Shiny!

This is taken from the news section of UK-based bespoke access platform company, Working At Height. It shows a custom platform design for South West trains in Bournemouth who have just taken delivery of the first twenty five platforms. Apparently they have been very well received by the train depot staff. It looks incredible shiny, but I wonder how long it will stay that way! 

Online Operator Training Introduced by Genie

One of the exciting things that was recently displayed by Genie at a recent rental show in Las Vegas, was their new operator training program which is to be delivered on an online platform. The program is specially designed or aerial work platforms is called Genie Lift Pro.

There is an online component to the course, which is interactive in nature, and it is expected to take participants about 3 hours to carry out. The training is not linked to any specific manufacturer and is designed to replace some of the classroom based teaching. In order to pass the training, participants must score the maximum, 100%.

In addition to this, participants must also attend a hands on training session, which needs to be done with an approved dealer either on site or at the dealer's premises. As part of the hands on component of the course, students need to be able to show that they are familiar with the basics that would have been taught on the online course. This can include walk around checks for example. If the dealer is able to see that the participant is competent in using a lift then the dealer can sign off the certificate from the online section of the training and give the student a card which proves that they have passed both parts of the training program.

Genie state that by doing both parts of this training program, the student will have covered the various requirements to become a certified user of aerial work platforms as is stipulated by a number of regulatory bodies such as the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) as well as health and safety requirements and the equivalents in other countries, such as Canada.

This programme will be on sale for dealers to buy in a pack of several “seats”, which can then be sold on to their customers individually. The price that these individual seats are thought to retail at is about $290, but may vary depending on the number of “seats” to be purchased.

Other commentators in the industry have praised the programme for allowing the students to learn at a pace and time that suits them best. The programme is the first of its kind within the industry and is expected to help improve safety and productivity on the work site.

Whilst it may seem like this programme is intended to replace the IPAF PAL card, Genie have stated that this isn't the case and it is merely hoping to add to this.

This is why the company has made the programme open to all, even their competitors, as the intention is to improve safety within the industry.

Rouse Index Grows 0.3% in March

A recent report from the Rouse Asset Services reveals the current buoyancy of the North American powered access market. It shows that, for the calendar month continuing up to the last day of March 2013, the Rose Index of Orderly Liquidations Values (OLV) increased by 0.3% from the month before. There is also longer-term evidence of a boom in rental rates, with those in January 2013 sitting at a level 6.8% higher than 12 months previously.

These findings follow those published in an IPAF Powered Access Rental Market Report that show that, despite market stagnation elsewhere in the world, the North America experienced growth of 6% in 2012. And looking forward, figures from the Rouse report support opinion voiced in 2012 by market analysts that the growth of that year was set to continue into 2013. Furthermore, with the US market containing 49% of the total number of international powered access units, this growth is positive news for industry manufacturers around the world.

The Rouse report compiles information from the powered access industry in North America, and covers both new and second-hand purchases. The OLV percentage expresses the cost of replacing a specific unit by rental companies and dealers next to the replaced unit’s average age and as such is more than just an indicator of market sales by themselves. The OLV figures show that the average age of equipment in the rental industry, balanced by a cost weighting, is 4.6 years of telescopic boom lifts and high-reach fork lifts, 4.3 years for articulating boom lifts and 4.7 for scissor lifts.

The report also shows that auction sales in March increased by 3.9% from February. Reuse tracks information about the movement of 14 types of major powered access equipment. This includes scissor lifts, moon lifts, high-reach forklifts and telescopic boom lifts and the survey covered 3,443 units with a total value of $82.9 million.  These items were bought at auction for a total of $86.1 in gross sales. Breaking the market down, it showed that areal work platforms made up 33% of new sales in March and 29% of second-hand purchases by distributors and rental companies. High-reach forklifts were the second most popular item, with sales of 25% and 17% respectively. In both categories, JLG was the market leader, followed by Genie.

The Rouse index also analyses usage of rental equipment and found that, from July 2012 to January 2013, market utilisation of articulating boom lifts dropped by 4.3%, scissor-lift use fell by 1.1%, telescopic booms by 2.7% and high-reach forklifts by 1.8%.

Guest post by www.workingatheight.co.uk

Genie Z-135 Fleet Out of Service After M25 Fatality.

Worker killed after boom collapsed onto motorway near Heathrow Airport.

The Genie Z-135 has been decommissioned after one of its new aerial lift was involved in the death of a worker at a depot close to Heathrow Airport on Wednesday 5^th June 2012 just one week after the model was put into service.

The equipment is owned by Kimberly access and is one of 15 Z-135 units delivered by Genie over the last 6 weeks. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has impounded the unit involved and the company immediately withdrew its entire fleet of the units from service as a precaution until the full HSE investigation at the depot has been concluded.

The model is made by Terex Aerial Work Platforms (Terex AWP) and they said in a statement, “Terex, operating under the “Genie” brand name, learned today of a fatal incident involving a user of a Genie model Z-135 boom. Terex AWP is extremely saddened to learn of the accident. Our foremost concern at this moment is for the accident victim’s grieving family. We express our deepest condolences to the family."

"Terex AWP has dispatched technical experts to the scene and is working with experts to support the determination of the root cause of this tragic accident. We will also fully cooperate with authorities during their investigation to understand the cause of the accident."

The aerial lift was in the middle of standard safety and operation inspections at Genie’s depot in Iver when the equipment malfunctioned and overturned. The main boom crashed down onto London’s main ring road and landed on the hard shoulder of the M25. The deceased was the Iver depot’s foreman, a skilled and highly qualified engineer with several years experience working in the sector. Police confirm that the unnamed man was wearing all the correct safety equipment and was harnessed to the machine’s boom when it collapsed onto the motorway.


This latest accident once again underlines the dangerous nature of the construction industry and fatalities continue despite both government regulations focused on safety and strict industry oversight. And with the HSE investigation still ongoing it is unclear whether who is responsible for this accident but construction site lawyers stress that they have never been involved in a case where negligence of some kind was not involved. What this means is that individual companies are not following heath and safety regulations closely enough and this new accident should make all companies reassess their heath and safety policies and to ensure that they are being implemented completely on a daily basis.

2013 IAPA Shortlist Revealed

The nominees for the International Awards for Powered Access (IAPA) have been released by the International Access Platform Federation (PAF).

Stefan Kulawik from Palfinger Platforms, Ken Pustizzi from Trico Lift, Ebbe Christensen from Reachmaster, EnricaPefe from Venpa and Wayne Lawson, President of the IPAF are judging this year’s events and they have together considered 86 entries from around the globe.

In a change from previous years, the rules now allow the judges themselves and their companies to be considered for these awards. However the specific judge will abstain from the decision-making process for any categories in which they or their companies are involved.

This has come after a difficult 2012 for the international industry, The European, African and Middle Eastern markets exhibited a lack of growth, with only the North American market providing some optimism. However being the dominant region with a 49% share of the equipment buoyancy here is predicted to spread internationally as confidence returns to it and related construction industries as the effects of the global recession slowly dissipate.

The event will take place in Miami, Florida on the 26^th March, and the various award categories and nominees are detailed below.

Access Rental Company of the Year
AFI-Uplift - UK
Industrial Access - Romania
Nationwide Platforms - UK
Trico Lift - USA

Contributions to Safe Working at Height
AFI-Uplift - UK
Industrial Access - Romania
Mills Rental - Brazil
Nationwide Platforms - UK

Access Project of the Year
Harsco - USA
Hydro Mobile - Canada
NES Rentals - USA
Scanclimber - Finland

Product of the Year – Vehicle/trailer mounted
CTE - Italy
Ruthmann - Germany

Product of the Year – Self-propelled (booms, scissors, spider)
Bluelift - Italy
Cormidi - Italy
MEC - USA

Product of the Year – Mastclimbers/hoists
AlimakHek - Sweden
Geda - Germany
Scanclimber – Finland

Award for Outstanding After Sales Service
EZ Scaffold - USA
IPS - UK
Venpa - Italy

IPAF Safety Champion
Peter Douglas – Nationwide Platforms, UK
Kevin O’Shea – Mastclimbers, USA
Brian Parker – AFI, UK
Mauro Potrich – CTE, Italy

IPAF Training Instructor of the Year
Rafael Bazzarella - Canada
Kevin O’Shea - USA
Martin Wraith - UK

Best Marketing Campaign for Safety and IPAF Training
Alo Training - Chile
BS Technology - Singapore
Mastclimbers - USA

No nominations have been announced for the following categories:
Product of the Year – Low-level Access
Best New IPAF Training Centre
And finally, as is usual, there is no reported shortlist for the annual:
Lifetime achievement award

Release of New Guide for Powered Access Industry

Release of New Guide for Powered Access Industry

Booklet will improve safety and project efficiency.

A best practice guide to construction site risks and choosing the most appropriate aerial lift for a given task is now readily available online. Released at the Rental Show back in February, it is only 36 pages long and includes a general overview of the industry and the history behind the industry standards set by ANSI and SAIA. This booklet has been created through the collaboration of the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF), American Rental Association (ARA), the Scaffold and Access Industry Association (SAIA) and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM).

Any effort to improve health and safety in the industry is a welcome move. For while official figures show that governmental regulations in the US have resulted in a market with the smallest number of accidents and fatalities proportional to its size around the world, there is still much work to do. Statistics from the IPAF show that there were 8 deaths in 2012, and any sharing of knowledge by these experts can only serve to increase the level of safety and reduce this number in the future. In this context, these organisations should be respected for taking the initiative to release this vital guide and for putting so much time and effort into a document that will undoubtedly save lives. And while this guide is not intended to replace other certified training courses provided by the industry it is still a good point of reference to fall back on when making key decisions. Choosing the right equipment for a task can also increase productivity and the cost-effectiveness of any project.

The Statement of Best Practices for Workplace Risk Assessment and Aerial Work Platform Equipment Selection has a richness of detail that belittles its small size and in 9 short sections it covers definitions, the rationale behind risk prevention, and examples of risk assessment conditions. It also proves a walk through of the specificities of the various pieces of powered access equipment on the market today and the roles they are best suited to. It is supported by a wealth of charts and bulleted lists that make it very easy to understand, a result no doubt of their experience creating these kinds of documents. The group has previously released the Statement of Best Practices of General Training and Familiarisation for Aerial Work Platform Equipment and the Statement of Best Practices of Personal Fall Protection Systems for Aerial Work Platform Equipment.

70-Ton Crane Falls Onto A Scaffolding | Construction News

Catonsville, Maryland, April 2013. There were no injuries reported after the incident in which a seventy-ton crane fell over at an apartment complex construction site. It was gathered from the director of safety and environmental health that it was the placement of the crane on top of a hill that was responsible for the fall when the boom was extended. Although the boom fell over some scaffolding, said the director, limited property damage was recorded. Two more cranes were driven to the site so as to disentangle the fallen crane. The Department of Occupational Safety and Health and the Department of the Environment in Maryland were contacted shortly after the said incident. The official cause of the incident is still being investigated.

Launch of a Scissor with High Capacity by Snorkel

Unveiling the New Snorkel’s S4390RT High-Capacity Scissor

The 1st in a new set of high capacity scissors lifts with rough terrain has been unveiled by Snorkel at Bauma.

The manufacturer said that with the powerful drive and lift capabilities of the new Snorkel S4390RT, it can be used ideally for construction work. Preliminary specifications are for any machine having a maximum of 13.1 meters (43 feet) platform height. The fitted twin 1.3 meter (51-inch) deck extension creates a provision for a large 1.82 meters by 6.60 meters (6 feet by 21 feet 8-inch) working area and a work load of 680 kilos (1,500 pounds) which is safe.

The introduction of scissor lifts with high capacity and rough terrain marks the completion of the product range of Snorkel in all important segments. Already, Snorkel produces over 35 machines, not excluding towable booms, mast lifts, push-around lifts, including booms and scissors which are self-propelled.

Also being launched at Bauma 2013 by Snorkel are another 2 new world-wide products and the update of one of the most appealing machines produced by Snorkel.

S3970RT is now the 3rd product in the existing family of Snorkel’s scissor that is compact and having rough terrain. Because the S3970RT is built on Snorkel’s well-tested SRT chassis, it provides a 11.5 meters (37 feet 8 inches) maximum platform height even though it is merely 1.8 meters (5 feet 10 inches) wide and 3.3 meters (10 feet 10 inches) long. It is well adapted to work in restricted spaces, for instance, in between two buildings.

Snorkel also provides further enhancement of its top class of low-level access platforms using the S1030E mini-scissor lift which is self-propelled. Although the S1030E (powered by battery) provides a 3 meter (10 feet) maximum platform height, it is still light enough in weight for nearly any floor that has load-bearing restrictions. The company said you can drive it at full height, leading to increased efficiency and productivity benefits when compared to push-around platforms with low-level access.

At Bauma, Snorkel will showcase its first prototype so as to collect feedback from its key customers and distributors.

Also in the sector of low-level access, Snorkel has made an enhancement of its M1230E 3.6 meter (11feet 11 inch) platform height self-propelled mast lift having a 500 millimetre (20 inch) roll-out deck extension. This is an optional extra which increases the platform size to 1.46 meters (58 inches), giving additional reach without necessarily moving the machine.

Authorised UK Genie Access Platform Dealer Working at Height LTD have just released information on the new Genie SX180 (Pictured).

The new boom lift has the honour of being the world' largest, self-propelled boom lift and has a vertical reach of up to 180 meters whilst still remaining stable for the operator.

It also features a rotating JIB offering around 160 to 170 degrees of 'slew' to the operator and has an outreach of twenty four meters and has a weight restriction of 340kg.

Full drive speeds can also be reached whilst the boom lift is full extended which is somewhat unusual in the world of access platforms.
Read the full story here: 

UK construction industry output falls by 7%.

Figures released today show that the total level of output from the UK construction industry is 7 per cent lower than this time last year.

There may be some light at the end of the tunnel though. The reason? Official figures show that overall output was 5.5% higher than when comparing January 2012 figures against January 2013 which suggests that there may be some scope for recovery.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) commented that all sectors within the construction industry showed significant gains during January, (excluding 'private commercial other new work'), which fell by 0.5%.

The construction industry as a whole makes up around 7% of the UK economy and lower than expected output was said to the be main reason holding back Britain’s economic recover.

According to the Markit/CIPS construction index output from the construction industry contracted for three consecutive months from January to March 2013.

The office for National statistics explained;

“Construction output is highly responsive to the economic cycle and has fallen by 16.5% when comparing the last quarter of 2012 with the first quarter of 2008”

“Comparing the three months from December 2012 to February 2013 with the same three months one year earlier, the volume of construction output decreased by 8.9%.”

New construction projects were down by 10.7% in the first quarter of 2013 which the public, private and commercial industries all playing their role in the slowdown. 

My opinion is that these results are really quite varied and can be interrupted in many different ways. Let's see what the next three months bring. 

JCB 510-56 Loadal

JCB 510-56 Loadal has a 10,000 lbs. maximum capacity. It has the option of lifting on tires or front mounted stabilisers. With stabiliser support, it can lift 4,000 lbs. to its maximum height of 56-ft. or a forward reach capacity at 42-ft. of 3,000 lb. On tires alone, it can lift 3,000 lbs. up to its max height of 52-ft. or 3,000 lbs. at forward reach of 42-ft.

During the showcase, Vice President of Product, Chris Giovanni, pointed out that JCB is unique as a company, in that, it manufactures many of its models’ components itself, ranging from the engines and frames and cabs, to the transmissions, axles and even its hydraulic cylinders. The company realises that in house manufacture of so much of their machines gives maximum control of the quality.

JCB has lowered the cab and made it more spacious giving the operator more comfort for increased productivity, and the controls have been rearranged for easier reach. They are also claiming the ability to convert a standard open cab into a fully enclosed unit with the addition of panels without amending the cab’s basic frame.

The 510-56 Loadall comes with a 109hp JCB Ecomax diesel engine providing clean-running for the Tier 4 Interim emissions regulations, without needing exhaust after-treatment. This eliminates any need of after-treatment equipment, helps keep the compact engine design fitting neatly into a low-profile compartment and still provides easy access for maintenance. The low profile of the engine compartment adds a much greater visibility to the right.

JLG G12-55A

JLG’s G12-55A has a maximum capacity of 12,000 lbs. with outriggers up or down. When supported by outriggers, it can lift 5,000 lbs. to its full maximum height of 55-ft. or reach forward up to 42-ft. with a capacity of 3,500 lbs. Just on tires it can lift 4,000 lbs. to 55-ft. height or 37-ft. forward reach.

At the Showcase Product Manager John Boehme, stated during his walkaround demonstration that JLG has brought in a brand new paint scheme with black for the chassis and sections of the inner boom. The bright orange cab helps operators easily identify their Tier 4 compliant machines.

The G12-55A runs on a Cummins diesel engine. These use only a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) to replace mufflers when complying with the Tier 4 Interim emission regulations. JLG has positioned the DOC behind the engine for protection and reduce theft risk. All service and maintenance check points are easily available.  The outriggers are frame-mounted and provide solid lifting support so that nothing is hanging below the frame when they are raised. Firestone DuraForce MH tyres are included as standard featuring damage resistant sidewalls, a self-cleaning tread and a low profile that has three times longer life than graded tyres. There is also a widened and lowered cab to help the operator with hydraulic powered steering and a single boom function joystick.

Skyjack ZB2044

The ZB2044 has a lifting capacity of 20,000 lbs. with its boom retracted fully and outriggers up or down. With outrigger support, this telehandler can lift 12,000 lbs. to its full height of 44’10” or provide a forward reach of 27’5” up to its 7,000 lbs. capacity. On tires, it can go to 10,000 lbs. up to 44ft high of 4,000 lbs. carried forward to 27’5”.

For the Showcase walkaround, Senior Product Marketing Manager Paul Kreutzwiser demonstrated the impressiveness of the ZB2044’s maximum capacity and the fact that at 45,000 lbs. in weight and width of 8’6” allow truck transportation via highway. Its real value, he added, was its overall ruggedness and high capacity work rate.

A lockable rear steel door has a wide opening for easy maintenance of manifolds, hydraulic lines, batteries and cylinders. The hydraulics and engine are centrally mounted rather than off the side of the chassis. All over the machine the steel covers are easily removed for ease of access for all checkpoints and service items.

With a rugged design and much heavy duty steel, the ZB2944 is both durable and well balanced for large loads. The thick boom plate, big cross section and large overlap between telescopic sections give a solid feel.

Article 2

Skyjack’s Commitment to Powered Access now in Western US.

I recently made a visit to Skyjack’s Support Facility in Western US. It has been created for better service to the Western United States. Skyjack has taken on the 100,000 sq. ft. facility now abandoned by its parent company Linamar. Linamar had originally opened the Glendale, AZ. site for a solar power project it no longer needs.

A West Coast presence allows Skyjack to be responsive to regional demands. They can move truckloads of equipment in the West to create holding inventories. The savings on shipping costs give rise to lower price points for selling individual units and respond quicker to customer delivery needs. The facility also caters for self-assembly welding and re-conditioning and wet and dry paint coatings.

Genie GS2669 RT

The Genie GS2669 RT will combine a twenty-six foot platform aerial height. The chassis is sixty-nine inches wide holding one thousand five hundred pounds.  There are also thirty-three and forty feet tall Genie models. There are versions that can work indoors and outdoors by being electrically powered. The Genie is part of the growing RT scissor lift family.

In the walk around demo for the version of GS2669 RT Scissor Lift, which has an internal combustion engine, it represented the Genie family in the Showcase section.  The main goal and reason to use the sixty-nine inch tall RT is to give a higher quality performance at the job site and servicing runs a lot smoother.

The internal combustion engine is run by a Kubota Model 972, which is thirty-one horsepower and is a dual engine also. The options of using diesel at twenty-five horse power can be a Kubota D1105 or a Perkins diesel.

There has to be power given to the tires from the engine. Hydraulics is used to reduce the gear hubs and the piston motors are driven by the hydraulics. On the Genie GS2669 RT, a four wheel drive comes standard with positive traction control. Rough terrain tires are foam filled along with an oscillating axle as standard issue.

The RT will give three and half miles per hour for its top speed and can go up a forty percent grade. This is because the system has power that is full making it move in reverse and in forward both.  The turning radius inside the RT is only six feet eleven inches. 

Measuring nine foot two inches by five foot three inches, the powered platform has an extension deck that slides out to five feet. It can hold three hundred pounds. There is a deck made out of aluminum that is replaceable and the frame is made out of steel on the aerial platform.  The platform has an AC power outlet, folding guardrails, and a swing gate at full height.  Using proportional controls, the drive and lift functions can be operated. 

There are big doors on the engine compartment that swings open. It can be found on the other side of the chassis. To maintain and service the engine, it can be swung out at ninety degrees as it sits on a tray. Go to the rear of the RT and there is a ladder to access the platform, which makes servicing easy.

The last rung on the ladder is suspended on purpose. It is made out of rubber and will move if an object hits it. This protects the ladder from damage. This makes it cost effective as the bottom rung can be replaced and not the whole ladder.