MADISON, Ind. (Jan. 8, 2013) — Dover Corp.'s Vehicle Service Group (VSG) held training sessions Jan. 3-4 for 75 lift inspector candidates.
VSG's Rotary Lift, Forward Lift and Direct Lift brands held the factory training in Madison to prepare the 75 candidates to take the Automotive Lift Institute (ALI) Lift Inspector Certification Program Pre-Course Examination. Attendees came from 36 lift service companies in 24 states.
VSG claims it is the first lift manufacturer to provide the training to its distributor network.
"Factory training is not a requirement of the ALI Lift Inspector Certification Program," said Ron Lainhart, Rotary Lift parts and service manager. "But education is one of the defining factors in making ours the strongest lift installation and service network in North America. We are taking extra steps to support Rotary Lift, Forward Lift and Direct Lift distributors who have committed to getting their lift inspectors certified.
"We believe this will allow them to better serve our mutual customers: the shops and technicians who depend on their lifts every day."
VSG said in a press release that lift inspection has long been a company focus, noting that "Rotary Lift invested heavily in a multi-year 'Inspect to Protect' campaign highlighting the importance of regular lift maintenance and inspections."
According to VSG, Mr. Lainhart, Bob Ford, Rotary Lift customer service manager, Paul Lee, Rotary Lift sales heavy-duty support, and Josh Scroggins, Forward Lift product support, helped develop the ALI Lift Inspector Certification Program, serving on the pilot group and being named factory designated trainers.
There are currently 94 VSG distributors participating in the ALI Lift Inspector Certification Program, with more than 200 candidates enrolled.
During the recent training sessions, VSG trainers reviewed key concepts that will be covered on the lift inspector pre-course exam, including fundamental electrical, mechanical, hydraulic and pneumatic principles, the company said.
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) national standard covering vehicle lift operation, inspection and maintenance—ANSI/ALI ALOIM: 2008—requires that all installed vehicle lifts be inspected annually by a qualified vehicle lift inspector.
VSG said its certification program "will provide assurance to lift owners that when they hire an ALI-certified lift inspector, that inspector is qualified to perform the inspection."
The first group of ALI Certified Lift Inspectors will be announced May 15. At that time, VSG said an online database will enable customers to locate a local certified inspector.
The company said it plans to offer additional classes to its distributors' certification candidates this year. Distributors should contact Mr. Lainhart at 800-640-5438, ext. 5536, or Mr. Ford at ext. 5510 for details.
More information about VSG also is available on its website [www.vsgdover.com].
Madison-based VSG, which has operations worldwide, comprises nine major vehicle lifting and collision repair brands: Rotary Lift, Forward Lift, Direct-Lift, Hanmecson, Revolution Lift, Chief Automotive Technologies, Elektron, Blitz and nogra. The company is part of the Engineered Systems segment of Dover Corp.