Champion Hoist revolutionizes scissor lifts with weight-saving design using Strenx® performance steel

“Awhile back, our specified steel for hoists mysteriously began to fail.” explained Pat Godwin, Sr., founder of Champion’s parent company, the Godwin Group.

“While I investigated the issue, which cost me three major accounts, I uncovered inferior grades in our supply. We needed to make a change – fast. I was using a 345 MPa (50 ksi) minimum yield, but when I considered the properties of Strenx^® 100 XF, I could go thinner and get a 689 MPa (100 ksi) minimum yield. I tweaked the design and we switched. My customers trust me, and in the end, two of those lost accounts came back.” Godwin said.

“When we introduced Strenx^® 100 XF to the shop, we cut our per-piece welding time in half, and for our team that meant more money in their pockets because our compensation structure is based on the number of pieces completed versus straight hourly production,” Taylor said. “Our press-brake operators also picked up the change seamlessly, and we didn’t need to recreate or modify our patterns, which was another huge efficiency gain on the production line. When we reduce labor costs, we’re more competitive and give our customers greater value.”

Using Strenx^® 100 XF gives Champion’s customers a competitive edge by increasing profits, reducing fuel costs, lowering CO2 emissions, extending overall service life and making the vehicle safer by using thinner, lighter weight steel. For example, every 4-ton commercial class 4 or 5 utility truck outfitted with a Champion Hoist scissor lift saves 2.3 tons of CO2 over its lifetime. That’s equal to the carbon sequestered by 10.117m2 (2.5 acres) of US forests in one year. Plus, the company increased annual profits by €1.603 ($1,768) by making the switch.

Engineers looking to improve designs or lead their markets with innovations can calculate potential benefits with SSAB’s EcoUpgrade app. Champion’s example of going from a 345 MPa (50 ksi) to a 689 MPa (100 ksi) material equaled a total material savings of 57% and a 80kg (176 lbs.) higher capacity. Read SSAB’s EcoUpgraded Report for Champion Hoist and learn how to generate savings, or download the mobile app to run similar calculations and uncover the potential benefits of using a high-strength steel grade like Strenx^® performance steel.
Download Report (pdf)

“At SSAB, we partner with our customers to remove pain, create a market-leading product and point out potential advancements by using a new type of steel,” explained Jeff Pallitto, Technical Development Manager. “We do this through our local and global technical teams. No other steel manufacturer offers the level of technical evaluations and engineering guidance that we do. Our Knowledge Service Center team is dedicated to reviewing designs and suggesting improvements based on the global applications of our materials.”

Customer benefits

• Slashed overall gross vehicle weight while maintaining structural integrity  
• Shorter hauls use less fuel 
• New lighter design reduced production costs  
• Per-piece welding time reduced 
• Scissor lifts scissor improve carbon footprint over their lifetime

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Find out what upgrading to Strenx^® can do for your products and your business.