When you think of heavy-duty vehicle lifts, lots of workshops imagine the classics: four-posts, scissor lifts, or in-ground vehicle lifts.
But ‘heavy-duty’ doesn’t have to mean ‘fixed installation’. And for some workshops, a mobile column lift system can end up giving you the most bang for your buck.
Here’s why a mobile column lift system is often the best investment for a heavy-duty workshop — especially when budgets and space are tight:
It’s flexible
This one’s no secret: but the manoeuvrability of a mobile column lift is what really sets it apart.
Without a fixed installation, you can set up a lifting station in any location that’s suitable: in different parts of your workshop, or even in an outdoor area.
That gives your workshop a huge amount of flexibility. When demand is high and you need the extra throughput, you can set up a new lifting station in an unused part of your premises — giving you a temporary boost to your output without committing to a permanent installation.
It’s especially useful for workshops with a smaller premises, where every square foot needs to be put to good use. But it’s also important for shops with an unpredictable workload — or ones that struggle to keep up with seasonal fluctuations.
It’s versatile
Most fixed-installation lifts have specific limits: for both the weight they can lift, and the size of the vehicles. If your fixed lift has an 8-metre platform and a SWL of 25,000kg, that’s exactly you’ll have forever — with no wiggle room or other options.
Because a mobile column lift system works with different sets of columns linked together (in groups of 4, 6, or 8), it’s a more versatile type of lift.
We’ve helped our customers use mobile column lifts to:
- Lift lorries, coaches, buses, and trucks
- Lift trailers with a special trailer beam
- Lift modular buildings (with a special adaptor for flat-bottomed loads)
- Lift forklifts (with a forklift ramp adaptor)
- Set up outdoor wash bays (with the G8AC Wash Bay Column Lift).
But as well as these different applications, a mobile column lift system can give you a different kind of versatility:
Because the columns can be grouped into separate sets, you’re able to split a mobile column lift into two fully functioning lifts.
If you’ve invested in a set of 8 columns, you’ve got the option to turn it into two smaller lifts (each with 4 columns). That means you can lift your longest and heaviest vehicles one day, and then switch to lifting two smaller vehicles the next day.
All of that comes from one investment — compared to paying for two installations if you used a separate fixed lift for each.
It saves space
With a mobile lift, you can make the most of your space, setting up new lifting stations where you weren’t able to before.
But it works the other way, too:
If your workload changes and there are times when don’t need to lift vehicles, a fixed-installation isn’t going anywhere. It’s still there, taking up dead space — space that could be put to better use.
With a mobile column lift system, you can take down your vehicle lift and pack it safely into storage. That means more space on the shop floor, more options for other workstations — and every square foot of your premises earning revenue like it should.
What’s the ROI of mobile lifts vs. fixed installations?
It’s a complex question without an easy answer: one that depends on a huge number of factors that are different for each workshop.
But we can say with certainty that a mobile column lift has features and uses with a direct positive benefit on your ROI — features that many fixed-installation lifts won’t have.
The ROI of your mobile column lift is affected by:
- The wide range of vehicles it can lift — saving you money on different types of lifts
- Avoiding groundworks or structural changes — lowering your investment against the revenue it creates
- Getting two lifts in one (splitting 8 columns into 4) — giving you more output without the extra investment
- The floorspace it can create or save — adding to your throughput without extra cost.
Looking at options?
There’s no simple ‘best’ that applies to every business. Each workshop comes with their own unique situation and needs — which is why talking to an expert is the best way to make the right decision.
We’ve worked with all kinds of vehicle workshops to choose the equipment that fits their exact requirements, helping them navigate through a wide range of different lifts and installations.
So if you’re shopping for an upgrade, we’re here to help. You’ll find our full range of vehicle lifts in our online shop — or you can talk to one of our experts to get the information you need.
