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Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have questions about us, our products or anything else? Check out the list below and click on the title most likely to hold the answer you’re looking for.
Our Company
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How many employees work for you?
It varies, but we have a core of some 60 employees on our payroll.
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Where are your facilities?
Plafolift has a manufacturing plant and business offices in Warwick, in the Province of Quebec, Canada. We are some 90 minutes by car to Montreal and a little over an hour to Quebec City. Click here, for a map reference.
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How long have you been in business?
For more than 30 years. The business was founded in 1973. We produced our very first motorized aerial work platform in 1979. Since then, we’ve entered many more lifting product segments.
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Besides work platform, what else do you produce?
We’ve become experts in lifting products and solutions that include freight elevators, lift tables, loading docks, truck-mounted scissor lifts and even a baby chick elevator. We offer our customers what we call standard or catalogue products, special products and a host of custom-made products. Custom-made products are what distinguish us in the marketplace.
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Are you listed on any stock exchange?
No, we are a privately held company.
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What markets do you cater to?
We are constantly trying to innovate by offering an extensive line of lifting products that are appealing to medium and large size businesses. Our equipment can be found under water in Las Vegas, on major construction sites throughout Quebec, in Alcan installations, under Air Canada aircraft, in retail outlets such as Canadian Tire, in some of the country’s largest warehouses and big box stores, in paper mills owned by Cascades and underground in the mines of British Columbia. And that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Our equipment is distributed in Canada only for now, although we have machines in operation all over the world.
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What are the standards that you cater to?
ANSI A92.7, CSA B354.2, CSA B44 and CWB 47.1. We are the only Canadian lifting products company that is capable of doing business under that many stringent standards.
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Do you provide custom-made products?
Absolutely, and that is what distinguishes us from our major competitors. We’ve been providing custom solutions ever since we’ve entered the business. Our client list is not only long but distinguished. Our very unique Plafolift Ergo-Innovation Program™ helps us come up with custom solutions that are not only better than those of our competitors but also in ways that are more timely and more cost efficient.
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The Plafolift Ergo-Innovation ProgramTM
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What is this program all about?
The Plafolift Ergo-Innovation Program™ is unique to us and the way we do business. It banks on ergonomics and our capacity to come up with innovative solutions to client lifting problems. It encompasses a complete nuts to bolts process that includes design and engineering, financing, extended warranties, etc. The program guarantees three things: the best solution to a given lifting challenge, a safe product for workers and operators, productivity gains.
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What are the key points of this program?
The Plafolift Ergo-Innovation Program™ is a super efficacious process with ergonomics and innovation as its cornerstones. It fills the void left by major manufacturers not interested in building custom machines or by the activities of specialists who do custom work but take too much time and are very expensive. We go on-site and work very closely with our clients or their representatives. The client always ends up with the right solution, which, often times, is not at all what he/she might have originally contemplated. This generally leads to significant cost and time savings.
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Motorized Aerial Work Platforms
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What is an aerial work platform?
It boils down to a flat work surface area that is motorized and that vertically elevates workers and their equipment to their work. Some of these machines are battery or propane powered and designed to work indoors, while others are strictly for outdoor work like diesel powered versions. Some of our machines can actually get workers up to work heights of 66’. Our machines have very unique features that make them the best performing in the market.
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What are the standards that regulate the manufacturing and maintenance of aerial work platforms?
The CSA B354.2-01 standard applies. We actually helped draft it. It is very severe and the CSST polices it. Not only do our machines follow the guidelines of the standard but the same goes for all of the options clients can purchase to make their machines even more productive.
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What are the risks involved in operating a poorly maintained machine?
At the very least, one does risk running afoul of the CSST. At worst, in the case of worker injury, board members, senior management and all managers of the company operating defective equipment can be held personally criminally responsible and expose themselves to huge fines and even jail sentences. These are some of the provisions of Bill C-45 that are not well known.
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What services do you offer clients to help them keep their machines up to safety standards?
Two programs have been put in place: The Plafolift Securi + Program™ for preventative maintenance and yearly (200 hours) inspections. We also have a second program called the Plafolift Certification + Program™ for mandatory 10-year inspections (and beyond) as well as for machines that have suffered structural damage. Each program comes with complete documentation that is certified by our engineers and that satisfies not only the CSA standard but also the CSST.
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Do you rent aerial work platforms?
Yes we do, they can be found in better equipment rental chains and outlets. We do not rent our equipment out to consumers or contractors.
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Where can I find your aerial work platforms for rent?
In equipment rental outlets where their customers request our product. Many contractors are adamant about renting a Plafolift as opposed to competing products. Why? Because they know a Plafolift performs better. In Quebec, Plafolift is the generic term for aerial work platforms. Contrary to our competitors, we sell directly to contractors. We refer contractors who call us to our list of rental outlets.
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Do you sell used aerial work platforms?
Absolutely. Every year, we retire part of our rental fleet to replace equipment with new machines. We recondition these machines, offer a warranty program and put them up for sale.
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Do you facilitate the financing of new aerial work platforms?
Yes. Call us for details at 1 800 463-3040.
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Can a diesel work platform run inside?
Yes. Our diesel machines are powered by Kubota engines with a catalytic converter. People are surprised to know that this technology is 10 times better for the air and 90% more economical than propane and even gas for that matter.
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Can an electric work platform run outside?
Yes, but the equipment must operate on a flat, well compacted surface. Electric work platforms are susceptible to large quantities of dust. Our diesel platforms are designed to operate is dusty, muddy, slippery and rough terrain. Our customers tell us that our competitors’ machines can’t hold a candle to our machines when the going gets really rough.
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Are your work platforms guaranteed?
Yes and we’re the only company to offer a comprehensive extended warranty program not only for new but also for used machines. Our Plafolift Guarantee + Program™ breaks new ground in this area.
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What are some of the precautions to take with a work platform in winter?
It is important to warm the diesel engine for at least 30 minutes and wait for the glow plug light to go out before operating the aerial work platform. Electric aerial work platforms should be kept inside in a heated space to maintain the battery charge. Failure to do so will limit operating time.
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Freight Elevators, Lift Tables and Loading Docks
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What is a freight elevator?
At the risk of oversimplifying a complex product category, there are two types of elevators. Type B elevators must not go through more than one floor and are limited to a maximum height of 200’’. Then there is the other type that has no height limitation. In both cases, these elevators may carry people as well as materials, obviously within capacity (weight) limitations. Whether for one type or the other, these machines are regulated under the CSA B44 standard which is highly complex.
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Are there limits as to heights and capacities?
We have not run into problems in designing custom-made machines for our clients. We can build them to customer specs as long as Type B elevators do not exceed 200’’ of travel.
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Is it possible to install a freight elevator without a pit?
Yes as long as the travel is reasonable. We call these products <<zero clearance>> freight elevators. Call us for more details at 1 800 463-3040.
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What’s the difference between a loading dock and a lift table?
Very little except for what they are used for. A lift table takes a heavy object and lifts it up to where it can comfortably be manipulated by an operator. A lift table can also rotate and tilt and even do both at the same time. A loading dock will facilitate the manipulation of heavy objects in the loading and unloading of trucks.
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Do you sell standard lift tables?
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Are your delivery delays reasonable?
Yes, amongst the very best in the business, especially for custom-made products.
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Are you competitive on price?
That depends on who you compare us to. If what you’re looking for is a generic, low quality third-world country machine, then we can’t and won’t compete on price. We just don’t build them the way they do. If we’re talking custom-made products, our prices are extremely competitive even if our machines are tested to 150% of their stated capacity (something our competitors don’t do). Customers will tell you that our machines are virtually indestructible and represent excellent value. This explains their very high levels of loyalty to our company.
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Do you produce custom-made lifting equipment in all types of equipment?
Yes, most of the lifting equipment that we manufacture (with the possible exception of aerial work platforms) is of the custom-made variety. Actually, if a customer (like Alcan for example) wants a custom-made aerial work platform, we are glad to oblige and we have done so in the past.
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Do you lease loading docks and lift tables?
No.
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Truck-Mounted Scissor Lifts
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What are truck-mounted or trailer-mounted scissor lifts?
Many clients require lifting equipment to service highly specific applications and these must be installed on trucks or trailers. Think of catering companies that service the airlines or trucks that service aircraft. Clients send their trucks to us and we install the lifting equipment that we designed for them onto their trucks.
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To what heights and capacities do you build these truck-mounted scissor lifts?
We’ve built them to reach as high as 30’ and to handle up to 16,000 pounds of weight. Should a client wish to exceed these heights and capacities, we’ll gladly oblige.
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Baby Chick Elevator
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What is a baby chick elevator?
It is a truly special lifting solution to a complex delivery problem. Hen houses are expanding upwards, from one to two and even three stories. Baby chicks get delivered to these hen houses and the problem is getting them to the upper floors without too much manipulation to reduce their stress. We created a brand new custom-made lifting product that attaches to delivery trucks and that transports baby chicks and delivery personnel to the upper floors. The Plafolift Baby Chick Elevator allows delivery companies to reduce their personnel by half and to deliver no less than 69,000 chicks per hour. This opens up whole new markets for us.
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Business Hours and How to Reach Us
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How and when to reach us?
| By Mail: | Plafolift Inc.
8, rue du Cimetière
Warwick, Qc
Canada, J0A 1M0 |
By Phone: 1 819 358-3550 ou 1 800 463-3040 By Fax: 1 819 358-3557 By Email: info@plafolift.com Our office hours are Monday through Thursday: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm and Fridays from 8:00 am. to 4:00 pm.
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Parts and Services
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Can I order parts over the Internet?
Not right now, we are in the process of building that section of our Web site.
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Do you do preventative maintenance?
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Do you do structural inspections?
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Do you offer price promotions from time to time?
Yes and only on services for aerial work platforms at specific times of year.
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What type of oil should be used with your aerial work platforms?
HVI 22 or an equivalent substitute.
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Warranties
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Are your products covered by guarantees?
Yes and we have an industry leading guarantee program called the Plafolift Guarantee + Program™ that covers our aerial work platforms, whether new or used. For all our other products, we offer 12 months coverage (parts and labor). For more information, call 1 800 463-3040.
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Bill C-45
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What is this new law about?
Any employer may be held criminally responsible in the event of worker accident. Bill C-45, was recently adopted by the Government of Canada. Responsibility is now clearly defined as to who can be held personally criminally responsible and is now also linked to not taking action (poor maintenance, no inspection, poor training). Huge fines and jail time are part of the Bill.
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Why this law, now?
Known as the ‘’Westray Bill’’, Bill C-45 is a response to a tragedy in Westray where people in a mine perished and where the company was not held accountable for its negligence. It allegedly sent miners down in the knowledge that they were doing so at great risk to their employees’ lives. The legislator wanted to put an end to this kind of abusive situation.
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Who is in the crosshairs of the Bill?
Anyone involved directly or indirectly in a worker accident can be held personally criminally responsible: the Board, senior management, middle management, low level managers and even employees. In short, anyone involved in daily decision making! At all levels, it is necessary to take all the appropriate measures to ensure an accident cannot happen in a worker’s exercise of his or her functions.
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What can be the consequences of failing to appropriately take measures to protect your workers?
The company as well as the leaders of the business can be found personally criminally responsible if they are found to be negligent in any way, shape or form and if that negligence has led to worker injury. A simple omission to act can bring about criminal proceedings and sentencing.
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How heavy are the fines?
People can be incarcerated for life and have to pay up to $100,000 in fines.
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How can one best minimize the risk for criminal prosecution?
This law basically forces everyone in a company to take their responsibilities seriously. You need to revisit your processes and make appropriate changes. Make sure the people who operate your machinery are properly trained. Make sure your equipment is regularly serviced and properly maintained. If inspections are required, get them done on time and make sure you have good documentation on hand at all times. In short, you need to be able to demonstrate that worker safety is at the core of your operations and that you are doing your level best (humanly and reasonably) to protect your workers.
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