Looking for mobile truck access solutions that make it easy to load and unload within an industrial environment? Choosing the right kind of loading product involves the evaluation of several factors, including the nature of your cargo, fleet, number of hatches, and more. Northern Platforms makes it easy to find the right with a versatile inventory of solutions, including exclusive access to SafeRack products for Western Canada. For nearly two decades, we’ve offered our clients unparalleled service, unbeatable products, and most importantly: safety solutions you can trust. Below we’ll highlight one of SafeRack’s leading solutions for truck loading; the MAUI. Read on to learn how this incredible system can help protect both your crew and your equipment!
There’s a New Champion in Town
As we mentioned above, there’s no shortage of factors that go into selecting the right safe loading solutions for truck cargo. Elements such as what you’re hauling, the size and capabilities of your fleet, as well as your loading facility itself will all influence what kind of products are best suited for your operation. Knowing the specifics of your site and fleet will make finding the right fit much easier, and allow you peace of mind once you set your new system in place. For those look for a versatile and highly dependable option, SafeRack’s MAUI unit is a fantastic fit.
Built from the highest quality materials and backed by SafeRack’s reputation for excellence, the MAUI offers excellent durability with minimal maintenance needs. Equipped to handle loads of up to 500lbs, MAUI has solid no flat tires and is able to be reconfigured as needed for optimal convenience. MAUI’s OSHA compliant design is available in parallel and perpendicular configurations and its versatile nature makes it a vital asset to any safe loading fleet.
SafeRack Truck Loading Equipment, ONLY at Northern Platforms
Northern Platforms is Alberta and Western Canada’s exclusive distributor of SafeRack products, including their line of MAUI solutions. SafeRack’s exceptional reputation for performance and longevity has made them one of the most respected manufacturers in the industry, as well as the go-to source for the heavy industrial sectors. SafeRack’s dedication to safety and performance makes each of its products trustworthy and a valuable investment for your daily operations both in-house and in the field
As Western Canada’s exclusive SafeRack partner, Northern Platforms is pleased to offer our customers access to SafeRack’s incredible range of products, including the Maui Truck Mobile Access unit and much more. Contact our team today to learn more about Maui, SafeRack, as well as Northern Platforms’ extensive range of safe access and loading solutions!
If you’re in search of trusted loading solutions that allow you to safely transfer crude oil, Northern Platforms is on your side. With over 2 decades serving Canadians as a trusted distributor of safe loading and access equipment, our team is proud to offer you access to a wide range of tools, including crude oil loading arms from manufacturers like OPW and Emco Wheaton. Below, we’ll discuss some key factors to consider when choosing crude oil loading arms. Read on to learn more!
Why the Right Fit Matters
Loading arms are essential to aiding your operations for 2 main purposes: safety and efficiency. No matter what you’re transporting safety is a vital part of your operations, and specific products like crude oil will have unique requirements where loading and unloading is concerned. Ensuring you have the right fit not only keeps your process fast and productive, but also makes sure that everyone is safe in the process. Key considerations to finding your right fit include:
What Size of Loading Arm Do You Need?
Rail and truck loading arms typically range in size from 2″ to 6″. Knowing what size of loading arm is best suited to your operation, as well as knowing how it’s going to integrate with your existing platform/system plays an important role in finding the best fit.
Are You Loading Trucks or Railcars
While both are common for the safe transport of crude oil, trucks and railcars have different sizing and load specifications, so you’ll need to consider the exact needs of your transport carriers when selecting a loading arm. You will also need to know if you truck or railcar will be spotted right at the gangway each time or if your loading arm will need some flexibility to allow for miss-spotting of the truck or railcar.
How Are You Loading?
Crude oil is typically loaded either to atmosphere, also called splash loading, or via tight connection thorough the fill tube on the railcar. Depending on your setup, you’ll want to find the right fit for your loading arm to prevent mishaps. For example if you’re loading to atmosphere, if you are going to be doing vapor recovery you need to consider if you’re looking for a hatch plate, hatch plug, or inflatable hatch seal. Each with have unique needs that need to be dealt with.
Are You Loading Straight Crude Oil, or Oil That Has Been Diluted?
One of the major challenges of transporting and loading crude oil is preventing it from becoming overly viscous. Typically to make shipping crude oil easier condensate is added to crude oil to dilute it and make it easier to pump/ship. If you are not handling diluted bitumen, commonly referred to as Dilbit, then you’ll need to keep your loading arms hot to allow the crude oil/bitumen to easily flow through your loading arm. Working with industry leaders like OPW Engineered Systems and Emco Wheaton we can supply your loading arms with a few different styles of heat tracing. We can offer traditional steam jacketing, ControTrace, or electric heat tracing for your loading arm.
Do You Need A Safe Guard For Overfill/Level Detection
Finally, Northern Platforms offers a wide range of loading arms and solutions, including supplying a level probe or overfill sensor which can help prevent costly and dangerous spills on site.
Heavy Duty Loading Solutions at Northern Platforms
If your team is in need of loading and safe access solutions you can count on, Northern Platforms has you covered. For over 20 years, we’ve been Western Canada’s preferred provider of loading products from the top names in the business, and are proud to carry solutions from brands like SafeRack (Northern Platforms is your exclusive source for SafeRack products in Western Canada), OPW, Emco Wheaton and more. When it’s time to tackle the toughest of applications, you can count on us to have your back, both with an inventory you can trust and extensive support services including turnkey installations and more. For more information about our support services, as well as our available crude oil loading arms, contact us today.
Does your loading facility face challenges when it comes to reaching high up spaces as part of your daily operation? Whether you’re in retail fulfillment, the aerospace, marine, oil & gas, railroad, or related industries (to name just a few), rolling stairs and platforms play a vital role in helping to maintain safe standards on the worksite as well as keeping in compliance with OH&S / OSHA regulations. Rolling stairs make it easy for crew members to reach new heights, while also helping to minimize the risks associated with operating at higher levels by providing stability when it matters the most.
Northern Platforms is proud to be one of Western Canada’s leading suppliers of loading and access solutions, including rolling stairs and platforms from both ErectaStep and RollaStep. Below, we’ll explore some of the perks and tips when it comes to using rolling platforms. Read on to learn more!
When Should You Use Rolling Platforms
While there’s no one reason to consider rolling platforms, it is their sheer versatility that makes them such a valuable resource for any operation. Whether you need a stable way of transporting and transferring bulking inventory or retrieving valuable resources for shipment, or simply need an easier way for crew members to reach higher areas of a job site, rolling platforms are there to help. In comparison to other kinds of ladders and elevation systems that lack significant safety features, rolling platforms often include handrails, locking devices, height adjustability and other customizable options to help avoid accidents. This allows for greater performance while minimizing risk and boosting ROI.
Best Practices: Quick Tips
As we mentioned above, rolling platforms are already significantly safer than competing solutions, however, best practices should always be followed to ensure that everyone is operating at the highest level of excellence possible. Below are a few key factors/practices to keep in mind.
Size Matters
Just like choosing a standard ladder, sizing is key to ensuring that your platform sufficiently fits the space(s) it will be used in. The right fit will help to minimize risks and allow your team to get to work comfortably and efficiently. Bear and mind that, when choosing a size, it’s not just a question of spatial allowances, but also the intended purpose for the unit overall, including in other areas should you choose to relocate it on the completion of one project.
Inspect to Protect
Standard safety protocols dictate that all work equipment should be inspected prior to beginning your operations, and platforms are no different. Ensure crew members always give the unit a look over before ascending checking for any visible signs of damage that could compromise structural soundness, as well as ensuring that locks and all other safety features are engaged.
Positioning/Storage
Similar to the above, the unit should always be properly positioned within your location for the best results. Be aware of any safety hazards in the immediate area (water, electrical currents, overhead wires, etc), and position your platform accordingly to minimize risk. When storing between uses, you’ll want to ensure the unit is kept away from any liquids or chemicals (as commonly found in industrial settings) that could create a slick surface that unobservant crew members could miss. Regular upkeep should be a priority as well to reduce the chance of sudden failures.
Train All Parties
Finally, all parties that will use the platforms should undergo specific safety training related to best practices regarding your rolling equipment. No matter how simplistic your equipment may be, education is, and always will be the best asset when it comes to reducing risk!
RollaStep and ErectaStep Solutions and More at Northern Platforms
For over 20, Northern Platforms has served as one of Western Canada’s most trusted suppliers of loading platforms, stairs, racks, and more. As a family-owned company based out of Alberta, we strive to give back and go the extra mile to give our customers unbeatable support when it matters the most by offering turnkey installation services, maintenance assistance, and a vast inventory you can count on. Among our available products, you’ll find a wide range of products including stairs and platforms from RollaStep, ErectaStep, SafeRack (we are the exclusive dealer of SafeRack for Western Canada), and more.
Learn more about our rolling platform solutions as well as our extensive range of other items by contacting our team today!
In need of rugged rolling stair and mobile work platform solutions you can trust? Northern Platforms is here to help! With one of Western Canada’s most diverse inventories of loading products, including RollaStep products, our team has you covered when it’s time to take your operations to new heights. With exceptional customer service and products you can depend on, Northern Platforms is your first choice for all your loading needs. Learn more about our mobile stairs below!
Why Choose RollaStep
When it comes to loading and unloading operations that have to deal with issues faced by height and awkward to reach areas, having safe, efficient, and viable solutions are key for success. With decades of trust and proven performance behind their brand, RollaStep’s range of products stands as an undisputed standby for customers spanning a wide range of industries. With solutions that lead the way in terms of design and innovation, RollaStep is a natural fit when it comes to meeting workplace safety requirements, as we all as streamlining day to day operations. RollaStep prefabricated safety products are customizable, dependable, and built to stand the test of time, giving you superior performance and an ROI you can count on for years to come. Among their extensive product range you’ll find:
Rolling stairs
Portable ladders
Mobile work platforms
Adjustable stairs
Industrial and commercial use solutions, and more.
If you need easy maneuverability and performance you can count on, it’s time to roll on with RollaStep.
RollaStep Solutions and More at Northern Platforms
For nearly 20 years, Northern Platforms has served as one of Western Canada’s most trusted suppliers of loading platforms, stairs, racks, and more. As a family-owned company based out of Alberta, we strive to go the extra mile to give our customers unbeatable support, including turnkey installation services, maintenance assistance, and more. Among our inventory, you’ll find a wide range of products including stairs and platforms from RollaStep, ErectaStep, SafeRack (we are the exclusive dealer of SafeRack for Western Canada), and more. With the C, G, MP, TR models readily available as needed, you can count on us to always have your back when it matters most.
Learn more about our mobile platform solutions as well as our extensive range of other items by contacting our team today!
With their ability to reduce loading times and decrease tank turbulence, Northern Platforms bottom loading arms can boost safety and productivity in your loading system. We offer a wide selection of the most trusted ergonomic bottom loading arms on the market—and each is engineered to maximize productivity. No matter your application — trucks, drums or railcars — Northern Platforms can provide you with innovative bottom loading arms designed to handle any liquid application.
Below, we’ll highlight some of the main benefits of working with bottom loading arms, as well as touch on some of the most popular manufacturers. Read on to learn more!
About Bottom Loading Arms
Bottom loading arm systems offer numerous benefits over conventional top-loading, with the safety of the operator as the primary advantage. By utilizing a bottom loading arm system, the operator remains on the ground, not on top of the vehicle, a source at which falls commonly occur. Connections are made more quickly, thus reducing overall loading time. Bottom loading systems also create less turbulence in the tank, which reduces the danger of generating static electricity. Bottom loading also reduces vapours, which can be an environmental hazard and can be easily adapted to recover vapours displaced during loading. With speed as a crucial advantage of bottom loading, tanks are filled faster, and multiple compartments can be loaded simultaneously. Bottom loading islands are more straightforward and cheaper to build than top-loading racks. Whether your project is top-loading, bottom loading, or specialized loading applications, you can trust Northern Platforms to get the job done correctly.
Choosing the Right Fit
If you’ve read our previous piece on choosing between the top and bottom loading arms, you’ll know that before you make your selection, it’s important to know what kind of railcars and trucks you’ll be working with, as well as what methods of loading (top vs bottom) will be used. As the name suggests, bottom loads are typically used when loading from the bottom, and thus need to be paired with cars and trucks that are capable of accommodating a bottom loading configuration.
Types of Bottom Loading Arms
There a few different styles of bottom loading arms. We’ll touch on a couple of the most common:
Counterweight Bottom Hose Loader
Adjustable counterweights mounted on a pair of horizontal rails are simply moved until the desired balance point is located. This design provides for efficient handling and coupling to the tank adaptors.
Unsupported Boom Bottom Loader
Designed to provide flexible long-range operation, the heavy-duty configuration of an unsupported boom bottom loader is both reliable and easy to use. A minimum of five swivel planes of rotation offers maximum flexibility in loading/unloading railcars, tank trucks and servicing aviation refuelers when making tight connections. Both the outboard swivel and arm adjust for changes in elevation and/or tilting that may result as the vehicle is loaded or unloaded. The unsupported boom-type loader comes in many variations, making it extremely versatile. Equipped with dry-disconnect couplers, unions, quick couplings, breakaway couplings or other customer-specified end fittings allow easy connections on the side, rear, or underneath the vehicle. The intermediate swivel can be inverted to allow for the low profile and clearances needed to connect to the underside of railcars. Typically installed at or near ground level, arms of varying lengths can be mounted on staggered risers to achieve crossover and neat compact storage of multiple arms in a confined space.
A-Frame Bottom Loading Arm
The A-frame bottom loading arm is one of the more popular loading arm configurations, providing good flexibility, long reach, convenience, and ease of use. It adjusts for changes in the elevation or tilting of the vehicle during the loading/unloading process. The arm stores in an upright, near-vertical position. This allows it to swing around easily and be used for loading on either side of the island. The A-frame’s compact storage also allows the arms to be installed close together, often on risers that are approximately the same height as the vehicle connection. The A-frame loading arms can also be mounted on staggered risers next to one another to achieve arm crossover for concurrent loading of multiple compartment trucks. Commonly used for tank-truck bottom loading, A-frame arms also can be used in top-loading and unloading installations. Usually, they are equipped with a dry-disconnect coupling like an API coupler, a breakaway coupling, union, or other tight-fill fittings.
Start With a Strong Foundation
Bottom loading arms are often viewed as a preferred option where material transfer is concerned. This is because, as the name suggests, bottom loading arms transfer from the ground, allowing for greater stability and eliminating many of the risks associated with top-down loading. The spring counterbalance on the arm improves ergonomics which allows for a much faster loading time.
Bottom Loading Arms At Northern Platforms
Northern Platforms boasts a wide variety of loading options, including bottom loading arms from OPW Engineered Systems and EMCO Wheaton. Designed for optimal performance, these loading arm systems are perfect for loading and unloading petroleum products, chemicals and liquefied gases and offer benefits such as quicker connections and seamless integration with existing loading operations. Partnering with experienced loading solution providers like Northern Platforms makes it easy to find the right fit for your loading needs today.
As Western Canada’s leading source for platform and loading solutions, Northern Platforms is proud to supply numerous loading arm products to our clients from top industry producers. View our loading arm inventory here, or learn more by contacting us today!
