DVSA requires a vehicle to have an under-chassis wash prior to undergoing its annual test. Heavy duty vehicle lifting equipment supplier Stertil Koni explains how its SKYLIFT can speed up and simplify washbay operations.
To protect the health and safety of its inspectors, Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) requires all vehicles undertaking an annual test to have been cleaned under the chassis. Some operators, particularly those with vehicles which are exposed to dirty and smelly environments such as tippers and construction vehicles as well as waste and refuse collectors, are cleaning the under chassis before technicians carry out service and repair work beneath the vehicle.
Stertil Koni has a range of SKYLIFT’s designed to help operators to carry out such tasks more easily. The company recently installed a 35 tonne capacity lift for logistics company WH Malcolm.
The SKY350 was installed onto a sloping slipway within the quayside of a former shipyard located on the River Clyde in Glasgow. In order to safely accommodate the gradient of the slipway, Stertil Koni engineers devised a solution which involved recessing the drive-on end of the lift to a depth of 350mm. In addition, the front end of the lift is built up onto 350mm concrete pads with the result that the lift is completely level and, when fully extended, the front of the lift is over 2.5m high.
Incorporating an innovative and robust design that makes the SKYLIFT ideal for customising, the SKY350 was specified complete with a platform length of 14.5m to safely accommodate the wide range of vehicles in the WH Malcolm fleet. The platforms are fully hot-dip galvanised and all lift supports benefit from an extremely resistant coating to provide reliable protection against moisture and debris. Finally, an adjacent lockable stainless steel control console ensures simple push button raising and lowering of the lift by washbay operatives.
versatility of our SKYLIFT,” says Tony Edge, Stertil Koni’s General Manager. “The washbay is used to maintain the condition and appearance of many different vehicle types. By ensuring maximum access to the underside of raised vehicles, our SKYLIFT enables staff to complete their tasks swiftly and in complete safety.”
Scarborough Council
The company has also installed a 20 tonne capacity SKYLIFT at Scarborough Council’s Dean Road Depot, which is used within a dedicated vehicle washing station located in the depot’s main yard. The Council’s drivers are responsible for operating the lift to simplify the washing of its vehicles which include refuse collection trucks, mechanical road sweepers and cage vehicles.
“Our existing wash bay lift had come to the end of its working life so we investigated various replacements,” says Harry Briggs, Manager of the Dean Road Depot. “We contacted a number of Stertil Koni customers who spoke highly of their vehicle lifts especially in terms of performance and reliability. On that basis we were more than pleased to specify the SKYLIFT.”
