CEFAM Atlas would go on to become a major player in its sector, offering ever more innovative lift tables. Discover this remarkable year!
The year 1977 was marked by major technical changes in lift table design. The most important of these concerned the positioning of the hydraulic cylinders.
Until then, the base-frame cylinder technique had been used: this method consisted of placing the foot of the cylinder on the base frame and pushing against the table platform. The new technique, known as the ‘between-arms cylinder’, uses the force of the cylinders acting through the machine’s arms. The main aims of this development were to reduce the table’s overall dimensions and to lower the pressure in the cylinders.
Thanks to this newly acquired technique, CEFAM Atlas and ELM (also part of the Frankel group) won a major order for around 50 lift tables for Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle airport. This order marked the start of the collaboration between CEFAM Atlas, Air France and its subcontractor Air Marrel (a manufacturer of loaders for airports). This cooperation marked a turning point in the history of CEFAM Atlas and its employees. Working alongside engineers from one of the world’s largest airlines, the employees acquired new knowledge and calculation techniques to improve the strength of materials.
It was from these years onwards that CEFAM Atlas became able to build new lift tables that were increasingly technical, complex and innovative, driving the company’s development.
2000: A NEW LEASE OF LIFE FOR COLUMN LIFTS
Always on the lookout for new techniques and working methods, CEFAM Atlas continues to make regular changes to its products. This was the case for one of its flagship products, the column lift, which was given a standardised design from the 2000s onwards. This led to a complete overhaul of the range. Standardisation made it possible to subcontract the manufacture of parts, which in turn saved time during assembly and commissioning at the customer’s site. These changes reduced manufacturing and installation costs, making it possible to offer this product at the best price.
