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Ratcliff develops lightweight Solo
Page 14
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• Ratcliff Tail Lifts has developed a simple, lightweight, all-electric tail-lift, conforming to BS6109 Code of Practice, for the panel van user.
The lift, called the Solo, is located to one side of the vehicle just inside the rear doors. It has a lift capacity of 125kg, weighs just 55kg and is installed for a cost of 2700, plus fitting, which is carried out in two to three hours.
The 600x300mm platform,: which weighs 10kg, can be detached and stowed separately at the side of the vehicle allowing free access apart from the small intrusion of the lifting , boom and support.
The design uses a 12-volt Lucas electric motor, powered by the vehicle's battery, to drive a pulley wheel attached to a square-section extending boom and platform via a length of webbing. Initial Solo models are suitable for most types of panel van with a platform height of up to 710mm.
With the acquisitions of the Swedish Hydro tail-lift company two years ago and the French Peugeot tail-lift interest during the past five years, Ratcliff has become the biggest European manufacturer in its field.
This year the company expects to sell about 17,000 pillar and cantilever designs while the Solo has been set at 5,000 units. Development of the new lift cost E250,000.