The Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) has partnered with Stertil-Koni to incorporate vehicle lifts as part of its preparation to welcome bus rapid transit (BRT). As part of the process, MCTS purchased 14 Stertil-Koni inground telescopic piston DIAMONDLIFTs and 16 Mobile Column Lifts from Stertil-Koni’s exclusive distributor in the region, Midwest Equipment Specialists, which also performed all lift installations and hands-on technician training.
“Our mission is to provide premium transit service to a large and diverse community in a safe and timely manner and Stertil-Koni is the perfect partner for us. Anything we ask for they deliver with great professionalism, and we’ve built great trust,” said Dwyane Reese, MCTS deputy director for maintenance.
MCTS has ridership of nearly 16 million annually across 40 routes with 3,878 bus stops. Reese oversees two MCTS garages, plus the newly-renovated fleet maintenance facility. The MCTS fleet includes 238 New Flyer clean diesel buses and 100 clean diesel Gillig buses. MCTS will also have a fleet of 15 Nova electric-powered buses by the end of 2023.
“While the clean diesel engines weigh 13 tons, the new electric buses each weigh 18 tons – and our old lifts couldn’t handle the additional weight, so the new lifts were an investment in our transition to electric buses,” Reese said.
The electronically-synchronized, ALI-certified inground DIAMONDLIFT can raise up to 35,000 pounds per piston. The lifts feature a mechanical locking system for maximum protection and a full color touch-screen control console that puts all lifting information directly at the fingertips of the operator.
The Stertil-Koni Mobile Column Lifts at MCTS are made of high tensile DOMEX steel, can lift up to 18,500 pounds per column and also feature a full-color touch screen.
“Because the mobile lifts are portable, we can utilize them in our outside space, which frees-up more room inside,” Reese said.
“Stertil-Koni is honored to partner with MCTS and support their mission in serving the public while ensuring their team has industry-leading Stertil-Koni equipment designed for utmost safety, intuitive and ergonomic ease-of-use and maximum performance for enhanced productivity,” said Stertil-Koni President Dr. Jean DellAmore.
