Manassas-based ARI-Hetra has just announced their receipt of U.S. Patent No. 8,474,793 B2 for the invention of an environment-friendly mobile lift system for use in servicing heavy equipment and vehicles – from buses and fire apparatus to heavy military equipment – that uses hybrid battery technology and energy conservation in a traditionally energy-intensive industry segment. Over the past 25 years, ARI-Hetra has helped heavy equipment mechanics take advantage of movable, lower-cost lift equipment in lieu of traditional, built-in hydraulic lifts, which are far more expensive and can have long-term impact on the environment. Their newly patented system is another industry-first from the firm.
This next generation of ARI-Hetra heavy lift equipment is a regenerative electrical charging system that uses the weight of a lifted vehicle to recharge highly-efficient on-board batteries, dramatically reducing the draw on the power grid compared to traditional lifts. Not only does this new lift system greatly reduce energy costs, but because it is mobile, it can be taken to the location of a heavy vehicle that must be serviced or repaired.
The new ARI-Hetra system also uses no hydraulic fluid, which is environmentally harmful and poses significant disposal challenges. The system is so ecologically friendly, in fact, that it can contribute to a newly-built service facility being awarded LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green building certification by the Federal Government.
"Our new lift's capacity ranges from 48,000 lbs to 144,000 lbs, making it as robust as it is energy conscious," said ARI-Hetra's founder and president. "The system is so unique because it doesn't just lift the weight, it harnesses that weight and translates it into usable energy," he continued. Based on its efficiency, the new system is highly sought after, and ARI-Hetra has already sold thousands of the new lifts nationally and globally.
