MEC's material rack receives U.S. patent

MEC Aerial Work Platforms has been issued U.S. patent number 8,678,135 for its "aerial work apparatus with laterally offset work platform" design, featured on the Crossover 59 series and 69 series scissor lifts. According to MEC, the MEC 2659, 3259 and 4069 models are the first in the industry to be designed with an integrated sheet material rack for greater productivity, workability and safety.

The material rack on MEC's 2659, 3259 and 4069 models allow workers to support sheet-type material such as dry wall, plywood and glass on the outside of the scissor lift platform.

The MEC sheet rack has been designed and tested as an integrated feature to meet or exceed the requirements of applicable standards when materials are placed on the rack outside of the guardrails with persons and tools inside the platform guardrails. MEC said this is achieved in part, by keeping the material rack within the overall width of the machine while offering load capacity of 250 pounds for the 2659 and 3259, and up to 300 pounds on the 4069 model.

Beyond the addition of the material sheet rack, the design puts the rack level with the bottom of the platform and a roller off one end of the sheet rack allows material to be loaded by a single individual.

"With this unique MEC feature, jobsite productivity and safety are mutually improved," MEC said in a statement. "It is another example how MEC’s close relationship with its customers solved an industry need by building a better solution confirmed by a U.S. patent award. Other foreign patents are still pending."