Manlift recieves Australia's first Niftylift HR21 hybrid

As part of a larger order Melbourne based Manlift Hire has taken delivery of the first Niftylift Height Rider 21 Hybrid platform to arrive in Australia.

Manlift is owned by the Mathews family and has been operating for over 25 years in the access industry. Jeff Mathews of Manlift said, "As a small family business, we at Manlift Hire are looking for something that is a little bit different to our competitors. The beauty of the HR21 hybrid is its versatility, it's a 62 [ft] knuckle boom that is electric with non-marking tyres for indoor use and all-wheel drive, rough terrain for outdoor jobs. It also has more horizontal reach than a 45 [ft] straight. The hybrid power source is an added bonus, being environmentally friendly.

"The Nifty HR21's also has the unique SiOP's operator protection system making the machine a safer product. I am convinced I will be able to achieve a better return for my investment by being able to offer equipment with a low carbon footprint".

"At well under 6.5 tonnes this machine is substantially lighter than other manufacturers' 62 ft booms, meaning I can save on transport and I can offer customers lower point loadings"

Instead of using a traditional 37kw engine the Niftylift hybrid system uses just a 14 kw coupled with an electric motor. With this much smaller engine Niftylift says it can achieve a 5% better power to weight ratio and a 40-50% fuel saving. A catalectic converter is also incorporated to remove 30% particulates, 80% hydrocarbons and 90% of carbon monoxide.

John King of Nifty Australia said, "This machine will form the basis for a whole new range of environmentally friendly access platforms, this HR21 can work 24 hours a day, seven days a week due to its unique re-generation system, it is lighter than traditional 21 m booms and, therefore, has a far better power to weight ratio.

"It's obvious to us at Niftylift that carbon footprint will become increasingly important to the construction industry not only here in Australia but to our customers worldwide. It's great to see a medium size company like Manlift can also see where the market is going."