Nationwide invests in Jumbos
21 January 2016
UK-based Nationwide Platforms has taken delivery of five Palfinger 480 Jumbo NX truck mounts.
The P480s offer a working height of 48 m, up to 31.5 m of outreach and a maximum 600kg platform capacity. Mounted on an 18 tonne two-axle MAN chassis and measuring 9.9 m in length, the truck mounts are suited to operating in urban environments, providing additional payload for carrying materials and tools.
A defining feature of the P480 is its X-jib. It offers up to 240 degrees and is combined with a 2x200 degrees of platform rotation.
Upon taking delivery, one of the new P480s was sent straight out on rent to clear vegetation from a retaining wall on the River Avon in Bristol. Set up on a site 10 m above the river, the job required up to eight metres negative reach and for the platform basket to be rotated 180 degrees to provide the tree surgeon unrestricted access to the wall. The P480s extended platform basket also provided a greater work area, limiting the amount of times the platform needed to be repositioned.
John Weights, Nationwide Platforms specialist vehicles operations director, said, “The ability to work on structures without constantly repositioning is highly valued by customers, especially when limited time is given to complete work.”
All five P480s have been fitted with Chalwyn valves to comply with refinery and petro-chemical sites, and feature chassis-to-earth bonding kits for industrial and high voltage electrical work. Additional features include Palfinger’s Power-Lift material handling system, which allows operators to securely store and carry materials up to 600kg, and bespoke outrigger mat holders attached to the jacks to reduce manual handling.
Integrated access steps and fall arrest lines either side of the boom have also been fitted allowing engineers and operators to remain safe while carrying out inspections. Finally, each machine has been fitted with a number of cameras to assist with pedestrian and cyclist awareness, and features an LED lighting system under the chassis for carrying out work at night.
