ALI/ETL Certicication for Auto Lifts!

[Aahz]

I hate to use scare tactics to convince people...I really do...but for those of you that have been thinking non-certified import lifts (namely Chinese) are the same as one that has been certified...Please read the attached files:
http://199.79.180.162/prepos/files/Artemis/Public/Recalls/2006/E/RCAK-06E069-3186.pdf
http://199.79.180.162/prepos/files/Artemis/Public/Recalls/2006/E/RCONL-06E069-5661.pdf
http://199.79.180.162/prepos/files/Artemis/Public/Recalls/2006/E/RCDNN-06E069-9380.pdf

This is an example of a good quality lift manufacturer (Challenger Lifts) that decided to import a no-name brand from China...and label it under another company (Quality Lift). They decided not to get this lift tested by ETL (Intertech Testing Laboratories) and not listed under ALI/ETL. (Keep the cost down!)

I blame the owner of the lift, the company that sold the lift to him AND the lift manufacturer for the event....unfortunately, it's the widow of the owner that will have to deal with the consequences...

Sorry if I'm ranting....this type of thing REALLY bothers me...I read an article over the weekend that the Chinese are importing electrical extension cords that have falsified U/L Labels on them...that had me steamed all weekend...

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE buy 3rd party tested lifts.....I am sure there are many more instances like this that have gone un-reported....

 

[Aahz]

Sorry about my spelling in the title...Should have been 3rd Party Certification

 

[cloper91]

If you don't mind me asking what lift company do you work for? You seem to have access to a lot of info that only somebody in the lift business would have. Myself I work for Rotary lift. Being in chicago I am wondering if you work for SVI?

 

[AndrewM]

While it's terrible that someone was killed due to this lift, looking at that last document, I see it more as operator error than manufacturer at fault. Basically he improperly balanced a 9400 lb vehicle on a 10000 lb capacity lift. He was near capacity, and didn't set the vehicle on the lift properly. Would a Rotary, Bend-Pak, or other lift have failed in that instance? Would a certification really have helped?

IMO there's a huge difference between putting a 3400 lb - 4000 lb car in the air with a 9000 lb capacity lift (that's what I have, a Gemini lift), versus lifting a 9400 lb F450 with a custom bed and a 10k lb lift.

Not out to stir the pot or anything, just stating my $.02 worth of observation.

 

[Aahz]

Re: ALI/ETL Certification for Auto Lifts!

Andrew....I appreciate the 2 cents...that is why I said I blame the owner as well as the guy that sold the lift AND the lift company...I do feel that having the lift tested by a third party might have revealed the flaw...and that is what 3rd party testing is all about....(There is no guarantee..)

The other issue (not noted in the report) is that Oregon REQUIRES all lifts to be certified...so the decision by the owner to use an un-certified product wasn't the best decision he ever made...unfortunately...

 

[cloper91]

Would a Rotary, Bend-Pak, or other lift have failed in that instance? Would a certification really have helped?
QUOTE]

No a ALI/ETL 3rd party certified lift would have not failed. To be certified to those standards you have to meet a safety factory of 3:1. Meaning that a Rotary SPOA10 for example would be safe from catastrophic failure up to 30,000 lbs. This doesn't mean that something would not break or fail just that it will not fall on your or have a arm break or something like that.

 

[OldCarGuy]

Over-all, "you get what pay for in this world." I would not risk my safety under a car lift that was manufactured in China. Why did I pay almost $6,000 for a 10,000 pound Mohawk when I could have purchased a Chinese import for less than $2,000.00? The answer is simple,,, I value my life! And a one time $4,000.00 saving couldn’t replace it. I have seen several of these imported lifts and wasn’t impressed with their workmanship,, particularly the welds. No way do they compare to the welds on a Mohawk, Rortay, or Ben Pearson. One would be far better off purchasing a good used ALI certified Lift if you couldn’t or don’t want to spring for the higher cost.

I strongly feel that a separate section should be devoted to car lifts. So that newcomers will be able to find critical information on lifts that is buried deep into the archives.

 

[Coach James]

The report states that the truck was positioned in such a way that the center of mass was only 3.5 inches in front of the rear lift pads. Regardless of the type of lift, that ruck was nearly in position to tip off the lift.
Coach

 

[Aahz]

Coach....You are right....the vehicle was not positioned properly (and I would bet that is the argument Challenger uses in defense of the coming lawsuit)...BUT the arms should not have broken off and dropped the vehicle. Two other issues remain....1.) If the owner was completely at fault...why has Challenger DE-RATED the capacity of all of these lifts to 7,000 lbs. and is currently replacing all the arms on these lifts 2.) Why was a non-certified lift sold in a State that REQUIRES certification?

BTW....there was another lift fatality in Massachusetts on August 1st....While Mass-OSHA is investigating, there is no word yet on the fault or product yet....

 

[OldCarGuy]

It didn’t topple over. That says a lot about the anchoring and cement foundation.

If it was totally operator error, why is Challener issuing a temporary valve limiting the 10,000 pound lift in questioned to 7,000? Then replacing all the lift arms?

The welds in the broken arms were found to be small and inconsistent. And failed with only a 170% of the designed weight factor of 2500 pounds. The replacement arms will be redesigned with a three-fold design factor.

 

[Jay H 237]

Why was a non-certified lift sold in a State that REQUIRES certification?

Is the law different depending if this was a place of business or a home shop?

I'm just thinking that if it was a homeowner he could have mail ordered it and had it shipped there. No matter what there could have been a loophole somewhere.

 

[Aahz]

If it was a homeowner, I don't believe OSHA would get involved....but I don't know how the law is written...

 

[Ign]

So I don't want to be an antogonist.............but if ya found out where the weld in question was...........couldn't ya grind it and re-weld, while maybe adding some additional plating or gusseting at the same time?

I'm not saying Challenger is in the right here, and I'm not saying you shouldn't request the replacement arms...........I'm just used to finding weak links and fixing them, it's done in the 4x4 world every day.

 

[PAToyota]

Likely, repairing it yourself would void the warranty and get into a whole slew of OSHA ****. For our own use, it makes sense to go over things and fix them. As soon as you modify something in a business setting you are taking full responsibility for it upon yourself.