BendPak PCL-18B-2 Mobile Column Lifts, Pair — High Voltage
Read this first, because it is the thing most likely to cause a bad purchase: a pair of PCL-18B columns is an expansion module, not a complete lift. BendPak's own instruction on this page is unambiguous — a minimum of four mobile columns must be used to lift a vehicle, and heavier vehicles need six or eight. You must never try to raise the front or the back of a vehicle on two columns alone; a vehicle on mobile columns has to come up on an even plane at all times. If you do not already own columns, this is not the SKU to start with.
What a pair is genuinely good for is growth. Each column is rated at 18,000 lbs, so two add 36,000 lbs of capacity to a set you already run. Buying in pairs is how a shop moves from a four-column set to a six- or eight-column set over two budget cycles instead of one, and this is the high-voltage build for a building already fed with a three-phase supply at the higher service.
Will it fit?
Two columns are easy to store and easy to underestimate. Each is 45" (1,143 mm) wide, 48.75" (1,238 mm) deep and stands on a chassis 32.25" (819 mm) long, and each weighs 1,450 lbs (657 kg). That is the number that matters for the route: mezzanine floors, ramps, thresholds and lift trucks all have to cope with it. Lifting height at the fork is 71.5" (1,889 mm) and the forks adjust from 9.5" (241 mm) to 35" (889 mm) wide, with a fork length of 11.5" (292 mm).
Voltage — get this confirmed in writing. The title and our product record describe this pair as the high-voltage configuration, 460/360V three phase. BendPak's PCL-18B feature list and the specification block both carried on this page state a 208-240V, 3-phase power system, with optional voltages available on request. Two sources, one page, two different supplies. We are not going to guess which one the pair currently shipping is wired for. Confirm your building's service with your electrician and ask us to confirm the configuration in writing before you order — and if you are adding to an existing set, confirm that the new columns match the ones you already own.
System capacity is quoted two different ways on this page. BendPak's feature list states a maximum system capacity of 108,000 lbs, while the product copy above it describes a full set as offering up to 144,000 lbs. Both figures are on the page and we have not resolved which one governs. Since the number determines what you can legally put in the air, ask us to confirm the maximum system capacity for your intended column count in writing before you commit.
Overall height is published as a self-contradicting pair. The sheet lists 101" (2,565 mm) and 146.5" (3,721 mm), labelled raised and lowered in that order. A column that does not telescope cannot be shorter when raised, so we carry both numbers and leave the labels alone. Where clearance is tight, ask us first.
Floor capacity, access route, clearance and electrical supply are the buyer's responsibility to verify. BendPak's installation and operation manual governs siting and commissioning.
Why a pair still has to be a matched pair
Columns lifting one chassis have to agree with each other continuously, which is why mixing configurations is a real risk rather than a paperwork problem. Position feedback in the PCL-18B comes from sealed and enclosed linear potentiometers with precision output and high-frequency response, so each column reports where it is throughout the cycle. Control is programmable from any column in the group, and columns can be run SINGLE, as a PAIR, or as a TEAM. That flexibility is what makes a two-column purchase useful — but it depends on the new columns speaking the same language, on the same supply, as the ones already on your floor.
Safety features that come on every column
Each column in the pair is self-contained. It has its own key-lock enclosure and its own emergency shut-off switch that cuts power to the lift the moment an operator sees something wrong. It carries a warning light and an audible alarm for critical alerts, multi-fuse-protected electronics and 24-volt control circuitry. Multiple automatic, independent safety locks are spaced every four inches through the rise, and an inverted hydraulic cylinder with an integrated safety valve guards against an uncontrolled descent if oil pressure is lost. A manual safety override valve lets a vehicle be brought down during a power cut without hand cranks.
Moving them and storing them
Pallet-jack style steering wheels let a column settle firmly onto the floor under its own weight, instead of staying up on constantly loaded spring-type rollers that can let an unladen column drift across a shop. Tandem 8" polyurethane-covered steel wheels on sealed roller bearings deal with dirt and debris. Forklift pockets in the chassis mean a pair can be lifted onto a truck and taken to another site. Power units and cylinders are mounted low, which keeps the centre of gravity down and makes a column easier to push than a screw-drive design carrying its motor overhead.
Perfect For
- Shops that already run a four-column set and want to reach six
- Fleet garages expanding capacity a pair at a time across budget years
- Operations replacing or adding to columns after a building move
- Buildings already served by the higher three-phase supply
What's in the Box
Two PCL-18B columns in the high-voltage configuration, each with multi-width wheel forks and locking pins, a key-lock control enclosure, an emergency shut-off, a manual safety override valve and forklift pockets. The multi-width forks are stated to remove the need for specialty wheel adapters. Cabling and control hardware for a full set, cross beams and any other accessory are separate — and because this SKU is an expansion pair, tell us what you already own so we can confirm compatibility in writing before anything ships.
Specifications
| Capacity per column |
18,000 lbs (8,165 kg) |
| Capacity added by this pair |
36,000 lbs |
| Maximum system capacity |
Quoted as 108,000 lbs in BendPak's feature list and up to 144,000 lbs in the product copy — see the note above |
| Max. lifting height |
71.5" (1,889 mm) |
| Overall width / depth |
45" (1,143 mm) / 48.75" (1,238 mm) |
| Chassis length |
32.25" (819 mm) |
| Fork width |
9.5" (241 mm) to 35" (889 mm) |
| Fork length |
11.5" (292 mm) |
| Column weight |
1,450 lbs (657 kg) |
| Lifting speed |
85 seconds |
| Control circuit |
24-volt |
| Power |
Sources disagree — see the voltage note above |
| Turning circle |
Not published — the manufacturer's data sheet repeats the label in place of a value |
| Shipping weight per column |
1,450 lbs (657 kg) |
| Shipping dimensions per column |
106" x 55" x 41" (2,696 mm x 1,397 mm x 1,041 mm) |
Certification, stated plainly
BendPak's feature list for the PCL-18B says the system meets or exceeds the standards prescribed by ANSI/ALI ALCTV-2011. That is a manufacturer's conformance statement about the design, not a current third-party listing held against this model — a different document, from a different body, verified somewhere else. Insurers, corporate fleet policies and some local jurisdictions ask specifically for the listing. We have not independently confirmed the listing status of this model, so if it is a condition of your cover or your contract, ask us before ordering and we will answer in writing.
Shipping and delivery
Freight to the lower 48 states. Two crates is a smaller shipment than a full set but each one is tall and heavy, so you still need a forklift or equivalent at your end, or terminal pickup from the carrier. Residential delivery is available and carries a residential fee. Freight is quoted live at checkout, so there is no shipping figure written into this description.
Check both crates against the delivery receipt and write down any damage before you sign. Once a clean receipt is signed, a concealed-damage claim is an uphill argument. Warehouse pickup for BendPak equipment is available at the locations shown in the Pick Up and Delivery section of this page.
Warranty
The BendPak written warranty document covers this product and is linked from this page; it is the governing text and we have deliberately not paraphrased a period or a coverage term from it. If a fault appears, open the claim before you open the equipment — taking a cylinder or a power unit apart before it has been inspected is one of the most reliable ways to lose a hydraulic warranty claim. Photograph the fault, take the column out of service, and contact us.
