Save your customers money and make some yourself with PowerMate®

For more information on PowerMate products or services contact one of our Solution Specialists at 1-800-697-6283 or  leave your name and number and we'll contact you at your convenience

Do you rent equipment to contractors? If so, than take a moment to consider the advantages of renting a motorized hand truck. Most rental places charge a premium to rent a PowerMate® because of its’ uniqueness and application specific uses. Many rental companies include a PowerMate® rental when they rent other products like concrete polishers, generators, floor sanders, drain cleaners and other heavy loads because a PowerMate® can lift loads on and off trucks and up and down stairs.

PowerMate® motorized hand trucks are used extensively by HVAC contractors to move hot water heaters, AC units, furnaces, radiators, geothermal heat pumps and boilers for residential and commercial installations because, unlike a regular hand truck, the PowerMate® protects the operator from lifting stain. A PowerMate® does the grunt work and has the added benefit of saving contractors on labor costs. On average, a contractor can cut labor costs in half when using a PowerMate® to move loads to the point of install. These are real, tangible benefits that contractors recognize and will respond to.

There is a high level of awareness among HVAC and plumbing contractors with respect to the PowerMate® and what it can do, however many small contractors do not own a PowerMate as they lack the frequency in terms of moves per year. They may only need a PowerMate®  four or five times a year – which is ideal for a rental opportunity! 

PowerMates are high quality machines and are built to last. There are three models that are ideal for rental; the PowerMate® L-1 with a 650 lb. lifting  capacity – ideal as a general purpose powered lifting dolly; the M-1 heavy lifting hand truck with a 1,500 lb. lifting capacity which is ideal for plumbers, HVAC-R and geothermal contractors; and the M-2B (a taller version of the M-1), the mover of choice for large built-in appliances and vending machines. PowerMate® also offers certified training courses so that your sales staff can be confident they are providing proper instruction on the safe operation of the machines.

All units are fully functioning hand trucks that just happen to be powered. Any client that intends to rent a hand truck might consider a PowerMate® if the load weight is over 200 lbs. and they are concerned about injury or having enough labor on hand to help with the move.  The M-series machines are made from heavy gauge steel and the L-Series machines from extruded aluminum (no welds to fail). The control buttons are weather protected and the toe plate, where the load sits, has a full length bottom rubber guard to protect floors and stairs.

All PowerMates come with our 1-800 number printed on the front of the machine so that if a client needs assistance while on the job site they can call us, not you. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff are on hand to help.

Industries PowerMate® serve include: Appliance movers, Furniture movers, Facility and Property Management, Home Medical Equipment, Lock and Gun Safe, Plant Maintenance, HVAC-R, Vending and Gaming,  Coin-Op and  ATM among others.

For detailed information on each of the products mentioned above, follow the links to:

PowerMate® L-1 Stair Climber – one tough general purpose motorized hand truck!

PowerMate® M-1 Stair Climber – our heavy duty flagship machine.

PowerMate® LE-1 Stair Climber/Stacker – the only stacking stair climber on the market.

PowerMate® M-2B Stair Climber for appliance and vending moves.

Other specialty machines: The PowerMate® POGO P-2 Stair Climber – the lightweight Stair Climber for moving parcels, salt bags, water bottles, home oxygen vessels, compressed gas cylinders and other loads up to 220 lbs.

Speak to a Solution Specialist today at 1-800-697-6283 and find the best deal on a PowerMate® stair climber for your rental business.

An Ergonomic Strategy for Moving Bottom Heavy Loads

For more information on PowerMate products or services contact one of our Solution Specialists at 1-800-697-6283 or  leave your name and number and we'll contact you at your convenience

Moving bottom heavy loads like concrete grinders, wood or pellet stoves, electric motors or batteries takes special care. When using a PowerMate® stair climber the operator uses the wheels as the pivot point when extending or retracting the toe plate. If all the weight is at one end, it makes it harder for the operator to pivot the load. PowerMate® has come up with two neat solutions for this problem, one very simple, other more high-tech. Both work equally well.

The simple solution involves the addition of a ‘load elevator accessory’ to your PowerMate® kit. The Load elevator is simply a steel frame that attaches to your PowerMate® and allows the operator to position the load closer to the centre of gravity or pivot point of the machine. This clever accessory design makes it easier for the operator to pivot the load over the wheels making the job of stair climbing much easier. The load is still fixed however, and while the load is much closer to the centre of gravity then without the load elevator accessory, it is not often exactly on centre.

This brings us to our second solution, the LE-1 stair climbing hand truck. The LE-1 has a dual drive screw design that allows the operator to dynamically position the load anywhere along the frame. This makes the job of finding that perfect balance point simply a matter of pushing a button. The LE-1 is ideal for contractors that regularly move bottom heavy loads like stoves, grinding machines or electric motors. Learn more about the LE-1 or have one of our Solution Specialists call you at your convenience.

A Good Ergonomic Strategy Means More Profit for Your Business

For more information on PowerMate products or services contact one of our Solution Specialists at 1-800-697-6283 or  leave your name and number and we'll contact you at your convenience

The value of ergonomics goes beyond health and safety. A good ergonomics strategy can add value to a company’s business strategy and ultimately contribute to your business goals of higher profits. An ergonomics strategy can effect profit drivers like cost minimization, productivity, quality, delivery reliability, responsiveness to customer demands and flexibility.  

The evidence for a good ergonomics strategy is abundant in countless studies in North America and Europe that clearly illustrate the connection between profitability and healthy working conditions. Larger organizations take ergonomics seriously and have now been at this game long enough to know where to look for ‘bottom line’ benefits. The trick to making ergonomics work for your business is to start thinking of ergonomics as a business strategy that can contribute to business performance. One aspect of ergonomics that enhances efficiency is mechanization. What aspects of your business can be reduced, eliminated or modified to reduce or eliminate unhealthy or hazardous tasks? By removing hazard in the workplace (or substantially reducing it) you increase labor productivity, lower costs associated with injury and increase your profit.  

A PowerMate®, our focus and area of expertise is power assisted movement of heavy goods – the very solution PowerMate® stair climbers and LiftGates were designed to solve.

At PowerMate we can help your business realize tangible business benefits through improved ergonomics and the mechanization of the movement of heavy goods. Our Solution Specialists can analyze current practices and costs and make recommendations that result in cost savings and improvements in productivity. Register for a profit analysis and a Solution Specialist will contact you at your convenience to get the process going. For more information on PowerMate® and our products call us at 1-800-697-6283 or visit our website at PowerMate®.info

PowerMate TailGate Lift

For more information on PowerMate products or services contact one of our Solution Specialists at 1-800-697-6283 or  leave your name and number and we'll contact you at your convenience

L P International Inc., the manufacturer of the successful PowerMate® motorized hand truck line has developed a new safety lifting device developed specifically for installation in vans.  The new device, called the PowerMate® LiftGate, is mounted inside your delivery van and is ideal for moving drain cleaners, compressed gas cylinders, hot water tanks, furnaces and other HVAC products on and off your vehicle.

The target market for the LiftGate include HVAC, home medical, universities and schools, public works and the power utility market to name just a few. The company has developed four models of the LiftGate that are available with right or left hand mounting configuration with the option of a rear or side door mount. The LG3's are designed for contractor vans while the LG6's are designed for cube vans. 

The LiftGates have a swing arm that can bring the load out from the truck bed before lowering it to the curb. Unlike a TailGate lift, the load on a LiftGate is secured, so the risk of the load shifting or falling is eliminated. The LG3 has a lifting height of 28" and can be ordered with a 250 or 500 lb. lifting capacity, while the LG6 has a 40" lift and is also available in the two weight capacities of 250 or 500 lbs. The LiftGates are made from heavy duty steel and aluminum and require minimum space inside the vehicle at just 1.5 sq. ft. The LigtGates operate from the vehicle's 12 volt electrical system.

The LiftGate is clearly a unique entry into the material handling arena due to its lower cost, small footprint and flexible mounting configuration. Considering the high cost of a tailgate lift (upwards of seven thousand dollars) the LiftGates offer a considerable savings to anyone with van fleets moving product in the LiftGate's weight range.

For more details on the LiftGate including technical specifications and pricing, contact PowerMate® at 1-800-697-6283 or visit the PowerMate® website at http://www.powermate.info/

  

Jobsite Injuries and Your Business

For more information on PowerMate products or services contact one of our Solution Specialists at 1-800-697-6283 or  leave your name and number and we'll contact you at your convenience

All good employers take jobsite safety seriously as this makes good business sense. The cost of one lost-time injury can run an employer on average close to $29,000 in direct and indirect costs*. In the HVAC and plumbing industry, the majority of lost-time injuries are a result of physical strain resulting from moving heavy loads by hand or using a regular hand cart. Boilers, geothermal units, drain and sewer cleaners, AC units, heat pumps, cast iron bathtubs and large furnaces are usually the culprits. Some of these items can weigh over a thousand pounds and many need to be moved up or down stairs.

The traditional hand truck is not the ideal moving solution as the operator still needs to ‘lift’ the weight over curbs, on or off trucks or in the worst case scenario up or down stairs. The traditional hand truck is without brakes and requires the operator to keep the load in a balanced position - especially on stairs. This can result in the operator having to make sudden weight shifting movements to control the load and this is often where injuries can occur. The installer may suffer an injury that may go unnoticed until a subsequent unrelated activity cause the damage to become apparent. This can be particularly unfortunate if the trigger event takes place outside of the work environment and the damage is not classified as a work related injury. The answer, of course is to not get injured in the first place.

One way installers in the HVAC and plumbing industry can avoid injury is to source alternate means of moving heavy loads. There are several moving solutions available, the best of which are called ‘stair climbers’ or ‘motorized stair climbers’ which do the heavy lifting for you. The PowerMate brand of stair climber has several advantages over other systems. PowerMate manufactures and sells direct and has an excellent reputation for quality. PowerMate also has the best service and training program in the industry and understands the complex needs of independent operators, SME’s and large businesses alike. For example, PowerMate offers training programs designed to “train the trainers” which works well for large operators with fleet vehicles with multiple stair climbers (PowerMates).

Another advantage of using a powered hand truck is the greater range in terms of who can be an installer. Physical strength is much less of a factor; older workers and women are more likely to be able to install hot water tanks or geothermal units unaided. Injured workers can return to work faster using a powered lifting device as well. Your insurance premiums may drop as a result of implementing this very significant piece of PPE (personal protective equipment). One large home comfort HVAC company has mandated the use of PowerMates in all installations as part of their safety policy.

You can find more information on the PowerMate brand of motorized stair climbing hand trucks at www.PowerMate.info

*U.S. Department of Labor Statistics quotes a figure of $29,000 as the total costs to en employer from ONE lost-time injury; 2004

Moving boilers, a thank less job

For more information on PowerMate products or services contact one of our Solution Specialists at 1-800-697-6283 or  leave your name and number and we'll contact you at your convenience

Today's post asks the question, " Itsn't there a better way to move residential boilers in and out of the basement other than by the sweat of my brow?"  As luck would have it there is such a solution. The PowerMate motorized stairclimbing handtruck has been designed specifically to move heavy objects up and down stairs. A motorized stairclimber is an electrically powered dolly or hand truck that has one, or sometimes two drive screws that move the wheels of the dolly up or down the frame. This feature allows the operator to easily break the load back and rest it in a balanced position. What's more, the movable wheels are the key to the PowerMates ability to ‘walk' heavy loads up and down stairs and even on and off trucks.

The advantages of a  system like this is that boiler installers can use the lifting power of PowerMate to carry the load for them, protecting not only themsevles from injury but also property as the load is always in a balanced position and in control at all times.

Another advantage of this type of safety moving system is that, as an installer, you have greater flexibility in assigning labor resources.  A motorized hand truck, like the PowerMate shown at left, does all the heavy lifting for you, which means you don't need anywhere near the physical strength required to move boilers without motorized assistance. No pulleys or rigging required and loads can be maneuvered into place by one person (with training of course, again we are taking about safety here).  So if it took three or four strong backs to move a 600 lbs. boiler before, with a PowerMate you  can get the move done in a fraction of the time and with fewer people.

L P International recommends that for really heavy loads you should have at least two people on hand for safety when moving up or down stairs. Training is recommended to get the best value from your PowerMate and ensures the safe operation of the unit.

PowerMate ROI

For more information on PowerMate products or services contact one of our Solution Specialists at 1-800-697-6283 or  leave your name and number and we'll contact you at your convenience

What kind of return can you expect from your PowerMate®?

With over 30 years of experience selling PowerMate Stair Climbing Hand Trucks to clients all over the world and in many different industry segments, we have a pretty good idea what kind of savings and revenue opportunities you can expect when using a PowerMate. This basic calculation will give you an idea of what to look for in return for items like labor savings, injury prevention, referrals, reduced property damage and increased efficiency. For more information about PowerMate products and services go to http://www.powermate.info/index.htm

The greatest potential for labor savings derives from the fact that a PowerMate stair climber reduces the effort to move heavy loads by over 87%.( A PowerMate does 100% of the lifting but there is still some effort in moving the load). This means that what might normally be a two or even three person job can easily be handled by one less person. Loads requiring four men for example may be safely handled by two with a PowerMate. This can affect your business in two important ways. The first is the direct labor savings resulting from a more efficient use of human resources or a lower cost per install. The other is the ability to re-allocate resources to do more installs.

The ability to do more installs depends upon the demand for your services but with a PowerMate you have the advantage of presenting a ‘white glove treatment’ image to your clients which will result in more referrals. With a PowerMate you are always in control of the load as the machine does 100% of the lifting. There is no strain on the operator and with proper training there will always be reduced frequency of damage to client doorways, stairs, thresholds, patios, floors and furniture. More referrals of course means more business for you and isn’t it great that you have a new PowerMate to do them with!

PowerMate Motorized Stair Climbing HandTrucks do 100% of the lifting virtually eliminating the risk of back injury. Using the push buttons on the hand grips, the operator has safe control of the load at all times. Savings from injury prevention are significant: Lost productivity, injury claims, lower company moral as well as a host of other direct and indirect costs have been estimated by the U.S Department of Labor Statistics to be $29,000 per lost-time injury for the employer.

If you are moving heavy loads you want to reduce your risk and expose to injury. If you are an owner / operator, you have the best reason for buying a Powermate - injury prevention! How much money would you give up if you were unable to work for six months or even six weeks? Where would your clients go if you were unavailable?
Your ability to attract and retain valuable employees regardless of gender, age and physical strength increase employee morale, motivating your workforce and enhancing further the attractiveness of your business as an employer of choice. Your workers are less physically stressed and less at risk of repetitive strain injuries. They go home less tired and are better rested the next day, more focused and able to deal with what may.
If you are unfortunate in that you have a worker who becomes injured - just for the sake of argument let's say the injury took place playing baseball - you will be able to get the worker back on the job sooner on modified duties using a PowerMate!

With a PowerMate you will have less dropped call and missed opportunities and be better able to deal with peak season periods more efficiently. You can avoid the cost of installing a tailgate lift ($3,500 - $7,500 expense per vehicle) as well as the wasted expense of an idle vehicle due to an injury.

PowerMate = Labor Savings + Increased Margins + Safer Deliveries = Higher Profits

There are Return on Investment calculators that we use at PowerMate to estimate expected savings and returns and we are only too happy to work through them with you.

Call us at 1-800-697-6283 for a free business analysis or leave your name and number here and we’ll contact you at a time of your convenience.