Lift_Guide_2021 - 3

WELCOME

Your guide to heavy lifting
Careful purchase and maintenance practices can lay
the foundation for years of safe and successful service.

3 WELCOME

Your guide to heavy lifting
An introduction to the Vehicle Lift Guide,
brought to you by Fleet Maintenance
and PTEN magazines.

by Sara Scullin, Editor, PTEN magazine

lift is a big buy in many ways.
It takes up a significant
amount of precious floor
space in busy maintenance facilities
and repair shops, and the work a lift
provides is significant. This is one
investment that deserves the utmost
thought and care to ensure both
ROI and a safe work environment.
Attention to lifting equipment
doesn't stop after the purchase,
either. Routine technician training,
best practices, and a structured
maintenance schedule should
all be top-of-mind years after this
equipment is installed.
In this guide we review the various
types of lifts available for professional
maintenance and repair work, as well as
key updates in lift technology and features, and installation and maintenance
best practices.
It's important that shop owners and
facility managers select the equipment
that will work for the vehicles their shop
services. Other considerations like the
type of services performed, physical
shop size and features, and state and
local building codes will all factor into
the buying decision. Luckily, purchasers
do not have to make this decision alone.

BUYING IS JUST THE BEGINNING
Shops should always bear in mind that
improper lift use, or not paying close
attention while operating, can be costly
and dangerous, resulting in critical injuries or worse. That's why, in addition to

a lift's features and capabilities, careful thought should also be paid to
preventative safety measures, maintenance, and overall safety guidelines for
this equipment.
It is the duty of shop owners and
facility managers to provide their
workers with up-to-date information,
instruction, and supervision in the
interest of health and safety. Make sure
all lifts and lift equipment are certified
by the Automotive Lift Institute (ALI),
and regularly inspected by a qualified
lift inspector annually (at minimum).
See to it that only qualified contractors
are making repairs. Verify the equipment and its accessories are functioning properly, including swing arms and
swing arm pads, restraint devices, hoists,
etc. (replacement lift parts must meet
OEM specifications to maintain ALI
certification). Instruct all lift operators
in the facility on safe use and operation, using manufacturer-provided
instructions and warning labels. Work
with manufacturer recommendations
to establish periodic planned maintenance for maximum reliability and
safe operation.
It's an exciting time to research and
purchase lifting equipment that can help
take your business to the next level of
productivity, as more lift manufacturers
are incorporating new ease-of-use and
safety features into their overall design.
Make information and best practices
a priority when it comes to your lift purchases and upkeep.

4 CATEGORY OVERVIEW
Lifting line-up

Choosing the right lift can help to speed
service and maximize ROI.

6 INSTALLATION & MAINTENANCE
Find the right fit

A facility's physical characteristics play
a big part in lift purchases.

8 SAFETY

Safe and efficient lifting

Tips to help choose the right lift,
use it correctly, and get vehicles
on the road faster.

10 O PTIONS & ADD-ONS

Lift considerations to
maximize productivity

Shops can make the most of vehicle
lifts by prioritizing lift attributes
based on need.

14 T ECHNOLOGY & FEATURES

Advances in lift technology

In recent years, a variety of adaptations
have been made to vehicle lifting
equipment to keep up with changes in
vehicle design and industry demand.

17 L ATEST IN LIFTS
18 PRODUCTS

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March 2021 IVehicle Lift Guide I 3

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Lift_Guide_2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Lift_Guide_2021