Overview
The Series 1200 effectively services varying height vehicles at a wide range of door heights. The adjustable head pad design provides easy positioning, while the continuous follower curtain seals above the head pad throughout its full travel. When a vehicle backs in, the foam side pads compress against the trailer, eliminating the gap between the building and the vehicle body. The result is a safer dock area with improved employee comfort and efficiency. The head pad moves vertically in steel guide tracks. A cable and counterweight system drives the movement — no manual adjustment is needed between trucks. When the truck pulls away, the head pad returns to its resting position automatically. The integral follower curtain maintains the seal above the head pad at every point in its travel range, providing continuous protection at any trailer height.
Features and Benefits
The Series 1200 uses a reinforced steel channel head frame. Side frames are select dimensional lumber — pressure treated and kiln dried before and after treating. The polyurethane foam is chemically bonded to the frame for maximum structural integrity. Air exhaust outlets on each pad allow air to escape freely during compression while blocking moisture infiltration. Foam is double density for projections over 20". High-visibility yellow guide stripes on each side pad help drivers back in accurately. The sealed bearing system ensures maintenance-free rotation of the curtain shaft. The cable drum's precisely forged grooves provide uniform cable lead, and the guide pins — machined from heavy steel bars and welded into the head frame — guarantee consistent vertical travel.
Cover fabric options include Dynalon, warranted against weathering for five years. Weathering is defined as the effects of sunlight, water, cold, and heat. Additional fabric grades are available to match your application requirements and performance level. Optional upgrades include Dyna-Armor wear pleats in 4", 8", or 16" exposure, reinforced wear face, underside reinforcement, reinforced inside panels, beveled side pads, beveled head pad, and tapered units for inclined or declined drive approaches. Head pad vertical adjustment range "E" is available in 18" (standard), 24", or 30" — or a custom dimension — to accommodate the widest range of vehicle and door height variations.
Applications
The Series 1200 effectively services vehicles of varying heights at various door heights. It is the right choice for any operation where incoming trailer heights are not consistent. If your dock receives trucks from multiple carriers, handles both refrigerated and standard trailers at the same opening, or frequently services vehicles with different roof heights, this seal creates a reliable, airtight barrier regardless of where the trailer sits.
- Mixed-fleet distribution centers that receive trailers from multiple carriers with varying roof heights
- Food and beverage facilities where refrigerated trailers and standard trailers share the same dock door openings
- Manufacturing plants receiving incoming freight from varied suppliers using different trailer configurations
- Warehouses upgrading from a fixed head pad where trailer height variation has caused gaps, energy loss, or accelerated wear
- Cold storage and climate-controlled facilities where a consistent seal at varying trailer heights directly affects energy costs
- High-volume operations where hands-free head pad repositioning between trucks reduces downtime and keeps the dock moving
Selection Assistance
The Series 1200 is well suited for docks that service a range of trailer heights and need the durability of a foam pad seal without the limitation of a fixed head position. Before specifying this seal, confirm your door height and width, the typical range of incoming trailer roof heights, bumper projection, and drive approach grade.
It is recommended that the head and/or side pads be compressed no more than a maximum of 6", nor more than 45% of total projection. A minimum of 4" compression is advised to compensate for vehicles unevenly spotted against the building. Check the heights of incoming carriers at each door to ensure the head pad is at the proper elevation to accommodate that height range. Select your vertical adjustment travel — 18", 24", or 30" — based on the spread between your lowest and highest incoming trailer roof heights.
Barron Equipment's team of service technicians has been installing dock seals and shelters for over 43 years. Our experts can replace old seals with new ones or install new seals on openings that have not previously had dock seals. Along with installation, our team is experienced with repairing all types of dock seal equipment. Contact us for a recommendation based on your door dimensions, vehicle fleet, and approach grade.