Customer Spotlight: OpenBay Garage

DIY shop space that feels like a pro shop chose BendPak car lifts to deliver a pro experience.

OpenBay Garage set out to make a DIY space that feels like a pro shop. Members can book a clean, fully equipped bay, store vehicles, and hang out with a like-minded community. The idea works because the experience is consistent. Consistency starts with the car lift. OpenBay standardized on BendPak high-rise 10APX two-post car lifts that deliver real working room and predictable operation from bay to bay.

This spotlight focuses on two safety and quality decisions that shaped the build. First, the facility chose an ALI certified car lift platform. Second, they chose BendPak's automatic swing-arm restraint system (ASARS™). Together, those choices made BendPak the clear pick over budget, uncertified alternatives and competitors.

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The Challenge

A public DIY shop serves drivers with different vehicles and different experience levels. The car lift has to be safe and clear to operate, even for a first-time user who is learning with staff guidance. The arms must stay put at height, because unexpected arm movement is the kind of surprise no one wants. The two post car lift also has to cover a wide range of vehicles without feeling cramped. OpenBay's bay spec calls out a 10,000-lb lift with 79.5 in of rise and a 157 in overhead beam, which sets the right foundation.

At a Glance

Company: OpenBay Garage

Location: Tukwila, Washington

Industry or business type: DIY automotive garage, secure vehicle storage, and social club for enthusiasts

Brand: BendPak

Product: BendPak high-rise two-post lifts, 10,000 lb capacity, 79.5 inch lifting height, 157 inch overhead beam

Use case: Standardize eight DIY bays with pro-grade lifts, tools, and a consistent setup that works for mixed-skill users

Challenges: Deliver a professional, safe, and confidence-building environment for a wide range of vehicles and experience levels

Solutions: Equip every bay with a BendPak high-rise two-post lift and a curated pro tool set, wrap it in clear rules and clean workflows, then make it easy to book

The Decision

Why ALI certification matters

The Automotive Lift Institute maintains the independent testing program for lift safety. Their directory is the public reference. If a model is not listed, it is not certified. OpenBay wanted equipment that clears that bar, full stop. Choosing an ALI certified model means the lift passed third-party structural and functional tests, and that claim can be verified. That is a better conversation with insurers, inspectors, and customers than any "trust us" from a budget import.

Why ASARS matters

BendPak's ASARS is a patented automatic swing-arm restraint built into AP-series lifts. As the lift rises, ASARS locks the arms with a 360 degree grip to help prevent unplanned movement while the vehicle is in the air. The design reduces operator intervention and turns a critical safety step into a predictable action that is easy to teach and easy to audit on the floor. For a DIY environment with mixed-skill users, that is not a nice-to-have. It is the difference between confident work time and nervous work time.

OpenBay did not want to wrestle with uncertified platforms or manual arm restraints that depend on perfect human habits every single time. ALI certification plus ASARS closed the door on those compromises.

Learn more about BendPak's patented automatic swing-arm restraint system

The BendPak Solution

OpenBay aligned its spec to BendPak’s 10APX high-rise two-post lift. The numbers tell the story. The 10APX reaches 79.5 in at the pad and sets the overhead beam at 157 in, which matches OpenBay’s published bay dimensions. That height gives most users true stand-up working room, not a crouch, which improves comfort and visibility. The lift is ALI certified and includes BendPak’s automatic arm restraints that are engineered to resist side forces and lock the arms through a full 360 degrees.

Standardizing on one certified platform with the same geometry in every bay reduces training time, simplifies signage, and keeps maintenance predictable. It also lets OpenBay post clear limits. Maximum vehicle weight on the two-post lift is 10,000 lb. The rules are published and easy to understand. That is how you keep a public facility safe without making it feel restrictive.

Specs and configuration

Lift platform: BendPak 10APX high-rise two-post car lift
Capacity: 10,000 lb
Lift height: 79.5 in at pad
Overhead beam height: 157 in
Key safety features: ALI certified model, automatic swing-arm restraints that lock through 360 degrees and resist side forces, automatic safety lock system, low-profile arms, Bi-Metric arm positioning.

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BendPak 10APX High-Rise Two-Post Car Lift

Conclusion

Openbay Garage chose BendPak because safety and consistency are non-negotiable. ALI certification and ASARS are not line items. They define the experience. If you are building a public or semi-public shop and you want users to feel confident from the first lift, start with a certified platform and lock the arms automatically. Start with BendPak.

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Safer, calmer workflow.
ASARS reduces arm movement surprises at height, which keeps attention on the job instead of the hardware.

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Faster training.
Same certified platform in every bay plus automatic arm restraints means fewer steps to memorize and fewer edge cases for staff to manage.

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True working room.
The high-rise spec gives comfortable under-car clearance. People can stand up, see what they are doing, and move freely.

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Clear rules, fewer disputes.
Posting a 10,000 lb limit and keeping the bays identical removes ambiguity and protects the experience for everyone.

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