Milwaukee County Transit System Selects Stertil-Koni To Help Modernize Maintenance Facilities

A technician is shown operating a Stertil-Koni inground telescopic piston DIAMONDLIFT with a remote control for wheels-free lifting.

The Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) recently partnered with heavy-duty vehicle lift provider Stertil-Koni to incorporate state-of-the-art vehicle lifts as part of its preparation to provide bus rapid transit (BRT) services.

As part of the process, MCTS purchased 14 Stertil-Koni inground telescopic piston DIAMONDLIFTs and 16 Mobile Column Lifts from Stertil-Koni’s exclusive distributor in the region, Midwest Equipment Specialists, which also performed all lift installations and hands-on technician training.

MCTS Deputy Director for Maintenance Dwyane Reese said, “Our mission is to provide premium transit service to a large and diverse community in a safe and timely manner, and Stertil-Koni is the perfect partner for us. Anything we ask for they deliver with great professionalism, and we’ve built great trust — which is so important.”

The stakes for MCTS are high. The organization boasts ridership of nearly 16 million a year, across 40 routes with 3,878 bus stops. Reese oversees two MCTS garages plus the newly-renovated fleet maintenance facility. The MCTS fleet includes 338 clean diesel buses. What’s more, by the end of 2023, they will also have a fleet of 15 electric-powered buses.

Reese added, “The new electric buses each weigh 18 tons – and our old lifts couldn’t handle the additional weight. So, the new lifts are an investment in our transition to electric buses.”

The electronically-synchronized, ALI-certified inground DIAMONDLIFT can raise up to 35,000 pounds per piston. They feature a mechanical locking system for maximum protection and a full color touch-screen control console that puts all lifting information directly at the fingertips of the operator.

As for the Stertil-Koni Mobile Column Lifts at MCTS, they are made of high tensile DOMEX steel, can lift up to 18,500 pounds per column and also feature a full-color touch screen.

“Because the Mobile Lifts are portable,” Reese said, “we can utilize them in our outside space, which frees-up more room inside.”

Visit stertil-koni.com.