Electric Vehicles (EV)

As the demand for electric vehicles (EV) grows, so does the need for manufacturers to service and repair them. Service centres are often well equipped to handle conventional internal combustion engine vehicles, however EV’s present a new challenge.

Managing 600kg+ batteries into place on the underside of the vehicle is often possible with post lifts, lifting tables and cradles.  However, manoeuvring heavy and costly batteries from their packing crate through a busy workshop to its installation location, is the new challenge for workshops - This is where Reid can help.

The Porta Gantry Rapide (PGR) provides up to 1000kg WLL for goods lifting and beam lengths up to 4 meters, as well as an adjustable height of lift from 1.5m to 2.8m. In addition, the PGR’s 360° swivel & braked castors allow easy manoeuvring even while under load. Finally the PGR weighs as little as 37Kg and can be erected or collapsed  by 1 person in less than a 60 seconds.

If you want to learn more about our work with electric vehicles, check out our case study with Hyundai.

Automotive Glass Movement

While Lifting and installing automotive glass isn’t new, there’s a noticeable increase in the popularity of glass roofs, both fixed and sliding, in cars. With the development of larger vehicles, this presents fresh challenges for glass repair specialists.

Often, glass panels for sunroofs or panoramic roofs can weigh upwards of 15Kg - Not a huge weight overall, however due to the working height and the need for careful positioning of the glass panel, 15Kg becomes much more challenging to manoeuvre.    

The Reid Porta Gantry Rapide (PGR) is the ideal solution for challenging overhead glass installation applications with a working span of up to 3.2m and max height of lift of 2.8m, the PGR allows for even the largest passenger vehicles.

The beam trolley options also allow fixed position or adjustable lifting using a winch or chain hoist system; when you combine this with the PGR’s castor system, you have a gantry that can be precisely moved over  the vehicle and locked in position, ready to lower or lift the glass.    

Fall Protection For Vehicle Maintenance

Utilising fall protection when loading/unloading or maintaining vehicles is a key practice, however injury to operatives due to falls from vehicles still frequently occur. Many of todays permanent or semi-fixed solutions such as overhead fall arrest tracks or fixed davit systems are limited by their lack of mobility and flexibility in dynamic work places such as construction sites or busy maintenance & repair facilities, our Porta Gantry can be a lightweight portable solution.

Providing up to 5.8 meters* of adjustable height range combined with up to 8 meters* of clear span, the Porta Gantry can accommodate large vehicles. It has been EN795 certified for fall arrest for up to 5 people* and meets the requirements for AS/NZS 1891.4:2009 Industrial Fall Arrest Systems & Devices, combined with up to 5000Kg * of goods lifting capacity meaning it has more than enough ability for even the most challenging tasks.

An additional benefit of the Porta Gantry is its ability to be easily moved into position due to its robust, 360° locking castors**, enabling a more flexible solution. It can also be easily disassembled when not being used and stored compactly ready for its next task.     

*dependent on system configuration.

**subject to detailed instruction and supervision by a competent person