General

1. Where are METO products manufactured?
   
   Metolift equipment is designed and manufactured at our headquarters located in Franklin Lakes, NJ.
2. Where is Franklin Lakes, NJ?
   
   Franklin Lakes, NJ is located in Northwest Bergen County. We are approximately 20 miles WNW of New York City, and about 45 minutes from Newark Liberty International Airport.
3. If I require further information, who should I contact?
   
   Feel free to call us at (201) 405-0311 and anyone on our sales or engineering staff will be happy to answer any questions you might have. Or you can email us at sales@metolift.com
4. How do I locate a local sales representative?
   
   Our independent sales representatives can be located by clicking here.
5. Do you stock lifts?
   
   Because our equipment is custom-designed and manufactured to meet the customer’s individual requirements, we typically do not stock lifting equipment. However, we sometimes build machines for testing or advertising purposes that are subsequently available on short-lead terms.
6. What is the typical time to deliver a lift system?
   
   Typical delivery of our custom lifting equipment is 12-13 weeks after the signed approval drawings are received. Allowing time for the approval process, equipment should generally be purchased at least 4 months before the equipment is needed on-site.
7. Do you offer equipment for lease?
   
   Since the possibility cross-contamination can cause potentially significant problems in the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals, we do not lease production equipment. We do offer a lab-size container blender for lease that is available for evaluation purposes.
8. Do you sell used equipment?
   
   Since the possibility cross-contamination can cause potentially significant problems in the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals, we do not resell used production equipment. Many of our customers have looked at the price of used equipment, including the cost of cleaning, modifying, documenting and refurbishing, and were pleasantly surprised to find that new equipment is often comparable in price.
9. Who services METOLIFT equipment?
   
   METOLIFT equipment is serviced solely by our factory-based technicians. We strive to provide best-in-industry customer response times and can usually arrive same-day or next-day for emergency service calls.
10. I have a unique / special application.  Do you customize your units?
    
    Meto Corporation designed the METOLIFT line of material handling lifts to be modular and easily customizable. We also design custom machinery from the ground up to meet the individual needs of each and every one of our customers.
11. What if I need a replacement part?
    
    Most standard parts are stocked in our factory in Franklin Lakes, NJ and ready for overnight shipment. The use of standard components from our suppliers also allows replacement parts to be drop-shipped directly to the customer. Custom-manufactured parts (such as valves) can typically be built in 1-2 weeks.

Technical

1. What information should I have in hand for my initial inquiry?
   
   So that we may provide you with an accurate quote, you should have the following information available to you for the initial inquiry:
   

   	•	Type, size and weight of container / material being lifted.
   	•	Lifting height, reach (span) and angle required.
   	•	Ceiling height, available space or any other information on architectural or equipment features that may restrict motion of the lift.
   	•	Preferred drive method (pneumatic, electric, hydraulic, etc.)
   	•	Any environmental concerns in the area (hazardous electrical rating, clean room classification, corrosive environment, etc.)

2. What is the capacity of a METOLIFT?
   
   METOLIFT lifting capacities range from 150kg (330 lbs) for our basic lifters to 2250kg (5000 lbs) for our heavy-duty lifters.
3. What are the materials of construction?  Finishes?
   
   Base models are provided with all exposed surfaces as 304 S.S., with options for 304L, 316, 316L or any other grade required. Since we are mainly a stainless-steel fabricator, we typically do not construct lifts out of carbon steel. Standard finish is a pharmaceutical #4 (satin) finish. Options for contact surfaces range all the way to a #8 (mirror) finish.
4. What types of drive systems are used in METOLIFT equipment?  Which type is best?
   
   The METOLIFT line of material handling equipment can be provided with a wide array of drive options. We can provide pneumatic, electric or hydraulic motive force driving gear and chain, ball-screw or cylinder lifting devices. Every application is different and the best option for your equipment can be determined by discussing options with our knowledgeable engineering staff.
5. Your available configurations include pneumatic lift systems.  I have been told of ‘drift problems’ with pneumatic systems.  Is this really an issue?
   
   METOLIFT pneumatic lifters typically use pneumatic motors driving a gear and chain system or ball screw. These systems are mechnically locked by virtue of non-backdriving gearing or a spring-engaged brake. Pneumatic “drifting” is usually seen with low-cost cylinder drive systems, which we do not typically employ in our designs.
6. How accurate is the positioning?
   
   Depending on the drive system used and accompanying control system, the METOLIFT equipment can be accurate down to 1/32” (utilizing variable-frequency drives, slow-down sequences and position encoders). Base models have an accuracy of + ¼”, which is suitable for most applications.
7. How are the machine controls executed?  What is the Man-machine interface?
   
   Base models utilize a push-button operator interface with control interlocking to allow for only a single sequence of operations. Advanced control options include PLC logic systems with keypad or touchscreen interfaces. We can interface the machine control system with your plant DCS, SCADA or other machine systems.
8. What are some of the major options I may want to consider?
   
   Each machine is different, and not all options apply to all machines. However, general options include:
   

   	•	Air handling devices (for machines with pneumatic components)
   	•	Controls upgrades to PLC, auto-sequencing, advanced Operator Interface Terminals (OITs), etc.
   	•	Material and surface finish upgrades
   	•	Flow control aids (vibrators, lumpbreakers, material conditioners, etc.)
   	•	Ancillary equipment (containers, pallets, charging spools, pallet jacks, weigh scales, etc.)

Commercial

1. Do you sell your products through distributors?
   
   All equipment is sold directly from our factory in Franklin Lakes, NJ. Local sales representatives assist in specifying and system design, but do not actually handle purchase orders.
2. What types of field services do you offer?
   
   Meto Corporation offers a wide range of field services to support our equipment, including: installation supervision, startup services, operator and maintenance training, IQ/OQ/validation assistance as well as troubleshooting and maintenance.
3. What is your warranty?  Is it transferable?
   
   Standard warranty is 1 year limited, with purchasing options for extended periods. Warranties are transferable to whomever owns the equipment during the period of the warranty.
4. How is the equipment shipped?
   
   Equipment is typically shipped by dedicated carrier (in North America) as single-piece components so that minimal field assembly is required. Shipments overseas are typically shipped by boat, with options for air freight if schedule is an issue.