DAF Dealership Achieves Faster PDI Inspections With Stertil Koni Mobile Column Lifts

Stertil Koni, the UK’s leading commercial vehicle lift specialist, has supplied a leading DAF dealership with a set of wireless mobile column lifts to speed up PDI inspections at the company’s Leicester depot.

As one of the largest DAF trucks dealership groups in the UK, the company operates 10 dealerships strategically located acrossthe East Midlands and East Anglia. The group supplies new and used DAF trucks and provides comprehensive repair and maintenance. Each dealership holds an extensive stock of DAF and TRP truck and trailer parts supported by emergency overnight availability. Over 150 factory trained technicians are employed by the group and many workshops areopen 24/7 to enable maintenance work to be performed during off-peak hours. At the company’s Leicester depot, a set of Stertil Koni ST1085FWA wireless mobile column lifts is used to increase productivity within the PDI centre.

The ST1085FWA lift is rated at 8,500kg which means that each set of four columns offers a total lifting capacity of 34,000kg to ensure the safe handling of all types of truck and trailer. Also, if an increased lifting capacity is required, this can be achieved simply by adding extra columns. The lifts’ microprocessor controlled lifting system, combined with Stertil Koni’s unique hydraulic synchronisation system, ensures extremely smooth lifting and lowering. Operating speeds are also impressive with the lifts reaching the full height of 1850mm in just 94 seconds.

Providing maximum access to the underside of raised vehicles, the Stertil Koni ST1085FWA vehicle lift uniquely incorporates a wireless control system. Each of the mobile columns is equipped with two long-life deep cycle batteries which, when fully charged, will power the fully-laden column for more than 30 lifting cycles - easily a full week’s use. Battery life isprolonged due to the fact that, unlike a screw-lift, power is only used toraisethe vehicle therefore less time is spent recharging the lift which is carried out via a 230v single phase supply.

Positioning of the wireless columns is flexible: they can be used in any configuration around a vehicle. Also, with
no power or communication cables to connect, set-up time is drastically reduced thereby making the system fully operational much more quickly. Each column incorporates its own eBright full-colour, touch-screen control panel which allows simple synchronised operation from any column.

The columns incorporate Stertil’s maintenance-free, synthetic runner wheel system, which is self-lubricating, and the system is covered by a lifetime guarantee. Importantly, with no cables on the workshop floor, the risk of
tripping is removed thereby providing valuable health and safety benefits.

In a typical day, the DAF dealership at Leicester handles all kinds of vehicles ranging from 7.5 tonne rigid trucks up to two or three axle tractor units and the Stertil Koni lifts save a lot of time. The company’s engineers are very happy with these new additions to the workshop and the fact that the lifts are mobile is a great advantage. Accessibility underneath raised vehicles has been vastly improved and engineers are now able to set the lifts to the height that best suits their needs.