All Access Equipment Articles

The offerings in the low-level access market is growing all the time. Maria Hadlow reports on some of the latest developments.

The World of Concrete show held January 17-21 in Las Vegas, NV, offered attendees a variety of options when it came to seeing and visiting mast climbing companies. On hand were Beta Max Hoists, Hydro Mobile, Fraco Products, EZ Scaffold and more. Lindsey Anderson reports from the show.

Turkish access rental and sales company Acarlar Makine is planning to increase its aerial platform fleet from 200 to 350 units by the end of this year.

Kevin O'Shea of Atlanta-based Mastclimbers LLC has been elected chairman of the IPAF North American Regional Council.

At the Samoter exhibition in Verona Mr Severino Zatti, Palazzani's sales manager told Access International that he had hoped to show one of the company's new truck mounted machines at Samoter, but supplier issues had prevented it.

At ConExpo Italian vertical mast specialist, Bravi was showing a prototype for a new board carrier device which can be adapted to the Bravi Lite or the Leonardo machines.

Wilson Jones, president of JLG Industries, said the market recovery was proving stronger than anticipated at the start of this year, with the top 20 rental companies in North America increasing investment; "We are seeing CapEx [from these companies] 30 to 50% higher than last year."

Haulotte said it was seeing the first signs that the larger European rental companies are starting to refresh their access fleets, following the lead of the major US renters. The company expects to double its global production this year.

Hoist manufacturer and supplier Anka Hoist showed its new material hoist, the SC28AN, at ConExpo, as well as a material and passenger hoist.

Two of the new machines on the Terex AWP (Aerial Work Platform) stand are existing models modified for specific industries. The GS 2646 AV is based on the 2646 scissor and is a prototype aimed specifically at aircraft inspection and maintenance. The S3800 (and soon to be available S3200) is based on the S100 superboom and is designed to withstand the rigours of Chinese shipyard industries.

The Palfinger North America Group debuted its largest aerial platform, the 337-foot (103 m) working height P333 at ConExpo. It was the first time the machine has been exhibited in North America.

Snorkel has launched at ConExpo the first of what will be a four-model range of large RT scissor lifts as well as an “all new” 62 ft articulated boom and a revised mid-range telescopic boom.

After expanding its LiftPod line of aerial work platforms in early 2011, JLG Industries, Inc., is taking the family or low-level access lifts on a demo tour across the US.

Odyne Systems, LLC, has appointed Terex Utilities as a global distributor for Odyne plug-in hyrbid systems for medium and heavy-duty vehicles.

US fire equipment manufacturer Pierce Manufacturing is to be exclusive distributor in North America of Bronto Skylift’s firefighting aerial platforms. Bronto will continue to sell its platforms to non-fire fighting markets through its existing distribution network.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Scaffold Industry Association (SIA) have developed MCWP - Fundamentals of Safe Use, Ground Conditions and MCWP - Fundamentals of Safe Use, Tying to the Structure.

Low-level and lightweight pieces of access equipment will be well represented at ConExpo this year. Although used in construction for activities such as mechanical and electrical fitting and heating and ventilation installation, low-level access crosses into other areas such as facilities management, cleaning, maintenance and painting, which provides rental companies with a wider potential customer base.

Terex AWP (Aerial Work Platforms) has announced that the Terex Xtend service programme is now available to all customers in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Russia.

MEC Aerial Platforms plans to show an innovative new rough terrain scissor lift at ConExpo.