BendPak Blog
BendPak has grown to be a fantasy fifty years in the making. During this half-century of evolving into the automotive equipment specialists we are today, our mission has been continually focused on improvement in all areas, including engineering and design, production and logistics, and of course, customer service.
A look inwards our fresh shipping facility expansion:
Ever since our ribbon cutting ceremony earlier this year, we have been relocating over Five,000 part SKUs from previous housings to fresh designated bar-code bins in fresh warehouses. We have relocated almost the same amount in large equipment items, as well including every finished lift and wheel service product, not to mention the hundreds of other shop equipment items we stock.
Our fresh Total Warehouse Logistics (TWL) treatment supports day-to-day operations in our numerous warehouses. All warehouse tasks are now managed in a real-time environment, supported through radio frequency data collection devices that are carried by our warehouse workers. The fresh wireless barcode scanners and mini-computers record all inventory and order processing transactions in real time. Warehouse productivity and workflow, including product movements, receiving, shipping, picking, counting and accuracy, are being improved and streamlined. This fresh era in BendPak’s history will result in greater efficiency and higher capability. We’ll be swifter and fully automated.
It’s an honor for us to supply each and every one of you with our products. We’re keeping the fires lit around the clock, searing the midnight oil and then some, as we quickly become thicker and better than ever before. This entire process is going to make the best even better, so stay tuned for more big news from BendPak.
RP50FJC Fruit Juice and Oil Filter Crusher by Ranger
You’ve seen oil filter crushers before. Ranger Products makes several, such as our renowned 25-ton monster crusher, the RP50FC. What you haven’t seen is an oil filter crusher that doubles as a fruit juice maker. Eventually, no more switching from kitchen appliance to garage contraption, and back to kitchen appliance. Who has the time? No one in our kitchen. The high-capacity RP50FJC permits operators to crush up to ten petite lumps of fruit at once!
This combo fruit juice and oil filter crusher is the very first and only implement of its type, so the world-class safety certifications and quality standards of virtually all other Ranger products are less than an afterthought—to us, they don’t even apply! This idea has been rejected so many times, it’s even become a punching bag for the industry. The testimonials say it all!
One stud wrote, “Why are you doing this?”
Another said, “Is it safe for fruit to be crushed by the same device that eliminates hazardous oil from used oil filters?”
Within five minutes of watching the crusher demoed in his store, one of our distributors said, “Get the hell out of my office.”
The RP50FJC is fresh, so we’re not astonished that no one indeed understands it yet. Fresh things are often scary and hard to understand, like making fruit juice with a converted oil filter crusher. Think of what it was like to be one of the very first people to see math. “Numbers?” They must have said. “That’s not going to catch on.” Well, look around you! Math is everywhere nowadays!
We have no reason to believe the RP50FJC is going to revolutionize the industry the way math revolutionized numbers, but we’re counting on it! In fact, we’re so sure you’ll love your fresh combo fruit juice and oil filter crusher, we’re dedicating most of our earnings from two thousand sixteen into marketing the RP50FJC. If this doesn’t work out, we won’t even be able to afford therapy. YIKES.
But that’s confidence. And confidence means juice. It’s good business to be certain, and it’s good juice to be in business. And that spells R-A-N-G-E-R. Whatever you do, don’t overlook the cost RP50FJC combo juice and oil filter crusher. Only $9,999.99.
Just repeat after me: Ranger makes juice!
These Parking Lifts Will Make You Go Bananas
Funny phrase, “Go Bananas.” Not sure what it takes to make people reach an excitement level equal to or greater than bananas, but we should add it to our BendPak mission statement. “If you don’t go bananas when you buy a car lift from us…” On 2nd thought, maybe not. But we are excited about our fresh PL-6KDT double-wide and PL-6KDTX double-wide/extended-width parking lifts. And that’s to say nothing of the PL-6KT triple-wide model that lets you park up to six vehicles at a time.
If you’ve seen dual and triple-wide parking lifts before, you most likely haven’t seen one like ours. For one, the platforms rise and descend independently, which takes care of the morning car shuffle. Moving three vehicles just to get to one kind of misses the point of a parking lift, doesn’t it? The extended-width PL-6KDTX is neat-o because it permits clearance of wide-stance vehicles like trucks and SUVs. Those truck mirrors are ultimately kept safe. Ultimately!
So, who uses this kind of parking lift? Basically, space is the number one factor. Any commercial parking garage/lot that has room to install a lift will take one and never look back. A spacious home garage with valuable collector cars will house one of these puppies without a hitch. Repair shops, custom-made shops, etc. can securely suspend onto customer vehicles while their customers’ cars are in the queue. Parking lifts are a petite investment with a big payoff, as long as storing more vehicles in as little space as possible is significant to you.
And now, at last, you can sing along as you do your celebratory parking lift… banana… thing. Warning: we’re experts when it comes to car lifts, not banana dances. BendPak is not responsible for inappropriate or awkward looks associated with the dance of the bananas. You have been warned.
BendPak Wins NASPO Contract for Vehicle Lifts and Garage Equipment
SANTA PAULA, CA—February 2017—BendPak Inc., a global manufacturer of car lifts and specialized garage equipment for servicing wheels, tires and brakes, won its contract bid from the National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO), formally WSCA-NASPO. Under Master Contract no. Five thousand three hundred sixteen for Vehicle Lifts and Garage Associated Equipment, BendPak will be providing municipalities and government buyers two-post lifts, four-post lifts, mobile column lifts, scissors lifts, wheel balancers, tire changers and brake lathes via central purchasing offices in each of the fifty states, including the District of Columbia and other U.S. territories.
As a national cooperative purchasing program, NASPO utilizes the collective purchasing power of all fifty states to acquire the best deals for a diversity of products and services. A single Lead State manages select contracts on behalf of other states. Furthermore, NASPO membership states and government entities are not required to pay membership fees.
The Master Contract was awarded to select companies that fulfill stringent government, military and vocational requirements and only those companies that have globally recognized products specifically designed for heavy-duty and commercial fleet services.
BendPak’s vehicle lift suggesting provides a broad service range covering vehicle types ranging from buses and military vehicles, to fleet, passenger cars, trucks and SUVs. Specialty lift models including two-post lifts designed for lawnmowers, turf equipment and landscaping utility vehicles help pack the special needs of schools, parks and golf courses. According to Jeff Kritzer, BendPak Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, this is an intentional stir by the company in order to reach the widest audience possible.
“Our cities and military typically have different needs when searching for car lifts and service equipment,” said Kritzer. “They want heavy-duty equipment that can treat the big stuff, in addition to smaller passenger vehicles and trucks. From government fleet vehicles, to city buses and military transport trucks, safety is always paramount.”
Military vehicle on a BendPak four-post lift
“It’s a large chance for BendPak,” said Pat Weber, Director of Sales and Business Development. “Only the best of the best get included in NASPO contracts of any kind, so it’s an honor to be recognized as leaders in our field.” BendPak’s contract runs from February two thousand seventeen – February two thousand nineteen with an optional three-year extension.
NASPO awards contracts only after vetting contesting businesses through a lengthy, comprehensive bidding process. Companies are awarded contracts for their pricing, warranties, service record, distribution network and ensure of available parts after-the-sale.
About BendPak‐Ranger: BendPak / Ranger manufactures car lifts, parking lifts, pipe benders, and air compressors. Their Ranger Products brand includes tire changers, wheel balancers, wheel aligners, brake lathes, and a broad multitude of garage equipment. BendPak and Ranger related marks are registered trademarks of BendPak Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. For more information contact BendPak Inc. at 1-800-253-2363 or visit www.bendpak.com. General press inquiries: [email protected]
What We Spotted at the two thousand seventeen Detroit Auto Demonstrate
The term “American-made” is a bit confusing these days. When the Toyota Camry is considered the most American-made vehicle on the market, perhaps our sense of pride and place becomes tangled in the globalized web that is the world of auto manufacturing. What’s the line inbetween foreign and domestic anymore? For all intents and purposes, we believe the United States predominates the car industry. While it’s true that China actually out-buys America in vehicles sold, America ranks three rd in vehicles per 1,000 people (the no. One and two catches sight of are from much smaller countries), whereas China ranks ninety nine th . In other words, America is very much still the auto industry’s darling, and GM and Toyota are essentially vying to be the world’s greatest auto seller. Here’s what we eyed this year at the two thousand seventeen Detroit Auto Display.
Toyota Camry steals headlines
Who would have believed the world’s best-selling sedan and Supreme Sultan of Boringness would steal one of the nation’s most powerfully attended auto shows? Not many people, most likely. The eighth-generation Camry is longer, broader and—if you ask Toyota—comes in variations of “sexy or very sexy.” Its ceiling is also lower, and you sit lower in the cockpit, providing it a sportier look and feel. At the end of the day, it’s still a Camry. Whether you get the Trio.5-liter six-cylinder, the four-cylinder or the gas-electric hybrid, you’re getting one of the most reliable four-doors ever built. If it looks a little nicer, so much the better, but no one ever bought a Camry because of—again, in the words of Toyota—it’s “more sexy.” Still, pedestrian detection and lane departure warnings come as intriguing standard options.
2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid
The top American seller, the Ford F-150 is the local pride and joy of the auto market. The fresh edition offers a diesel and 10-speed transmission, as well as a Three.3L V6 and Two.7L EcoBoost gasoline options. As usual, their marketing department excels (just observe the fresh commercial, posted below, and tell us it doesn’t put some hair on your chest), and what they call their pickup’s high-strength, military-grade aluminum alloy bod is lighter and more powerful than older steel models. Updated cruise control lets you set the distance inbetween you and the vehicle in front of you, so you’re not permanently slowing down for every Prius chunking up the left lane. A pre-collision assist program is a good way to persuade a skeptical significant other that yes, you do need this big truck, because of safety.
Honda Odyssey is cool again… for some reason
We’re groaning, too. But for every gas-guzzling hotrod, electrical wonder-car and badass truck that hits the market, there’s an identically necessary minivan. If we get over the boringness for a moment (recall Camry), there’s a particular importance to redesigns of vehicles that are often intended to hold large numbers of youthfull people in the back. They carry our future, if you think about it. Anyway, the two thousand eighteen Odyssey has a “magic slide” 2nd row that makes it lighter to get kids in and out. A rear-facing camera, CabinWatch™, accomplish with night vision puts eyes in the back of your head. CabinTalk™ is the intercom system that lets you scold children without raising your voice, even interrupting their movie games and movies. Which, in the wrong arms, could be a pretty hilarious delivery system for dad jokes. The vehicle is also a wandering 4G LTE, Wi-Fi hotspot with streaming movie. So that’s cool, right?
2018 Honda Odyssey
Waymo’s neat self-driving Chrysler Pacifica Minivan
It’s puzzling even to us that two minivans made our list, but Waymo’s self-driving Chrysler Pacifica is no ordinary minivan. Obviously not something that’s going to hit the general market, this vehicle tech is more of a sign of things to come. Google (Waymo), Apple and Uber are all in a competition to be the very first to fully automate the auto industry, and the race is on. Google’s “Waymo” project intends to launch a rideshare program in California in the near future using these vehicles, and if they’re successful, it will go a long way toward eyeing more programs like it. For now, human drivers are left in place to take over test drives as necessary, but someone will be the very first to do away with that human safeguard, and that’s when things will get indeed interesting. Until then, it’s mind-blowing that we’re most likely going to see this happen in our lifetimes.
Waymo self-driving Chrysler Pacifica
See list: China vs. U.S. Government
Keep an eye on how this develops, as there’s fine potential for China to reshape the global auto industry. It’s been well-established that the incoming President-elect has threatened to tax Mexican-made vehicle imports, should American auto plants relocate there. A number of car manufacturers have stated they will not close their American plants, while Toyota has warned that the Camry would see a $1,000 price increase if a proposed 35% import tax were adapted. The auto industry is not in total agreement over the “best” treatment, but there is a newcomer on the block looking to wiggle things up: China.
One of China’s larger auto companies, the Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC), has returned to Detroit for the 2nd time with the GS7, an SUV, the GE3, an all-electric with a touted range of 190mi on a single charge, and the EnSpirit concept car, a plug-in hybrid that the company claims can travel up to 435mi. The quality of these cars has yet to be truly tested, and it’s yet to be seen how American buyers will receive Chinese autos in a market that’s essentially predominated by Japanese, American and even Korean enterprises.
Will the political climate also have an effect on how well Chinese cars sell in the States, or will buyers gravitate toward the best value for their dollar, regardless of the country of origin? We live in interesting times, to say the least.
Five Outstanding Auto Tech Ideas and Innovations You Missed in 2016
2016 was a strange year, in many respects. It was a year of celebrity passing, election drama and outright Civil War.
It’s wasn’t just Tony Stark’s unexpected rebellion against the Avengers that caught our attention, however. The auto industry spotted some of the most interesting tech inventions and ideas to date. As a standalone achievement, SEMA two thousand sixteen was chock total of product unveilings, which only figures to increase next year. As we look forward to 2017, we’re taking a look at five fresh products and ideas you might have missed.
- Ford finds its groove with record number of patents
Long-considered one of the lesser companies for innovation, surprise and registered patents, Ford has spent the last few years reinventing itself, and in two thousand sixteen the company displayed off its extraordinaire tech contributions yet. According to mlive, “The Ford Motor Co. led all automakers in granted U.S. patents for the very first time in the company’s history in 2016.” Considering how long Ford has been around, that’s a pretty major accomplishment. There are some things in their wheelhouse that it’s safe to say no one else is thinking about. Their eChair is a self-loading wheelchair that makes driving lighter and more comfy for disabled persons and wheelchair users. Ford engineers are even refining a water purifier that recycles and purifies condensation from the car, funneling drinkable water through a faucet in the cabin. We can only imagine the implications for developing countries and travelers in need of a clean water supply. Not sure what vehicular condensation water will taste like, but if it’s potable, that’s exceptional.
The Eagle-360 concept tire by Goodyear looks like the bottom part of the BB-8 droid from J.J. Abram’s Starlet Wars reboot. The physics behind spherical wheels make them raunchy to master. In a way, it’s kind of embarrassing to call this one of the best ideas of two thousand sixteen because there are so, so many flaws in both Goodyear’s pitch and concept (i.e., floating wheels powered by magnets), but whatever—it’s still cool. Lots of question here. How will the “magnetic levitation” concept work? How is water repelled off the tire through “centrifugal forces” when any physics tells us centrifugal coerces don’t actually exist? Alright, it’s a ridiculous concept as of this moment, but Goodyear claims to be working on it, and companies don’t like to waste money on cool ideas that don’t stand a chance of coming to light. So, maybe there’s hope?
- Ford Mustang Two.3L Ecoboost Turbocharger by Turbonetics
Turbonetics Mustang Two.3L turbocharger
Taken out of the shop, the two thousand seventeen 4-cylinder Mustang is capable of three hundred ten HP. Mustang fans have been turbocharging their rails for decades, but Turbonetics has made the process simpler and more streamlined than ever. The real advantage to this turbocharger, and the reason it makes this list, is because their direct drop-in installation does away with the need for adapters or installation modifications. With a utter suite of mods and custom-made tuning, your Two.3L Mustang will be capable of five hundred twenty HP. That’s pretty good in a drop-in device, wouldn’t you say?
2017 Chevy Bolt
Welcome the most affordable and drivable electrical vehicle to hit the mass market. Unlike Tesla vehicles, a Chevy won’t cost you an arm and a gam for basic parts and repairs. A lot has been said about the Tesla III coming out for about $35,000, but Tesla repair locations are far less common, and parts are far more expensive, meaning Tesla remains an expensive investment. Meantime, the Chevy Bolt is about $30,000 after federal tax rebates and boasts a driving range of 128/110 MPGe. Obviously, this isn’t a turbocharged desire machine, but it gets the job done, saves money, helps the environment and has all the techy frills of a modern road warrior, including Ten.2” touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 4G LTE Wi-Fi. We have a feeling this is going to be a top seller for 2017, especially if the mileage turns out to be as strong as they claim in variable driving conditions.
Hundai is providing us a peek of the future of auto care. Their augmented reality app, if you haven’t seen it, is just a little step into the next wave of auto tech that will soon become standard. Users simply download the app and point their phones at different parts of the car. The app can tell you elementary things like what the radio tuner is used for (tuning the radio, as it turns out), and more useful applications, such as engine oil and wiper fluid levels. The device is a maintenance helper and user manual all-in-one. We imagine that as more companies put resources into expanding the tech in their car, apps like these will go after and become more useful and sophisticated. Imagine and entire engine diagnostic with visual aids.
How to Get through Snow, Cold, Fire, Zombies and Everything Else This Winter
Survival has been around almost as long as human beings have been on the earth. For thousands of years, we were pretty bad at staying alive. We ate twigs and berries. Our fires were too puny to stare into and think about stuff. Our devices were basically regular rocks that happened to be pointier than other rocks. Our species was on the edge of total disaster.
But abruptly, as if overnight, we grew tired of dying from things like lions and the common cold, so we invented guns and medicine. We realized we didn’t need to walk everywhere, so we invented wheels and put them under metal boxes, and we called the boxes cars. In olden times, people needed friends just to sustain, so we invented Mark Zuckerberg, who invented Facebook, which saved us from the time-consuming effort of making and sustaining real friendships. We liked it.
Since the past, mankind has even lodged in Northern Canada, which goes to demonstrate how far people will take things once they know how to get through. A few surviving records even showcase how we survived without power steering, but how this was possible remains a mystery to Millennials.
Despite how good we have become at surviving, many of us still practice an event called winter.* Winter brings many challenges to survival, including snow, cold weather, zombie armies and interestingly enough, more house fires. You need the decent devices at arm if you want to live through these things. Fortunate for you, BendPak has put together the ultimate winter survival guide to get you through anything.
*Reference page included for residents of Texas, Southern California, Florida and Hawaii. Also see: snow.
Get your tires ready for snow
Some states limit the use of winter tire chains. There’s something about steel on concrete and asphalt multiplied by a hundred thousand cars that just doesn’t “mix.” (And yes, we think that was a pretty “concrete” joke.) Tire chains just might come in handy, especially if you’re being chased by an axe-wielding maniac through a blizzard and need a quick getaway through a snow-blocked mountain pass… but that might just be The Shining. Anyway, if you live in snowy, or remote areas, make sure your tire chain situation is appropriately covered.
Jumper cables locked and loaded
Your backseat or trunk should always have a pair of jumper cables. If you lent yours to a friend this spring, now is a good time to ask for them back. It’s one of those items everyone seems to leave behind about until after-the-fact. Having them increases the odds you won’t have to wait very long on the side of the road for a leap. Plus, if one single person happens to rescue another single person simply by being ready, and the rescuer says something original like, “Hey, guess you owe me a coffee,” well, that’s a good story to tell your grandkids. They’ll love hearing you tell it too many times.
Check that battery rust and grime. Clear it off. Roadside emergencies won’t be so bad if you have a working battery (i.e., fever). Battery cleanings are often complimentary at service stations when you order a tune-up or get other work done. If you own a multimeter, in addition to cleaning, you can check for yourself that your battery voltage is inbetween 12.Four and 12.7 volts.
Don’t get bit. Aim for the head. Close range weaponry preferred for maximum effect. Trust no one.
Candles and other fire hazards
According to Allstate Insurance™, the holly, jolly holiday season is a not-so-jolly house-on-fire for an average of 67,500 homeowners. That’s a 15% seasonal increase compared to the rest of the year. Why? Because for some reason, people leave behind about surviving this time of year and do foolish things. For one, they light millions of scented candles and put up in their homes these big, flammable trees, and all of this has the potential to spell disaster. It seems like common sense to keep candles away from curtains, drapes, pine needles and carpet, but accidents always find a way to happen. If you’re using candles in your home, treat each little flame as if it were an open, roaring fire: clear the area of flammables and make sure it’s clear of walkways, just in case someone trips and falls near it. Additionally, people consume more alcohol in the winter (very likely sad they don’t live in Southern California), which historically isn’t good for survival, either.
Bad choices and distractions
Don’t drink and drive, and attempt to stay off the road late at night, if at all possible, especially during the holidays. For many households, winter means more distractions, less attentive behaviors, etc. In general, we all just need to be a little more careful. Also, never light an open candle in your car. December twenty five th is not the Fourth of July; midnight on Fresh Year’s Eve is not a fireworks parade.
People get robbed more frequently
Robberies/break-ins spike 7% during the holidays. After all, the kids aren’t the only ones attempting to guess what’s packaged under the tree, especially when the tree—and everything underneath it—is in plain view of a large, street-facing window. Keep your presents out of look or else close the blinds. Be especially careful to lock every door this time of year, especially at night. If you can’t pull your car indoors, two things need to happen. One, don’t leave anything valuable in your car. Two, if there is something in there that you can’t or won’t eliminate, keep it out of view. Purses and wallets go without telling, but bags of any kind should be hidden or eliminated. Sunglasses, your GPS device, etc. should be kept out of look.
Snow brush and ice scraper
The dual-purpose winter car device is virtually essential for winter living, not just emergencies. They’re cheap, effective and will grant you three wishes to make you rich and famous beyond your wildest desires.
The best way to get through an emergency is to have something on palm that literally has the word “survival” in the name. Depending on where you live, some of these items may be mandatory winter accessories, not necessarily reserved for emergencies. In any case, a winter roadside survival kit will get you through most emergency situations with all nine of your remaining toes intact. Survival kits are actually pretty effortless to make and should include the following:
Take those old winter glazes, hats and gloves that are a little strike up, covered in a permanent layer of dried winter snot or don’t fit flawlessly anymore and store them in the trunk, enough for several passengers. Add blankets and/or sleeping bags, depending on how cold it tends to get around you.
As it turns out, those lean, shiny “space blankets” aren’t what they’re sometimes cracked up to be. They are essentially fever reflectors, and the wind and rain gargle right through them. If you’re stuck in your car in an overnight emergency situation, this blanket type might work, as long as it keeps dry and close to your skin. If you embark to sweat, however, the blanket will reflect your cooled assets temperature back at you, making it less effective, possibly worthless. Arguably, the best blanket item you can spring for is the so-called U.S. military “woobie,” or dual-purpose poncho liner and emergency blanket. Woobies melt the hearts and minds of the most tested and experienced soldiers. Why? Because anything this flawless is worth melting for. They’re waterproof, windproof, comfy and fully insulated
Flashlight and extra batteries
Some form of battery-powered light is ideal. This could be an electrical lantern, flashlight, etc. Extra batteries should be considered mandatory.
This is on the fancy-extreme side of the survival kit, but wouldn’t it be good to have if you flipped your SUV down a hill, broke your gam and needed some way to signal for help? Yes, that’s unlikely to happen. In general, flares aren’t the most necessary emergency item, but if you’re in a remote area without a lot of human contact or traffic, you might think twice before going without one.
Hopefully, it never comes to the fire-building stage of your survival venture, as this means things have gotten pretty dicey. Still, a little flame-based warmth can be the difference inbetween life and death. If you’re indeed fancy, you can pull some of the dryer lint from your home dryer, store it in a plastic baggie, and with a few matches or a lighter, you now you have the best fire-starting kit in town. If you’re stranded somewhere remote, you can actually use puny fires to warmth rocks (like in a sauna).
Pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty evident. Don’t store fruit and vegetables in your car, unless they’re of the dried or dehydrated diversity. High-energy foods like trail mix and protein bars are your best bets. As paramours say, “Honey, bring the chocolate.” You can never have enough water bottles, either. Ever.
You can buy one ready-made or put it together yourself. The American Crimson Cross has its own guidelines for a good very first aid kit, and for $250.00, you can purchase the entire shebang: a total emergency kit with very first aid, food, water, very first aid, blankets, light, etc.
Total emergency kit
TL;DR: Prepare for the cold this winter by adhering to a few common-sense survival tips. Make sure you have tire chains, if necessary, and get your car trunk stocked with blankets, flashlights, batteries, very first aid kits, food, water, etc. Furthermore, lock your doors to protect your home from robberies, and be wary of open flames in the household this holiday season.
Convert Your Garage with a Gunmetal Gray Car Lift
Since we announced the BendPak color shift from blue to Gunmetal Gray, we’ve gotten a meaty response over the web. We didn’t make this choice blindly, of course; we spent months gathering opinions from customers and distributors, and overwhelmingly, the public call was for us to make the switch to Gunmetal Gray. So, who are we to argue? We’re excited about this switch because it marks a fresh chapter in BendPak’s storied history as one of the most successful and longest-running car lift manufacturers in the world.
While a minority out there has been hesitant to accept the switch to Gunmetal Gray, we’re sure that when people see what these beautiful lifts look like in their garages, they’ll lose their fears very quickly. To help that process along, we’ve taken some four-post lift photos our customers sent us recently and digitally switched the lifts from blue to Gunmetal Gray. Hopefully this demonstrates why we’re making the switch.
The overall contrast in this garage—comparing the two pictures below—is very clear. The original blue pops out and leaves a very visible visual footprint in the garage. When you compare this to the effect of the Gunmetal Gray, you see the latter is much more at home in the shop. The BendPak blue will always have a place in our hearts, but it’s shocking how cleverly the Gunmetal Gray blends with the DeLoreans. We think the fresh color also lends itself better for showrooms. If you’re displaying a uncommon or classic car, like a DeLorean, you want a solid, functional car lift that looks excellent but doesn’t draw attention to itself.
In the shots below, notice how your eye is quickly drawn to the vehicles. In the past, when we were a junior and smaller company, we liked the extra attention on ourselves. Now that we’ve made our mark in the industry and you folks know that BendPak stands for the utmost in quality and reliability, we trust our name alone makes the difference for our customers—more than any color ever could—and that’s something that’s never going to switch.
Yet another good example why Gunmetal Gray is a better color for servicing and displaying classic custom-made rebuilds. The original car lift almost pops off the page; in fact, the vibrant blue emerges almost as prominent as the car itself. That’s not necessarily what you want if you’re into classic builds. The Gunmetal Gray version, in our opinion, is much sleeker and sexier, especially because it helps emphasize the car. The individual who sent us this photo was primarily skeptical but pleased with the result when we showcased him what his garage would look like in the fresh color scheme. Can’t say we’re astonished!
The Camaro-lover in this last example has two beautiful cars that look excellent on our blue lift. With Gunmetal Gray, it’s clear BendPak is moving itself out of the limelight. Typical garage environments don’t necessarily request a bright blue car lift to announce itself at all times, but if you do want the blue, we will be retaining it for special orders. That means there will be an extra service fee, but we always do our best to accommodate everyone’s preferences.
Inwards Look: Everything You Need to Know about the RP-50FC Oil Filter Crusher
The very first feature we look at in an oil filter crusher is how lightly it flattens metal filter casings. The RP-50FC oil filter crusher applies twenty five tons of force, so it even works on thick, stubborn truck filters that can cause trouble for lesser machines. The other significant thing we need to look at is how much oil is actually drained out. This is where a lot of puny businesses can get into trouble. Our crusher gets 95% of residual oil out of the filter, and it gravity drains the oil runoff into a collection bin underneath the crushing compartment. Because the RP-50FC is so powerful, it takes about eight seconds to crush most cans down to 20% of their original size. We’re also proud of safety features like the automatic shutoff if the compartment door is opened during operation, as well as the convenient foot-pedal controls, which add versatility to how you control all major operations.
Oil filter casings are a common byproduct of every quick-lube station and repair shop, no matter what kind of work they do. Before the crushing process, these oil filters are packed with up to ten oz. of waste oil, even if they’ve been gravity-drained. Therefore, these filters are considered hazardous waste and need to be decently treated and disposed of by licensed transporters, which is expensive and totally on the shop proprietor to pay for. The RP-50FC ensures your oil-heavy filters are flattened, emptied and totally diminished to scrap metal. In other words, using the RP-50FC means these casings will no longer be considered hazardous waste. If you’re not using a good filter, and there’s still waste oil in there after crushing, your entire businesses gets smacked with phat government fines, in addition to any standard disposition fees. Some especially rigorous laws have recently sprung up in California, but it’s everywhere, truly. These fines are serious: up to $Ten,000 per disturbance per day. Our crusher gives you good peace of mind, so you don’t have to stress about it. The best part is that the RP-50FC pays for itself. All the used oil you’ve collected can also be repurposed or recycled, so now you have separate oil and metal casings that can actually earn you profit just for doing your job.
Improvements from past models
We need to make sure that we’re suggesting fatter and better versions of our existing products whenever a need for them exists. Our previous model, the RP-20FC oil filter crusher, is still excellent for flattening common oil filter casings and paint cans, but the RP-50FC is thicker, offers more than twice the crushing power and comes with a built-in stand. Some of those larger oil filters, like ones you see on commercial trucks and transport vehicles, are pretty sturdy, and we desired to make sure we provide a machine that will treat those products flawlessly.
It’s a no-brainer, honestly. Under the definition of “solid waste,” the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that “recycled hazardous scrap metal is a solid waste when disposed of or recycled.” However, untrained or uncrushed filters contain too much oil to qualify for the scrap metal exemption. There are few options for disposing of non-terne plated filters (most commonly used).
- The generator could crush the oil filter using the most adequate crushing method to force excess residual oil from the filter. As a best operating practice, the EPA recommends that used oil filters are crushed to ensure that all free-flowing oil is liquidated and to make certain the crushed filters qualify for the hazardous scrap metal recycling exemption. The used oil and metal casings can then be recycled and sold for profit.
- Alternately, puncture and hot-drain to eliminate the oil. This means puncturing the filter anti-drain back valve or the filter dome end and draining the filter above sixty degrees Fahrenheit (preferably near engine operating temperature) for a minimum of twelve hour to liquidate the oil. The used oil filters are then exempt from the hazardous waste regulations. The used oil and metal casings can then be recycled and sold for profit.
- Pay exorbitant fees to have the used oil filters collected as hazardous waste.
- Gravity drain the used filters by tipping them upside down and letting the oil leisurely drain. In this method they are still considered hazardous waste. Costly collection fees will still apply.
With heightened awareness and scrutiny regarding the disposition of used oil filters, many processing facilities won’t even accept uncrushed filter casings anymore. Another plus for mechanics is anyone can get trained on these machines in a matter of minutes. You put the filter in, close the door to the compartment and depress the green button. If you let go, the process stops. The oil that gets squeezed out is automatically collected through a lithe tube, so virtually every aspect of the oil removal and collection process is treated for you.
These Car Lift Safety Tips Could Save Your Life
If you’re reading this, you’re most likely a good mechanic. Despite our skills—sometimes—experience is our downfall. We think we can get away with little mistakes here and there, and we hope they don’t catch up to us. It’s called being fortunate, and we’re usually fortunate more than we’re unlucky. So yes, almost every mechanic has a story about a narrow escape(s). But there are also the costly mistakes, and it’s our job to help you prevent them.
The last time we wrote about cable inspections and two-post safety, we received a lot of positive feedback from well-meaning folks who admitted they hadn’t been keeping up with things. That’s inspiring to us, so we’re back with a few shop safety MUSTS to keep you healthy and profitable for many years to come.
The overhead safety switch / shutoff bar
The overhead bar serves a critical purpose. Because the lift arms can only rise when the power unit button is manually—and continuously—depressed, the shutoff bar kills electrical flow to the power unit if touched by the roof of any vehicle. Obviously a useful implement for keeping your vehicle from smashing into the overhead bar or going through the roof (only a slight exaggeration).
BendPak XPR-10AS two-post lift with overhead shutoff bar
That shutoff bar you infrequently pay attention to is there to protect you in the event of emergencies. It prevents your vehicle from smashing into the upper cross slat and literally going through the roof. With a decently working shutoff bar, strenuous trucks and SUVs might not make it to the lift’s max extension. In other words, taller vehicles need to be stopped before the arms have totally risen. Operators who disable this bar in order to get a duo extra inches of lift, even if they’re very careful, are taking life-threatening risks. A large vehicle could get its roof crushed or else compromise the integrity of the lift. However, even when decently installed, the bar only works if you go after this next step…
Using the decent lifting points keeps vehicles balanced, even with loaded flatbeds.
Car should be decently placed at all times on two-post lift
Basic auto mechanic safety protocol is too often disregarded. We all know that vehicles placed over a two-post lift should have all four lift pads placed under the vehicle at the manufacturer’s recommended lifting points. We all know this to be true, but too often we leave cars parked in compromising positions (e.g., letting the vehicle rest on the floor with uneven or improper pad placement). BendPak makes the finest car lifts out there. That doesn’t mean we think you should cut corners on safety. Things can still go wrong:
– Someone thinks the lift pads are decently set and depresses the lift button, causing an unbalanced lift.
– You might leave behind that the pads weren’t set before operating the lift.
– An electrical/wiring issue might inadvertently raise the lift. In this case, an unevenly lifted vehicle might not tour the overhead shutoff bar, which would be a total nightmare.
Framework cradle pads / truck adapter kits
Of all the items on our list, this one is one of the hardest pills for us to gulp, and the precaution we repeat the most often. For whatever reason, a number of lift operators simply deny to use the necessary framework cradle pads when lifting certain trucks and SUVs. At least on some level, we see why this is happening. People want swifter turnover, and they can sometimes “get away” without the truck adapters. Two problems. One, car lift manufacturers are not liable for damages that occur due to improper usage of the lift. You’re in no way legally covered for doing something—excuse our language—stupid. Some people seem to have a problem with this and attempt to shift the blame on the machine when they do something wrong. BendPak and the other car lift companies out there don’t make truck adapter sets just for the heck of it; these are vital implements you need to have in your shop if you’re lifting trucks and SUVs with raised suspensions or further recessed underbellies.
We’ve written about cable inspections and safety before, but it’s worth reminding ourselves that those daily cable inspections may seem like a minor nuisance, but so does using a turn signal 100% of the time, coming to a accomplish stop before making a right on crimson, adhering to the speed limit, etc. We sometimes “get away” with skipping these little things, and nobody’s ideal. Still, a cable inspection may expose a poorly lubricated line, which is effortless to fix. Stray threads or dry sheaves cause friction, and that causes severe harm to your lift components. Bad! Take a look at your cable system at the embark or end of every day, whichever works for you.
Also, if you ever notice that your safety locks do not engage at the same time, you may have cables that are out of sync. Resynchronize your cables before attempted further lift. Do not lift or lower a vehicle in an attempt to sync or adjust cables if it is unsafe to do so.
It’s recommended that you install your power unit on the passenger side of an asymmetrical two-post lift. This is purely for convenience, but virtually all operators benefit from this common installation practice. By doing so, operators are able to position (drive) the vehicle inbetween the two-post lift columns, position the arms from that side, and then stir to the passenger side to position the arms and operate the lift. Eliminating the need to walk back to the driver side to perform operations saves time and just makes sense. (Plus, experienced mechanics will think you’re ridiculous if you don’t install your power unit this way).
If possible, cut the power to your car lifts and other major shop appliances at the end of each work day. If this is not an option for you at home or in the shop, be sure you never leave vehicles in a compromised position when loading or setting up a lift.