Stertil Koni Mobile Lifts Support New Abellio Depot

Opened in July 2019, the new Abellio London bus depot in Armstrong Way, Southall relies upon five sets of Stertil Koni wireless mobile column lifts to support all workshop activities.

“As a Group, we have relied upon Stertil Koni wireless mobile column lifts for a number of years across our depots,” says Ken Fennell, Head of Facilities at Abellio London. “We appreciate the flexibility that the lifts provide for our engineering function and we recognise that they eliminate many issues where the use of traditional lifts would present a risk.”

CUSTOMER;

Abellio London has 2,500 employees and its fleet of 750 buses carries 150 million passengers each year. The company operates across six depots located in Central, South and West London and is proud of its position as a vital part of community life offering easier journeys every day.

EQUIPMENT;

A fleet of 107 buses, comprising both single and double deck vehicles, operates out of the new Southall depot. Each of the Stertil Koni heavy duty mobile column lifts, type ST1075FWA-4, provides a lifting capacity of 7.5 tonnes per column so, when used as a set of four, the combined capacity is 30 tonnes to ensure safe, smooth and controlled lifting.

The ST1075FWA-4 provides an impressive maximum lifting height of 1.85 metres which is reached in just 75 seconds, making it one of the fastest commercial vehicle lifts available. Also, each column is fitted with the eBright smart control system which enables workshop staff to operate the columns individually, in pairs or in any other configuration from a single location.

Incorporating wireless mesh network connectivity and 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 technician. For added safety and performance, the eBright smart control system also shows how many columns in the set are being used, the battery status of each column and when the independent mechanical locking system is engaged.

Long-life, heavy duty, deep cycle batteries will power the lifts for at least a week on average before recharging 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 safely inside or outdoors.

The absence of power and communication cables also means that set-up time is drastically reduced thereby 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 workshop within the new Abellio London depot in Southall operates three shifts a day, seven days a week to provide support to the bus fleet. Each week, a minimum of 35 buses undergo a range of workshop operations including scheduled inspections, servicing, mechanical and body repairs plus general maintenance.  

In addition to the five sets of ST1075FWA-4 wireless mobile column lifts – a total of 20 individual lifting columns – Stertil Koni also supplied a range of complementary garage equipment. This included 12 tall axle stands, eight medium axle stands and three sets of access steps.

In common with all Stertil lifts supplied to Abellio Group depots, these latest models are maintained under contract by Stertil’s factory trained engineers who are all GEA (Garage Equipment Association) accredited.

WEBSITE LINK: www.abellio.co.uk