Stertil Koni has installed a set of mobile column lifts to simplify vehicle maintenance operations at Britain's newest international airport. Penauille Servisair, which provides aviation ground services at Robin Hood Airport near Doncaster, specified a set of ST1082R mobile column lifts to provide unrestricted access to the underside of 30-tonne aircraft tugs.
"We are already using Stertil Koni lifts in our operations at Manchester, Gatwick and Stansted airports," says John Saville, Penauille Servisair's Technical Support Manager, "And we find the flexibility of the lifts a great asset. With over 4000 vehicles in our UK fleet, we need to be able to rely on the equipment we use to maintain them and the Stertil units are extremely efficient and reliable. Their pricing is excellent too!"
Each ST1082R hydraulic mobile column lift has a lifting capacity of 8200kg thereby providing a total capacity for the four-column set at Robin Hood Airport of 32,800kg. The total lifting capacity can be increased by simply adding more columns to the system, up to a maximum of 28. The lifting system is controlled by a microprocessor which, combined with a unique hydraulic synchronisation system, ensures smooth and efficient movement. Retractable wheels at the front of the lifts mean that, even with the substantial weight of the aircraft tugs, floor loadings are greatly reduced, resulting in much less wear and tear to the floor.
The total lifting height of the columns is 1.85m which can be reached in just 89 seconds and, in the unlikely event of a mains power failure, the lifts may be lowered manually to ensure complete safety. Prior to delivery, every lift system is fully tested at maximum load and Stertil Koni guarantees to keep parts in stock for all models for at least 25 years after production.
Robin Hood Airport is built on the site of a former RAF base and is the first full-service airport to be built in Britain for more than 50 years. With over five million people located within an hour's driving time, the airport aims to handle 2.3 million passengers and 50,000 tonnes of freight a year.
Stertil Koni was the first lifting system manufacturer to be awarded ISO 9001 and specialises in the design, manufacture, installation and maintenance of hydraulic vehicle lifts. The company is a member of the Stertil Group whose UK headquarters is centrally located in Northampton.
