Stella Elford - Levanta - Superior Workshop Solutions

Are your workshop’s vehicle hoists compliant?

What you need to know about Non Destructive Tests for car lifts

As an employer you are responsible for showing a duty of care towards your employees. You want to sleep at night knowing that you have done all you can to keep your staff safe.

One safeguard that’s widely recommended in the industry is to have your hoists undergo a Non Destructive Test (NDT) after 10 years of operation. An NDT is also recommended in the Australian Standards AS/NZS2550.9 and AS2550.1.

At Levanta we take safety very seriously. We believe that if you have followed the recommendation of the Australian Standards you are have safeguarded yourself and your business in the best possible way – while demonstrating you have done everything you can to comply to the standards.

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It’s not only an important safety consideration. Australian law stipulates that you must ensure compliance for your workshop by having an NDT for every hoist.

Automotive workshop safety for your staff, customers, and equipment

A Non Destructive Test is an x-ray of the structure of the hoist including all the welds to check structural integrity. With the weight of vehicles and the amount of work a hoist typically does each day, it’s important to check that your hoists have no chance of failure.

Non Destructive Testing isn’t just a matter of “do it once and then forget it”. After your hoists’ first 10 year NDT, you will need to have an NDT done every 5 years to ensure there is no further deterioration as time progresses.

So even once your hoists have first been tested (and you’ve paid for any faults to be rectified), you’ll still need to make allowance for subsequent future expenses.

And it’s not just the price of testing to factor into your thinking. There’s business downtime and the cost of parts and labour to consider too.

Some car dealerships find it easier to write their hoists off over 5-8 years, which gives them an easy option to simply replace hoists as they approach the 10 year age mark.

An alternative to NDTs for your vehicle workshop

Instead of committing to the expense of a mandatory NDT – along with the indeterminate cost of rectifying whatever faults are found – it may be a better business choice to instead simply outfit your workshop with all-new hoist equipment.

With the latest gear, your workshop will enjoy many benefits over your former setup, such as increased efficiency, greater appeal to qualified staff, and better ability to meet your OEM’s Corporate Identity requirements.

To help you decide whether an NDT or new hoists is the best option for your business, we’ve put together a free checklist that runs through the pros and cons of each alternative.

It’s not a sales pitch. It’s designed to be an accurate summary of your options as a workshop business owner or manager, to help you make the right decision for your situation.

Find the best way to ensure your workshop is compliant

To find out more about whether an NDT or a new fitout of workshop hoists is the best option for your business, get in touch with Levanta today. Our garage equipment experts will explain your options and help you decide on the best way forward for your workshop business.

Call Levanta now on 1300 577 541 or contact your local branch here to find out more about the latest technology vehicle hoists for your vehicle workshop.

car hoist servicing hoist safety

A guide to workshop pit design, specification and standards

Reducing the risk for your workshop business

Levanta’s consultants, along with our design & fabrication team, have looked through the Australian Standards and consulted with Safety Inspectors nationally to try to come up with an acceptable advice article, as there is nothing in OHS legislation that specifies the requirements for lighting, power, extraction or other safety measures in a pit. That’s why it’s necessary that you ensure a risk assessment is carried out for your business.

It is however important to note the Act and Regulations which form law:

Reference can be made to Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 – Sect 19 for unguarded vehicle pits and safe systems of work and REG 3.11 for signage and warnings for falls into the pit.

Under the Act, employers have a duty of care to provide a safe working environment.

Carrying out a risk assessment for your service pit

In this free guide the Levanta team discuss the factors that should be considered in a risk assessment at your business reduce any risks present from carrying out work in a service pit.

We look at the key hazards for working in and around vehicle service pits and look at areas for risk reduction in your workshop.

Download your copy today.

Contact Levanta for more information about workshop pit design

To find out more about risk assessments for service pits, get in touch with Levanta today.

Call Levanta now on 1300 577 541 to find out more about service pits for your vehicle workshop.

service pits

How to plan a successful heavy vehicle workshop fitout

Everything you need to know to ensure a better workshop design

When you set out to design a new heavy vehicle workshop fitout, you’ll want to include the best practice standards for every area, right from the start.

Whether your workshop is in need of a refurbishment, an expansion, or a complete new fitout, the key to a successful (and profitable) end result is planning.

You’ll need a workshop design that:

Allows the maximum vehicle throughput
Enhances workflow efficiency
Meets all workplace health and safety regulations
Complies with all Australian standards
Impacts on the environment as little as possible
…all while meeting your budget and deadlines. Easy!

It’s a lot to get your head around. And as a busy Workshop Service Manager, you’ll no doubt want to be as hands-on as possible during the all-important design phase. After all, no one knows your customers, your business, and your machinery like you do.

Yet with your day-to-day responsibilities for your business, you can’t simply drop everything to devote the necessary time to planning and managing a new workshop fitout. So how do you make sure your new workshop fitout will meet your business’s needs, now and for years to come?

Plan for a more profitable Heavy Vehicle Workshop Fitout with Levanta

To give you a head start on your workshop planning process, we’ve put together this comprehensive workshop fitout guide.

We’ll share some of the key considerations of good heavy vehicle workshop design, and show you how with a little forethought and planning, you can make the process as smooth as possible – and ensure the best return from your investment.

Click the image above to download your FREE eBook now

3 things to consider when choosing a four post hoist

Our workshop experts show you how to get the right hoist

If you’ve decided to buy a four post hoist, the Levanta team say congratulations! The sturdy, rugged nature of these lifts will make it easier and safer for you to service vehicles than ever before.

Of course, all brands and models of four post hoists are not alike. That’s why it’s important to consider the following 3 points when choosing the best vehicle hoist for your needs.

1) What type of vehicles will you be servicing most regularly with your four post hoist?

What types of vehicles do you find yourself servicing in your workshop most often? For small, narrow vehicles, you should look for a 4 post hoist with an adjustable platform that can be made narrower as you require. On the other hand, if you mainly service large, wide vehicles, you should choose a larger hoist with higher capabilities.

2) Look for the longest four post hoist ramps available

Many people underestimate just how long platforms really are when servicing vehicles. But short ramps and low profile vehicles do not mix — which is a lesson you’ll learn quickly if your four post hoist accidentally scrapes the underside of a customer’s car. Remember: you can always get a high vehicle on a long ramp, but not the other way around!

3) Insist on four independent safety locks

Safety locks for 4 post hoists are currently a grey area in the Australian Standards. Technically, you can get away with only having one safety lock; but this isn’t the best option, as it leaves you open to potential danger if that single safety lock was to fail. Ideally, you should look for a hoist that has four independent locks (one in each column).

To speak to a car hoist expert about choosing the right model for your workshop, Levanta on 1300 577 541. We are always in the mood to talk about vehicle lifts!

How to plan a successful workshop fitout

Everything you need to know to ensure a better workshop design

When you set out to design a successful workshop fitout, you’ll want to include the best practice standards for every area, right from the start.

Whether your workshop is in need of a refurbishment, an expansion, or a complete new fitout, the key to a successful (and profitable) end result is planning.

You’ll need a workshop design that:

Allows the maximum vehicle throughput
Enhances workflow efficiency
Meets all workplace health and safety regulations
Complies with all Australian standards
Meets your OEM’s Corporate Identity standards
Impacts on the environment as little as possible
…all while meeting your budget and deadlines. Easy!

It’s a lot to get your head around. And as a busy Fixed Operations Manager or Workshop Service Manager, you’ll no doubt want to be as hands-on as possible during the all-important design phase. After all, noone knows your customers, your business, and your Dealer Principal like you do.

Yet with your day-to-day responsibilities for your dealership, you can’t simply drop everything to devote the necessary time to planning and managing a new workshop fitout. So how do you make sure your new workshop fitout will meet your business’s needs, now and for years to come?

Plan for a more profitable workshop fitout
with Levanta

To give you a head start on your workshop planning process, we’ve put together this comprehensive workshop fitout guide.

We’ll share some of the key considerations of good workshop design, and show you how with a little forethought and planning, you can make the process as smooth as possible – and ensure the best return from your investment.

Click the image above to download your FREE eBook now!

workshop fitout

How to meet your OEM’s Corporate Identity requirements

All about planning the ideal workshop fitout

Whether you’re designing a new workshop fitout, or thinking of re-fitting an existing workshop, there are many factors to consider. The ideal bay layout, the number of essential fittings, and the comfort and safety of your staff will all get a mention. But one of the most crucial requirements of all is the need to meet your OEM’s Corporate Identity standards.

Global vehicle manufacturers have literally spent millions to create a Corporate Identity that clearly portrays their brand to potential customers. They are understandably protective of their Corporate Identity and reluctant to have it watered down. That’s why an OEM’s Corporate Identity handbook can run to hundreds of pages of standards.

And while that may sound intimidating, if you’re planning on refitting your vehicle workshop, it’s also the sound of opportunity for your dealership. Read on to find out how.

Select a workshop fitout expert that understands OEM CI

The old saying, “Buy it on price, you’ll pay for it twice” certainly has resonance when planning a workshop fitout.

If you’re working with a premium marque such as a European manufacturer, standards for meeting their Corporate Identity will be understandably high. These OEMs will often stipulate a particular brand of equipment, or a precise colour of equipment, from a certain manufacturer, who has a proven ability to provide the quality standard of workshop gear they’re looking for.

Though it might be tempting to try and save money by substituting a cheaper brand instead of a stipulated brand, this can often be a false economy. These cheaper brands often simply don’t measure up – leaving you with the need for costly rectification work.

All of this can be avoided by choosing to partner with a supplier with the expertise to work within an OEM’s guidelines, to design a workshop fitout right the first time. And with rebates on offer from OEMs for meeting their requirements, this approach can actually save you money over the long term.

The right partner makes meeting Corporate Identity standards easy

Don’t let your workshop fitout become an expensive nightmare. Make sure you have the information and experience needed to meet your OEM’s Corporate Identity by partnering with the right workshop fitout supplier.

By choosing a supplier that has the ability to work within your OEM’s requirements and deliver a solution to meet them, you can achieve a workshop fitout that not only looks the part, but helps you deliver a better service for your customers too.

Have questions about the best way to meet your OEM’s Corporate Identity requirements for your dealership? Get in touch with the workshop fitout experts Levanta on 1300 577 541 or with your local office’s contact forms here.

workshop fitout OEM Corporate Identity

Workshop hoist servicing and maintenance

The importance of preventive maintenance for vehicle hoists

As a vehicle workshop service manager, you’ll no doubt be aware of the need for preventive maintenance for vehicles. After all, the service you’re offering to your clients is helping to minimise repair costs, and keeping vehicle down time to a minimum.

It’s no different for the actual vehicle hoists in your workshop. As you know, efficient vehicle throughput is absolutely crucial for the profitable running of your service department. And that means that if workshop equipment breaks down, you won’t be able to service vehicles until it’s fixed – and your bottom line will suffer as a result.

Of course, one of the best ways to ensure you don’t have a problem with your car hoist is to prevent breakdowns from occurring in the first place.

The answer? With preventive maintenance for car hoists, you can ensure that equipment breakdowns are minimised, and you have service capacity available when it’s needed – helping maximise vehicle throughput for your auto workshop.

Service contracts keep hoists in top working order

One of the most cost-effective ways to service your workshop equipment is to commit to an ongoing 12 month service plan. This will allow you to plan your car hoist maintenance around your busiest times, rather than simply having to repair a broken down lift – while also doing without one of your auto lifts at potentially the busiest time of day.

Another advantage of ongoing service plans is that, because a hoist service takes up to one hour for each hoist, it’s a significant time cost to your business. By planning ahead for regular servicing, you can choose the exact time for your hoists to be serviced – allowing you to plan around your workflow for the minimum interruption.

What’s more, with a 12 month service contract you’ll know your costs are locked in for the period – which helps when you’re budgeting for the year’s service costs. You can even lock in a service plan for up to five years, allowing you to plan ahead with certainty.

And because your car hoist maintenance service provider is responsible for the frequency of your hoist servicing, there’s no need to keep track of when your hoists are due for a service. The service provider will simply schedule service dates across the term of your contract.

Preventive maintenance offers safety and reliability

By setting up a regular service plan for your car lifts, you can rest assured that your vehicle hoists will meet applicable Australian Workplace Health & Safety laws.

These regulations mandate that your vehicle hoists must be serviced at least every 12 months – and of course, unannounced inspections can happen at any time. To avoid having to respond to a ‘make good’ order for your workshop safety at short notice, it makes sense to have an ongoing maintenance plan for car hoists in place. To make sure you meet this requirement, ask your hoist service provider about setting up an annual maintenance program.

It also pays to ask the question, “Who is responsible for servicing my car hoist?”. If your workshop hoist supplier isn’t currently providing the maintenance services themselves, they may be sub-contracting the service to another business. In that case, what standard of servicing are you really getting? Does it meet Australian Standards? Is this arrangement the best way to ensure vehicle lift safety for your customers, your employees, and your investment.

To find out more about car lift maintenance and how we can help make your workshop safer and more efficient, call Levanta on 1300 577 541 or use the contact forms here.

car hoist servicing vehicle hoist maintenance

Putting the Brakes on Accidents

The recent media attention surrounding heavy vehicle accidents across Australia is forcing industry regulators to set their considerable sights on company driven maintenance programs.

According to the NTARC (National Truck Accident Research Centre), 25% of all accidents are caused by speed, 12.1% through fire losses and mechanical failure, with fatigue coming in third at 11.9%. Each of these top three causes are shining a light on contributory brake issues.

With the 2013 major accident report released by the NTARC stating that brake problems can result in tyre fires and explosions, recommendations are being made that brake and tyre maintenance become a priority.

Coupled with the recent woes of one of Australia’s largest transport companies being issued with multiple defect notices for brake, wheel and suspension faults (taking 26 of their 80 strong fleet off the road), the major impact on company earnings and reputations cannot be ignored. Neither can the cause.

WHY TEST BRAKES?

Safety
Put simply, we test brakes to ensure vehicles are safe to use. For drivers, for the general public and for the client’s product that is being transported.

Legislation
While each State has their own regulations in place, it is becoming more of a National focus from a regulatory point of view to frequently test brakes.

Liability
Regular brake testing allows the operator to keep an auditable record of testing. In the event of a vehicle being involved in an accident, the risk of legal action can be reduced if accurate testing information is readily available.

Economy
Regular testing can minimise vehicle downtime in the workshop, reduce brake lining and component wear, and can assist in decreasing tyre wear — saving businesses time and money.

OH&S Fatigue Management
As part of the National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme (NHVAS) minimising driver fatigue is a critical component. By regularly testing you can provide a smoother ride for operators, resulting in a positive effect on driver fatigue management.

THE EQUIPMENT

The most effective and comprehensive testing equipment available on the market is the Roller Brake Tester. This style of testing requires a vehicle to be driven onto a set of rollers that are covered in a plastic medium, infused with friction material. When tested the wheels are turned by the constant speed of the roller, keeping the vehicle static during the test.

Roller Brake Testing measures deceleration by means of torque force produced by the decelerations of the wheel against the rollers. This method produces the most consistent results across all axles. You can test one wheel at a time, review efficiency of service, and test parking and emergency brakes.

Roller Brake Testers can be configured for air pressure testing, ovality (warped or cracked discs/drums), Bind (rolling resistance) and in some makes you can accurately test time lag which can help reduce the likelihood of “jack-knifing”. One of the more impressive services that this style of testing provides is the ability to match prime movers to trailers, maximising vehicle balance and efficiency.

Greater safety is achieved with this style of testing with the single operator system allowing control on some systems direct from the vehicle cab via remote control. There are also a number of options to enhance the system including speedo checking, play detectors, emission testers, headlight aimers and noise meters. These accessories give this unit the added advantage of being able, in some cases, to form the basis of a complete vehicle test lane.

While the Roller Brake Tester is the top of the line product available on the market, it is important to fully understand the ins and outs of these testing units. Due to the powerful drive systems, they generally require 3 phase power to operate and can be very unforgiving to humans if safety precautions are not strictly adhered to. The weight of the mobile units can be inhibitive (weighing in a 1.2t for the brake tester). While installation can also present some challenges, with the in-ground units requiring some civil work to get the job done.

When it comes down to it though, the pros outweigh the cons. The real bonus factor of utilising your own in-house Roller Brake Testing, whether mobile or in-ground, is the long term cost savings, safety of your of your operators and limiting your organisations liability. By conducting your own fleet brake safety checks with a Roller Brake Testing unit, you can substantially cut the costs of outsourcing your testing over the long term, you can be confident that you are doing everything in your power to decrease driver and truck fatigue, and as an organisation you are protecting yourself, and your drivers, from liability by being at the forefront of testing and preventative maintenance in this growing area of concern.

THE FACTS

OPERATION : When it comes to operation, Roller Brake Testers will measure the torque reaction generated by the vehicle brakes against a roller turned by a motor.

SAFETY: When it comes to safety Roller Brake Testing is a safe method of testing, the vehicle does not move during the brake test, as the rollers ‘act as the road’ and turn under the wheel.

ACCURACY : Roller Brake Testers use the same braking surfaces to test all of the wheels, on all of the vehicles; ensuring accurate comparative tests.

SPEED : Roller Brake Testers are strong enough to test all vehicles at a consistent speed to allow for comparative readings across the board.

CONSISTENCY : Roller Brake Testers can test the entire range of every brake fitted to the vehicle, from zero to full braking, or wheel lock, consistently and repeatedly, without the influence of momentum or weight transfer.

POWER : Roller Brake Testers use external power for the brakes to work against, typically electric motors, therefore the time taken for the test can be controlled by the operator. On average brake tests applications last for approximately 20-40 seconds.

RESULTS : Roller Brake Testers are able to achieve consistent and repeatable results for brake tests, from individual wheels to full brake effort and wheel lock up.

COMPACT : The Roller Brake testers are compact, however, do require sufficient room each side of the brake tester for the vehicle.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Driver fatigue, mechanical failure and speed dominate as the main causes of heavy vehicle accidents, costing lives and billions of dollars across Australia every year. Safety and maintenance is being brought into focus through critical media attention that is sending a ripple out across the entire industry.

It is safe to say that with the introduction of the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator in February, a greater focus on a national standard for vehicle maintenance and inspection cannot be far behind. Will you be ready?

Penske – Christchurch, NZ

Levanta implements wireless fluid traceability system in NZ workshop fitout.

Penske is a global organisation with a major commitment to continue their expansion into Australia and New Zealand. Prior to 2018 Penske had 2 main workshop facilities in New Zealand. One located in Auckland and the other located in Tauranga. As the first two workshop were located on the North Island, in 2018 a decision was made to build a brand-new heavy vehicle workshop facility in Christchurch (South Island). In the past Levanta had completed multiple successful projects for Penske in Australia across WA, NSW and QLD. Therefore, due to the strong relationship and extensive knowledge/experience in the heavy vehicle workshop sector, Levanta was engaged once again to carry out the design and fit-out of a complete turnkey workshop for the new facility.

Project Challenge

One of the challenges encountered included the overhead crane. Due to the overhead crane all reticulated services such as oil, coolant, air and waste either was routed on the perimeter of building or via in ground service ducts. Levanta worked closely with Calder Stewart to ensure all inground services were designed and positioned in optimum locations. Another challenge included the lack of traceability of new product being used for service work. Levanta proposed a wireless fluid management system to monitor all oil, coolant and waste oil products complete with tank level monitors and monitoring dispensers.

Our Solution

The solution comprised of a reticulation system for oil, coolant, waste oil, waste coolant including pumps, hose reels, hose reel rack, waste drainers, (8) double skin bulk storage tanks, grease system, compressed air system including ring main and compressor, custom design pit rail system to accommodate 20T jacking beams, service pit jacks, brake tester, suspension tester, and a wash bay fit-out with a hot/cold high pressure wash system.

The project included:

Penske had a significant list of requirements regarding the workshop facility. In collaboration with Penske and Calder Stewart (Developer/Builder), the Levanta Design Team got to work and drafted a design that not only met but exceeded customer expectations.

Client Benefit

The end result was a complete success for all parties with the project completing on time, on budget and with quality above industry standards. With complete Project Management and high-end design capabilities, Penske saw the value with dealing with Levanta for all their workshop needs and was satisfied with the final product.