How to Choose a Vehicle Lift: Why Independent Testing Matters

When choosing a heavy-duty vehicle lift, workshop managers naturally compare lifting capacity, features, price and ease of use. However, one important consideration is often overlooked: how has the lift actually been tested?

Vehicle lifts supplied in the UK must comply with relevant safety legislation and carry the appropriate CE or UKCA conformity marking. However, not every lift undergoes independent third-party testing.

Here’s why understanding how a vehicle lift has been tested can help you make a more informed choice.

Understanding CE and UKCA Conformity

Vehicle lifts supplied in the UK must comply with the relevant safety legislation and carry the appropriate conformity marking. To achieve this, manufacturers are responsible for assessing compliance with applicable regulations, compiling technical documentation, carrying out the necessary testing, and issuing a Declaration of Conformity.

This is the established process for placing lifts on the UK market. Responsibility for demonstrating compliance rests with the manufacturer, and independent third-party testing is not normally required before the product can be sold.

For workshop operators, this means that while all compliant lifts should meet relevant safety requirements, the level of independent verification behind the product can differ between manufacturers.

What Is Independent Lift Testing?

Some vehicle lift manufacturers choose to go beyond minimum legal requirements by obtaining independent third-party certification for international markets.

One example is the Automotive Lift Institute (ALI) Gold Certification programme in North America. This requires vehicle lifts to undergo extensive testing by accredited independent laboratories, including structural load testing, verification of mechanical and hydraulic safety systems, and electrical safety testing.

The process also includes manufacturing facility audits to help ensure that the products being manufactured continue to meet the required standards.

Rather than relying solely on manufacturer declarations, independent certification provides additional verification that the lift design and manufacturing process meet demanding safety requirements.

Why Does Independent Testing Matter?

Commercial vehicle lifts are a significant investment and are relied upon every day to support technicians working beneath heavy trucks, buses and specialist vehicles.

Lifting capacity, productivity and ease of use are all important when comparing equipment, but buyers should also consider the level of assurance provided by the testing and certification behind the lift.

Independent certification means that a lift has been evaluated by an impartial organisation against defined performance and safety requirements. For workshops where technician safety, reliability and uptime are priorities, this additional level of verification can be an important consideration.

Still Unsure What to Look For?

Stertil-Koni supplies heavy-duty vehicle lifts to workshops across the UK, Europe, North America and many other international markets. Its products are designed to meet the requirements of multiple regions, with Stertil-Koni offering lifts that undergo both European CE conformity assessment and independent ANSI/ALI certification.

For workshops, this provides an additional level of confidence when investing in lifting equipment, with products independently tested against one of the world’s most demanding lift certification programmes.

So if you’d like to understand more about vehicle lift testing and certification, or need advice on choosing the right lifting solution for your workshop, our team of lift specialists is here to help.

Contact Stertil-Koni on 01604 662049, or email lifts@stertil.co.uk.