Red carpet for bi-energy boom

A resounding theme at this year's APEX was environmental sustainability. While companies around the globe work to reduce their carbon impact, exhibiting companies at APEX displayed their efforts to follow suit, presenting units with bi-energy options, including diesel and electric hybrid machines.

Roped off in red-carpet fashion, Manitou's 170 AET JL articulated boom can be used outside as well as inside. It features a 2 cylinder diesel engine backed by an electric option.

"You can travel a long distance without having to recharge the machine," said Tony Hobbs, Manitou's Maniaccess product manager. The unit, according to Mr Hobbs, can run with the diesel engine on for three hours and fully recharge the electric battery.

Turned on, the machine operates at a quiet 97 dBa and will be on the market for distribution in the UK in December.