Stertil Wireless Lifts For Family-Owned Coach Company

Vehicle lifting specialist Stertil Koni has supplied a set of electro-hydraulic wireless mobile column lifts to Johnson Brothers, one of the UK’s largest family owned coach companies.

Johnson Brothers Tours was established in Worksop during the 1950s with the aim of providing excellent value for money combined with a personal yet professional service. This formula proved to be highly successful and the company has steadily expanded its operations which now range from day excursions to long distance European holidays. Stertil Koni recently loaned Johnson Brothers a set of wireless mobile column lifts to enable the company to undertake PDI inspection work on Nottingham City Council’s electric vehicle fleet. Following the success of this loan, Johnson Brothers decided to purchase a set of four ST1075FWF lifts to support its third purpose-built workshop.

The ST1075FWF uniquely incorporates a wireless control system that provides maximum access to the underside of a raised vehicle. Each of the mobile columns is equipped with two long-life deep cycle batteries which, when fully charged, will power the lifts for at least a week, on average, before re-charging is necessary. The batteries can then be charged overnight via a 230v single phase supply. With no cables on the workshop floor, the risk of tripping is removed, providing valuable health and safety benefits and, with no power supply necessary, the system can be used inside or outdoors.

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. The lift’s unique synchronisation system ensures a smooth lifting and lowering cycle, even in the event of extremely uneven load distribution of vehicles to be lifted.

Each column features Stertil Koni’s unique eBright full colour touch screen control panel and operation of the lifts may be controlled from any column. The ST1075FWF provides a lifting capacity of 7.5 tonnes which means that a set of four lifts ensures smooth lifting of vehicles weighing up to 30 tonnes. If a greater lifting capacity is required, this can be achieved simply by adding more columns. The ST1075FWF ensures safe lifting up to a height of 1.85 metres which can be reached in just 70 seconds. Each column also incorporates an independent mechanical locking system that allows a technician to securely lock the lift to prevent a vehicle from being inadvertently lowered. This advanced safety feature eliminates the need for axle stands - if permissible under local Health and Safety regulations - thereby ensuring unrestricted access and movement beneath a raised vehicle.

Incorporating Stertil’s maintenance-free, self-lubricating, synthetic runner wheel system, the lifts are covered by a lifetime guarantee. The lowering speed is pre-selectable and each column can be lowered manually in the unlikely event of a battery failure.

Scott Johnson, Engineering Director at Johnson Brothers, is extremely pleased with his set of ST1075FWF vehicle lifts. He says, “The loan of the wireless mobile column lifts by Stertil Koni was not only a real favour but also an ideal opportunity to see for ourselves how they performed. I’m pleased to say that they proved to be ideal and I had no hesitation in completing the purchase of the new lifts. In particular, I’m impressed by their cleanliness, wireless simplicity and independent mechanical locking system. All in all, they support our new workshop perfectly.”

Website Link: www.johnsonstours.co.uk