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Hopper Car Loading

Safe SafeRack solutions for loading and unloading hopper railcars quickly and safely.

Hopper railcars feature an open-top, where a product is loaded. After loading, the top is covered to protect the product while it is transported from destination to destination.

The floor of a hopper railcar is sloped, allowing the product inside to be unloaded through doors at the bottom using gravity.

Most applications and situations where cement is loaded into a hopper car have space restrictions where creatively and specifically engineered solutions are required. Hopper car vehicles are the highest of all bulk carrying rolling stock. These heights would exacerbate injuries if a worker were to fall.

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Hopper Car Loading
Our experts will work with you and your team for a custom solution to suit your needs.

Fine dust from the loading spout can accumulate on the rail cars creating an unsafe environment. Fall arrest and/or fall prevention systems are both necessary components of these load outs as they create a safe environment for workers to quickly and safely perform job duties. SafeRack’s railcar unloading and loading platforms and gangways with RetractALok are light as a feather to lift and solid as a rock. Designed for maximum safety, ergonomics, productivity, and lower maintenance.

The very nature of the rail car size itself, along with multiple hatches, means systems must allow freedom of movement while working on tops of the rail cars. Equipment solutions must allow access to all of these.

SafeRack’s railcar loading and unloading platforms and gangways offer unparalleled flexibility and versatility. SafeRack’s series of railcar gangways have been engineered to provide for worker safety while providing the adjustability and ergonomics turn over railcars as efficiently as possible.

Products

Supervised Temporary Holding Cell

The Supervised Temporary Holding Cell provides secure wire partitions, lock options, and customizable configurations for controlled detainee confinement.

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Evidence & Security Enclosures

The Evidence and Security Enclosures provide durable wire partitions, secure locks, and custom configurations for protected storage and restricted access.

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Wire Mesh Partitions and Walls

The Wire Mesh Partitions provide secure, durable enclosures with custom configurations and multiple door options for industrial storage and access control.

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Tool Cribs and Equipment Cages

The Tool Cribs and Equipment Cages provide secure, modular storage with easy installation, custom configurations, and durable wire partitions for industrial use.

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Driver Cages and Building Access

Our access cages protect your inventory, as well as visitors, vendors, and other warehouse or building personnel.

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Mobile Computer Cabinet w/ Welded Shelf

The Mobile Computer Cabinet features steel construction, a welded shelf, a 3-point lock, adjustable shelves, and casters for secure, mobile industrial storage.

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4 Shelf Bin Storage Cabinet

The Heavy-Duty 4 Shelf Bin Storage Cabinet features steel construction, lockable bins, adjustable shelves, and a secure 3-point lock for industrial storage.

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All Bin Cabinet

The Heavy-Duty All Bin Storage Cabinet features steel construction, lockable bins, a 3-point lock, and sturdy legs for secure industrial storage.

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Top View Computer Cabinet w/ Retractable Keyboard

The Top View Computer Cabinet features 12-gauge steel, a retractable keyboard tray, a 3-point lock, and adjustable shelves for secure industrial storage.

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Outdoor Storage Cabinet

The Heavy-Duty Outdoor Storage Cabinet features 12-gauge steel, adjustable shelves, a 3-point lock, and a weather-resistant design for secure industrial storage.

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Outdoor Storage Cabinet w/ Angle Frame Base

The Heavy-Duty Outdoor Storage Cabinet features 12-gauge steel, an adjustable shelf, a 3-point lock, and a weather-resistant design for secure industrial storage.

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Multi-Compartment Outdoor Cabinet

The Heavy-Duty Outdoor Cabinet features 12-gauge steel, 6 high-capacity drawers, a 3-point lock, and weather-resistant design for secure industrial storage.

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Top View Computer Cabinet for Flat Screen

The Top View Computer Cabinet provides steel construction, a retractable keyboard tray, a 3-point lock, a power strip, and a slide-out shelf for secure industrial storage.

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Extra Workspace Computer Cabinet

The Extra Workspace Computer Cabinet provides steel construction, a retractable keyboard tray, adjustable shelves, a cooling shelf, and a secure 3-point lock for industrial storage.

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Multi-Data Entry Computer Cabinet

The Multi-Data Entry Computer Cabinet features steel construction, a 3-point lock, cooling shelf, adjustable storage, a power strip, and a filtration fan for secure industrial use.

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Desktop Computer Cabinet

The Desktop Computer Cabinet features steel construction, a retractable keyboard tray, a 3-point lock, a power strip, and a filtration fan for secure industrial workstations.

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Small Desktop Computer Cabinet

The Small Desktop Computer Cabinet features steel construction, a clear window, and a space-saving design for secure workstation storage.

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2 Compartment Computer Workstation

The 2 Compartment Industrial Computer Workstation features steel construction, adjustable shelves, a power strip, a filtration fan, and a secure 3-point lock for durable industrial use.

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In Plant System

The Industrial In-Plant Computer Cabinet features steel construction, adjustable shelves, a power strip, a filtration fan, and a secure 3-point lock for protected workspaces.

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Workstation with Accessories

The Industrial Workstation with Accessories features steel construction, a keyboard tray, adjustable shelves, and a swivel stool for a secure, functional workspace.

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3 Shelf Bin Cabinet

The 3 Shelf Bin Cabinet provides steel construction, lockable bins, adjustable shelves, and a secure 3-point lock for industrial storage.

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4 Drawer Bin Cabinet

The Heavy-Duty 4 Drawer Bin Cabinet provides steel construction, lockable bins, adjustable shelves, and high-capacity drawers for secure industrial storage.

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Bin Storage Cabinet w/ Wardrobe Shelves

The Bin Storage Cabinet with Wardrobe Shelves provides durable steel construction, lockable bins, adjustable shelves, and a secure 3-point lock for industrial storage.

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Upright Tool Storage Bin Cabinet

The Upright Tool Storage Bin Cabinet features steel construction, lockable bins, adjustable shelves, a pegboard back, and a 3-point lock for secure industrial storage.

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All Secure Full-Width Drawer Cabinet with Bins

The All Secure Full-Width Drawer Bin Cabinet provides durable steel construction, lockable bins, adjustable shelves, and heavy-duty drawers for secure industrial storage.

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Extra Wide Bin Cabinet

The Extra Wide Bin Storage Cabinet features durable steel construction, lockable bins, adjustable shelves, and a secure 3-point lock for industrial storage.

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King Size Bin & Shelf Storage Cabinet

The King Size Bin Storage Cabinet provides durable steel construction, lockable bins, an adjustable shelf, and a secure 3-point lock for industrial storage.

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Countertop Bin Door Storage

The Countertop Bin Door Storage Cabinet provides durable steel construction, lockable bins, adjustable shelves, and a secure 3-point lock for industrial storage.

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Long Tool and Bin Storage Cabinet

The Long Tool and Bin Storage Cabinet provides durable steel construction, lockable bins, and open shelving for secure industrial tool and part storage.

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Slim Line Bin Storage

The Slim Line Bin Storage Cabinet offers compact, durable storage with 12-gauge steel construction, secure lockable bins, and a 3-point locking system, perfect for space-saving industrial organization.

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One Sided 210 Bin Rack

The One-Sided 210 Bin Rack provides compact, organized storage with 210 small bins, ideal for maximizing space in workshops, factories, and parts storage areas.

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Mobile Bin Rack

The Heavy-Duty Mobile Bin Rack provides durable steel construction, lockable bins, and mobility for secure industrial storage.

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Signs and Signals

Signs and Signals

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Top Loading Arms

Top Loading Arms

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Hopper Railcars Loading and Unloading solutions

Top Hatch Access Platforms

Platform design is dictated by application or form of function. Many factors are considered when creating a solution. Available real estate at a facility, types of vehicles, traffic patterns, and desired throughput are all taken into consideration during the design phase. 

Retrofit applications are a routine exercise for our staff. There is an existing population of thousands of loading racks in the cement industry with many varying designs. We can readily implement our years of experience to provide an industry best turn around on drawings and equipment delivery. In fact, most applications can be laid out on-site by our sales staff using proprietary, state of the art 3D software that can produce approval drawings and equipment pricing before leaving your facility.

Pneumatic trailer configurations can be single, multi-hatch or pup style. Additionally, some facilities will service multiple types of vehicles, like loading proppant boxes along with pneumatic trucks.

Loading Gangways with Safety Cages

Platform design is dictated by application or form of function. Many factors are considered when creating a solution. Available real estate at a facility, types of vehicles, traffic patterns, and desired throughput are all taken into consideration during the design phase. 

Retrofit applications are a routine exercise for our staff. There is an existing population of thousands of loading racks in the cement industry with many varying designs. We can readily implement our years of experience to provide an industry best turn around on drawings and equipment delivery. In fact, most applications can be laid out on-site by our sales staff using proprietary, state of the art 3D software that can produce approval drawings and equipment pricing before leaving your facility.

Pneumatic trailer configurations can be single, multi-hatch or pup style. Additionally, some facilities will service multiple types of vehicles, like loading proppant boxes along with pneumatic trucks.

Loading Chutes

In some instances when budgets or lack of real estate drive this requirement we can design and layout systems that work in conjunction with loading chutes in silos. Typically these applications are very limited spatially and require modifications to gangway storage positions and cage design and layout. Over the years SafeRack has developed design techniques that mitigate silo limitations.

early departure prevention

Early Departure Systems

Increase safety at your loading spot and helps prevent damage to your loading racks with early departure solutions. A driver or operator attaches the interlock fitting to the braking system of the truck, guaranteeing the process you put in place will be followed before the tanker can be loaded.

Truck Traffic Gates

Traffic Gates on specially designed elevated pedestals are synchronized with gangway and cage operations. The traffic gate will lower when the gangway system is lowered creating a visual and physical barrier that reminds truckers to raise the system before driving off. An option for high visibility red and green LED illumination can be integrated into gates for an even higher level of drive-off protection.

Gangway Extended Top Handrail

The SafeRack handrail extension helps prevent truck drive-offs while the gangway is in a lowered position. The elongated safety orange top handrail extends into the platform to remind drivers to properly store equipment before leaving the platform and returning to their trucks.

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Safety Gates

SafeRack’s line of industrial safety gates is the most flexible product on the market with the ability span openings between 16” and 36” and is field adjustable with nothing more than a wrench.

Magnetic Swing Gates
A magnetic safety gate can be linked to any gangway and cage operation. When the gangway and cage are in the down position a proximity switch engages the swing gate lock to prevent egress from the loading rack platform. Operators can freely leave the platform once the system is in proper stored position.

Loading Options

Lighting – Lighting both over and under the platform will be provided. For overcast days or second shift, lighting is essential for improved safety and improved productivity.

Platform & Canopies – Full platform canopies reduce exposure to the elements and improve the safe and productive loading operation from the operator’s perspective.

Operator Shelter – Depending on your site requirements, consideration should be given to the requirement of an operator or guard building on the loading platform. This can be customized to meet specific site requirements

Wheel Chocks – Railcar Wheel Chocks provide fast blocking of all types of railcars and meet OSHA regulations to safely prevent railroad cars from moving during loading or unloading operations.  This is a requirement by the Department of Homeland Security

Open-Top Hopper Railcar
SafeRack helps to prevent accidents on rail hopper cars

Decades of Railcar Fall Protection Experience. SafeRack built one of the first crude oil railcar loading safety systems, so we know what works in the field. And we know how to build railcar loading systems that keep on working, too. We design, engineer and install railcar loading platforms that keeps loading rail cars and operations running safely while increasing throughput and efficiently

Many injuries happen when workers are accessing the top of rail hopper cars. SafeRack’s experts can work with your company on fall prevention strategies to help eliminate many of these accidents. Not only do you want to keep workers safe, but failure to take proper precautions can result in serious consequences of OSHA fines and other legal ramifications.

FAQ

Do you require a new platform system or retrofitting to the existing platform?

How many trucks per day cycle through your facility?

What types of vehicles are being accessed?

Is a manual system or powered system required?

What are your expectations on lead times?

Would you like a turn-key solution?

Are you interested in reducing or eliminating lower back strains at your loading racks?

Projects

What Customers Are Saying

★★★★★

Will definitely buy again in the future. John Bast was very quick to reply and very helpful. In my experience, some shop-built or pre-fabricated systems are of low quality. The design and manufacturing quality was better than expected. All positive comments, nothing negative. Will definitely buy again in the future.

By Doug J. from Caljet Of America LLC

★★★★★

After we received the gangway, it fit perfectly. Phyllis Sikes is very punctual and polite – she did a great job and made this a success. After we received the gangway, it fit perfectly.

By David A. from G & G Rebuilders