Page 2 - Demo

2 | January 2024
Slippery Rock Gazette
Taking Care
of Business
Continued from page 1
Finally, Crowley’s No Lift Install System was fleshed-out, tested, modified, tested again, patented and put into produc- tion. As you’ll see in the captioned photos, the system has many great benefits, and has been a great success, and there’s even an updated version for 2024. Here’s why it’s been a hit with the industry.
The two main features of the No Lift Install System are the frame lifting mecha- nism and the rotating mechanism. The lift- ing mechanism is a remote controlled 12v actuator. This is what lifts the countertop to cabinet height. Once the countertop is at the approximate cabinet height, the frame that holds the countertop is unlocked and rotated into the horizontal position and locked into place. Then, after the final height is set, using the remote control, a security hook (called the Sheppard Hook) is released, allowing the countertop to eas- ily roll on to the cabinet by means of 20 transfer balls that sit just above the frame. The transfer balls make for a very stable yet frictionless surface.
Other features of the No Lift Install System are the automatic drop-away feet that facilitate placement onto the cabi- net when a countertop is transported with the wall edge down instead of up. As for wheels and castors, this is where the rub- ber meets the road, explained Aaron. “We found that the weight and the stress that a granite countertop puts on those castors wears them out over time, and they become fatigued and unstable. They also don’t
The No Lift expands the labor pool, enabling women to join the ranks of highly skilled slab installers, something utterly unheard of in the past.
pivot well when worn, and when you’re in a small kitchen trying to turn in all direc- tions, you need to have precise control. So the low friction, locking castors we use, each have a 3,500 pound weight capac- ity, even though we are only putting from 600 to 900 pounds on the cart. As for tires, they are non-marring and non-binding. We tested every wheel, tire and castor known to mankind, and wound up with 10 inch by 4 inch solid rubber tires made by a company called Ameritire from Arizona. These tires were developed exclusively for situations
like installations and designed to go going over curbs, rocks, thresholds, cords and drop cloths. They are per- fectly designed for what we do.”
As for options, there’s a whole slew of really cool accessories. One of particular interest is called the Roll-A-Ramp that’s made out of aluminum. It’s great for those extra-long steps or that freshly poured con- crete walkway that the supervisor forgot to tell you about on installation day. It weighs 55 pounds, has a 900 pound capacity, and is easily transportable. It is also infinitely expandable using the optional extensions. Another is the Edge Slider, used for install- ing laminated or mitered edge countertops. Trust me, the list of cool stuff goes on.
Changing an Industry Mindset
“There’s a laundry list of ways that the old school lift and carry approach costs the company in the short term and the long term,” continued Aaron. “In the short term, companies will send extra install- ers or redeploy other install crews to help get heavy and awkward counters installed. Sometimes, they break large or fragile countertops that otherwise wouldn’t have broken had they used the No Lift Install System. As for the long term, it’s very com- mon that after four or five years of lifting, an installer recognizes what’s happening to
Designed with installer safety in mind, the Power Tilt No Lift cart uses outrigger supports to stabi- lize, rotate and help installers easily move large islands into position.
his body and he quits before his health is completely destroyed. Well, you just lost an highly-skilled installer after years of training. That’s an unimaginable expense for the company.
“Additionally, you also have a com- pounding effect, because there’s a labor shortage right now. This shortage is across all industries, and not unique to stone fab- rication. So as an employer, if the number one qualification for a prospective installer is they’ve got to be as strong as a football lineman, they’re going to think, ‘Man, this is hard work! Do I really want to do this day in and day out?!’
“This is a huge problem right now for shops. Unfortunately, too many shop owners don’t want to admit that this is a problem.
Please turn to page 3
The Roll-a-Ramp aluminum accessory makes navigating steps even easier.