Madison, Indiana — October 28, 2015 — Chief has introduced a new product line designed to help heavy-duty collision facilities improve technician ergonomics, shop efficiency, repair quality and cycle times. Chief says the equipment also makes it possible to write more comprehensive estimates upfront and document repairs.
The new Chief heavy-duty product line includes:
• New Centurion heavy-duty frame rack.
• New Cam Scan HD photogrammetric measuring system.
• Chief PNP90 self-piercing rivet gun.
• New Chief blind rivet attachment for PNP90 rivet gun.
• Rotary Lift Mach Series mobile column lifts.
• Chassis-Liner Heavy-Duty Trucker frame rack.
“Heavy-duty collision repair shops face unique challenges stemming from the sheer size of the vehicles being repaired,” says Lee Daugherty, Chief Global Data Product Manager. “There are no OEM specifications to follow when straightening frames that can be 60 feet long or bringing multiple axles back into alignment. Squaring up a trailer that has rolled and repairing a cab that’s manufactured with a mix of steel, aluminum and other materials also can be tricky when relying on traditional measuring and repair tools. The new Chief heavy-duty product line draws on our more than 40 years of collision repair experience to provide fleets, independent repair shops and dealers with modern equipment that is faster and easier to use, reduces the chance of technician injury, speeds up the repair process and makes it possible to meet the growing need to document repairs.”
Chief offers a range of standard and custom frame rack lengths from 32 feet long and up to accommodate even the largest trucks, trailers and buses. The new Centurion frame rack is available with 10-foot or 14-foot tall hydraulic towers, each with 55 tons of pulling power. Chief says its heavy-duty frame racks are easy to set up: just position the vehicle on the rack, swing the attached towers into position and get to work.
Many heavy-duty shops still measure vehicles using centerline gauges and string. While this system can be quite accurate, it’s also time-consuming and doesn’t offer the repair documentation insurers are increasingly demanding. Chief says its new Cam Scan HD measuring system lets technicians easily measure and compare two points anywhere on a vehicle in minutes. And since it uses photogrammetry (the science of making measurements from photographs, such as for maps), it also provides the photos of damage and repair documentation insurers are looking for.
The Chief PNP90 pneumatic-hydraulic rivet gun is a much lighter, user-friendly, flexible tool than the old air-operated tools many heavy-duty shops currently use. It eliminates the need to drill out factory rivets and can be used to insert self-piercing or flow form rivets. The new blind rivet attachment kit is designed for heavy-duty repair applications that require blind rivets, blind nuts or blind bolts. It swivels and pivots to get into hard-to-reach spaces.
Mach Series mobile column lifts from Chief sister company Rotary Lift give heavy-duty repair shops the ability to get vehicles in the air, making it much easier to measure the frame and reveal damage that otherwise may go unseen, resulting in more accurate repair estimates. Mach Series lifts are available in groups of four or six columns, each with a lifting capacity of 18,000 lbs. They can be used to lift vehicles weighing up to 108,000 lbs. Mach Series lifts have been third-party tested and ALI certified to meet industry safety and performance standards.
To learn more about the Chief heavy-duty product line, contact Lee Daugherty at 800.445.9262 ext. 5406 or 502.221.1287. For more information on Chief, please visit chiefautomotive.com.
