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INSTALLATION & MAINTENANCE

Find the right fit

SHOP SIZE & LAYOUT

A facility's physical characteristics play a big part in lift purchases.
by Sara Scullin, Editor
Photo from Bendpak.

S

electing a lift isn't just
about accommodating the
vehicles lined up outside.
Fleet managers and shop owners
must factor in their shop's physical
environment to make sure their
technicians, in addition to their
vehicles, are well-served. Details
like ceiling height, flooring material,
and square footage are just some
considerations that may lead a
shop owner to favor one lift design
over another. Whether making an
initial purchase or replacing existing
equipment, before the purchase -
and even before deciding on a lift
type - it's important that shop owners
regard their facility with new eyes and
do their due diligence when it comes
to finding the right lifting equipment.
" Vehicle lifts have long been one of
the soundest investments a professional
shop can make, " says David Shedlock,
BendPak's director of national accounts,
North America. This is true for body
shops, quick lube stations, car dealerships, and heavy duty service locations,
in addition to general repair facilities.
Because each facility varies so much in
terms of size and composition, it's important to consider every last detail.
" How a facility is laid out is a major
consideration when purchasing lifting
equipment, " says Megan Belt, account
director at Rotary Lift. She adds the Rotary team encourages prospective buyers to
take a hard look at details like available
space, traffic flow, flooring, ceiling height
(overhead clearance), and whether the
facility is leased or owned. For example,
if the service facility is leased and the
installation of fixed lifts is not permissible or cost-effective, a mobile column

6 I Vehicle Lift Guide I March 2021

lift might be an ideal solution to address
most service operations.
Here are some more details to consider when selecting a lift (or lifts) that
will best fit your space.

MEASURE MORE THAN ONCE
BendPak's Shedlock recommends that
even before shopping, it's wise to get
accurate measurements and statistics for
the bay or garage, including ceiling height.
" Check to make sure the garage or service bay can accommodate the fully raised
height of the lift when it's loaded with
the vehicles you'll be working on, " Shedlock says. " When it comes to two-post
lifts, overhead cross bars can sometimes
limit how high you can raise a vehicle.
Make sure to account for the cross bar in
your calculations. If the vehicle won't fit,
see if the lift is available in an extended
height edition. "
Furthermore, consider how vehicles
will move inside the space once equipment is installed.
" Turning radius is a factor in lift
selection usually at the point of facility
design, " Shedlock says. " Basically, you

Give your lift a look-over every day before you
use it, check the safety devices, operating
controls, lift arms, and all moving parts to
make sure everything is functioning properly.

need to make sure that the vehicles you're
planning to service can be driven into the
bay without a lot of wasted time spent
maneuvering. This especially comes into
play in shops with multiple bays set up
along a center aisle, " he says.

MATERIALS AND MOCK-UPS
Even the type of floor inside the facility should be examined. It's important
to assess whether the concrete floor
(for example) and the ground substance beneath it can support heavy
lifting equipment.
" Like everything else, concrete slabs
have their weak points and strong points, "
Shedlock says. " After you've made sure
that your floor can support the lift you're
considering, remember that it's a bad idea
to install it near a seam, slab edge, or
directly over a tension cable. These mistakes could lead to injury or reduce the
usefulness of your new lift. "
In addition, shop owners and facility managers should enlist the help of
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