Stertil Koni looks at two companies – Marshalls Coaches and Specialist Fleet Services – who have benefitted from its mobile column lifts.
Marshalls Coaches
A set of Stertil Koni heavy duty wireless mobile vehicle lifts, type ST1075FWA, ensures reliability and ease of use during comprehensive workshop operations for Marshalls Coaches.
The Stertil Koni mobile wireless vehicle lifts are used in the company’s fully-equipped workshop to undertake a wide range of servicing, maintenance and repair operations. Also, as a VOSA-approved tachograph centre, the company is relied upon by a growing number of local companies to provide tachograph installations, calibrations and repairs. Other services offered include brake testing, headlight alignment, vehicle steam cleaning, toilet discharge and coach cleaning.
Individually, the Stertil Koni ST1075FWA wireless mobile column lifts provide a safe lifting capacity of 7.5 tonnes. This means that, when used as a set of four, the combined capacity of the Stertil Koni lifts is an impressive 30 tonnes. Each column incorporates Stertil Koni’s revolutionary ebright Smart Control System which allows workshop staff to operate the columns individually, in pairs or in any other combination from any column in the set. Positioning of the wireless columns is also totally flexible, enabling them to be used in any configuration around a vehicle. Crucially, the ebright’s wireless mesh networking system eradicates any possibility of communication problems between individual columns when numerous sets are used in the same building.
Featuring full-colour touch screen consoles, the ebright Smart Control System has been designed and developed to simplify operation by providing maximum visual information about every lifting operation – all at the fingertips of the workshop technicians. For added safety and performance, the ebright Smart Control System also shows how many columns in the set are being used.
These heavy-duty lifts are powered by long-life deep cycle batteries which provide optimum performance for at least a week on average before recharging is necessary. Also, battery life is prolonged due to the fact that, unlike a screw-lift, power is only used to raise the vehicle, therefore, less time is spent recharging the lift which is carried out via a 230V single phase supply. Importantly, with no cables on the workshop floor, the risk of tripping is removed thereby providing valuable health and safety benefits.
All columns incorporate Stertil’s maintenance-free, synthetic runner wheel system, which is self-lubricating, and the system is covered by a lifetime guarantee. An integral advanced hydraulic lifting system incorporates a microprocessor-controlled synchronisation feature to ensure safe, smooth and precise movement at all times. Safety is further enhanced by an independent mechanical locking system, incorporated into each column, which allows technicians to securely lock the lift to prevent a vehicle from being inadvertently lowered.
The absence of power and communication cables means that set-up time is greatly reduced, making the system fully operational much more quickly. Significantly, the lift’s unique synchronisation system ensures a smooth lifting and lowering cycle, even in the event of extremely uneven load distribution. The ST1075FWA provides a maximum lifting height of 1.85 metres which is reached in just 75 seconds thereby making it one of the fastest commercial vehicle lifts available.
“We have been using Stertil Koni mobile column lifts for several years and have been impressed by their reliability,” says Glen Marshall, Partner at Marshalls Coaches. “In fact, we relocated our previous set of four lifts to our wash bay where they continue to operate smoothly with no problems. As a successful company, our reputation is founded on the reliability of the service we provide and the lifts are a vital factor in helping us maintain that reputation.”
About Marshalls Coaches
Established in 1974, Marshalls Coaches operates from its workshop and office complex in Leighton Buzzard. The company’s impressive fleet includes a mix of 45 vehicles ranging from 16- seater coaches up to 88-seater double deck buses. Operating locally throughout Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, and London, Marshalls Coaches provides a reliable service to schools, commuters and shoppers. In addition, the company offers an extensive range of UK and European coach holidays utilising bespoke modern vehicles featuring toilets, kitchen and drinks facilities, refrigerators, reclining seats, tables, air conditioning, DVD monitors, steward/ess service and high speed Wi-Fi.
Specialist Fleet Services
Specialist Fleet Services (SFS) specified a set of Stertil Koni mobile column lifts to support a new purpose-built workshop following the recent award of a seven-year vehicle maintenance contract by Boston Borough Council.
Located at Fen Road Business Park in Boston, the new workshop was an empty shell when SFS acquired the site in December 2020. However, in just four weeks, the premises have been transformed into a fully equipped and functioning workshop complete with offices, kitchen and washroom facilities. The building has also been re-wired and fitted with a compressed air system and LED energy efficient lighting.
Each lift in the set provides a safe lifting capacity of 7.5 tonnes so, when used as a set of four, the combined capacity of the Stertil Koni lifts is 30 tonnes. However, when lifting tri-axle vehicles, the full set of six lifts is used which increases the total capacity to an impressive 45 tonnes.
Importantly, each column features Stertil Koni’s revolutionary ebright Smart Control System which allows workshop technicians to operate the columns individually, in pairs or in any other grouping from any column in the set. Positioning of the columns is also flexible, enabling them to be used in any configuration around a vehicle. The ST1075FSA provides a maximum lifting height of 1.85 metres which is reached in just 75 seconds thereby making it one of the fastest commercial vehicle lifts available.
Incorporating full-colour touch screen consoles, the ebright Smart Control System has been designed and developed to simplify operation by providing maximum visual information about every lifting operation – all at the fingertips of the workshop technicians. For added safety and performance, the ebright Smart Control System also shows how many columns in the set are being used.
All columns incorporate Stertil’s maintenance-free, synthetic runner wheel system, which is self-lubricating, and the system is covered by a lifetime guarantee. An integral advanced hydraulic lifting system incorporates a microprocessor-controlled synchronisation feature to ensure safe, smooth and precise movement at all times. Safety is further enhanced by an independent mechanical locking system, incorporated into each column, which allows technicians to securely lock the lift to prevent a vehicle from being inadvertently lowered.
The new SFS workshop at Boston operates a daily shift every week day from 5.30am until 4.30pm which is increased to include weekend working during busy periods. A broad range of vehicles passes through the workshop including Dennis Eagle Refuse Collection Vehicles (RCVs), box bodies, tippers and gritters ranging in weight from 7.5 tonnes to 26 tonnes.
Previous experience of working with Stertil Koni vehicle lifts was a crucial factor for SFS when sourcing equipment for the new workshop. “We use the same lifts from Stertil Koni at other locations,” says Darren Wade, Technical Specialist at SFS. “Feedback from our workshop technicians has always been very positive and the general upkeep and maintenance costs are reasonable compared with similar products. Importantly, the mobile lifts offer better flexibility than fixed lifts or pits, and they enable us to optimise workshop space each day depending on the workload and vehicle types.”
About SFS
Established in 1992, SFS has a successful track record in delivering fleet and workshop management solutions to local authorities and the private sector utilising a network of workshops across the UK. The company has many years of experience using Stertil Koni vehicle lifting equipment to support workshop activities on behalf of other local authorities, including Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council and Runnymede District Council. At Boston, the team of workshop technicians relies upon the set of six ST1075FSA mobile column lifts to simplify a wide range of servicing, repair and maintenance activities.
