A Study in Lift Design

Navigating the sheer volume of conflicting automotive service equipment information can be a harrowing and confusing experience for even the most seasoned service professional or DIY'er. Common issues that are often downplayed by eager dealers include rebranded products, huge tensile strength variations in seemingly identical steels and fly-by-night companies that no longer exist by the time you need to replace a part. Particularly on the web, an increasingly popular trend among some of the less reputable companies is to spread half-truths and "gray area" technical specifications regarding their products. No, they probably aren't lying, but they also aren't giving you the information that you think they are.

BendPak is here to help you fight back. As part of our ongoing commitment to quality service, we're releasing a series of studies to help you cut through the jargon and creative advertising so you can simply understand what you are buying. Let's face it; the products we're dealing with are usually expensive, very heavy and potentially dangerous. You have every right to know what qualifies as a pass or fail during certification. And you need to know which features are mere luxuries and which ones are absolutely essential to your safety.

BendPak wants everyone who is thinking about purchasing an automotive service product to educate themselves and carefully evaluate all of their options, as well as the companies that sell them. With a little bit of homework, it won't take long for you to see that all automotive equipment is definitely not created equal. And if you do decide to buy BendPak, you'll know better than anyone else what a value it truly is.

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Four Post Lift Design

9,000‐Pound Capacity Four‐Post Series
Models: HD‐9ST / HD‐9
ANSI/ALI ALCTV‐2006 CERTIFIED PRODUCT

Dare to Compare / Separating Fact from Fiction

Too often in the DIY auto lift market, manufacturers rely on the dissemination of inaccurate information and creative advertising ploys in order to sell inferior products. BendPak recommends that anyone in the market for an auto lift thoroughly conduct comparative research of all the options before ultimately deciding which lift to purchase. In an effort to assist the customer in navigating the various factual gray-areas and minefields of misinformation, BendPak compiled this study for your consideration.

Full Range of Lift Models to Chose From

BendPak has 72 unique lift models ranging from lightweight to super‐duty. Many "hobby" lift companies could not come close to a fraction of lifts BendPak sells globally. Investigate thoroughly on the web using several search engines to see how many pages other, lesser‐known lift companies appear on when compared to a true world‐leader like BendPak.

Optional Equipment

Many valuable options are available for your BendPak four‐post lift.

Service is our Specialty

BendPak has over 650 installation and service centers located in the United States. These fully equipped installation and service centers have specialty service fleets that make a living installing and servicing large car dealerships, national accounts, auto repair centers and occasional auto enthusiasts and DIY'ers.

Engineering Excellence

BendPak has a staff of seven full‐time engineers who do nothing but design, test and evaluate lift systems. BendPak lifts have changed and evolved over the past 40‐years, not because they want to sell you on a new model every few years, but because they are constantly improving the structural integrity and design of our lifts to meet ever‐changing world standards. On the surface, many lifts look "engineered", but what lies under the surface? All BendPak lift designs are computer modeled for function and structural integrity, undergo simulation of applied forces, axial force, bending moment, etc. using Solid Works Cosmos and other FEA programs. After the design is sound, they proceed with actual destructive (physical) testing.

There is only one real national lift standard for quality and safety ‐ OSHA endorsed ANSI/ALI ALCTV‐2006. If you don't see any reference to this standard, then ask yourself if saving a few extra bucks on a non‐certified lift is really worth jeopardizing the safety of you, your loved ones and your valuable equipment. BendPak gives you value, but more important, peace of mind.

ETL Certified

The only reason a lift is not granted ANSI/ALI ALCTV‐2006 certification is if it does not pass the standard. This could be due to a number of factors including a lack of a slack‐cable lock system, missing a substantiated engineering report from an accredited PE (professional engineer) verifying that all components could withstand a load of 150% capacity with no permanent yield or deformation of any kind, their absence of an ample cable guard to prevent unintentional displacement, and more. Do not take the risk. These certifications exist for a reason.

Common Misleading Claims

• Claims that state "Meets or Exceeds Standard ANSI/ALI B‐153.1" are meaningless. This standard no longer exists.
• Claims that state "Meets all ANSI Standards" are meaningless. No other standards apply to lift construction except ANSI/ALI ALCTV. In order to meet ANSI/ALI ALCTV, Certification is required. Look for the Mark.
• Claims that state "Meets all OSHA Requirements" are meaningless. OSHA has no requirements governing automotive lifts, but they do write citations that apply to them. OSHA does this under the General Duty Clause and recommend to those cited that it would be prudent for the cited party to follow the directives in the various standards developed by ALI.
• Any claim that implies "This lift is ALA Certified" is worthless. ALA (Automotive Lift Association) is reported to be an organization of suspect lift suppliers with no endorsement by ANSI or OSHA. ALA appears to be purely fictitious and created merely to confuse purchasers, users and inspectors.
• Any claim that implies "This lift is MAMTC Certified" is worthless. MAMTC (Mid‐America Manufacturing Technology Center) is a unit of Wichita State University which, in one instance, attempted to certify a lift model. Test Reports on MAMTC letterhead stated that a particular lift complied with ANSI B153.1 – 1990. Of course this is meaningless because MAMTC is not a NRTL (Nationally Recognized Test Facility), and the standard cited is obsolete.

Even if a lift is ANSI/ALI‐2006 certified, ask yourself if you want to do business with a company that tries to mislead you with padded, false certification.

Don't Call it "Plastic"

BendPak lifts incorporate UHMW (Ultra‐High Molecular weight) Polyethylene glide blocks to maintain proper alignment of lifting and safety components. UHMW is often referred to as the world's toughest polymer. A linear high density polyethylene, UHMW has high abrasion resistance as well as high impact strength. UHMW is also chemical resistant and has a low‐coefficient‐of‐friction which makes it highly effective in a variety of applications. BendPak glide blocks are simply guides that keep the cross tubes and safety ladder centered within the column and minimize sway.

Designed for Longevity

BendPak lifts feature cable sheaves that are precisely centered within the cross tube to ensure that the cross tube stays level, thereby eliminating side loads of any kind. Lesser‐known lift brands employ cross tube sheaves and axles that are located outside the cross tube body, forcing the cross tubes to twist or rotate away from the sheave as the lift raises. This twisting occurrence tends to develop side‐loading on their cross tube components and plastic sliders.

Hydraulic Cylinder Design

All of BendPak lift cylinders use internal flow‐restrictors to prevent rapid fall in case of a hose or fitting failure. This is a worldwide safety standard that is required for all commercial lift manufacturers. International lift standards prohibit the use of quick‐disconnect fittings on vehicle or personnel lift applications. Quick disconnect fittings have spring loaded ball‐in‐seat components. If the ball does not "seat" like you expect it due to contamination or a faulty ballseat, there is nothing to shut off the flow of oil and the uncontrolled descent of your lift. Hose "blow‐outs" simply do not occur under normal use. As part of the ANSI/ALI ALCTV‐2006 standard, all BendPak hoses have a 400% safety factor based on the pressure required to operate the lift at its rated load capacity.

BendPak HD‐9 series lift models feature a single 3" diameter hydraulic cylinder hidden away under the runway for maximum performance, reliability and minimum elemental exposure. Our industrial‐grade hydraulic cylinders feature a one‐piece, pilot fitted, machined steel piston wrapped with specially designed, pressure loaded U‐cup piston seals, backups and wear bands that virtually eliminates any fluid bypass. The micro‐smooth chrome‐rod is machined from high yield, ground & polished C‐1045/50 micro‐alloy steel and plated to a minimum of .001˝ diametrically, to ensure superior cylinder operation and life. Specially designed, high durometer, mechanically loaded rod seals virtually eliminate rod seal leakage and a specially formulated abrasion resistant urethane rod wiper provides exclusion protection. The welded cylinder body is made from high yield‐strength steel tubing produced to exceed ASTM specifications. This combination of superb base material and superior processing ensures straight, smooth and long duty life cylinders.

Redundant Safety Lock System

BendPak four‐post lifts employ eight independent safety lock devices ‐ four primary and four back‐ups.

Adjustable Safety Locks

BendPak's adjustable ladder provides adaptability for unlevel floors, enabling your vehicle to sit safely in a level position even if your floor is unlevel ‐ an important feature that many other lift brands lacks. BendPak also features 13 adjustable lock positions to provide greater versatility and storage height coverage.

Commercial‐Grade Pneumatic Safety Lock System

Our commercial‐grade pneumatic safety lock system ensures that your locks release simultaneously every time. Other lifts use linkage rods to release the four spring loaded locks. That's a lot of resistance to overcome. That, combined with the accumulation of slop for all of the linkage points, means the safety lock furthest from the operator has a good chance of not being "pulled back" far enough. Think about what would happen if three corners descended and one stuck. The worst cause of lift failures or vehicle "drops" is the runways suddenly becoming unlevel due to a seized column or a stuck lock. Mechanical linkage systems are more prone to failure.

Anti‐Twist Cable Block

BendPak's cable block attached to the chrome rod features "outrigger" sleds that ride on the inside rails of the runways to ensure the cable block remains square at all times. Lifts that do not incorporate this device can experience cable block misalignment (the cylinder rod tends to rotate as the cylinder moves due to the inherent nature of the cables trying to "unwind" and/or the rifling surface inside the cylinder bore) which ultimately causes premature wear of cables and/or sheaves.

6" Diameter Cable Sheaves

Our 6" diameter cable sheaves are a tad bit on the large size, but these super size sheaves will add years of service life to the lifting cables. The largest contributing factor for premature cable wear is bending fatigue as the cable wraps around the sheaves under load.

Powder Coat Paint Finish

All BendPak lifts feature a durable powder coat finish that gives the metal a high‐quality, extremely durable finish which can withstand even the harshest environmental or chemical conditions. Unlike other companies that claim to powder coat, we take pride in our meticulous process. First, all parts are visually inspected before being sandblasted and then washed in our five‐stage phosphate tanks. They're immediately dried to avoid rust production, then any surfaces and/or threaded holes that need to be masked or plugged are done so with high‐temperature masking tape and silicone plugs. Next, the parts are given a quick thinner wipe to remove any light debris or fingerprints, before being hung on an electrostatically grounded conveyor line. The powder is then applied using an electrostatic spray gun. The powder "sticks" to the parts similar to how dust sticks to a television screen. Once the parts are powder coated, the carts are rolled into our curing oven and baked at 400ºF for 15 for 45 minutes.

Professional Appearance

BendPak lifts are more visually attractive because they feature lifting cables that are routed internally through the cross tubes and columns. They are also void of clumsy linkage rods and external safety locks.

Immediate Shipping

BendPak has one of the largest inventories of lifts in the world with over 3,000 ready‐to‐ship models available for immediate shipment. Our in‐stock units offer consumers a variety of lift designs and capacities, as well as several options to choose from. If we do not have it in stock, our experts can help you spec the specific lift your job demands.

Judge Us by the Company We Keep

BendPak customers are supported by a specialized service program known as Certified Service SM. Our fully staffed Customer Care Center (CCC) is available to meet all of your support needs including highly responsive technical support; one‐on‐one communication with account representatives and technical experts; electronic data interchange (EDI); a highly‐efficient logistics support chain, automated dispatch and communications system and a tightly integrated system that allows incident management; trouble‐shooting and reporting to be seamlessly provided to customers seamlessly, regardless of location.

Two Post Lift Comparison

BendPak® XPR-10ACX vs. Rotary® SPOA10

*Design features and specifications are subject to change. Please consult factories for updates.
ROTARY® and ROTARY LIFT® are registered trademarks of the Dover Corporation®.
BENDPAK ® and RANGER PRODUCTS® are registered trademarks of BendPak, Inc.

Recently, Rotary distributed a document favorably comparing a Rotary two-post lift to a BendPak. Never ones to back down from a challenge, the BendPak engineering team responded the only way they knew how—with a thorough investigation of their own. After exhaustively reviewing the merits of both BendPak and Rotary standard 10,000-lb. capacity asymmetric two-post lifts, the BendPak boys released the following report. In it, critical design features are compared, evaluated and illustrated in broad detail. The findings were enlightening, to say the least.

Column / Front

Column / Side

Column / Side Bottom

Column / Rear Bottom

Column / Bottom Sheave

Column / Base Plate

Column Assembly / BendPak® on Scale

Column Assembly / Rotary® on Scale

Carriage / Front

Carriage / Rear

Carriage / Top View

Carriage / Top Dimensions

Carriage / Safety Lock Thickness

Carriage / UHMW Slide Blocks

Carriage / Pin Hole Location

Carriage / Arm Attachment Location

Carriage / Top Plate Thickness

Carriage / Arm Restraints

Carriage / BendPak® on Scale

Carriage / Rotary® on Scale

Arms / Side Detail

Arms / Side Detail

Arms / Reach / Retracted

Arms / Reach / Extended

Arms / Contruction

Arms / Contruction / Thickness

Arms / Contruction / Method

Arms / Contruction / Underside

Arms Set / BendPak® on Scale

Arms Set / Rotary® on Scale

Top Beam / Sheave Detail

Top Beam / Beam Construction

Top Beam / Top View

Hydraulic Cylinder / Rod End

*Throttle valve opens to 100% max pump flow during lift rise then closes and reduces flow during decent only.

Hydraulic Cylinder / Thickness

Hydraulic Cylinder / Full View

Equalizer Cables

Cable Sheaves

Power Unit

Features-Specifications Comparison

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Engineering Report

BendPak's goal is to take all the mystery out of lift-buying and present you with simple, transparent facts. So we're giving you this exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at what an actual structural engineering report looks like. For your education, we're making available as much of the document as we can without revealing industry secrets.

There's a lot of information in there, but here's what you should take away from a quick review: all the tests in this rigorous report are completely necessary. DO NOT accept anything less than a lift provider that has years of extensive experience in structural engineering and structural component analysis. They MUST be able to provide the following for all of their machinery:

• Structural engineering calculations and an analysis of the entire design per AISC (American Institute of Steel Construction), as well as a full report on the carrying capacities of all load-bearing structural components.
• Finite element analysis of all load-bearing structural components.
• Structural stability analyses (e.g. nonlinear buckling analysis) to make sure that the lift structure and all mechanical components will not buckle, even under absolute worst-case loading conditions.

After over 40 years in this business, we've seen the devastation that inferior quality parts, inflated material specs and lax safety standards can lead to. Believe us, it isn't worth the risk. Maybe you'll save money, but by definition the best case scenario for "the bare minimum" is just "barely" getting the job done without complete disaster.