Flow measurement equipment company Meter Systems, a division of mining and industrial distribution and support services company Set Point Group, reports that it has received its first order of 14 Italian-manufactured two-post and four-post vehicle lift posts from automotive lift column manucturer Ravaglioli last month.

Meter Systems, which provides pumps, hoses, flow meters, drainers, dispensers and other related equipment for garages and various industries, including the automotive and oil and petro- chemicals industries, is adding Ravaglioli to its range of equipment to expand the company’s garage and workshop equipment department.

“Other products, such as mobile column commercial hoists, commercial and passenger vehicle scissor lifts and test lanes for commercial and passenger vehicles will also be available to order from Meter Systems,” says Meter Systems sales manager Nicholas van Dyk.

He states that the recently imported two-post lifts have a lifting capacity of 4.5 t, while the four-post lifts have a lifting capacity of 4 t for standard passenger vehicles and more than 20 t for commercial vehicles.

“Both lifting posts have Conformite Europeene (CE) approval and are, therefore, compliant with European Union legislation, which enables the free movement of products within the European market, as well as US certification from the Automotive Lift Institute (ALI),” he says.

Van Dyk explains that ALI standards are slightly more relaxed than those required for CE approval.

“For example, a 4.5 t ALI-approved lift is the equivalent of a 4.2 t CE-approved lift,” he adds.

Features

Van Dyk states that one of the major features of the lift columns is that it is electrohydraulically operated.

“The standard two-post column lift, which has a self-locking conical design, has a mechanical safety latch with automatic engagement, ensuring maximum safety when the lift is in a standing position,” he notes.

Van Dyk adds that synchronisation cables level the carriages and that the column is equipped with an automatic arm-locking system during system lifting and an automatic unlocking system when the arm reaches the floor.

“Each column has a maintenance-free lifting cylinder and precise synchronisation between carriages is achieved, regardless of load distribution.

“The columns are equipped with a safety valve to prevent overloading and, in case of an hydraulic pipe fracture, it has a self-controlled lowering speed,” Van Dyk states, adding that the arms are suitable for quick drop-in extensions and other lifting accessories.

“The standard two-post lift is 4.175 m high, compared with the height of our competitor’s two-post lift, which is 3.6 m. To get the extra height on top of the column, a height extension usually needs to be installed using an installation kit.

He adds that the two-post lift, which is mainly used for automobiles, is 3.286 m wide, 4.17 m high and has a drive-through clearance of 2.55 m.

“The total length of the lifts on the four-post column, including its ramp, is 5.19 m. The width is 3.155 m and the drive-through clearance is 2.8 m,” Van Dyk says.

“The four-post lift column has a hydraulic cylinder located inside the fixed platform, adding extra protection.

“It uses highly resistant galvanised and prestretched metal cables, as well as large-diameter pulleys, with self-lubricating, maintenance-free bushes,” he notes.

Van Dyk explains that it has an adjustable platform to accommodate different vehicle tracks and an improved access-to-vehicle undercarriage.

“The automatic mechanical backup safety devices have pneumatic release, allowing for a stationary operation with unladen cables.

“The column also has an immediate-triggering safety stud device, should a cable slacken or fail,” he says.

Van Dyk points out that other features include the automatic anti-toe trap alarm, which is activated during the final stages of lift descent, and mechanical, electrical and hydraulic safety devices, in compliance with the standard for CE marking and low voltage.

Further he notes that Meter Systems is in the process of securing contracts in the local and African oil industries and is busy with a few tenders in Africa, adding that the company will extend its reach into the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“We have customers, distributors and branches in Ghana and Zambia and are busy opening a branch in Tete, Mozambique. It is the main goal of the company to sell more than 1 000 lifts a year,” concludes Van Dyk.