What are Jacks?
Jacks are automotive equipment that is used by commercial garages and workshops to service vehicles of all shapes and sizes. Quality jack products are a common feature in personal garages and toolkits too, based on their portability.
This factor can be used to classify them into various types, namely- scissor jacks, floor jacks, bottle jacks, high-lift jacks, etc. Because of their compactness, they can be easily stored in car compartments and carried around for use in emergencies.
The bigger jacks- using either air motors, dual hydraulic cylinders, electric power, etc.- are usually better suited for commercial automotive workshop applications. Based on the method of operation, jacks can be further classified.
This assortment can denominate quality jack products into pit jacks, fast lube jacks, rolling bridge jacks, etc. These advanced vehicle lifting solutions transform your inspection or lube pit into a full-service bay.
This allows you to provide additional services to your customers, like wheel alignment, lube and oil changes, tire rotation, and brake work, along with traditional offerings like lifting and lowering vehicles for servicing, and suspension maintenance.
The likes of the additional services mentioned above add up to generating high and long-term revenue on a small investment. According to industry statistics, that can mean at least $24,000 extra profit per year.
Jack Manufacturing in North America– Standardization Chronological Timeline
It was only with the Industrial Revolution of the mid-19th century that automobiles started becoming more accessible to a larger population, thanks to the introduction of assembly lines and mass production.
The larger consumption of cars gave rise to an organized process of jack manufacturing in North America. At this time, standardization of jack designs also took place to ensure the production of quality jack products.
Formal standardization of hydraulic and pneumatic systems best practices began in the early 1950s. Through the efforts of the now-dissolved Joint Industrial Council (JIC), made up of automotive manufacturing experts, the release of ANSI/NFPA standards was enabled around 1990.
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) TC131/SC9 also addressed this subject in the 1970s, resulting in the release of ISO 4413 and 4414 standards. Using these standards as models, the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) issued EN 982 and EN 983 in 1995 for hydraulic and pneumatic systems standards to satisfy the requirements of the EU Machinery Directive.
The similarity and increased specialization in design ensured compatibility with various car models and accommodated the unique weights of them. This led much of the earlier JIC and National Fluid Power Association (NFPA) work to be later incorporated into updates of the ISO standards in 1998.
Quality Jack Product Features to Look Out For
- The Case for Safety-
Some of the features that distinguish a quality jack product from other conventional types of jacks are safety features, in accordance with the related provisions in the updated ISO 4413 and 4414 standards of 2010.
As per the revised ISO TC131/SC9, four primary goals were of top priority, which are mentioned as follows:
- Integrate the safety provisions of EN982:1996. Comply with Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC.
- Expand the scope of 4413 to include mobile equipment.
- Revise 4413 and 4414 through separate working groups but perform the work concurrently. Maintain a common style, structure, and schedule.
- Integrate into 4413 the significant U.S. national preferences and practices of the NFPA T2.24.1 supplement and the NFPA reservoir standards.
- Durability-
Apart from safety, the reliability of jacks is also determined by their durability and relative longevity. High-quality products like sturdy, fine-grade steel bodies, along with zinc plated components and accessories, are also in high demand these days.
These do not only give a certain appearance to the jacks, by enhancing their looks, but actually make them corrosion proof by adding to their oxidation resistant properties. High gloss powder coat paint, used exclusively in quality jack products today, protects the components from wear and tear.
If stored properly- that is, cleaned regularly, and stored in cool and dry places, checked for leaks and maintenance- this feature alone can add many years to a quality jack product.
- Saving Time and Energy
Finally, and perhaps the most sought-after, feature in jacks made in USA/Canada and around the world today is functional and usable design. Jack manufacturers in North America have embraced this rising trend in the field of design and applied it generously to their processes.
This kind of design is essentially meant to minimize friction within the workings of a system- in this case, jacks- to ultimately help the end users or customers achieve their goals and meet their needs effectively and satisfactorily- in this case, save time and energy.
It is estimated that traditional jacks are so cumbersome that the lifting process can take up to several minutes to complete. Not anymore. In the next section, we will discuss how a key jack manufacturer is taking the market by storm.
Stan Design Inc.- Quality Jack Products Made in Canada
Stan Design Inc. Is a Jack Manufacturer in North America that has been in the business for more than 25 years. They produce the highest quality jack products by fusing the science of manufacturing with the art of creative design.
Implementing cutting-edge technology gives them the edge to stay ahead of the rest of the world in key offerings. For instance, their Scorpion line of floor jacks come in hydraulic and air motor variants and can lift vehicles in seconds with just the push of a single remote-control button.
Their rolling bridge jacks, also called StanJack, and fast-lube pit jacks also have this same usable design- only better, in the form of two remote-control buttons designed for lifting and lowering respectively.
Apart from this, they offer a three-stage automatic locking mechanism that engages at different heights, eliminating the need for additional chocks or stands. Their powerful hydraulic and air motor methods of operation allow for convenient lifting, without the need for any hand pumping.
They also come with telescoping arms and stackable adapters that can lift across the axle or on the frame, depending on the vehicle size and shape. Besides, their special roller bearing wheels allow for effortless rolling and maneuvering.
