The installation of a Stertil Koni 4-post vehicle lift at the Keighley Bus Company's school bus depot represented a dramatic change in working practices that had previously relied upon the use a workshop pit. However, initial reservations were swiftly dispelled as the ST4175 electro-hydraulic lift proved itself to be both extremely versatile and user friendly.
As a member company of the global TransDev Group, the Keighley Bus Company has been serving thousands of passengers around the town of Keighley and the wider district since 1902. Formerly known as Keighley & District Travel, the new name also heralds a massive investment of over £2 million in the company's vehicle fleet to provide additional, modern buses that offer a host of passenger features including free Wi-Fi and USB power connections for mobile devices.
Within the company's school bus depot, many operations had been undertaken by a team of workshop engineers using a standard inspection pit. However, whilst this was satisfactory for the regular inspection of buses, it was frequently unsuitable for use during the resultant repair and maintenance work. This is where the 17.5 tonne capacity Stertil Koni ST4075 heavy duty vehicle lift has proved its worth. Since its installation, all inspections and necessary repair, maintenance and servicing have been completed quickly and safely using the lift without the need to move buses from one area of the workshop to another.
Accessibility is one of the key features of the ST4175. The absence of cross beams means that workshop engineers have unrestricted access to the underside of raised vehicles when carrying out repair, maintenance and servicing tasks. Another important element of the lift's design is its 9000mm long platform which provides a low drive-on height of just 240mm. This means that every vehicle in the Keighley Bus Company's fleet, including low floor buses, can be driven onto the lift safely and easily.
In fact, the ST4175 4-post lift may be specified complete with one of five standard platform lengths ranging from 6000mm up to 11500mm. Furthermore, Stertil Koni lifts can be used in a tandem set-up to achieve longer platform lengths for articulated vehicles such as bendibuses and coupled trucks and trailers.
All movement of the ST4175 lift is controlled electronically. Precise operator control of the lift is achieved by using a well positioned control panel mounted on one of the lifting columns. The control panel also allows workshop engineers to programme a number of functions into the lift including vehicle width settings and a maximum lifting height. The 4-post lift also features a maintenance-free synthetic runner wheel system, which is self lubricating and is covered by a lifetime guarantee. Additionally, a range of accessories is available including jacking beams and LED lighting kits.
Operating speed is another key feature of the Stertil Koni ST4175 4-post heavy duty vehicle lift. An impressive maximum lifting height of 1900mm is achieved in just 72 seconds thereby ensuring faster work cycles for maximum productivity.
"Having relied upon an inspection pit for a number of years, our workshop engineers were a little unsure about the benefits of the new Stertil Koni 4-post lift," says Paul Shaw, Workshop Manager at the Keighley school bus depot. "However, within a very short time, they could see how versatile it is and how much time could be saved by inspecting buses and working on them in the same place. Accessibility to buses is superb and the programmable control panel is so easy to use. None of us would want to be without the Stertil Koni lift now."
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