Rotary Lift's Mach 4 column lift is powered by batteries and has the ability to communicate with other columns wirelessly.

Rotary Lift's Mach 4 column lift is powered by batteries and has the ability to communicate with other columns wirelessly.

Still facing the effects of the economic downturn, more transit repair facilities are trying to get the most out of their dollar. And, they're starting with their vehicle lifts.

Recently, mobile column lifts have been increasing steadily in popularity. According to Steve Perlstein, government sales manager for Mohawk Lifts, "mobile columns have been the fastest growing lift type for the last seven years."

Significantly more cost-effective, — especially with the introduction of wireless technology — mobile lift devices spare companies the installation fee while providing a new sense of portability and simplicity.

Wireless mobile columns also eliminate the need for specialized cords that can cost more than $500 to replace. Its sustainable benefits are greatly attractive to clients as well, says Doug Spiller, Rotary Lift's heavy-duty product manager.

Many manufacturers and industry veterans foresee mobile columns continuing to improve in efficiency and effectiveness.

"One popular trend that we see in the heavy-duty market today is the way wheel engaging mobile units continue to partner with 21st Century technology," says Bob O'Gorman, president/CEO of Automotive Lift Institute Inc. (ALI/ETL). "There are definitely some design and technology advancements that have entered the market in the last few years."

Perlstein and O'Gorman agree that while mobile columns are popular, there are other useful lift types in the market and customers should choose the style that makes the most sense for their workspace. Pantographs, parallelograms, scissor lifts and in-ground lifts still have a strong presence in the lift market as well.

"Ultimately, depending upon what service you're doing and how much space you have in your shop, that determines which lift is best for you," says Perlstein.

MAHA USA's new Mobile Column Lifts are the KAR 250, KAR 350 and the Wireless Mobile Column.

MAHA USA's new Mobile Column Lifts are the KAR 250, KAR 350 and the Wireless Mobile Column.

MAHA USA
MAHA USA's newest Mobile Column Lifts (MCL) are the KAR 250, KAR 350 and the Wireless Mobile Column. The Pinckard, Ala.-based manufacturer is a part of the worldwide MAHA Group.

The KAR 250 and KAR 350 — electro-hydraulic pantographs with the capability to lift vehicles weighing up to 118,000 pounds — were released in mid-2011. With competitive lifting heights, the devices can lift up to 6.8 feet with runway extensions up to 49 feet.

Designed as a vertical lift, with scissors located at the end of each runway, the lift allows the use of maximum workshop space and easy access. Customers can choose between above-ground or in-ground installation. The KAR 250 and 350 both feature a strong, compressed frame built to maximize stability.

MAHA USA's Wireless Mobile Column is built with a rechargeable battery to avoid location limitations and has a 110-volt connection that recharges batteries overnight. Improved technology allows one battery charge to last for a full week — up to 45 cycles at 50% or 25 full cycles at 100% capacity.

With the battery, the lift weighs 1,200 pounds. The company aims to continuously manufacture easier and even lighter wireless mobile columns.

All of MAHA's new MCLs feature improved operability and compactness. At the core of the MCL platform is a low-friction, stainless steel and surface hardened re-circulating ball screw. MAHA guarantees its customers no fluid leaks or synchronized problems commonly associated with hydraulic columns.

Different lifting capabilities are available ranging from 16,000 pounds to 18,000 pounds per lift and up to 144,000 pounds per system.

MAHA MCLs are certified by ALI/ETL and incorporate various enhanced technologies — such as low voltage commands, additional locks and photo sensors for leveling control — to ensure safe operation through years of use. [PAGEBREAK]

Mohawk's drive-on style ramp lifts come in a variety of runway lengths from as short as 13 feet up to 48 feet or 60 feet long to be able to serve lengthy transit buses.

Mohawk's drive-on style ramp lifts come in a variety of runway lengths from as short as 13 feet up to 48 feet or 60 feet long to be able to serve lengthy transit buses.

MOHAWK
Mohawk Lifts, based in Amsterdam, N.Y., manufactures all types of lifts in two post, four-post, parallelogram, drive-on, ground lifts, and AC- or DC-battery operated mobile column lift forms.

For transit operations, the drive-on style is notably faster, requiring no set-up time. A technician drives the bus onto the runway and hits the "up" button on the controller. Drive-on lifts offer rolling wheels; free jacks for tire, brake and drive line services; and are available in capacities that range from 19,000 pounds to 120,000 pounds.

Mohawk's drive-on style ramp lifts come in a variety of runway lengths from as short as 13 feet up to 48 feet or 60 feet long to be able to serve lengthy transit buses.

They also feature all position mechanical safety locks, which begin working as soon as the vehicle starts to rise. All models meet the ALI/ETL certification standards.

The most popular lift from Mohawk is the two-post side-by-side models that offer a warranty of 25 years. All Mohawk lifts are made completely in the U.S.

ROTARY LIFT
Madison, Ind.-based Rotary Lift recently introduced two new mobile column lifts, the RCH4 and the wireless Mach 4.

The RCH4 mobile column lifting system features a user-friendly and fast design allowing for greater bay productivity and reduced vehicle downtime.

It's sold in sets of four, six or eight battery-operated columns; each column is identical and the lift has a total capacity of 144,000 pounds. RCH4 also features an automatic steering system and fixed forks that fit most large tries without major adjustment.

The lift has a patented control panel, which includes such controls as a graphic layout of the column, real-time height reading, error display, battery indicators, programmable height limit settings and one-touch controls.

Lifting and lowering of all columns is automatically synchronized, and there is a slow-lowering function for precision vehicle positioning. RCH4 needs three cables to connect; however, they are quick-connecting and 33 feet long for added flexibility.

Inside the lift is an inverted hydraulic cylinder so the chrome piston rod is protected from debris and damage at all times. This extends the lift lifespan and reduces maintenance costs.

Rotary's second new product, the wireless Mach 4 column lift, is powered by batteries and has the ability to communicate with other columns wirelessly. In addition to reducing trip hazards, this wireless mobile column also increases lift speed.

The Mach 4 is available in four or six columns; each column has a rated lifting capacity of 18,000 pounds and is powered by two deep cycle marine batteries. Both the Mach 4 and the RCH4 can raise a bus 70 inches in 78 seconds.

The device is also equipped with back-up communication cables that can be used in place of the wireless system with the flip of a switch. The wireless system can also be retrofitted to existing Mach 4 column lifts. And, similarly to the RCH4, the entire Mach 4 device can be operated using a specialized Rotary patent-pending control panel.

Advanced locking mechanisms lock the lift every three inches and have a lower-to-lock function. Forks can handle a wide range of wheels without adapted sleeves, and optional extended forks are available for supporting inboard tires on dual-wheeled axles. [PAGEBREAK]<p>SEFAC's S3 series mobile lift is considered a

SEFAC

Sefac, based in Baltimore, Md., has been incorporated in the U.S. for over 30 years. The company has remained committed to the principals of a self-locking threaded screw with its S3 series lift.

The S3 series lift, a mobile lift that originated in 2009, is considered a "one man portable," which means it can be used indoors and outdoors and is easily transportable from bay to bay. Each column is positioned individually, straddling the vehicle tire. At the touch of a button, the vehicle is securely raised into the air.

The device is 50% lighter than hydraulic lifts, according to the company. The device weighs a mere 875 pounds and is rated at 18,000 pounds. Its lightness also allows a vehicle to be raised 67 inches within a minute; all "raise" and "lower" functions are managed from a detachable handheld device for added safety. The versatile lift can be operated as columns, pairs (for axle replacement) or independently for access to a vehicle's wheels.

The overall height of the column does not extend as the vehicle is raised, ensuring that the vehicle being lifted remains a safe distance from the column minimizing the likelihood of lift/vehicle contact.

Interactive touch screen controls communicates any operational status or fault in clear written words. Problems are also troubleshot with programmed features, including cycles of use and annual inspection due, as well as maximum height settings.

Without the application of power, it cannot move; therefore, the lift does not rely on a locking mechanism to grab the load in the event of a failure. All cables are sheathed within a steel jacket for protection.

The Diamond Lift, which is a heavy-duty, in-ground piston lift that has been designed to be fully environmentally compliant.

The Diamond Lift, which is a heavy-duty, in-ground piston lift that has been designed to be fully environmentally compliant.

STERTIL KONI
Stertil Koni, based in Stevensville, Md., recently released its newest product, the Diamond Lift, which is a heavy-duty, in-ground piston lift that has been designed to be fully environmentally compliant. It utilizes less than five gallons of biodegradable hydraulic fluid per piston rather than the industry average of 20 gallons, according the manufacturer.

The lift is contained within a DaimondGuard coated cassette and is made of 98% recyclable materials. The Diamond Lift has also been optimized to reduce life-cycle costs and to generate high ROI (Return on Investment).
All lift components are well-protected against the harsh environment that you typically find in a workshop, including salt water, gasoline, brake fluid and road debris, which may be brought in by the vehicles in need of service.

Hardened pistons guarantee superior protection against wear and corrosion as well. All electrical components are located above the ground in a control console, which provides easy access for maintenance. This also eliminates the need for high cost class1/division1 components. The Diamond Lift also meets all current UL and ANSI/ALI ALCTV requirements and is currently undergoing third-party ETL testing from Intertek.

With a capacity of 64,000 pounds in a two piston configuration and 96,000 pounds, in a three-piston configuration, coupled with a wide variety of contact adapters, the Diamond Lift can elevate a range of vehicles in a customer's fleet.

Improved intuitive controls and automatic electronic equalization allow for synchronized lifting at all times, ensuring safety.

The Diamond Lift is available with programmable features, such as automatic wheel base positioning, which reduces set up time; programmable maximum height limits to protect vehicles in buildings with overhead obstructions; home light to indicate that all pistons are fully lowered and it is safe for the vehicle to depart to the bay; and liquid detection and evacuation system to inform the operator of liquid build-up in the cassettes.

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