Swing-lip dock levellers in Tyne and Wear

In short

A swing-lip dock leveller is a hydraulic ramp set into a pit at the dock edge, with a hinged steel lip along its front. When a trailer is docked the platform rises, the lip swings out, and the platform lowers until the lip rests on the trailer bed, forming a bridge for forklifts and pallet trucks. The lip is typically about 400 to 500 mm long.

How does this suit sites in Tyne and Wear?

Distribution warehouses in Tyne and Wear loading curtain-siders and box trailers every day are typical users of swing-lip levellers, which handle routine pallet loading well. Ageing levellers in older docks around Tyne and Wear can often be replaced like for like in the existing pit, avoiding new concrete work if the pit is sound.

Operators in Tyne and Wear who have added electric pallet trucks to their fleet may find an existing leveller too short, making a longer platform worth considering.

We keep the process simple for sites in Tyne and Wear. A free survey tells us what the dock needs; a fixed written quote tells you what it will cost and what is included. We then organise the installation, with specialist engineers under our management and a programme agreed around your shifts. Night and weekend work is available by arrangement. Before we leave, the new equipment is tested, demonstrated and handed over with its documentation.

What happens when a swing-lip leveller is fitted into an existing pit?

Fitting a swing-lip leveller into an existing pit normally takes one to two working days per bay, with the bay closed throughout. The work runs in a set order:

The old leveller is isolated, lifted out and removed from site.
The pit is cleaned and measured, and the edge steel checked for damage.
The new leveller is lowered in, set level, and welded or anchored to the pit steel.
The hydraulic power pack and control panel are connected, and any interlocks wired.
Toe guards, lip and bumpers are checked, then the leveller is run through its full range.

From your side we need the bay emptied and taken out of service, clear access for lifting equipment inside or outside the building, and a suitable power supply, which for most hydraulic levellers is three-phase. If the pit needs repairs, these are done first and can add time, which we confirm in the quote.

How long should a dock leveller platform be?

A leveller platform should be long enough to keep the slope gentle across the full range of trailer heights you load, because the steepest gradient decides which handling equipment can use it safely. A longer platform spreads the same height difference over a greater distance.

Know your trailer mix: with a dock typically around 1,200 mm high and trailer beds ranging from roughly 900 to 1,600 mm, the height difference can be considerable.
Check your equipment: low-clearance electric pallet trucks cope with less gradient than a counterbalance forklift with good ground clearance.
Common lengths: platforms are commonly made from around 2 to 3.5 m long, with longer units where trailers sit very low or very high.
Width: a wider platform gives more room when pallets sit close to the trailer sides.

When replacing a unit, the pit size limits what can be fitted, so we measure the pit and record your trailer heights at survey before recommending a length.

Towns we cover in Tyne and Wear

We provide swing-lip dock levellers right across Tyne and Wear. Pick the town closest to your site from the list below.

Guide price

£5,200–£8,800 per leveller, ex VAT

Budget range for supply and fit. The written quote after a free survey is the fixed price. All guide prices.

Regulations and approvals in England

Sites in Tyne and Wear 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

How do you price swing-lip dock levellers for a site in Tyne and Wear?

Guide budgets for supply and fit are £5,200 to £8,800 per leveller, 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 Tyne and Wear 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.

Can a new leveller fit our old pit?

Usually, yes. Levellers are made in standard sizes and many can be supplied to suit an existing pit, but the pit must be square, sound and deep enough. We measure the pit and check the edge steel at survey, and if adjustment or repair is needed we price it separately.

How long does a replacement leveller take to arrive?

Lead times depend on size, specification and the manufacturer, and we confirm them in the written quote. The existing leveller can usually stay in use until the replacement is on site, so the bay is only closed for the installation itself.

Other services in Tyne and Wear

Full guide to swing-lip dock levellers · All loading bay services in Tyne and Wear