If your team is in need of solutions that make the loading and unloading of rail cars safe and efficient, loading arms are a fantastic option. Relied upon by those in the oil & gas, petrochemical, and bulk terminal related industries, loading arms are highly effective and dependable, making them ideal to stand up to the demands of railcar loading and unloading. As one of western Canada’s leading suppliers of loading rack solutions, Northern Platforms is proud to offer top products from trusted industry suppliers like SafeRack, OPW, Emco Wheaton and more.
If you’re looking for loading arm solutions but are unsure what best fits your needs, below we’ll highlight some of the top factors to keep in mind when choosing the right loading arm for your needs. Read on to learn more!
Know Your Equipment
When it comes to selecting the best available options for loading arms, you’ll want to be aware of the kind of tankers you’ll be using for transport. For example, the needs of a rail car vs a truck will be different, as will your needs if you’re consistently loading from the top vs the bottom. Knowing how your loading or unloading operation is configured and what type of equipment you’ll be using will make it far easier to select the right kind of loading arm for your applications, and should be taken into consideration as soon as possible.
Bottom vs. Top Loading Arms: What’s the Real Difference?
As you might assume, the key difference between top and bottom loading arms is evident in their title. Bottom arms function with the operator on the ground and utilize a spring counterbalance that allows the operator to easily position the loading arm. Bottom Loading Arm Systems are ideal for loading and unloading petroleum products, chemicals and liquefied gases, and offer numerous benefits over conventional top-loading systems:
Improved safety since operator remains on the ground during loading/unloading
Quicker connections reduce overall loading/unloading time
Bottom loading systems create less turbulence in the tank, reducing the danger of generating static electricity.
Bottom loading reduces vapors and the system can be adapted to also recover displaced vapors
Tanks can be filled faster and several compartments can be loaded simultaneously
Bottom-loading islands are simpler and cheaper to build than top-loading racks
Top Loading railcars and trucks continue to provide an efficient and cost effective method to load and unload in many situations.
A loading system should have sufficient horizontal range to reach the farthest compartment without re-spotting the vehicle. Sufficient vertical movement and drop-pipe lengths to service vehicles of varying heights is also necessary. A properly designed top loading system can provide protection and achieve this requirement. Top loading arms can also be used for tight-fill, vapor recovery, marine and other applications when used with specially designed and engineered components, such as vapor plates, tapered hatch plugs, and inflatable hatch seals.
Special top loading arm designs can also be supplied with a wide range of valves, fittings, and instrumentation equipment.
Compatibility Needs
It comes as no surprise that compatibility is ultimately one of your biggest points of consideration when looking at loading arms. You’ll want to find an option that allows for seamless integration and flawless compatibility with your existing system. Size, type of product, pressure/temperature, material of construction, O-ring commutability and end connections all need to be taken into consideration when coming up with the right loading arm for your application. In order to ensure the best fit possible, your team will want to partner with experienced loading solution providers that will make it easy to integrate loading arms with the systems you have in place already including gangways, platforms and fall prevention cages. Northern Platforms Ltd has the experience and knowledge to help you determine the best fit for purpose loading arm solution!
Railcar Loading Arms At Northern Platforms
Need help finding the right match for your applications? Northern Platforms is here to make loading solutions easy! Our inventory features a wide selection of options, including products from top manufacturers like OPW & Emco Wheaton. As global leaders in the development of loading arms and coupling systems, both manufacturers designs are perfectly suited for a wide range of needs all the way from a simple chemical drum filling arm to a fully insulated molten Sulphur loading arm.
Is your crew always on the go and in need of modular safe access solutions you can depend on? Whether you’re in the oil & gas, transportation, construction, or any other related heavy industry, Northern Platforms is here to keep you covered! With decades of expertise under our belt and a competitive inventory that makes sure you always have access to the products you need, Northern Platforms is one of Western Canada’s most trusted providers of safe access products. When you want products you can depend on and customer service that always keeps your needs front and center, it’s time to contact Northern Platforms!
Build The Right Fit
At Northern Platforms, we know that safe access solutions are rarely “one size fits all”. That’s why portable access platforms and modular solutions have quickly become one of the preferred choices across North America for facility safety and efficiency. Designed to enhance your overall operations while also ensuring compliance with OH&S and OSHA standards, these platforms make it easy to load and unload heavy and awkward cargo quickly.
Thanks to their ability to be swiftly configured to almost any setup, modular platforms produced by manufacturers like ErectaStep gives you freedom and mobility, as well as cost-effective savings over fabricated solutions that can leave your facility in a bind should you face sudden changes. Portable landing platforms are ideal for both short and long-term use and facilitate the safe loading and unloading of products, as well as on-site transport and mobility. Simply put, if you’re looking for the best ROI for your budget, modular systems are a fantastic solution that gives you access to a wide range of options, including the ability to add fall protection and safe access points on railcars and trucks as needed.
At Northern Platforms, you can always count on us to stock the leading solutions for all loading applications, including solutions from industry-leading manufacturers like
SafeRack (We are Western Canada’s exclusive source for SafeRack)
RollAStep
ErectAStep, and more.
Your All-Access Provider
For almost two decades, the Northern Platforms team has partnered with clients throughout Western Canada to assist them with finding the perfect loading solutions for their operations. From work platforms to rolling steps, spill containment, and everything in between, our experts are here to ensure you have the help you need, right from the first set up to expansions and everything in between.
Alongside our vast inventory, you’ll also find multiple services dedicated to assisting with turnkey installation services and preventive maintenance, meaning you can trust us to help your crew reach where they need to go, every step of the way. Partnering with Northern Platforms gives you access to everything you need to succeed, without the gimmicks, budget busters, or headaches along the way.
Learn more about our portable access platform solutions as well as our extensive range of other items by contacting our team today!
Are you in the hauling, trucking, heavy industrial, or construction sectors? If you’re tired of dealing with the ups and downs that come with loading and unloading, it’s time to look into the benefits of specially designed safety and efficiency equipment like SafeRack’s line of truck loading safety platforms.
Designed to uphold OH&S/OSHA standards, as well as provide superior protection for activities taking place more than 4 feet above the ground, safety platforms and gangways help keep your crew safe, efficient and minimize on-the-job risks with fall protection and more. Northern Platforms believes in the importance of workplace safety and is proud to stock leading solutions from the top manufacturers in the industry in our inventory. We are Western Canada’s exclusive source for SafeRack products, and offer extensive assistance for all your safe access needs Learn more about the benefits of truck loading safety platforms, including SafeRack’s self-adjusting stair gangway, below!
Workplace Compliance Meets Safety
It’s no secret that Albertan, as well as Canadian safety standards in the workplace, are extensive and for good reason. With the right tools and solutions in place, you can greatly reduce the risk faced by your employees. Safety platforms and gangways will help you stay aligned with many government mandates, but also drastically enhance workplace efficiency. With the ability to include fall protection, swing gates, and other enhanced safety features, truck loading safety platforms are versatile and dependable when, and where, it matters most.
Meet SafeRack
When it comes to purchasing safety and efficiency-related equipment, there’s simply no room to settle for second best. With a reputation for unbeatable quality and constant innovation, Northern Platforms is pleased to carry SafeRack’s line of platforms and gangways. Made from high-grade aluminum, SafeRack’s self-adjusting gangway system is designed to fit a vast range of vehicle heights and offer a superior lifecycle thanks to its U-Body design, SAS gangways are rugged, easy to use, and require minimal effort to raise an lower onto the vehicle you are accessing. SafeRack gangways also offer the option to include a gangway track system to allow for miss-spotting of vehicles, and when you buy from Northern Platforms, you can be rest assured your equipment will be shipped as quickly as possible for your convenience.
SafeRack Equipment at Northern Platforms
Northern Platforms is proud to be the exclusive distributor of SafeRack products throughout Western Canada and to feature many of their most in-demand products throughout our inventory. Our range of solutions features the SafeRack self-adjusting stair gangway and much more. Contact our team today to learn more about SafeRack’s gangways, as well as Northern Platforms’ extensive range of safe access and loading solutions!
Tired of dealing with messy loading setups and inadequate access solutions that make operations difficult and unsafe? For those in the railcar or truck loading industry, loading platforms are a vital asset that makes operations much safer, as well as more efficient. With today’s loading platforms designed to uphold all OH&S/OSHA standards, as well as provide a safe work environment for applications that take place over 4 ft from ground level, truck loading platforms are a valuable asset to any hauling operation.
As one of Western Canada’s leading suppliers of safe access and loading solutions, we’re proud to offer top products from manufactures like SafeRack and more. Northern Platforms is also your exclusive source for SafeRack items in the west and offers a highly varied inventory to choose from. Below, we’ll take a close look at the benefits of truck loading safety platforms, including SafeRack’s self-adjusting stair gangway. Read on to learn more!
Safety First!
As we all know, Canada’s safety regulations for loading and unloading have become progressively more detailed, with compliance now being strictly enforced for everyone’s benefit. Safety platforms not only guarantee compliance but are designed to facilitate enhanced efficiency for your entire operation by minimizing risk. With heavy duty-safety cages and numerous options that can be supplied to meet your individual needs, safety platforms and gangways are set to tackle the heaviest of tasks. Northern Platforms’ loading safety platforms have everything you need to succeed!
SafeRack’s Self-Adjusting & Self-Leveling Gangway
At Northern Platforms, we believe in supplying our clients with only the best products. That’s why we’re proud to be western Canada’s exclusive source for SafeRack solutions. With a reputation for high-end results and unbeatable performance, SafeRack’s self-adjusting gangway system is designed to pair seamlessly with a wide variety of sizes and ranges of trucks. In addition, SafeRack’s self-adjusting / self-leveling gangway has a wide working range and makes it easy to deal with vehicles that vary in height. Best of all, the singular piece design means that welds are reduced and, as a result, potential failures are virtually eliminated. Northern Platforms’ SAS gangways are easy to use, long-lasting, and can be easily retrofitted to your existing platform as needed. The self-adjusting stair gangway is often supplied with a safety cage for extra fall protection and the gangways can also be supplied with a gangway track system to allow for miss-spotting of the trucks.
Your Exclusive Source
Northern Platforms is pleased to be the exclusive distributor of SafeRack products throughout Western Canada. Our inventory features several SafeRack products, including the SafeRack self-adjusting stair gangway and much more. Contact our team today to learn more about SafeRack’s gangway, as well as Northern Platforms’ extensive range of safe access and loading solutions!
Does your business require modular platforms and stairs to facilitate safe access, easy loading, storage access and more? At Northern Platforms, we’re proud to supply Western Canada with access to leading safe loading and rolling stair solutions from brands like ErectaStep & RollaStep. As one of the top names in the business, ErectaStep & RollaStep products are known for their superior performance, long-lasting designs, and ease of use. Rolling stairs bring a multitude of benefits to any job site, and help to enhance safety as well as efficiency. Below, we’ll explore just a few of the perks of working with rolling stairs. Read on to learn more!
1. Enhanced Mobility
Rolling ladders are fantastic for job sites where you find yourself constantly needing to transfer your equipment from place to place. When you need to be on the go on a regular basis, rolling ladders allow you to move back and forth with ease, without having to constantly tear down and set up. The end result is a much more productive workplace and a product that will always have your back when it matters most.
2. Increased Safety
Ladders of all kinds will always have a certain amount of risk, but rolling ladders are much more stable, reducing most of the common dangers associated with using them. As rolling ladders do not need to lean against walls, there is less chance that they will slip and roll, and the overall safety ratio for workers is much higher. ErectaStep ladders & RollaStep rolling ladders can often be paired with safety gates and fall protection, further reducing the risks that can be presented while working at heights.
Because of the design of rolling ladders, in particular their stability, such platforms are ideal in warehouses, industrial plants, airplane hangers, transportation facilities and a wide array of other worksites where constant movement and cargo transport are a reality.
3. Convenient storage
There’s nothing worse than bulky equipment that causes more issues than benefits, but fortunately, rolling ladders can often be easily stored in small spaces, maximizing convenience alongside performance. ErectaStep and RollaStep rolling platforms are a breeze to store and always ensure you’ll have the extra floor space you need when they’re not in use.
Rolling Platforms and More at Northern Platforms
Ready to learn more about ErectaStep and our available rolling stairs? Contact our team today! With nearly 20 years of industry experience behind your belt and an unwavering commitment to exceptional customer service, you can always count on Northern Platforms to keep your operations rolling smoothly!
