- Location
- Fraserburgh, Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire
- Main postcode district
- AB43
- Nearby (straight line)
- Peterhead (15 miles)
- Survey and quote
- Free, with a fixed written quote
A telescopic-lip dock leveller is a hydraulic pit leveller whose front lip slides forward out of the platform, rather than swinging on a hinge, and can be extended by a controlled amount onto the trailer bed. Telescopic lips commonly extend 500 to 1,000 mm, which lets operators reach over tail lifts, place the lip between pallets and load the last row in a trailer.
How does this suit sites in Fraserburgh?
Retail distribution sites in Fraserburgh receiving both artics and tail-lift rigids at the same bays can handle the whole mix with a telescopic-lip leveller. Before recommending a lip extension for a dock in Fraserburgh, we record the trailers that actually arrive, including tail lifts and rear overhangs.
Manufacturing sites in Fraserburgh that end-load finished goods can place the lip precisely between pallets to reach the rear row.
Step one is a survey at your site in Fraserburgh, which costs nothing and carries no obligation. Step two is a written quote with a fixed price and a clear scope. Step three is installation, scheduled around your operation and carried out by specialist installation engineers working under our management, including evenings or weekends if agreed. Step four is handover, when the equipment is tested in front of you and the paperwork is passed over.
How far should a telescopic lip extend?
A telescopic lip should extend far enough to reach clear bed space on every trailer you load, including over tail lifts, while still leaving a secure overlap on the bed. Telescopic lips commonly extend 500 to 1,000 mm.
- Around 500 mm: suits fleets without tail lifts that need precise placement and end loading.
- Up to around 1,000 mm: reaches over folded tail lifts and across the larger gap left where deep bumpers hold trailers back from the dock edge.
- Platform length: should match the lip, as a long reach on a short platform can leave steep gradients.
- Lip width: full-width lips suit most work, while narrower or tapered lips help with smaller vehicles.
We record the rear details of the trailers you receive, including tail lift depth and bumper projection, then recommend the shortest extension that covers them all. A longer lip than you need adds cost and weight without benefit.
Can a telescopic leveller replace a swing-lip unit in the same pit?
Often yes, a telescopic-lip leveller can replace a swing-lip unit in the same pit, provided the pit is square and deep enough and the edge steel is in good condition. Some telescopic units need a little more depth for the lip mechanism, so we measure carefully at survey.
A typical installation:
- The bay is closed and the old leveller isolated, lifted out and removed.
- The pit is cleaned and measured, and any edge steel repairs carried out.
- The new unit is set in, levelled and fixed to the pit steel.
- The power pack, control panel and lip controls are connected and interlocks wired.
- The platform and lip are tested through their full travel.
You will need to provide a clear bay, access for lifting equipment and a suitable power supply, typically three-phase. Installation commonly takes one to two working days per bay once the pit is ready.
The same published guide range applies across Scotland; access, out-of-hours working and site conditions are confirmed at the free survey.
What we look at on site
- Wall and steel structure for door, shelter and bumper fixings
- Temperature requirements for chilled, frozen or ambient goods
- Wheel guide positions and yard markings for reversing vehicles
- Working hours, shift patterns and windows for out-of-hours work
- Lighting inside trailers and at the dock face
- Traffic routes for vehicles and separation of pedestrians
Options to discuss
Insulated cold store version
An insulated platform with perimeter seals for chilled and frozen docks, often paired with an inflatable shelter and an insulated dock door.
500 mm lip extension
A commonly specified reach for precise placement and end loading on standard trailers and refrigerated vehicles that do not have tail lifts.
Regulations and approvals in Scotland
Energy standards for buildings in Scotland are set out in Section 6 of the Building Standards Technical Handbook. For new or replacement loading bay doors in Fraserburgh, we confirm the figure that applies to your project and check what applies at survey, rather than relying on rules written for elsewhere in the UK.
Questions about telescopic-lip dock levellers in Fraserburgh
Is the site survey in Fraserburgh 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.
Will you deal with building control and planning for a project in Fraserburgh?
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.
How long does installation take at a site in Fraserburgh?
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.
Are telescopic levellers suitable for cold stores?
Yes, telescopic levellers are widely used in cold stores because refrigerated trailers are often loaded right to the rear doors. Insulated platforms and perimeter seals reduce cold loss through the pit, and the leveller is usually interlocked with the door and shelter.
Do telescopic levellers need more maintenance?
They have more moving parts than a swing-lip leveller, including the lip guides and lip cylinder, so these need checking and lubricating at each service. With planned servicing the extra work is modest. Servicing is chargeable, with the visit price agreed in advance.
Telescopic-lip dock levellers near Fraserburgh
Other towns within reach of Fraserburgh on our coverage list include Peterhead (15 miles), all covered on the same terms.
Other loading bay services in Fraserburgh
Full guide to telescopic-lip dock levellers · Everything we do in Fraserburgh
Call us or request a quote online to talk through loading bay work at your site in Fraserburgh.