Ready for stage!

The showroom of Mercedes Benz in Neu-Ulm is really outstanding, not like usual showrooms because it fascinates with the presentation of the complete range of passenger cars from AMG-CLS up to A-class.

But this was not the reason for KRAFTHAND to visit the garage. Our interest is with which kind of lifting technology they are equipped and how many different types of lifts are needed to come up to such a big range of different vehicles. We were also interested in their philosophy concerning workshop service because of their great results at the ADAC workshop test.

To work comfortably under the car

„To reach such a result in the workshop test you absolutely need optimized processes beginning with the customers‘ welcome and finishing with the repaired car given back to them” says Edmund Schöll, service manager at Mercedes Benz, Neu-Ulm.

Short ways and teamwork are representative for this. But the key for a good service is a consequently working check-in. It is not the task to sell as much repair works to the customer as possible, but to explain seriously to him, which kind of work is necessary and also why and which works are not so urgent.

To make such work possible Mercedes Benz has a check-in with 4 lanes with suitable car lifts. This makes it possible to get the customer under its own car in order to show him the defects with his own eyes. The aluminum plated platforms of the Masterlift Check-in and the Masterlift F which are installed here are perfectly suitable for this task. Integrated illumination, a roll-off security and an alarm signal as safety device when the lift gets down, guarantee enough light and security for the service technician and the customer.  Also cars with “door wings” can be lifted with these lifts, as per Mr. Schöll.

Lifting technology for the workshop

A further factor to get through the ADAC workshop test successfully is to have permanently educated and technically competent employees. Concerning the segment “Technique” Mercedes Benz Neu-Ulm got the full marks. But also the technician with the best possible education can only work well if the surrounding is ok and the equipment is suitable – which also means the lifts. In accordance to the variety of vehicles at Mercedes Benz Neu-Ulm autop installed mostly three types of lifts at Neu-Ulm.

The twin-ram lift Masterlift 2.35 Saa 230 makes the lifting of cars, which are unable to drive anymore, possible for the technician. Due to its on-floor construction the cars can be pushed between the swivel arms. Lower cars are also no problem for this kind of lift. Because of the lifting area of the swivel arms and the different lifting pads this lift is also suitable for SUV and transporters.

Space-saving is an attribute of the Masterlift Pv. A further detail is its quickness. Lifting/lowering time is approx. 30 sec. There are no swivel arms  to be adjusted or lifting pads to be exchanged. A further advantage is that there are no lift elements disturbing when the technician is working at the sides of the cars.

The swivel arm lift Masterlift 2.35 Saav 135 Van is a real all-rounder. This means it can lift everything from Smart to S-class. For Vans and SUV’s you can get suitable pads. This lift is deliverable with 3.5, 4.0 or 5.0 t lifting capacity. The Biglift – version lifts cars up to 6,0 t. Due to the adjustable swivel arms and the therefore variable lifting area also cars with unusual lifting points can be lifted.

Special solutions

Besides the a.m. lifts a 4-ram lift for wheel alignment is installed ( Quattrolift ) at Mercedes Benz Neu Ulm. A special lift  is in the washing bay to make a fast and easy lifting possible for the cleaning of the vehicles’ underbody. All these examples make clear that a manifold lifting technology can help to optimize the working conditions in the workshop. Mercedes Benz in Neu-Ulm shows that it certainly leads to a kind of service which is as good as possible.