Snorkel launches big deck scissors and expands boom line

Snorkel has launched at ConExpo the first of what will be a four-model range of large RT scissor lifts as well as an "all new" 62 ft articulated boom and a revised mid-range telescopic boom.

The S6090RT scissor, shown as a preview model in Las Vegas, is a 30 m (60 ft) platform height model with a 568 kg (1252 lb) cage capacity and a fully extended platform length of 7.3 m (24 ft).

Snorkel claimed it was "the first 60 ft scissor lift priced for the volume market - all other major manufacturers stop at 52 ft", with their larger models priced as "niche" units.

Powered by a Kubota 44 hp water-cooled diesel engine, the S6090RT is the largest of the new range, with other models having platform heights of 12 m (32 ft), 15 m (43 ft) and 18 m (52 ft).

Snorkel said it expected that the SRT family will be in production by the third quarter of 2011.

The new booms, meanwhile - which are both additions to the Polaris range - comprise the A62JRT articulated rough terrain boom and the T66JRT telescopic boom.

The A62JRT is the first articulated model using the common Polaris chassis first seen in 2010 and replaces the AB60. It has a platform height of 21 m (62 ft), outreach of 10.7 m (35 ft 1 in) and up and over clearance height of 9 m (30 ft). The lift also has a 1.9 m (6 ft 2 in) fly jib.

Snorkel said the new knuckle boom offers "significantly improved drive and lift performance (particularly ‘up-and-over' clearance) and substantially reduced tail swing" compared to its predecessor.

Also using the Polaris base is the new T66JRT telescopic boom, which has a platform height of up to 22 m (66 ft). It has the same platform cage and lift capacity as the T46JRT and A62JRT. The T66JRTand its sister boom, the jib-free T60JRT, replace the Snorkel TB60 and TB65.

Richard Tindale, Snorkel sales & marketing director, said: "Utilizing this common chassis across our mid-size booms delivers class-leading performance, while making these machines even easier for our customers to operate, service and repair.

"The Polaris boom family and our newly extended range of twin-deck scissors mean we are very well placed to take advantage of the expected upturn in demand for new aerial lifts in construction applications, over the next couple of years."

Darren Kell, chief executive officer of Snorkel, said: "Throughout the downturn we have invested in product development, to further improve and expand the Snorkel product range.

"Our engineers have worked hard to deliver better performance across the board, while also retaining Snorkel's key attributes of reliability, durability and simplicity. The end result is enhanced machines that are still easy to use, simple to service and easy to troubleshoot, delivering low total ownership costs for our customers."