Case Study: Four Decades of Service

For decades, Mangino Chevrolet has been a cornerstone of Amsterdam New York. Like any high-performing successful vehicle dealership, its service department’s profitability depends on three critical factors: productive bay uptime, technician efficiency, and service equipment that are engineered to deliver value year after year.

This case study evaluates Mangino Chevrolet’s fleet of Mohawk Lifts through the lens of Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) across a ten-year analysis; January 1st, 2015, through December 31st, 2025. The dealership’s fleet includes twelve Mohawk lifts with a combined service age of 267 years and an average age exceeding 22 years. Most notably, five lifts reached between 37 and 40 years of continuous service- including two 9,000lb capacity lifts that actively remained in operation until 2025 after approximately four decades of service.

Supported by ten years of complete dealership repair records, this analysis pairs real-world maintenance data directly with equipment longevity. The results show a clear advantage of ownership:

  • Minimal Maintenance Cost: Ongoing repair expenses remained exceptionally low relative to the fleet’s age and heavy daily workload.
  • Extended Equipment Lifecycle: Decades-long service life allowed the dealership to repeatedly defer costly replacement expenditures and avoid shop installation downtime.
  • Maximized Return on Investment (ROI): Sustained operational uptime directly protected labor productivity and revenue generation across every service bay.

Ultimately, Mangino Chevrolet’s results tell a compelling ownership story-the core of Mohawk’s value proposition: premium engineering and American-made durability yield the lowest long-term cost of ownership in the industry.

Equipment Longevity: Four Decades of Daily Service

Beyond low maintenance costs, the single most impressive metric in Mangino’s fleet data is the equipment lifespan.

Nearly half of the dealership’s lifts have exceeded 30 years of continuous service. Five individual lifts reached between 37 and 40 years of daily operation, and two 9,000-lb capacity Mohawk lifts remained actively productive until replacement in 2025 – after approximately 40 years of service.

For most standard shop service equipment, a lifespan like this would be virtually unheard of. For a daily-use vehicle lift – a revenue-producing asset operating continuously in a heavy-use dealership service environment, it is incredibly remarkable.

Mangino Chevrolet TCO Snapshot

A Fleet Built Across Four Decades


What Has Maintenance Actually Cost?

Over a documented 10-year tracking period, Mangino Chevrolet recorded 10 years of repair records, showing approximately $19,032 in total repair expenses and $9,010 in annual safety inspection costs across its entire 12-lift fleet.

The documented repairs logs were largely limited to routine, serviceable wear components—such as rollers, safety cables, valves, fittings, switches, lift pads, and chains—rather than major structural or system failures. For equipment of this age operating in a heavy-use dealership environment, this distinction is significant: these lifts did not merely remain operational, they continued producing revenue with remarkably minimal corrective maintenance.

When broken out across the entire fleet, the annualized operating expenses demonstrate the true scale of Mohawk’s engineered durability:

The Value Benchmark: Outperforming Industry Standards

This lift performance outcome far exceeds typical industry expectations. Competitors such as Rotary have published marketing materials* indicating that 20,000 lift cycles represent more than 15 years of service in an average shop. Industry sources set the practical service life of a well-maintained commercial lift at roughly 10 years in professional shop use. Mangino’s fleet of Mohawk lifts have operated for more than double that benchmark – reaching 37 to 40 years of service – without experiencing the escalating maintenance costs or component failures often associated with aging equipment.

While aging lifts usually trigger rising maintenance and repair costs, and eventually forced replacements, Mangino’s Chevrolet’s records show decades-old Mohawk lifts continuing to support daily operations and revenue efforts on minimal, predictable maintenance—compelling evidence of an ultimate financial return on long-term equipment investment.

* Data sourced and cited from Rotary SPO20 brochure.

Why Have These Lifts Lasted So Long?

When reviewing a fleet with this kind of longevity, one of the first questions that emerges: How does a vehicle lift remain productive for nearly four decades?

The answer is not that these lifts required zero maintenance; it is that the service dollars needed to keep them running to peak productivity remained exceptionally low.

While routine service is expected in any high-volume dealership, sustaining a 12-lift fleet over several decades at such a modest cost is extraordinary. At an average of only $159 in repair spend per lift per year, Mangino’s expenses represent a very little maintenance expenditure for revenue-producing shop equipment. This real-world performance outcome solidifies Mohawk’s position as the lowest TOC brand in the industry-especially when compared to competing lifts that may require more frequent servicing or earlier replacement.

Engineering Designed to Reduce Ownership Costs

This multi-decade durability is a direct result of intentional engineering choices. Mohawk has long emphasized heavy structural construction, large hydraulic cylinders, mechanical locking systems, repairability, and the reduction of common wear components wherever possible. These choices are designed not only for long service life, but also to limit the frequency and cost of maintenance over that life.

  • Heavy-Duty Steel Construction: Columns are built from ¾-inch thick forklift mast steel, delivering unmatched strength and reliabilityover a lifetime of use.
  • Mechanical Safety Locks: All position locks engage every 3-inches in both columns – starting at just 4-inches off the ground and continue to full lifting height. Backed by multiple redundant hydraulic safety systems.
  • Hydraulic Cylinders: Large 4” cylinders provide longer seal life and lower operating pressure for smooth lifting power with fewer moving wear parts.
  • Steel Roller Carriages: Each carriage rolls on eight double-sealed, self-lubricating steel ball bearing rollers.
  • Built-in Repairability: Serviceable component layouts that allow routine wear parts to be replaced quickly and affordably.

While no single factor guarantees a specific service life, Mangino Chevrolet’s real-world results demonstrates the power of Mohawk’s engineering. As Mike Coffey, Vice President at Mangino Chevrolet noted, “We’ve found that replacing equipment every ten years is far more expensive than buying durable equipment once. If another dealer asked me how to lower operating costs, I’d tell them to look beyond purchase price. Our Mohawk lifts have delivered decades of dependable service, low maintenance costs, ultimately driving a much lower total cost of ownership.”

Against standard industry models that budget for heavy repairs or life replacement every decade or two, Mohawk’s proven longevity delivers a substantially lower lifetime cost.

The Cost of Replacement That Never Happened

Maintenance invoices are easy to track because they arrive routinely.  Replacement costs are less frequent, but they represent the single largest equipment expense a dealership faces.

Most competitive lifts, based on their own marketing data, carry a lifespan of only 8-15 years, requiring regular replacement of critical wear items – such as plastic slide blocks and cables. By comparison, the Mangino fleet includes lifts that achieved:

The Value of Eliminated Replacement Cycles

Using an industry 15-year ownership benchmark, a single lift operating for 40 years eliminated up to two full replacements projects over its operational life.

Across a 12-lift fleet, avoiding these replacement cycles saves far more than just upfront purchase price of new machinery, it directly prevents:

  • Unplanned Capital Outlays: Eliminating repeated $10,000+ per-bay capital equipment purchases.
  • Costly Bay Downtime: Avoiding shop disruption, tear-out, and installation delays that take productive bays offline and away from producing revenue.
  • Lost Service Revenue: Protecting billable labor hours and technician efficiency during peak service times.

When equipment stays productive for 35 to 40 years, the largest hidden expense in shop operations—premature equipment replacement—simply disappears from the balance sheet.

Why It Matters: Productivity & Profitability

Vehicle lifts are not mere overhead expenses-they are primary revenue-producing assets.

A lift generates direct profit every time a technician uses it completes their repair work. The longer that asset remains productive and in service, the greater the return on the dealership’s original investment.

The Mangino Chevrolet dataset highlights two important drivers of Total Cost of Ownership:

  • Predictable Operating Costs: Repair and maintenance costs remained exceptionally low despite a heavy daily workload and an aging fleet.
  • Eliminated Capital Waste: Multi-decade service life repeatedly eliminated expensive replacement projects, installation costs and lost bay revenue.

Conclusion

When reviewing the Mangino Chevrolet’s dataset, the single most important takeaway is not only the age of the fleet or low maintenance costs considered independently – it is the direct relationship between the two.

Across ten years of documented service records, Mangino Chevrolet maintained a 12-lift fleet with an average lift age exceeding 22 years, including multiple lifts actively producing revenue for nearly four decades. Maintenance expenses remained relatively light while these lifts continued generating value long after traditional ownership models would have mandated replacement.

The result, an undeniable Total Cost of Ownership advantage.  

A long service life drastically lowers the annualized cost of the original equipment investment, while controlled maintenance keeps ongoing operating expenses low. Together, these two factors eliminate the need for major capital expenditures, while maximizing the productive, revenue-generating assets.

Ultimately, Mangino Chevrolet’s experience proves a fundamental truth in dealership management: the lowest-cost lift over its lifetime is rarely the lift with the lowest upfront purchase price. It is the lift engineered to be easily serviced, affordably maintained, and kept productive for decades.

In an industry where uptime is everything, Mohawk’s American-made durability, heavy structural engineering, and long-term serviceability deliver the lowest true cost of ownership – guaranteeing value that lasts long after the initial investment -creating significant long-term value for the dealership and an investment that had paid for itself.

ML-220XL: Mohawk’s New ALI-Certified Two Post Lift

Amsterdam, NY — July 28, 2026 — Mohawk Lifts, a leader in American-made vehicle lifting technology, introduces the ML-220XL, a fully enhanced evolution of the proven ML-220. Designed and engineered in direct response to growing fleet demands, the ML-220XL delivers greater reach, improved technician access, and the uncompromising durability that has defined Mohawk lifts for more than four decades. The ML-220XL is ALI® certified, ensuring it meets the industry’s highest standards for safety, reliability, and performance.

Built to reinforce Mohawk’s reputation of being the best most durable 2 post lift in the industry, the ML-220XL features extended carriages and newly engineered swing arms that offer significantly greater reach, in both extended and retracted positions. Each arm extends 4-inches longer, to reach the lifting points of larger cargo vans—including GM BrightDrop and Rivian models, and other long-wheelbase commercial vehicles—while also retracting 4 inches shorter for effortless positioning under EVs and compact short-wheelbase vehicles. This combination of expanded reach and tighter retraction provides unmatched versatility across mixed-fleet service environments.

“As commercial fleets evolve and delivery platforms grow more diverse, shops need lifting equipment that adapts just as fast,” said Steve Perlstein, President of Mohawk Lifts. “The ML-220XL takes a proven design and elevates it with ALI-certified safety, extended arm reach, and practical features developed directly from real-world feedback. It’s built to handle today’s fleet vehicles—and tomorrow’s.”

Responding directly to feedback, Mohawk has equipped the ML-220XL with removable access panels. These panels allow the lift’s hydraulic lines to be quickly rerouted from overhead to in-floor configurations. The improved access also makes routine maintenance, adjustments, and service work faster and safer—no more reaching blindly under the carriage.

All Mohawk 2-post models are proudly made in the USA with the same commitment to strength, safety, and longevity that has defined Mohawk for more than 45 years.

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About Mohawk Lifts

Mohawk Lifts is a premier U.S. manufacturer of vehicle lift solutions, proudly serving fleets in government, commercial, and industrial sectors. Known for our industry-leading safety systems, unmatched durability, and the most comprehensive warranty in the lift industry, Mohawk Lifts continues to set the standard for excellence. Since 1981, our lifts have been meticulously designed, engineered, welded, and manufactured in America, ensuring the highest level of quality and performance. With a strong commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction, Mohawk Lifts delivers reliable, high-performance solutions that empower businesses to operate efficiently and safely.

LiftPoint Secures U.S. Patent for LTX/MHX Service Lift Built for Material Handling Fleets

AMSTERDAM, NEW YORK, July 15, 2026 – LiftPoint by Mohawk Lifts has been awarded a U.S. patent covering its LTX and MHX  2 post service lifts and mast adapter system, demonstrating the company’s position as the leader in material handling service equipment for warehouses, distribution centers, and industrial maintenance operations.

Designed to address the growing maintenance challenges in high-volume facilities, the patented LTX/ platform helps technicians safely lift and service a wide range of material handling equipment on a single platform. As the only patented two-post service lift engineered specifically for the material handling industry, the LiftPoint service lift can service all five classes of material handling vehicles—including traditional forklifts, reach trucks, order pickers, pallet jacks, and AGVs—on a single system.

By eliminating the need for multiple lifting systems and providing unobstructed undercarriage and wheel-free access, the LTX/MHX platform helps maintenance teams improve technician productivity and maximize fleet availability. Additionally, the optional patented MHX adapter further improves service flexibility by allowing warehouse and industrial equipment to be elevated without engaging all four lift swing arms, reducing setup time and positioning accuracy.

“This patent recognizes the engineering behind the LTX and MHX platforms and the real problem they were built to solve,” said Bill Rivett, National Sales Manager, LiftPoint. “Material handling fleets are becoming more diverse, and service teams need safer, faster, more ergonomic ways to maintain the equipment that keeps warehouses, manufacturing and distribution centers moving. LiftPoint was designed to give those teams one simple platform for the job.”

Built and manufactured in the United States, LiftPoint service lifts combine forklift mast-inspired construction, direct-drive hydraulic lifting technology, adjustable lifting configurations, and integrated safety systems to support uptime, technician ergonomics and productivity, and long-term durability across demanding material handling environments.

LiftPoint LTX/MHX Key Features:

  • Heavy-duty column construction using forklift mast channel for strength, stability, and long service life
  • Two 4-inch direct-drive hydraulic cylinders provide stable, balanced lifting performance
  • Eight double-sealed, self-lubricating steel ball bearing rollers support smooth carriage travel under demanding loads
  • Low-profile 1.5-inch, three-stage swing arms fit under all material handling equipment, while the optional MHX adapter helps reduce setup time for faster service access
  • Adjustable swing arm configurations accommodate class I–IV equipment across varying model types, lengths, and widths
  • Flexible hydraulic line routing supports overhead or in-floor installation options
  • ALI-certification provides customers with third-party validation that the lift meets applicable industry safety and performance standards
  • Industry-leading warranty coverage, including a 25-year structural warranty

With this U.S. patent award, LiftPoint further revolutionizes the material handling service equipment industry, helping warehouses, distribution centers, third-party service providers, and industrial maintenance teams improve technician access, reduce service bottlenecks, and keep critical fleet assets operating. For more information about LiftPoint and the LTX/MHX platform, visit: www.liftpointusa.com.

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LiftPoint USA

LiftPoint USA designs and manufactures innovative service lift solutions for the material handling industry, helping fleets improve safety, productivity, and equipment uptime. Built and manufactured in the USA at the Mohawk Lifts facility in Amsterdam, New York, LiftPoint’s product lineup includes patented two-post lifts, drive-on lifts, and mobile column lifts engineered specifically for forklifts, pallet jacks, reach trucks, order pickers, AGVs, and other material handling equipment.

With lifting capacities up to 120,000 lbs, LiftPoint solutions provide technicians with safe, ergonomic access to critical service areas, reducing reliance on traditional jacking methods while improving maintenance efficiency and consistency. The company’s patented LTX platform is the only two-post lift system specifically designed to service all five classes of material handling equipment commonly found in warehouse and distribution center fleets.

Focused on solving today’s maintenance challenges—including technician shortages, increasing equipment complexity, and growing uptime demands—LiftPoint helps organizations reduce downtime, improve preventative maintenance compliance, enhance technician safety, and lower overall service costs. Through innovative engineering and proven lifting technology, LiftPoint remains committed to delivering the safest and most effective service lift solutions for material handling operations across North America.

What Does Stronger Steel Actually Mean for Fleet Operations?

When evaluating a16,000-20,000 lb. vehicle lift, it’s easy to focus on lifting capacity. A 16K lift is a 16K Lift. A 20K lift is a 20K lift—at least on paper.

Experienced fleet managers know that capacity is only part of how a lift performs in the field. Two lifts with the same capacity rating can vary significantly in stability, durability, and long-term performance. The difference isn’t just specs – it’s the engineering design, materials and how the lift is built to perform over time.

Not All Lifts Are Built the Same

A lift’s rating tells you what it can lift—but not how it is built. While capacity is often the first specification buyers look at, it only scratches the surface of overall performance.

The quality of the steel, the structural design, and the reliability of key components ultimately determine how a lift performs over years of daily use.

Most competitive lifts in the 16,000 to 20,000 lb. range may share capacity ratings, but the engineering behind them can be much different. The following comparison highlights some of the design distinctions commonly found between Mohawk and many competing models in this class.

To learn more and see the Mohawk difference take a look at our Dare to Compare 16,000-20,000 lb. capacity lifts.

Column Construction

One of the biggest differences between vehicle lifts is the type of steel used in their construction. While many lifts rely on formed sheet metal components, Mohawk builds its lifting systems using heavy ¾-inch forklift mast steel engineered for demanding industrial applications.

Many lifts rely on bent sheet metal columns and lighter structural components to reduce manufacturing costs. While these designs may achieve the required lifting capacity, they often provide less rigidity under load and can experience greater wear over years of continuous operation.

The Mohawk Approach – Mohawk’s structural and column components are manufactured from heavy ¾-inch forklift mast steel, the same material engineered to withstand demanding industrial applications. Combined with a wide 30-inch base, this construction creates a more stable lifting structure designed to minimize flex and maintain stability throughout the lifting cycle.

Synchronization

Traditional two-post lift designs often rely on wire ropes and pulleys to maintain synchronization between lifting carriages. Mohawk takes a fundamentally different approach with a patented hydraulic synchronization system that removes many of these wear-prone components from the equation.

Wire rope systems require proper tension and periodic inspection to maintain optimal performance over time. As these components accumulate wear through years of lifting cycles, adjustment or replacement may eventually be required as part of normal maintenance. In high-cycle fleet environments, these maintenance requirements can contribute to increased downtime and ownership costs.

The Mohawk Approach — Mohawk’s patented hydraulic synchronization system is engineered to deliver smooth, consistent lifting performance while helping minimize maintenance requirements throughout the life of the equipment. By replacing traditional wire rope and pulley systems with hydraulic synchronization technology, Mohawk eliminates many of the wear-prone components commonly found in conventional lift designs.

Safety Locks

Mohawk incorporates all-position mechanical locks that engage every three inches beginning just four inches off the ground. This provides technicians with more available lock positions throughout the lifting range, allowing vehicles to be secured at a wide variety of working heights.

Many lift designs utilize locking systems with fewer lock positions that are only available after the vehicle has been raised significantly – generally 19”+. While these systems meet industry requirements, they limit technician safety and flexibility when work needs to be performed closer to the floor.

The Mohawk Approach — By providing an all-position mechanical lock engagement every 3” in both columns starting only 4” off the ground and continue to full lifting height, Mohawk gives technicians greater flexibility to position vehicles at the most efficient working height while maintaining the security of a mechanically locked lift. Combined with multiple redundant hydraulic safety systems and robust structural construction, these features help create a safer and more versatile service environment.

Built to Deliver Long-Term Value

Mohawk’s engineering philosophy centers on long-term durability rather than short-term cost reduction. From ¾-inch forklift mast steel and sealed steel rollers to patented hydraulic synchronization technology, each component is carefully selected to withstand the demands of daily fleet service.

Vehicle lifts operating in fleet environments are often expected to perform thousands of lifting cycles over many years. In these applications, maintenance requirements, component replacement, downtime, and service life can have a greater impact on total ownership cost than initial purchase price alone.

The Mohawk Approach — By focusing on structural strength, heavy-duty components, and simplified maintenance requirements, Mohawk designs lifts for decades of reliable operation. That commitment is reflected in an industry-leading 25-year structural warranty and 10-year mechanical warranty, providing fleet managers with confidence that their investment is built to deliver value long after installation.

Built for the Realities of Fleet Service

For fleet operations that run lifts day after day, those differences matter.

For fleet maintenance facilities, municipal garages, utility operations, and commercial service shops, that distinction matters. These environments don’t lift vehicles occasionally—they lift them repeatedly, day after day, year after year. For the shop owner and technicians, structural integrity is just as critical as lifting capacity.

That’s where Mohawk stands apart. Instead of engineering to meet a price point, Mohawk engineers for long-term use—using heavy structural steel, proven lift architecture, and manufacturing standards designed specifically for demanding fleet maintenance environments. The result is a lift built not just to meet capacity ratings, but to consistently perform under them for years of service.

The Mohawk Difference

For more than four decades, Mohawk has earned its reputation by building lifts for some of the most demanding service environments in North America. Every lift is manufactured in the USA using American steel, including models such as the TP-16, TP-18, and ML-220XL, which are engineered to deliver the strength, stability, and durability required for years of commercial use.

Backed by an industry-leading 25-year structural warranty, Mohawk lifts provide fleet operators with the confidence that comes from investing in equipment built to perform long after many competing lifts have been replaced. When productivity, technician safety, and long-term reliability are critical, Mohawk continues to set the standard by which heavy-duty vehicle lifts are measured.

Ready to compare heavy-duty lift options for your fleet? Explore Mohawk’s full line of 16,000-20,000 lb. two-post lifts or contact our team to discuss the right solution for your operation.

Mohawk Lifts Expands Cooperative Purchasing Access Through Native Purchasing Group

Mohawk Lifts is pleased to announce expanded cooperative purchasing access through the Native Purchasing Group (NPG), a procurement organization serving 635 Native American Tribes across North America. Through NPG, Tribal Nations can access Mohawk products available under the company’s Sourcewell contract. The program utilizes the same pricing, terms, and conditions established under the Sourcewell award, creating a seamless purchasing experience for participating Tribal organizations.

Through NPG’s partnership with Sourcewell, Tribal Nations can access competitively awarded contracts that simplify procurement and provide access to trusted products and services. As a Native-owned cooperative purchasing organization, NPG helps Tribal governments efficiently acquire the resources needed to support essential community services, including public safety, education, utilities, transportation, public works, and fleet maintenance operations. Membership is free and provides immediate access to participating contracts and purchasing resources.

Through the Native Purchasing Group program, Tribal Nations can purchase Mohawk’s American-made vehicle lifts, known throughout the industry for their safety, durability, and long service life. The program simplifies procurement while providing access to the same contract pricing and terms available through Mohawk’s Sourcewell award.

To help Tribal organizations learn more about the program, Mohawk has launched a dedicated Native Purchasing Group resource page on GovLifts.com. As sovereign governments, Tribal Nations manage a wide range of essential services—including public safety, transportation, utilities, public works, and fleet maintenance—and require reliable equipment and procurement resources to support their operations. Through NPG, Mohawk continues to expand access to its American-made vehicle lifting solutions while helping simplify the procurement process for Tribal governments across North America.

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About Mohawk Lifts

Founded in 1981 and headquartered in Amsterdam, New York, Mohawk Lifts is a leading manufacturer of American-made vehicle lifts and lifting systems. Known for its commitment to safety, durability, and engineering excellence, Mohawk serves automotive, fleet, government, transit, utility, and specialty vehicle markets throughout North America.

Mohawk Lifts Procurement Contracts: A Smarter, More Efficient Path to Purchasing

For government agencies, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations, procurement can often be one of the most time-consuming and complex parts of acquiring critical equipment. Mohawk Lifts simplifies that process by participating in multiple nationally recognized cooperative purchasing programs, giving buyers faster access to high-quality vehicle lifting solutions while maintaining full compliance with public procurement requirements.

Through these cooperative contracts, Mohawk Lifts provides a proven, legally compliant purchasing pathway—eliminating redundant bid processes, reducing administrative burden, and delivering significant value to procurement teams and end users alike.

The Power of Cooperative Purchasing

Cooperative purchasing leverages the collective buying power of thousands of organizations to secure competitively solicited contracts that any participating agency can use. Instead of issuing individual RFPs or bids for each purchase, buyers can “piggyback” on contracts that have already been competitively awarded, saving time, money, and internal resources.

For buyers, cooperative purchasing offers:

  • Faster procurement timelines
  • Competitively bid and awarded contracts
  • Reduced legal and administrative workload
  • Compliance with government purchasing regulations
  • Confidence in vendor vetting and contract oversight

Mohawk Lifts proudly supports this model through several key cooperative purchasing organizations, including:

  • GSA
  • NASPO Value Point
  • SourceWell
  • Choice Partners
  • HGAC-Buy
  • NRECA

Mohawk Lifts Available on Discounted Government Contracts Nationwide

Long-term agreements offer streamlined access to Mohawk lifts, Hunter wheel service equipment, and more for public agencies.

AMSTERDAM, NEW YORK – June 10, 2025 – Mohawk Lifts, LLC (Mohawk) announces the awarding of state purchasing contracts by New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and Texas, all finalized during the week of May 20, 2025. These long-term procurement contracts provide discounted, delivered pricing on a full line of Mohawk vehicle lifting equipment.

The contracts encompass Mohawk’s complete lineup of vehicle lifting solutions, including two-post, four-post, mobile column, parallelogram, and vertical rise lifts—providing a lift solution to improve safety, efficiency, and uptime, with industry leading solutions in heavy duty applications.

These same contract awards offer Hunter Engineering wheel service equipment, such as aligners, alignment lifts, tire changers, wheel balancers, and ADAS calibration machines.

Also included in the awarded offerings are:

  • Gray Manufacturing floor jacks and portable shop equipment
  • Westmatic large vehicle wash systems
  • Worky exhaust evacuation systems, heavy-duty workbenches, tool storage, and shelving solutions

State contracts help government agencies procure shop equipment more easily, with faster ordering and pre-set prices.

For more information on contract details or how to order, please contact Mohawk Lifts at sales@mohawklifts.com.

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About Mohawk Lifts

Mohawk Lifts is a premier U.S. manufacturer of vehicle lift solutions, proudly serving fleets in government, commercial, and industrial sectors. Known for our industry-leading safety systems, unmatched durability, and the most comprehensive warranty in the lift industry, Mohawk Lifts continues to set the standard for excellence. Since 1981, our lifts have been meticulously designed, engineered, welded, and manufactured in America, ensuring the highest level of quality and performance. With a strong commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction, Mohawk Lifts delivers reliable, high-performance solutions that empower businesses to operate efficiently and safely.

Raise Lift Productivity Through Efficiency

A focus on improving the efficiency of your shop will also enhance technician productivity, meaning more jobs you can take on.

In today’s fast-paced automotive service industry, maintenance shops are facing mounting pressure to boost throughput and service more vehicles daily. This challenge is felt in both private garages focused on profitability and fleet maintenance facilities supporting large vehicle fleets. Garage managers often face the task of doing more with less, often driven by the lack of available technicians. This shortage drives the need for greater efficiency, pushing shops to streamline workflows and make the most of their available staff and resources.

Vehicle lifts are essential tools that provide under-vehicle access for inspections and repairs, making them indispensable for many jobs. However, the potential of lifts to drive efficiency is frequently underestimated, especially when taking into consideration the wide range of lift options and accessories available. Many shops overlook how the right lift options and accessories can increase workflow and boost productivity. Lift manufacturers offer various options and accessories that save time and make tasks faster for technicians. The right lift with the right options can make technicians’ jobs easier, faster, and safer.

The Cumulative Impact of Incremental Savings

When tasked with making a process faster, people often focus on the total time it takes to complete a job. Breaking jobs down into specific tasks can help identify where time is being lost and where improvements can be made. Efficiency in a maintenance shop is often achieved through the accumulation of incremental time savings across various tasks.

While two-post swing arm lifts are the most popular lifts on the market, known for their versatility and efficiency, positioning the swing arms can take from two to ten minutes depending on the vehicle. Some lift manufacturers offer a drive-on ramp option that doesn’t require techs to position the arms, yet still leaves the tires hanging free for tire, brake and front-end work. If each cycle saves an average of four minutes, and a shop handles five jobs per day, that equates to 20 minutes saved daily. Over a week, this adds up to 100 minutes of additional productive repair time. Over a year, that adds up to over 85 hours!

How many additional jobs could your team complete with 85 extra hours of productive work time each year?

Another example is the BackSaver, a simple but effective tool that allows technicians to hang tired from lift swing arms instead of constantly bending down to lift the off the ground. By minimizing the physical strain on technicians and minimizing movements, the BackSaver streamlines repair jobs by reducing the need for technicians to repeatedly lift tires helping to mitigate the risk of back injury. Just as the drive-on accessory adds productivity, the BackSaver prevents lost labor time due to musculoskeletal issues (which may also cost employers in the form of workman’s compensation).

In short, the right tools reduce downtime and improve workflow in busy maintenance shops.

Tailored Solutions for Specialized Repairs

Efficiency improvements often come from optimizing lift setups. Some shops use options to streamline workflows for the types of jobs they handle most frequently. For example, because an estimated 60-70% of vehicles on the road today are front-wheel drive, transmission repair specialists can benefit from using a two-post lift with wheel-engaging adapters on the rear arms and traditional lift pads on the front arms.

This option streamlines vehicle set up while still allowing full access to transmission and drivetrain components. Using wheel-engaging adapters saves time by eliminating the need to manually adjust lift swing arms under the vehicle, making setup faster and easier for technicians. Over time, those saved minutes add up.

Prioritizing Reliability to Minimize Downtime

While reducing task times is vital, preventing equipment downtime is even more crucial. An out-of-service lift will disrupt even the most efficient operation. When selecting a lift, it’s essential to consider the equipment’s reliability. Downtime can lead to significant revenue loss, especially if repairs are delayed due to the unavailability of an operating lift.

Many vehicle lifts utilize components such as plastic slide blocks, overhead cables, and plastic pulleys that require frequent maintenance and replacement. Lift maintenance needs are costly and time consuming, rendering the lift unusable during repairs. Selecting lifts with durable components and robust construction will reduce both the frequency of maintenance and the likelihood of unexpected breakdowns, saving time and money.

It’s important to remember that you get what you pay for. Higher-quality lifts may cost more upfront, but when you factor in long-term ownership costs and the high cost of downtime, they can be a much smarter investment. Some lifts offer a 25-year warranty while others offer only a one- or two- year warranty. Comparing warranties, maintenance needs, and overall reliability is essential. Every hour a lift is down costs the shop money, both in lost productivity and missed revenue opportunities. A lift that requires fewer repairs and lasts longer will save money and reduce costly downtime. Consider the total “cost of ownership” when evaluating lifts. Higher-quality lifts often have a lower total cost of ownership due to their durability, reliability, and reduced maintenance needs.

Heavy Duty Lifting

While the previous examples focused on options for two-post lifts, servicing larger vehicles generally involves choosing between a drive-on platform lift with tracks or a set of mobile column lifts. Mobile column lifts require positioning a column at each tire, powering them on, and raising the lift. On average, setting up and raising a vehicle with four mobile columns takes about five to ten minutes. In contrast, a large drive-on lift (such as a four-post, parallelogram, or vertical rise lift) only requires driving the vehicle into the bay and raising it, which typically takes around two minutes. Assuming a shop services four vehicles per day, a five-minute time saving per job results in a gain of 20 minutes of additional productivity each day (over 85 hours per year). Additionally, compared to mobile lifts, drive-ons can be equipped with a wheels-free rolling jack for tire and brake work, further enhancing versatility.

When considering mobile column lifts, it’s essential to review lift specifications to ensure they align with your shop’s needs and goal of improving efficiency. For example, some hydraulic models can raise and lower vehicles in as little as two minutes per cycle, while some screw driven lifts can take up to six minutes. As noted previously, these minor time savings may seem insignificant initially but can accumulate substantially over time when considered over the course of a day, week, year, or the entire lifespan of the lift. Mobile columns are an increasingly popular option because they offer the flexibility to lift different vehicle types in various configurations. While this added capability allows garages to service a wider range of vehicles, it may sacrifice some efficiency due to the time required to set up and lift.

Because mobile columns lift vehicles from the wheels, this can limit the types of tasks that technicians can conduct. However, most manufacturers offer versatile options to address these limitations such as a front-to-rear frame-engaging adapter or a side-to-side auto frame adapter, which allow tires to hang free if needed. Also, with the right adapter mobile columns can lift low-riding forklifts, offering significant flexibility for diverse vehicle types and configurations. As a well-informed shopper, take the time to verify the capacity of these options, as some models can barely lift more than an F-350, while others are rated for up to 26,000 lbs.

Lifts, regardless of type, are a long-term investment and play a crucial role in ensuring both safety and efficiency in your garage operations. Taking the time to research your options thoroughly will help you choose the right lift to meet your specific needs. By prioritizing features such as durability, reliability, and compatibility with your workflow, you can maximize productivity and reduce downtime. Remember, a great price on the wrong piece of equipment is still the wrong piece of equipment. Do your research and you will be a happy lift operator.

West Virginia Invests in American-Made Quality with Mohawk Lifts and Steel of West Virginia

State Contract Award Highlights Mohawk Lifts’ Ongoing Commitment to American Manufacturing to Promote Economic Growth in West Virginia

AMSTERDAM, NEW YORK – April 22, 2025 – Mohawk Lifts, LLC (Mohawk), a manufacturer of vehicle lifts, is proud to announce its contract to supply vehicle lifts to government entities across the state of West Virginia. This initiative reflects a successful effort involving Steel of West Virginia, the West Virginia Purchasing Division and West Virginia Economic Development teams. Together, they have made this state-wide contract a reality, creating a lasting impact for the State of West Virginia and Huntington region.

The new contract provides state, local, school, and other public agencies across West Virginia access to high-quality American-made vehicle lifts and garage equipment at preferred pricing and terms. By sourcing high-quality steel from Steel of West Virginia, this contract supports local manufacturing, sustaining vital jobs in the Huntington area. The collaboration of Mohawk, Steel of West Virginia, West Virginia Purchasing Division, and Economic Development helps to keep jobs in the state while ensuring that public agencies have access to high-quality reliable vehicle lifts.

Steve Perlstein, President of Mohawk, said, “We are grateful to the West Virginia Purchasing Division, Economic Development, and Steel of West Virginia teams for their role in making this contract a reality. This initiative represents a win for the state of West Virginia, the Huntington community, and each public agency that may benefit from our products. Mohawk is committed to supporting American manufacturing, and we’re proud to contribute to West Virginia’s economic growth”

Mohawk looks forward to collaborating with agencies across West Virginia, providing solutions to their vehicle lift and equipment needs. Committed to American-made excellence, using steel from Steel of West Virginia, Mohawk is proud to contribute to West Virginia’s Economic Development, strengthening the states manufacturing ecosystem. The Mohawk team is eager to build lasting, mutually successful partnerships.

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Mohawk Awarded Sourcewell Contract

Amsterdam, NY (April 18, 2024) – Mohawk Lifts, LLC has been awarded with Sourcewell Contract Number: 121223-MRL for vehicle lifts and garage associated equipment. Sourcewell is the countries largest government to government procurement cooperative conducting competing bids on behalf of its member agencies. Sourcewell offers over 700 different product and service contracts.

In addition for having the ability to purchase light to heavy-duty two post, four post, mobile column and parallelogram lifts off the contract — government agencies can also purchase Hunter Engineering wheel service and alignment equipment, Westmatic heavy duty vehicle washes, Gray Manufacturing jacks, Worky exhaust evacuation and workbenches, Flexzilla air compressors, CEAS refrigerant reclamation equipment and LiftPoint fork truck service lifts under Mohawk’s Sourcewell contract.

This contract was competitively bid and awarded by Sourcewell, while also providing other states, cities, counties, schools, and all public agencies across the USA the ability to issue purchase orders directly, without the need to constantly go out to bid every time for each piece of equipment.

Mohawk President Steve Perlstein spoke of Mohawk’s awarded contract by saying, “We are so pleased to have been awarded this contract for the fourth time in our history. It reflects Mohawk’s ongoing commitment towards making government purchasing easy, and earning the reputation for providing the very best US-made vehicle lifts and garage equipment.”

More information on Sourcewell on-contract products and pricing can be found on Mohawk’s government purchasing website GovLifts.com.

About Sourcewell

When it comes to purchasing, city leaders get the best of both worlds – local dealer access with national buying power through cooperative purchasing. They keep taxpayer dollars in the community while saving time and money during the procurement process by utilizing Sourcewell contracts to buy equipment, office supplies, technology, and other goods.

About Mohawk Lifts

Mohawk is U.S.A’s premium manufacturer of vehicle lift solutions for fleets in government, commercial, and industrial settings. Mohawk’s popularity is based on a combination of industry-leading safety systems, long-lasting durability, and the most inclusive warranty in the lift industry. Mohawk Lifts are proudly designed, welded, and manufactured in the U.S.A. since 1981.