Designing and building safe, efficient loading docks and selecting the right materials handling equipment just got a whole lot easier thanks to a new interactive Reference Center on the Blue Giant Web site.

The site features an extensive primer on dock planning and design, comprehensive reference and product information, and exclusive interactive “smart forms” that step you through dock planning, designing, and construction. An interactive “Selecting the Correct Dock Leveler” survey takes the guesswork out of capacity selection and warranty qualification as it guides you though a series of needs-analysis questions and decisions. Then the interactive “Pit Detail Submittal” tools let you build and diagram your ideal dock system and automatically generate detailed plans and construction schematics.

“As the recognized leader in the design and manufacturing of safe and efficient loading dock systems, Blue Giant has also become the leading authority on loading dock design,” reports Steve Greco, Director of Sales & Marketing. “We’re now putting our wealth of design experience on our Web site at no cost to enable architects, engineers, project managers, and contractors to design safer, more efficient, and lower-cost loading dock facilities. To make the detailed planning and design process go fast as well as easy, we’ve created an exclusive, industry-leading set of online tools that lead you through the process. You can literally just click your way through the input form to automatically generate the ideal turnkey system. The smart-form programming even prevents you from making inappropriate or incompatible selections.”

An example of the detailed practical knowledge and experience available on the Web site is the section on choosing between pour-in and pit installation of dock levelers. In addition to addressing the economic and quality considerations, the guide even discusses the safety risks of having open pits present during the construction process.

Blue Giant is a global leader in dock equipment and materials-handling equipment, including hydraulic and mechanical dock levelers, vertical storing docks, dock lifts, lift tables, dock safety systems, dock seals and shelters, and industrial and pallet trucks.