Think the staid world of heavy duty vehicle lifting hasn’t changed much recently? Think again.
These days, in the demanding world of heavy duty vehicle lifting – notably for large truck fleets, transit buses, motor coaches and even the U.S. military, three key trends are rapidly changing the landscape.
1. High Touch
Heavy duty lifts are beginning to leverage new advances in human-to-machine interface (HMI) technologies. The goal is to provide enhanced control and lift monitoring systems – all delivered in a format this is increasingly familiar to us.
Most of us really like an interface that closely resembles our favorite mobile phone or computer tablet.
For its part, Stertil-Koni recently introduced the ebright Smart Control System for its mobile column lifts. This touchscreen control technology literally puts all key lifting information directly at the fingertips of the person who needs it most: the busy technician on the shop floor.
Our research shows that technicians and supervisors prefer a full-color, high-resolution, brightly-illuminated screen. What’s more, they want owner- and user-configurable options, personalized ID controls to protect against unauthorized use and the ability to simply tap the console for more menu options. In this way, lift use and performance can be carefully monitored and shop uptime measured and improved.
2. “Green” Lifts
A second major trend in lifting is the movement towards “green” lifting systems. This has evolved as fleet maintenance and service shops work to address new and more stringent environmental requirements.
Many companies and transit agencies are beginning to demand that environmentally-friendly technologies constitute an integral part of the specifications for all new jobs.
By way of example, to help maintenance shops go green in the mobile column lifting space, Stertil-Koni offers the Earthlift, which we believe is the first hydraulic green mobile column lift in the industry. Its columns are made with components that are 98 percent recyclable. What’s more, this lift uses a closed hydraulic system that contains bio-degradable oil and the batteries are 100-percent recyclable.
In-ground lifts also are becoming increasingly “green.” The newer versions of these lifts are engineered to utilize far less hydraulic fluid and typically feature an above-ground control console for easy access for servicing.
The Stertil-Koni EcoLift, by way of example, is the industry’s first ultra-shallow, full-rise in-ground axle engaging scissor lift that combines high pressure, low-volume hydraulics and only requires 3.5 gallons of fluid per scissor.
The telescopic piston Diamond Lift uses less than 5 gallons of biodegradable hydraulic fluid per piston and its cassette is fully self-contained, which ensures that hazardous shop fluids do not enter the environment. Hence, soil contamination is not a concern.
3. Added Efficiencies
A third and very powerful trend that is transforming the lifting industry is in “replacement” technology. Why is this approach gaining traction now? There are thousands of old, single-stage hydraulic lifts literally rotting away in America’s workshops. These lifts have long outlived their useful life and possibly present environmental and safety hazards.
For our part, we believe shops can realize added efficiencies and potentially significant cost savings by utilizing their existing concrete foundations – all while stepping up to the latest, most efficient lifting technologies. That’s why our engineers recently developed a solution based on our Diamond Lift model. Specifically designed for concrete foundations, it is ideal for replacement lift situations.
In sum, these are indeed exciting times for heavy duty vehicle maintenance facilities, particularly as new technologies – both hardware and software – are helping to take the lifting industry to new heights in terms of performance, durability, safety and environmental stewardship.
Dr. Jean DellAmore is president of Stertil-Koni (www.stertil-koni.com),a global market leader in heavy duty vehicle lifts and a preferred supplier to the world’s leading companies in the truck and bus industries. He has been in the heavy duty lift industry for more than 30 years, the last 19 years with Stertil-Koni and the first 12 years with SEFAC.
