Aerial work platform alternatives: scissor lifts and telescoping boom lifts can meet job-specific needs.
Published in: Arbor Age
Date: 9/1/2006
WHEN PERFORMING OFF-ROAD WORK, SCISSOR LIFTS AND telescoping boom lifts are aerial work platform alternatives that can be purchased or rented and are readily available. Even small rental houses carry one or two aerial work platforms in their fleet. Large rental companies can have 500 or more in their fleet, and some even specialize in only renting aerial work platforms. They can be rented for as short as a day or on extended leases for months.
Aerial work platforms are available in a variety of styles and sizes, including vertical personnel lifts, slab and rough terrain scissor lifts, and telescoping and articulating boom lifts featuring platform heights up to 150 feet.
With such a wide variety of machines available, there’s a model that will match your needs. But selecting the right machine requires more than just knowing how high you want to reach. If you don’t look at all your needs, you may end up with a machine that doesn’t work like you planned. Here are some things to consider when selecting an aerial work platform.
Height and reach
Obviously platform height (how high will it reach) is the number one criteria. But what good is a machine that is capable of reaching the desired height if, because of job site conditions, you can’t position the machine directly under the work area. In this case you need to look at both height and horizontal outreach capabilities. You need to determine where you can position the machine first, then you can determine what machine will give you the combination of height and horizontal outreach you need to access the work area.
Power sources
There are some other things to consider when selecting the right machine for the job. Various power sources are available including dual fuel engines (gasoline or LPG), gasoline, diesel, and electric power to meet these different applications. Where noise is a concern in outdoor areas, electric-powered boom lifts up to 60-foot height are available.
Operating surface and location
What is the operating surface? Is it level or sloped and is it firm enough to support the machine weight? Boom lifts with additional outreach or rough terrain scissor lifts with outriggers or leveling jacks may be required. And if there’s a lot of debris scattered around, you may need a machine with higher ground clearance. Then look at the surface you are going to travel over. If it’s soft or muddy, you may need 4-wheel drive or a machine with a crawler undercarriage. You can also choose from a variety of tire options including foam-filled, pneumatic, high-floatation “turf tires.”
What is the operating location? Is it a congested area that requires a tight turning radius or where less tail swing is important? Are there any overhead obstructions that must be maneuvered around to reach the work area? If so, you may have to use an articulated boom lift or a boom lift with an articulated jib to reach up and over obstacles.
Understanding options
Once you have decided on what type and size of machine best meets your needs, consider the type of work you will be performing from the elevated platform and what tools you will be using to do the work. Along with electrical outlets and air lines on the platform, today’s leading manufacturers offer a variety of optional features that will increase your productivity even more when you reach the overhead area.
Built-in generators in the base, with power cable and air/water lines running through the boom to the platform, are available to power everything from welders and plasma cutters to saws, pressure washing systems, and lighting packages. Using these integrated tool systems in the platform increases productivity, eliminates the need for costly ancillary equipment and provides a much safer working environment since you don’t have wires or hoses running over the side of the platform to the ground.
Aerial work platforms have changed the way we work. They make workers more productive and provide a greater degree of safety than other methods of accessing overhead areas. With the wide variety of products on the market today, there’s a machine for almost any application. So take the time to review all of your needs and job site parameters before selecting a machine, and ask questions before you order. It could save you a whole lot of time and trouble on the job.
All photos courtesy of JLG Industries, Inc.
Article provided by JLG Industries, Inc., a producer of access equipment (aerial work platforms and telehandlers).