At Extreme Equipment, our goal is not to slander our competition. Instead, we want to inform lift buyers of legitimate differences with the products so that they may make an informed purchase. The following is an outline that will show the quality differences in relation to price. That is the real question. Which lift offers the most bang for the buck? The least expensive lifts made in China are probably not the answer, but neither are the most expensive lifts made in the US. The benefit to cost ratio must be in line for the product to truly be a good deal. With that said, let me start by breaking down the lift industry.

There are companies that make lifts in China and claim that the quality is good because they control the manufacturing process. The key questions to ask are about the skill of the labor, and the quality of material and components. The reason that the skill of the labor matters is that these lifts require welding. Without skilled welders, you open yourself to defects and problems. Ever hear of a certified welder in China? Neither have we! We have all heard the example of poor quality control in China, so we will spare you the details. However, what you may not know is that China has the largest product recall in the world. These recalls are due to the failure to meet safety guidelines, defects, or flat out disregard for safety. We all know the examples.

The truth of the matter, is that these companies are in China for greater access to cheap steel and even cheaper labor. The steel is not cheaper due to greater efficiency, instead it is due to the substandard material used to make it. (this is why Chinese socket sets break!!!) If they can sell these lifts that cheaply, after shipping them half way across the world, what does that say about the material and components? The truth probably lies somewhere in the middle. These lifts will not kill you, but will the cylinder and power unit last? Will the entire lift last? It seems to me that taking this kind of chance is probably not worth the risk.

The other side of the coin is the over engineered, US built, far too expensive lifts. While these units might be high quality, their expense is usually due to old manufacturing methods. The failure to modernize can and do, drive costs through the roof. This does not make the lift better, just more expensive. Does it really matter if the runways on a 7,000lbs 4-post lift are capable of lifting 21,000lbs as opposed to 24,000lbs? Is that worth an extra $1,000? Of course not! What makes or breaks the quality and durability of a lift is almost always the exact opposite of what lift companies use to sell their products. Lets see if you agree. Here is a list of the things we think are relevant.

5 basic areas that are directly related to the safety and durability of any lift.

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