FAQ

SVI currently operates three facilities.  The main facility outside of Chicago, IL is where cylinder production and much steel fabricating, machining and assembly is conducted.  The Chicago operation is also the main distribution point.  SVI also operates a distribution facility in Los Angeles, CA.  Both “Ready Ship” locations are intended to get parts to you quickly and for less in shipping costs.

If the items ordered are standard popular stock items, generally, the order will ship the same to next-day depending on the time of day received.  Custom and special parts will take longer and an SVI account representative will discuss this upfront so everyone is aware of the timing involved to get a special or custom order shipped. 

There is no set rule; SVI will always make a strong effort to get every urgent shipment out.  So the cut-off time is the exhaust in our face as the UPS truck drives away in the late afternoon.  Also keep in mind if it is urgent enough, the Los Angeles area warehouse is open the latest in relation to the time zones to the east so UPS leaves that warehouse last.

SVI account representatives on are hand between 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM Central Time Zone to help with questions and orders.

All orders are processed in the SVI facility just outside of Chicago, IL and routed out of the nearest warehouse or the nearest warehouse with stocked product for that ordered.

The short answer is YES!  The long answer is that SVI has a “can do” attitude that is unprecedented in the industries it serves.  With a team of degreed mechanical engineers and other visionaries on staff, SVI is singularly the most problem solving and innovative company going.  Every day customers are asking for custom products and every day the answer is the same, YES!

SVI employees nearly fifty people directly and hundreds indirectly through long-standing relationships and support of all the vendors and service providers necessary to help SVI function seamlessly. 

Yes, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa are all accepted but not Diners Club.

In general, YES!  If it is known to SVI and in the system, cross-referencing other part numbers is generally a breeze.  For example, if you need a wire rope equalizing cable assembly and only have the manufacturer’s number of say, for example, N372 it directly cross-references to SVI Direct Fit™ part number BH-7529-86.  Yes, it is just that easy.   

No, SVI does not provide repair service but does know over 2,000 companies throughout North America that do provide repair service who can probably help you. 

The easiest way to do this is to contact us directly by phone or email and the information if available will be provided.

Yes, SVI is one of the last standing All-American automotive lift manufacturers.  The automotive lift models produced by SVI are tried and true in nature and designed to last for decades of use. 

Absolutely not!  If someone told you that an in-ground lift is illegal they are purposely trying to mislead you or grossly uninformed. 

On September 23, 1988, the US Federal Government through an act of Congress excluded all in-ground automotive lifts that operate on less than 110 gallons of hydraulic oil permanently from regulation.   See Federal Register, Volume 53, No. 185 pages 37107 and 37108.  A copy of this is on file at SVI and available upon request. 

In addition, on October 5, 1995, Governor Pete Wilson of the State of California signed SB 1191 making hydraulic lift tanks permanently exempt from regulation, effective January 1, 1996.  A copy of the State Water Resources Control Board’s findings is on file at SVI and available upon request.  

SVI automotive lift repair products are 100% acceptable under all three of the ANSI/ALI sponsored standards.  In reading the three standards, you will become aware that each ANSI/ALI standard contains the following language:

“Replace worn, damaged or broken parts with parts approved by the original equipment manufacturer or with parts meeting original manufacturer specifications.”

This clearly means SVI products, which meet or exceed original equipment manufacturer specifications, can be used on ALL automotive lifts, period.  If someone says you have to use only the original manufacturers’ product to perform a repair, they either are not aware of or not properly following the standards.  SVI products are 100% acceptable for use on certified lifts, on all automotive lifts.  

The answer is a resounding YES!  SVI has an intellectual property engineering data bank that extends back to the 1920’s.  If SVI does not already have the information on a part you may need, we will still make it for you.  There may be some help needed in terms of dimensions or the submission of a sample that will be returned.  Once an obsolete or previously discontinued part is made available again, it essentially becomes available again forever and can easily made again the next time you may need the part.

Obsolete is a word SVI hardly understands.  There are countless numbers of parts discontinued by others that are still available non-stop from SVI every day. 

Ronflo Manufacturing, a producer of safety legs for single-post in-ground car lifts.

Globe Lift Company, once the world’s largest supplier of Automotive, bus and truck lifts.  Globe lift even produced special material handling cylinders for industrial applications and SVI continues with this to this very day.  SVI still builds Globe lifts with the FS-10AS model remaining very high in popularity.

Manitowoc Lift, formerly known as the Gilbarco Lift Division.  Gilbarco was once owned by Exxon and Manitowoc/Gilbarco lifts can still be found in use in full-service gas stations up and down the east coast.  If you want one of these lifts, SVI will happily produce it for you. 

RELS Manufacturing, a producer of brake lathes for automotive and fleet vehicle servicing facilities.  RELS is also a full-line supplier of parts and consumables for use on many other makes and models of brakes lathes still found in use today. 

Miller and Smith Manufacturing, a specialty large-item fabrication shop with equipment and personnel ideally suited for the needs of heavy-duty truck and bus lift production. 

No, SVI is not a member but does support some initiatives promoted by the ALI such as annual lift inspections and the routine maintenance of automotive lifts.  SVI does participate with the ALI as a canvassee during standards approvals and revisions. 

Oh my, it is what doesn’t SVI do?  From a full line of repair parts for lubrication and spray equipment to all kinds of parts for other equipment found in automotive shop facilities, SVI gets into everything.  Do you have a tire changer, brake lathe, air compressor or any other need?  If so, let SVI know, help is just a phone call away.

Steel hydraulic line tubing and tube fittings for fluid delivery systems are stock items.  SVI also manufactures fuel and portable waste oil transfer pumps as well as custom hydraulic cylinders for industrial applications of all sorts.  SVI even supplies seals and repair products for use in the petroleum equipment industry on fuel pumps and meters.  SVI is also the single largest supplier of repair parts for the former line of Gasboy Consumer Series fuel transfer pumps.

What are we forgetting?  Yes, and exhaust removal products, hydraulic seals, small equipment service lifts for ATV’s, golf carts, lawnmowers, etc.  This list goes on and on and even includes our Turf and Utility Vehicle  Attachments for two post surface mount automotive that are very popular with park districts, golf courses, and amusement parks just to name a few.    

OK enough, there is even more yet available like specialty lifting adapters for 2019 GM Trucks but you get the point.

SVI started 40 some years ago with a strong background in the supply and manufacture of hydraulic seals and packing.  This included producing things like compression-molded rubber and fabric re-enforced vee rings and machining steel piston rings.  With a background like this so much becomes possible and off SVI went in growing the business to the size and excellent reputation we all enjoy today.

Some of the companies now using SVI specialty hydraulic cylinders include ALCOA, Graphics Packaging International, East River Electric Power Co-Op, Kady Industries, IMMI Turbines, Smooth-On Corp, Plasti Dip International, 3M, Stoughton Trailers, The Mower Shop, Raby Enterprises, Willamette Valley Company, Dakota Motorsports,  Hill-Rom, Microblend, Inc., Custom Milling and Consulting, Thermal Equipment, Fluid Concepts, HM Product Solutions, Ford Motor Company, Imperial Industries, US Gypsum, PPG Industries, Morgantown, WV Rapid Rail Transit, General Motors and many others.