Which lift to choose…?
A vehicle lift is the most frequently used item of equipment in a workshop. Selecting the correct lift is essential to maximising workshop capability and efficiency. Below, we have summarised the types currently available from the Trade Group and, to help you, we have described the key attributes of each particular design.
Single Post Lifts
Single post lifts can be electro-mechanically or electro-hydraulically powered. Essentially for ‘tight spaces’, they offer good access to the underside of a vehicle where a two post, scissor or cassette lift cannot be employed for reasons of space or cost. They are ideal for routine vehicle servicing but the transverse load arm – essential to the design – can cause limitations with some types of work.
Two Post Lifts
Particularly suited to fast service work, widely used and universally accepted, two post lifts offer a space saving way of lifting vehicles up to nearly 6.5 tonnes and provide a high degree of underside access. Since they are surface mounted, they can be cheaply and easily installed into most workshops provided there is a good floor. Generally, two post lifts are either electro-mechanically or electro-hydraulically driven. The electro-mechanical or ‘screw type’ are usually cheaper but tend to suffer from high operational costs, average reliability and depending on quality, a modest life span. At the opposite end of the scale, lifts that are purely electro-hydraulic – that is to say they use rams rather than cables, chains or other mechanical components within the load bearing system, are usually more expensive at the outset but are inherently reliable, virtually wear free, cost little to operate and have a very long life.
Four Post Lifts
The four post lift, by virtue of its design, offers a stable lifting system for most types of vehicle. Usually hydraulically powered, it is the most cost effective way of lifting a vehicle in a wheel support fashion. However the design is not particularly space saving and the platforms can get in the way of work. Although used extensively for MOT installations, it has largely been replaced by the cheaper and ergonomically superior two post lift for routine service work. The capacity of a four post lift varies upwards from 3 tonnes.
Scissor Lifts
These hydraulically operated lifts offer all the virtues of their two four post counterparts – but without space consuming posts. As a result, they occupy much less workshop area and provide significant access around a vehicle. Scissor lifts can be either surface mounted or installed so that the platforms are recessed enabling them to be level with the workshop floor. The ‘in ground’ style permits more flexible use of the workshop area and makes shop cleaning simpler. Scissor lifts are particularly suited to wheel alignment because the centrally supported platforms are relitively free from deformation and can be easily adjusted to be level.
In-Ground or Cassette Lifts
The hydraulically operated ‘in-ground’ or cassette lift is the pinnacle or workshop lifting equipment. By employing two vertical rams, to lift through either platforms or an arm system, it is possible to achieve almost complete access under a vehicle. They are also ideal where work bays need to be narrow. Models up to 5 tonnes in capacity are available to lift most types of car and light commercial vehicles and meet virtually any requirement from fast service through to tyre and exhaust work. Smooth and quiet in operation, rugged, reliable, low operational and maintenance costs and a tidy appearance are just a few of the features that make these lifts the ultimate choice.