Upside’s Loading Dock Step Saves Developer $56,000 Table of Contents Loading Dock Stair Installation at Flint Development The Cost Benefit of Loading Dock Steps Loading Dock Step Installation Time Prefabricated Loading Dock Steps for Convenience Call (513) 889-2492 ORDER NOW Tracy Mikulec Tracy Mikulec, a seasoned leader in the digital marketing realm, currently serves as the Director of Digital at SixAxis, a pioneering manufacturer of industrial and commercial safety products from renowned brands like SafeRack, ErectaStep, and Upside. With a career spanning over three decades, Tracy has been at the forefront of digital innovation, ecommerce, and technology strategy. Since January 2015, Tracy has been instrumental in shaping the digital landscape at SixAxis, LLC, based in Andrews, South Carolina. His role involves leading digital strategies and overseeing technological advancements for SixAxis and its diverse portfolio of brands. Oct 09, 2023 Estimated reading time: 3 minutes When choosing the right dock stairs for your project, it’s easy to default to what’s considered the “standard” – galvanized steel stairs. However, as Steve Harder, Project Manager at Flint Development, discovered, sometimes the standard isn’t always the best choice. Loading Dock Stair Installation at Flint Development Flint Development, a commercial real estate development firm based in Kansas City, was working on the Tucson Commerce Center project in Tucson, Arizona. The project involved three buildings, each requiring multiple stair installations. The General Contractor presented estimates for the traditional steel stairs and Upside Innovations’ Dock Step. Despite initial preconceptions that aluminum might not be as “stout” as steel, the significant cost savings offered by the Dock Step warranted consideration. The Dock Step resulted in a cost savings of $2,000 for each of the project’s 28 installations. The Cost Benefit of Loading Dock Steps Ultimately, the Dock Step won out – and for good reason. The project saved about $56,000 over traditional galvanized steel stairs, with a cost reduction of $2,000 on each of the 28 total installations. But the benefits didn’t stop at the financial savings. Loading Dock Step Installation Time Installation time was another major advantage of the Dock Step. Where a fabricator would typically take about three days to install the equivalent number of stairs, the Dock Step installation took just one day for an entire building. This was a significant time saving, especially considering that each stair unit from a fabricator would require two guys working for four hours. The Dock Step units are prefabricated and modular, meaning they bolt together in about an hour. This is in stark contrast to the traditional steel stairs, which ship loose and need to be welded on-site. Prefabricated Loading Dock Steps for Convenience But perhaps the most surprising benefit was the sturdiness of the Dock Step. Despite initial biases, Steve found the Dock Step to be much sturdier than expected. He was also impressed by the installation and finish, which he found superior to custom fabrication with exposed welds. Another key benefit of Upside’s prefabricated stairs is that parts can be replaced if a unit is damaged rather than the entire unit. This not only saves on cost but also on time, as there’s no need to wait for a whole new unit to be fabricated and shipped. Warehouse & Distribution Center Solutions The perfect lightweight, heavy-duty solution for warehouse and distribution center loading docks. Because Dock Step is prefabricated and modular, it bolts together in about an hour. Product Information In conclusion, Upside Innovations’ Dock Step proved to be a superior choice for the Tucson Commerce Center project. It offered significant cost and time savings, surprising sturdiness, and a superior finish. It’s clear that when it comes to choosing dock stairs, the Dock Step is a step above the rest. StairsTools & Resources Types of Stairs for Commercial and Industrial Use Read More » June 7, 2022 Stairs Rooftop Stairs – Non-Penetrating Roof Mounted Solutions Read More » July 8, 2024