Automotive Shop Equipment - An Introduction


The automotive industry is one of the largest centralized industries in the world. The auto industry dates back to as early as 1769. Being in this particular area can be a very lucrative business decision as automobiles have evolved over many years. While the manufacturing of automobiles is continuing to boom, so is the need for more automotive shops to service these vehicles. This article will focus on the introduction of shop equipment such as the different variations of car lifts, and wheel service equipment.

What are car lifts? Well as the question suggestions, it has to do with cars. Well a car is defined as a wheeled motor vehicle for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor. Lift can be defined as a mechanical force generated by a solid object moving through a fluid. So in short, it is a mechanical equipment that generates force by a solid object moving through a fluid that is able to lift a wheeled motor vehicle or any other object. They are also known as vehicle lifts, automotive lifts, storage lifts, alignment lifts, or car stackers.

These particular kind of lifts can be used by automotive shops to work on vehicles or used by home hobbyist for storage of their cars, or to do repairs in their garage. These auto lifts come in different styles or models, and having different lifting capacities. Lifting capacities can range from 7,000 lbs. to 30,000 lbs., and can range even higher at times. The most popular styles are two post lifts and four post lifts. As the names suggest, some lifts have two post and some have four post. So depending on what you are using the lift for will help determine which one best suite your needs.

The 2 post lifts are asymmetrical and symmetrical, and need to be installed by anchoring or bolting to your floor. The 4 post lifts do not need to be anchored to your floor. But if there is a constant flow of vehicles on and off the car lifts, anchoring the lift is highly suggested.

In today's market with the influx of larger wheels and lower profile tires, it has caused the tire changer industry to produce models with additional Pneumatic Bead Pressing arms to properly change many current tire and wheel assemblies. With that said, there are many different models of tire changers ranging from the basic tire changers to the more advanced style units.