Category : Auto Industry News
BendPak at AAPEX ’10
November 2nd, 2010
It’s AAPEX time again! We hope you’re able to join us in Las Vegas for AAPEX 2010 but if not, don’t worry! We’ve got you covered with some pictures straight from the show.
Check them out on the official BendPak Flickr page.
RML-750 Motorcycle Lift Customer Installation Pictures
October 20th, 2010
We love it when this happens!
Today, a satisfied customer sent us a couple of great shots of his brand new Ranger RML-750 Motorcycle Lift. As you can see, he went the extra mile and installed it in the concrete so the unit lays flush with the garage floor when not in use. It’s a really clean, classy look for garages that are pressed for work space.
He also included a couple shots of it lifting his sweet Harley. Hope you enjoy the photos on the BendPak Flickr page!
Oh, and if you’d like your BendPak / Ranger product pics to be featured in a blog, go ahead and send them to us at contact@bendpak.com
BendPak’s Pilgrimage to the Holy Land of Cars
October 5th, 2010
Recently, a few of our dedicated gear heads visited the Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard, CA, where you can find the most expensive car in the world on display: the 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic.
Known as the Williamson car, it was purchased by the Mullin Automotive Museum from Dr. Peter Williamson in an auction. The undisclosed price is estimated to be between $30 and $40 million, and only two remaining models exist in the world.
This model is specifically known as Chassis #57374. It’s identifiable as the first production Atlantic from the lower, deeper set headlights. Rumor has it that this particular Atlantic was built with parts from the original Aerolithe prototype. The vehicle’s first lucky owner was Lord Philippe de Rothschild of London. He was the one who chose the color light blue color. So if you don’t like it, blame him. A later owner sent the car back to Bugatti three years after it was built to get a supercharger. Following the war, Los Angeles resident Bob Oliver came into ownership of Chassis #57374 and made several notable modifications. He changed the window sizes and repainted the car red! When it finally made its way around to Dr. Williamson in the late 70s, he spent a small fortune restoring the Bugatti to its original 1936 specifications. This Type 57SC Atlantic has been displayed for public viewing since 2003. The museum acquired the car in May 2010.
The Mullin Automotive Museum is also home to examples of the finest of historic French automobiles, as well as a surprising amount of vintage art deco pieces. Along with the most expensive car in the world, there are hundreds of other gorgeous vehicles including some Delahayes, Voisins, Hispano Suizas, Talbot-Lagos and, of course, a beautiful collection of Bugattis.
If you are any sort of a car fan, the Mullin Automotive Museum is definitely something you should check out if you’re anywhere near Southern California. It’s a great way to spend some free time and expand your knowledge about vintage, artistic and downright classy cars. There’s even furniture, sculptures and paintings to satisfy your artistic cravings.
We urge our car enthusiasts to take this trip to Oxnard but if you can’t make it, don’t worry. We’ve got plenty of pictures for your enjoyment (but they really don’t do this place justice).
Check them out! Let us know what you think.
Photos: Making of the R26FLT Heavy-Duty Truck Tire Changer Demo
September 17th, 2010
We just wrapped filming a new demo video to show off the functions of our newest heavy-duty truck tire changer, the R26FLT from Ranger.
This beefy tire changer turns the tire changing process into a beautifully simple task. Designed specifically for heavy duty truck tires that can weigh upwards of 200 lbs. each, our new tire changer is able to overpower all obstacles and control every aspect of the process with grace and ease.
The R26FLT tire changer is equipped with a portable control tower that includes a separate module for each function on the machine. There are two joysticks, one that controls the bead breaking tool on a horizontal axis plus the tire arm height on a vertical axis and another that opens and closes the jaw clamps. On the bottom, there is a foot pedal that rotates the tire arm either left or right, while the top button (the big red one) turns the machine on and off.
As you can imagine, we ended up mounting and demounting these tires about twenty times, so the lube that comes standard with each changer came in handy. The R26FLT also comes with a huge pry bar, but we never had cause to use it.
The whole thing took us about two days to film. Currently the video is being edited in post-production, but we’ll post it as soon as it’s ready. Until then, check out these production photos on the official BendPak Flickr page.
Announcing BendPak / Ranger NextGen™ Tire Changers
September 2nd, 2010
Ranger is proud to announce the release of seven NextGen™ tire changers. Through months of testing, revision, and more testing, Ranger has raised the benchmark of quality yet again.
Hot on the heels of the brand new Ranger R980X-AT Tire Changer from Ranger comes today’s big product announcement. In addition to the RX3040 Touchless Tire Changer, BendPak / Ranger has slated six new NextGen™ Tire Changers for release this year. The newest member of the Ranger NextGen™ family, the R23AT tire changer, is already shipping from BendPak’s Santa Paula facility.
Ranger’s new NextGen™ line of tire changers features both new models and classic model updates. We specifically designed these new NextGen™ Tire Changers to increase user productivity and efficiency.
Although we have retained many iconic design elements, the overall quality of the Tire Changers has improved dramatically. Aside from the major upgrades and quality improvements, a big part of what makes these changers NextGen™ is BendPak’s new “Tire Shop Tested” initiative. All five of the new NextGen™ tire machines have gone through rigorous stress testing in actual tire shops all around southern California. The testing and revision process included actual feedback from technicians and mechanics, which prepared the Tire Changer for strenuous real-world conditions. NextGen™ machines are badged Tire Shop Tested™.
“In-house testing is one thing, but for automotive equipment to excel under the strenuous conditions of a real shop, it needs to first prove itself out there in the real world,” said Dustin Collins, Ranger Quality Control Specialist. “These NextGen™ units are loaded with design enhancements that make the technician’s job easier. A lot of manufacturers focus on cutting costs instead of innovating. It makes me proud that we’re still trying to be pioneers in our industry.”
In today’s economy, we know it’s a little rough to keep your shop running, which is why Ranger is dedicated to improving your shop’s efficiency to give businesses a much-needed edge.
On the philosophy behind the NextGen™ Ranger Tire Changers, BendPak VP of Sales and Marketing Jeff Kritzer said, “We wanted to rethink everything about how people change tires. To do that, we knew we had to do more than just add a few new freatures–we had to completely rebuild these new tire changers from the top down. These NextGen™ tire changers are the result of that effort.”
“We’ve conducted in-field testing and taken customer input in the past, but never on this level,” said Kritzer. “For these new tire changers, we’ve tested, revised and retested over several rounds of development. With each new revision, we did another round of real-world testing and incorporated feedback from tire shops from all around the southland.
“In reality, the fine line between work and efficiency has become so blurred that there’s often a disassociation between the two. Shops are working harder but making less money. Our goal has always been to help wheel service professionals work better today and work better tomorrow. Our customers need to stay competitive in the growing wheel service market. The enhanced service capacity and long-term value of our NextGen™ tire changers give them the edge.
“With these new NextGen™ tire changers, everything from fit-and-finish to welding and component movement is so perfect that it just feels right. We’ve preserved some of the iconic design elements from previous Ranger products, but the overall quality has vastly improved. I think our customers will be taken off guard by how well our NextGen™ tire changers perform in their shops.”
Keep checking the BendPak Blog for more NextGen™ tire changer updates from Ranger.
Score a Low-Priced BendPak Lift at BMW ChapterFest
August 26th, 2010
It’s that time of year again. The BMW ChapterFest is rolling around for its third year in a row. There’s going to be Autocross, a kart course and a bunch of beautiful BMWs for you to admire. There’s also going to be a Street Survival School, detailed tech sessions and, most importantly, a DIY session featuring BendPak car lifts.
But that’s not even the best part. All of the BendPak equipment used at the DIY show will be available for discount purchase on a first-come-first-serve basis.
So for all you Bimmer enthusiasts out there, bring your buddies, kick back and have some fun for a day! You can find specifics about the event on the official ChapterFest website.
And let us know if you plan on attending!
The Best Car Lift Buyer’s Guide: Car Lift Conclusions
July 29th, 2010
We’ve come to the end of our car lift guide journey. This last chapter is a rundown of all the car lift buying tips and tricks we’ve already discussed, but it’s the quick version so you can print it out, fold it up and put it in your car lift-buying notebook. You do have one of those by now, don’t you?
Okay then, final tip. Get a notebook where you can keep your questions and answers in one semi-organized place.
Go ahead and read the Car Lift Conclusions chapter now. If you only read one chapter of the BendPak Best Car Lift Guide, make sure it’s this one!
That’s it. Thanks for reading. If you have any questions or suggestions, we’re here to listen.
Just leave us a comment below, send us an e-mail , call us up at 1-800-253-2363, direct message us on Twitter, get with us on Facebook, yell, “BendPak” if we’re in the same room…try sending psychic signals if you’re out in the desert…
Garage Mahal Motorcycle Garage Behind The Scenes
July 26th, 2010
Last week we were invited out to take some pictures of an upcoming Garage Mahal episode that featured some great Ranger garage equipment.
The last time we had a chance to do something with Garage Mahal, we had to travel all the way to Detroit. So when we heard that the DIY Network show was going to be filming in Moorpark, CA (practically our backyard compared to Michigan), we grabbed a camera and husseled over.
You won’t find any car lifts in this set of pictures–this time around it was Ranger’s turn to steal the show with the RML-600 Motorcycle Lift and the RTB-13DC Toolbox Combo .
The couple who owned the soon-to-be-overhauled garage were proud motorcycle enthusiasts as well as avid golfers. The creative guys at Garage Mahal figured out how to combine the two, but we can’t ruin the surprise yet. We can, however, give you a set of behind-the-scenes photos to look at while you wait for this episode of Garage Mahal.
Make sure to check the website for local dates and times!
The Best Car Lift Buyer’s Guide: Final Tips
July 22nd, 2010
Another Thursday. Another new chapter in the BendPak Best Car Lift Guide!
We’re getting down to the wire here with this week’s chapter, entitled Final Car Lift Tips. Not every gem of advice fit into one of the previous chapters, so consider this your miscellaneous list of useful insider info.
Don’t worry; it’s a pretty short list. But the little reminders within will save you a lot of hassles down the road, and maybe even score you a better price for your dream lift.
Next week we’ll finish everything off with a conclusion and some parting thoughts that you can take with you straight to your preferred lift dealer.
The Best Car Lift Buyer’s Guide: The Right Price
July 15th, 2010
It’s Thursday and a new chapter in our ongoing Car Lift Buyer’s Guide is already up and running. This week’s topic is near and dear to all our wallets: car lift pricing.
Car lift prices can really run the gamut depending on what capacity and style you’re after, so it’s important to know the lay of the land before venturing out.
Obviously we couldn’t tell you exactly what the price of each lift is because we simply don’t know. However, this chapter is designed to give you excellent ballpark figures for the various styles and weight capacities. Use this chapter of the guide to easily figure out who is genuinely competing for your business and who is just way off the mark.
Keep in mind, however, that you should also be suspicious of prices that are simply too low. This guide will also prepare you to spot those deals that are too good to be true.
Finally, this week’s car lift guide chapter wraps up with some general guidelines about automotive lift warranties.
Hang in there, we’ve only got two more chapters to go until the car lift consumer’s guide is complete. Until then, make sure to check out this week’s chapter about the price of car lifts.
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