A range of portable, electronic lifters, which make lifting air conditioners a solo task, have been introduced to the Australian market.
This innovative product range can decrease downtime and increase safety.
There is no longer any need to take a workmate off a job to help you lift an air conditioner, which improves productivity.
What’s more, if you are commandeering a ladder while trying to cart a huge box, there is the risk of the product being damanged, or your own body being strained.
The JDPower portable lifters have been introduced to the Australian market by Taiwanese company, KSF.
By turning a two or three person job into a one man effort, the company aims to make sites safer, reduce the chance of injury and improve a team’s productivity.
The portable lifters are available in two ranges for contractors – the CM Series and the CA Lifter.
Both are primarily aimed at residential and small industrial projects for general installation as well as building and maintenance tasks. All the lifters can be setup and operated by one person and the CM340 can even be carried in one hand when it is folded.
To operate the device, a hand-held variable-speed trigger is used. This controls a compact electrical motor and winch which winds the telescopic mast up and down.
In situations where no mains power is available, a cordless drill or manual winding handle can be used to operate the lift.
Each product in the CM lifter range has individual telescoping legs for stability and to enable operation on uneven surfaces such as steps or paths. Depending on the model, the CM series can lift up to a height of 4.9m and can lift weights of up to 140kg.
The CA lifter is targeted at heavier loads and can lift weights of 150kg to a height of 4m. It also has fold-out legs, for additional stability. This is anchored by the rectangular-section mast, which also strengthens its stance.
All lifters come with interchangeable accessories which allow it to lift a range of materials, such as plasterboard, glass, awnings, garage doors, solar heaters and sheet metal.
But its in the lifting of air conditioners where this product truly excels. The lifters can be configured for lift operations adjacent to walls, air conditioners can be lifted in-line with their wall-mounting brackets. And to increase safety, all lifters have level indicators to help vertically align the mast before operation.
The original lifter was developed by Taiwanese inventor, Chin Piao. He is well known in Taiwan for designing and building the world's first integrated rice harvester.
“When I was younger, I was working in a rice farm and we had to harvest rice manually, which was very hard work. I needed to find a way to make it easier,”he said. Since then Chin Piao has continued to invent.
"I’m the sort of person who just loves to invent. I enjoy solving problems and seeking out solutions,” he said.
Seeing workers burdened with heavy air conditioners encouraged Chin Piao to invent his first portable lifter which was hand wound with adjustable legs. Using his own savings, Chin Piao made 50 units and sold them directly.
In 1992 he was able to expand his business by establishing KSF which has never looked back selling 50,000 units worldwide. The family tradition has continued with one son, Yu Ta, heading up design and research and the other son, Yu Feng, overseeing manufacturing.
Both sons are now directors of JD Power – the local Australian distributor for KSF in Australia.
For details visit www.jdpowertools.com.au