead?
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.
Will you deal with building control and planning for a project in Holyhead?
We check at survey whether the work is likely to need approval. Forming a new opening or dock pit may need Building Regulations approval, a building warrant or building control approval, depending on the nation, and external structures such as loading houses can need planning permission. Where approval is needed, we explain what is involved, work with your designer or agent, and build it into the programme.
Is an inflatable shelter worth it at an ambient dock?
An inflatable shelter works at any dock, but at ambient bays a curtain shelter or dock seal usually gives enough sealing for less cost. Inflatables make most sense where temperature, hygiene or energy use makes the closest practical seal worth paying for.
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.
Inflatable dock shelters near Holyhead
Distances are measured from Holyhead. Nearby towns we cover include Llangefni (14 miles), Caernarfon (19 miles) and Bangor (22 miles), and other towns in the area are covered too.
Other loading bay services in Holyhead
Full guide to inflatable dock shelters · Everything we do in Holyhead
If a loading bay in Holyhead needs attention, call us or send photos and details online.