SOUTHWELL LIFTS AND HOISTS ADVERTORIAL

Southwell are always looking for a better customer experience and have never stopped innovating.

There are over 600 Southwell hoists in self storage in Australia and New Zealand. Many of these hoists are now over ten years old and some 20 years plus. In self storage, presentation and safety are paramount. “We understand the importance and difficulty of maintaining ageing hoists to current safety standards and can refurbish all critical components to ensure optimum performance”, according to Southwell Engineering General Manager Hamish McGregor. “We upgrade electrical and roller door assemblies which generally cause most breakdowns, we convert to a PLC control for standardisation across the fleet and easier operation, and we can upgrade ‘goods only’ hoists to add person riding capability. We can even upgrade other brands.” “A refurbishment makes an old hoist look like new, and these upgrades can make self storage sites more accessible and provide a better experience for customers.” Australia’s top name in lifts and hoists maintains its strong reputation and market position through consistent reinvestment in its engineering prowess and adding new products, innovations and customer benefits to its range. Southwell Engineering, for over 75 years, continues to develop and manufacture in Camden NSW. The 46 dedicated engineering, sales and maintenance team deliver the service that has helped to make the company’s lifts and hoists become the choice of self storage. However, to maintain its position as the go-to company for a wide range of industries (including manufacturing, airlines and construction), the company has invested in growing the competitive advantage of its engineering and maintenance teams. This has taken the shape of a growing headcount, significant software upgrades and revisions to processes to prioritise customer outcomes. The result of this reinvestment, combined with a continuing tradition of innovating and avoiding complacency, is visible in new and upcoming products and services “Southwell Engineering gained its reputation through a long

history of creating specialised lifting equipment, but our past is more varied than that; in the early days, we supplied the sand for the construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge,” Mr McGregor said. “After the Second World War, we began manufacturing large truck cranes, then elevated work platforms, and since the 1990’s we focused on designing and manufacturing goods hoists in both scissor and platform style. “We are currently working on a pit-less hoist design to make installation easier on existing sites, and our hoist modernisation program makes older hoists look as good as new. Southwell’s flexibility also lends itself to less typical applications. “Some of our more newsworthy projects include a nine-ton art hoist for the Sydney Museum of Contemporary Art. It’s a custom triple-scissor travelling 9.5 metres,” Mr McGregor said. “We are also working on a threelevel car lift with turntable for an apartment building in Melbourne. This is the third one we have done, and this product is unique to Southwell in Australia.” l

For more information on Southwell’s lift and hoist range visit southwell.com.au.