100m Ruthmann in London for the Royal wedding
03 May 2011
Several UK aerial platform rental companies provided machines to help prepare for last Friday's wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in London.
EPL Skylift, the vehicle mount division of Lavendon Access Services, supplied 12 truck mounted platforms to broadcasters and police - including the 100 m Ruthmann TTS1000 machine - and Facelift Access Hire rented seven machines for the event.
The 100 m Ruthmann machine was brought over to the UK from EPL Skylift's sister company Gardemann, Lavendon's German business. Nine of the EPL Skylift platforms were used by the BBC and ITV to provide television coverage of the wedding, while three were used by the Metropolitan Police.
Facelift Access Hire rented a mix of Niftylift trailer mounted and self-propelled machines for cleaning and flag placing duties at the Cenotaph War Memorial, the Horse Guards Parade and outside the Houses of Parliament.
Facelift also rented two Bronto machines, 34 m and 61 m models, which were used by broadcasters outside of Buckingham Palace.
The 34 m unit was shrouded in black netting to reduce its visual impact and the 61 m Bronto was fitted with satellite communication equipment, Helicopter link-up devices and microphones to record the sounds of the day outside Buckingham Palace.
EPL Skylift had 15 staff in London during the day: 12 operators, an engineer, a back-up operator and EPL Skylift's key account manager for the media sector, James Marchant.
"We have the experience and expertise to cope with big media events like this," said Mr Marchant, "but this event is extra special. We're proud to be playing our part in meeting demand for coverage from such a huge worldwide audience."
ITN booked the 100m Ruthmann TTS1000, a 62 m MDT Bronto, two 50 m MDT Brontos and a 27 m Ruthmann T270s. The BBC rented a 58 m Ruthmann T580, a 37 m Bronto XDT and two 35 m Bronto MDTs.
The EPL Skylift platforms were located at Horse Guards Parade, Wellington Barracks, Hyde Park and Whitehall. Three additional platforms were rented to the Metropolitan Police to support its security operation.
