About Us
SafetyLane Automotive Equipment services the Greater Illinois area as well as surrounding cities.
We maintain an extensive inventory of 2-post lifts, air compressors, mobile column lifts, and replacement parts for various brands, including Challenger Lifts, EMAX, Stertil-Koni, and others.
We have other locations in nearby states also under the SLE Technologies, Inc. umbrella. Indiana Automotive Equipment in Maxwell, Indiana (Indianapolis metro) that services our central Indiana and Ohio customers. Care-Tech Automotive Equipment in Brooks, Kentucky (Louisville metro) that services our southern Indiana and Kentucky customers.
With shared resources and shared geographies, we are executing on our plan to grow and expand into new markets in Ohio and other (future) states.
Thirty-plus years of experience and expertise
You work hard everyday to take great care of your customers while remaining profitable. A day of down time for a lift or other equipment can lead to delays, lost productivity, and lost revenue in other areas of your company.
You need a partner who is there to help you be profitable as you help your customers. SafetyLane Automotive Equipment is here to serve you, with prompt response and a wide variety of parts and equipment in-stock. We strive to be your one-stop shop – we can manage everything you need when it comes to your equipment needs, whether is new equipment or repair.
When you work with SafetyLane Automotive Equipment, we can take care of everything from consultation to complete installation to servicing existing equipment. Because we keep the work in-house, with no need for sub-contracting, we can ensure your satisfaction.
We are your equipment and service partner.
HEAVY DUTY
Whether you are managing a fleet or servicing heavy duty vehicles for others, SafetyLane Automotive Equipment is a partner you can trust. Our dedicated Heavy Duty Division understands the need of heavy duty customers.
COMMERCIAL
From new dealerships to inspections, our Commercial Division can help you minimize down time and maximize profits – all with in-house technicians and our large in-stock inventory.
CONSTRUCTION
Our Construction Division is experienced in all phases of equipment-related construction. We dig our own pits, pour and form our own concrete, run our own piping, and install our own equipment – all with in-house employees
SLE Technologies, Inc. Company History
If you are going to pick an equipment and service partner, you should know who you are dealing with!
The Expansion
May 2024 - Formed Freedom Shop Equipment
Peak Garage Equipment was rebranded to Freedom Shop Equipment—your trusted nationwide source for premium shop equipment. Our eCommerce platform offers a wide selection of automotive lifts, air compressors, jacks, and more.
April 2023 - Bought The Lift SuperStore Midwest
SLE completed it’s strategic purchase of The Lift SuperStore Midwest in the Missouri market. We intend to leverage The Lift SuperStore Midwest’s well-earned reputation for service into a larger presence in the St. Louis market and surrounding Missouri areas.
April 2023 - Bought Autotech Systems Midwest
SLE completed it’s strategic purchase of Autotech Systems Midwest in the Missouri market. We intend to leverage Autotech Systems’ well-earned reputation for service into a larger presence in the St. Louis market and surrounding Missouri areas.
April 2023 - Bought Midwest Equipment Specialists
SLE completed it’s strategic purchase of Midwest Equipment Specialists, Inc. in the Wisconsin market. We intend to leverage MES’s well-earned reputation for service into a larger presence in the Wisconsin market and surrounding areas.
November 2022 - Bought SafetyLane Automotive Equipment
SLE completed it’s strategic purchase of SafetyLane Automotive Equipment in the Illinois market. We intend to leverage SafetyLane’s well-earned reputation for service into a larger presence in the Chicago market and the rest of Illinois.
August 2022 - Registered Peak Garage Equipment
A resource for enthusiasts, car guys (and women!), and independent shops.
June 2022 - Bought Care-Tech Automotive Equipment
IAE completed it’s strategic purchase of Care-Tech Automotive Equipment in Brooks, KY (Louisville market). We intend to leverage Care-Tech’s well-earned reputation for service into a larger presence in the Louisville market and the rest of Kentucky.
May 2022 - Awarded all of Ohio
Stertil-Koni again showed their faith in us by awarding us with the entire state of Ohio.
February 2022
For its performance in 2021, IAE was presented with two coveted awards at the Stertil-Koni annual distributor meeting.
- The prestigious Aspire Program Award, which salutes Stertil-Koni distributors that have achieved marked, incremental sales gains on a year-over-year basis.
- Stertil-Koni’s 2021 Rookie of the Year Award, recognizing it as the top-performing new distributor in the Stertil-Koni exclusive distributor network – a region that spans the U.S. and Canada.
Late 2021 - Awarded Eastern OH
Stertil-Koni rewarded our hard work and diligence by awarding us with the Western Ohio territory (I75 corridor from Toledo to Cincinnati).
May 2021
IAE makes substantial investments in CRM, accounting, inventory management, field services, customer portal, and team communication software, increasing access to customer, job, and employee data. The customer portal allows for customer to access their estimates, work orders and invoices 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Explosive growth and expansion
This period has been characterized by explosive growth – doubling the headcount, substantially growing revenue – and increases in physical footprint and protected territories.
September 2020 - Chris Susott Acquires IAE
Chris Susott acquired the company and continues growing the core automotive channel while significantly expanding the heavy-duty segment. He maintains a non-compromising approach towards customer service. Exceeding expectations is the bar for every customer interaction.
The Growth Stage
2012 - Shane and Amber Tatom buy the company
Shane and Amber Tatom purchased IAE, bringing years of specialized–service industry experience to the company. They grew IAE into one of the nation’s largest full-scope automotive equipment companies. Shane and Amber instituted the company philosophy of “ladies and gentleman doing business with ladies and gentlemen”, an idea that we still follow today.
Geographic growth and bigger customers
The Tatom years were characterized by significant growth of the business (revenue and personnel) as IAE started servicing larger dealership groups in a Midwest regional footprint. Shane and Amber remodeled the building and increased the size of the shop.
2019 - IAE picks up Stertil-Koni
IAE is awarded it’s first Stertil-Koni exclusive territories – Indiana and Kentucky. As the premier brand in heavy duty lifting equipment, Stertil-Koni jump starts the HD division.
The Beginning
1986 - Bob and Mary Chastain Start IAE
Indiana Automotive Equipment (IAE) was founded by Robert Chastain. Mr. Chastain’s commitment to his customers set a foundation for IAE to become an industry leader.
Operated primarily as a “mom-and-pop” business in fairly small region around Indianapolis