Access International Jan-Feb 2024

Australia insights

Volume 31 | Issue 1

January-February 2024

STAFF LIST

Editor

Euan Youdale

euan.youdale@khl.com

Director of Content

Murray Pollok

Editorial Manager

Alex Dahm

Group Editors

Lindsey Anderson, Andy Brown, Mike Hayes, Niamh Marriott, Cristián Peters, D.Ann Shiffler, Leila Steed

IPAF News Editor

Peter Douglas

Global Media Production Manager

Charlotte Kemp

charlotte.kemp@khl.com

Media Production Assistants

Alex Thomson, Ben Fisher

Group Design Manager

Jeff Gilbert

Group Designer Jade Hudson

Creative Designer Kate Brown

Event Manager Steve Webb Event Design Manager

Gary Brinklow

Brand Manager

Ollie Hodges

ollie.hodges@khl.com

VP Global Sales

Alister Williams

Director of Operations

Peter Watkinson

Audience Development Manager

Anna Philo

Head of Finance & HR

Alison Filtness

Finance Manager

Yasmin Youmi

Finance Team

Carole Couzens, Kate Trevillion Facilities & HR Manager

Phillippa Smith

Chief Financial Officer

Paul Baker

Chief Operating Officer

Trevor Pease

Chief Executive Officer

James King

Access International is published six times a year (January-February, MarchApril, May-June, July-August, SeptemberOctober, November-December) and has a worldwide circulation of more than 12,000. Access International is only available to subscribers (IPAF members receive a free copy, details available on request). Annual airmail subscription rate US$182, €156, £130.

Global dynamics

Looking back on the days of the Covid pandemic, there was a strong suggestion in some quarters that in-person events were a thing of the past.

Clearly that runs counter to human nature, as business interaction has returned to its pre-Covid levels.

Such is the need for people to congregate and network that events like the IAPA awards and IPAF Summit, both taking place on 14 March this year, are selling out even sooner than they did in the past.

The popularity of the IAPAs also reflects the interest in celebrating best practice in areas that is making the modern workplace tick, including product development, sustainability, digital development and diversity in the workplace.

In this issue you can read a summary of each shortlisted entry, providing a unique insight into today’s evolving MEWP and rental sector.

Another looming event is the ARA Show, which takes place during February in the US. There is a round up of some of the products at the exhibition in this issue.

Other than retaining its position as the world’s largest aerial platform market, the US is going through some changes, and is becoming distinctly more international. European and Chinese manufacturers are having an increasing influence, particularly in niche areas like spider lifts from the Europe-based manufacturers.

The tariffs placed on China-produced MEWPs entering the US are having an affect in holding those manufacturers back, although a number of them are restructuring their production bases to address the situation.

I’m sure you will have also noted that the European Commision has begun a dumping investigation into Chinese MEWPs entering that continent, which could also lead to tariffs. We will have to see how that progresess over the next few months.

Euan Youdale Editor

ACCESS PORTFOLIO

IAPA shortlist, with each entry summarised, provides a unique insight into today’s evolving MEWP and rental sector.

,

South View Road, Wadhurst, East Sussex TN5 6TP, UK. +44 (0)1892 786214 euan.youdale@khl.com

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WORLDWIDE

BRAND MANAGER Ollie Hodges +44 (0)1892 786253 ollie.hodges@khl.com

BENELUX/SCANDINAVIA/ AUSTRIA/EASTERN EUROPE/ SWITZERLAND

Arthur Schavemaker +31 547 275005 arthur@kenter.nl

CHINA Cathy Yao +86 (0)10 65536676 cathy.yao@khl.com

FRANCE Hamilton Pearman +33 (0)1 45930858 hpearman@wanadoo.fr

GERMANY/SPAIN Petra Kaiser +49 711 34167472 petra.kaiser@khl.com

ITALY Fabio Potestà +39 010 5704948 info@mediapointsrl.it

JAPAN Michihiro Kawahara +81 (0)3 32123671 kawahara@rayden.jp

KOREA Simon Kelly +44 (0) 1892 786223 simon.kelly@khl.com

NORTH AMERICA Tony Radke +1 602 721 6049 tony.radke@khl.com

TURKEY Emre Apa +90 532 3243616 emre.apa@apayayincilik.com.tr

UK/IRELAND Eleanor Shefford +44 (0)7850 313 753

elanor.shefford@khl.com

VP GLOBAL SALES

6 NEWS

30 COUNTRY REPORT AUSTRALIA

Tadano buys Nagano, Anti-dumping investigation in Europe, Klubb acquires Hematec, Magni buys back Dingli share, Serious Labs sells MEWPs VR business, Manitou completes majority ownerships.

10 NEWS EXTRA

Reports into the fortunes of the European and North American markets, and the rising auction prices of MEWPs.

14 INTERVIEW MANLIFT

India has been touted as the next China in terms of growth. Find out the viewpoint from Riwal’s CEO and country manager for the company’s Manlift brand in India.

18 SCISSOR LIFTS

Emission free is no longer a buzz phrase or a ‘like to have’, it’s found its way into every scissor designer’s mind as OEMs seek to drop anything that may leak, make a noise or pollute the air.

22 IAPA SHORTLIST IN SUMMARY

The shortlist for the International Awards for Powered Access 2024 (IAPAs) has been published and now we can provide details of every entry on the shortlisted.

26 SCAFFOLDING

Peri provides its indepth view of the modern scaffolding industry, and US-based Marr Scaffolding utilised a robot for one of its largest builds on record.

Alister Williams +1 843 637 4127 alister.williams@khl.com MEMBER OF

AI spoke to two major rental companies, Coates and United Forklift & Access Solutions, to find out what makes the market and its MEWP operators tick.

35 PREVIEW INTERMAT

The France-based show is upon us again this April and is gearing up to demonstrate the tech options, particularly in the zero-emission space and a range of access and telehandler-related equipment.

39 IPAF NEWS

In the Federation’s latest update is news that 500,000 ePAL App downloads have been reached, among other recent developments.

42 SAFETY AT HEIGHT

How are safety products and initiatives aiding the global MEWP sector?

46 PREVIEW ARA SHOW

The US show returns to New Orleans this February. AI provides a snapshot of the access equipment on display.

49 INTERVIEW MAGNI

Jenny Lescohier sits down with Riccardo Magni to find out what’s new with the company’s telehandlers, as well as his views on the future.

THE COVER

United Forklift & Access Solutions is one of Australia’s largest rental conpanies and speaks about the market in this issue.

■ France-based MEWP specialist Haulotte is offering a five-year warranty on its electric slab scissors from 8m to 14m working height. As the first access equipment manufacturer to offer this length of warranty, says Haulotte, its more than 40 years’ experience in the industry means it is able to provide this service.

MAGNI BUYS BACK DINGLI SHARE

Magni Telescopic Handlers has bought back the 20% stake in its business acquired by Chinese OEM Dingli in 2016. Magni paid €61.4 million to return to 100% ownership, having sold the stake to Dingli for €14.4 million in early 2016.

Under the 2016 deal, Magni designed a range of products for Dingli and also sold Dingliproduced machines in Europe. The two companies will continue their sales and technical cooperation under the new ownership structure.

This follows the announcement in October last year that Dingli had fully-acquired USA-based MEC, which it had also previously partly owned. (See News, AI November/December 2022)

Magni, who founded the company in 2013, said, “We still have a very good relationship with Dingli. It is a family company, like ours. I asked [Dingli’s owner] Mr Xu to sell me back my 20%. It took one year to discuss everything and he made a very good deal, because now I’m paying €61 million for what he paid €15 million.

Magni added that the EU anti-dumping investigation into Chinese access equipment exports to Europe had played a part in the decision.

See the full interview with Magni owner Riccardo Magni in this issue of AI

Tadano buys Nagano

Crane manufacturer

Tadano is strengthening its aerial platform business with the full acquisition of Nagano Industry, the Japanese manufacturer of crawler mounted aerial work platforms.

No financial details have been provided.

The deal will add Nagano’s tracked telescopic and articulating boom models, including a large-deck, highcapacity model, to Tadano’s range of vehicle mounted aerial platforms which are sold mainly in Japan and Asia.

Tadano said Nagano would bring a wealth of expertise and a “stellar reputation” as a

manufacturer of crawler mounted aerial work platforms in Japan.

It will expand its product offering to include aerial platforms, which Tadano described as “a category in high demand worldwide.”

Nagano’s high capacity crawler platform.

Tadano added, “With a market share of over 30% in Japan for truckmounted aerial work platforms, Tadano is poised to leverage Nagano’s advanced development and manufacturing technologies to fuel further growth in the aerial work

Nagano was founded in 1968 and reported sales of Yen 5.6 billion (€36 million) in 2022. It has sales offices in Europe (Nagano Europe, based in the Netherlands),

representation in Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea. AI

Serious Labs sell MEWPs VR business

Canada-based Serious Labs has sold its industrial virtual reality (VR) simulator division, which includes its products forMEWPs, to US simulation specialist Serious Industrial Motion Simulators (SIMS).

Under the agreement, the assets, employees, simulator hardware and recurring revenue generated from its Software as a service (SaaS) will be owned by SIMS.

Terry Alle, president and

China-based Sinoboom has started deliveries from China to Europe by rail using chartered Sinotrans freight trains.

The first deliveries have seen 500 Sinoboom MEWPs delivered to Europe from the company’s factory in Changsha.

The China-Europe Railway Express has developed to become an effective and efficient mode of international transportation, being reliable and environmentally friendly.

Sinotrans is one of China’s largest logistics companies, operating an international rail freight network from four

CEO, SIMS, said, “We at SIMS recognise the value of using simulators to safely, efficiently, and cost-effectively train a new generation of industrial equipment operators, particularly in high-risk activities like aircraft maintenance and industrial facilities maintenance.

The assets associated with Serious Labs’ MELT VR commercial vehicle project, with the Canadian Government, are not included.

Serious Labs said the transaction received unanimous approval from shareholders at a special meeting of the shareholders and lenders. AI

Serious Labs’ former virtual reality (VR) simulator.

IN BRIEF

■ JLG Industries has announced the European launch of its ClearSky Smart Fleet. Described by JLG as the industry’s first platform for two-way fleet management and machine interactivity, the constantly evolving IoT platform, can deliver unique functionalities. Innovations include digitised daily processes, accurate and efficient machine location, streamlined logistics with Automated Site Networks and on demand fleet insights.

MANITOU COMPLETES MAJORITY OWNERSHIPS

Based in France, Manitou Group has finalised the acquisition of a 75% stake in Italian companies Come and Metal Work, following its announcement in November last year that it would invest in them.

The majority ownership of two of France-based Manitou’s most longstanding partners will allow it to integrate the manufacturing of strategic components.

Come specialises in the production of mechanically welded parts and is based in Emilia Romagna. The company achieved a €46 million turnover in 2022 and employs 280 people.

Laser cutting and folding company Metal Work is also based in Emilia Romagna. It has 70 employees and posted revenue of €31 million last year.

Anti-dumping investigation begins in Europe

The European Commission has begun an investigation into imported MEWPs from China, following official complaints from suppliers based in Europe, which claimed that low cost or ‘dumped’ imports are harming the industry in the continent.

The complaint was first lodged in September by the ‘Coalition to restore a level playing field in the EU Mobile Access Equipment Sector’ and could potentially lead to tariffs imposed on imported goods, as has been the case in the US.

The identity of the coalition companies and/or individuals

has not been made public.

However, France-based Haulotte Group and Manitou Group both welcomed the anti-dumping investigation. In identical statements released by both companies, they said, “Unusual commercial practices have emerged on the European market, at a time when healthy and fair competition is more necessary than ever.”

In response China-based manufacturer, Sinoboom said it would work with the Commission. “Sinoboom looks forward to confirming that it has followed the highest standards of professionalism.” AI

DIARY 2024

IAPAS/IPAF SUMMIT

13-14 March 2024

Copenhagen, Denmark www.iapa-summit.info

INTERMAT

24-27 April 2024

Paris, France

www.intermatconstruction.com

AI’s weekly digital newsletter provides a summary of all the latest access news. If you are not already receiving these regular updates, please register by visiting: www.khl.com/register Access International newsletter will then be sent directly to your inbox. Don’t miss out on this definitive weekly news blast from KHL Group.

Kubota steps into telehandler market

Kubota UK has expanded into the materials handling sector, with the launch of its first ever compact telehandler.

As its name suggests, the new KTH48152 has a maximum lifting height of 4.8m and top lifting capacity of 1.5 tonnes.

It is powered by the manufacturer’s own Stage V compliant, three-cylinder D1803 engine,

The China-Europe Railway Express – Sinoboom’s chosen delivery method.

which provides a peak power output of 37kW (50hp) and a service interval of 500 hours.

Commenting on the telehandler’s power systems, Kubota said, “Mounted on the right-hand side between the front and rear wheels, the transverse engine position affords

The new KTH4815-2.

centres, including Sinoboom’s home town of Changsha, and offering customised services, such as collection, packing and customs declaration preparations. The result is dramatically improved timescales, saving almost a month of transportation time when compared to previous 50-day overseas transport by sea freight, said Sinoboom.

In addition to time savings, transport by rail represents a greener service compared to sea transport which creates a range of air and sea pollutants.

generous service access to all filters and the battery isolator, in addition to providing easy access to the handler’s cooling pack. AI

SECOND MEWP PLANT FOR XCMG

XCMG has officially opened its second aerial platform manufacturing plant in China.

The new factory, covering 170,000 square meters and built at a cost of nearly RMB2 billion, will mainly produce the manufacturer’s most popular models, including 22m and 28m boom lifts and electric RT products.

Based 15 minutes drive away from XCMG’s first MEWP factory in Xuzhou, the annual maximum capacity is 60,000 units.

The plant boasts automated equipment, including 120 robots, 25 production lines and a range of other key processes.

PEOPLE NEWS

CHARLIE PATTERSON has officially taken on the position of president of Skyjack at of the beginning of 2024. Patterson, who was previously Vice President of International Operations at Skyjack, took over the presidency from KEN MCDOUGALL, who has retired.

Manitou Group has reorganised its executive committee with the creation of two positions.

As Chief Transformation & Governance Officer, HERVÉ ROCHET, who has held the position of Corporate Secretary – CFO since 2014, will focus on digital, human, reputation and governance.

New to the company, CÉLINE BRARD has spent her career in highly competitive

international environments and as CFO will develop profitable and sustainable growth.

Klubb Group has appointed a new CEO for Italybased truck mount manufacturer

Isoli. PAUL MURPHY is the former owner of Klubb’s UK subsidiary CPL.

Klubb acquires Hematec

France-based Klubb Group has acquired Hematec Arbeitsbühnen, the company’s distributor in Germany since 2022.

CTE has also reorganised its management structure by appointing MARCO GOVONI as Chief Operating Officer, who moves from the role of Sales and Marketing Director. CTE engineer CHRISTIAN TOVAZZI has been appointed to support Marco Govoni as Operation Manager, following decades of experience in production processes at the Italybased manufacturer.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

This move further solidifies its position in Europe, said the company, and builds on its expansion strategy including the recent acquisitions of CPL in the UK and Isoli in Italy. Hematec, which is well established in Germany and Austria with five locations, 40 employees and an annual turnover of €23 million, now enhances Klubb’s footprint and allows the France-based company to directly enter the German market.

Julien Bourrellis, CEO of Klubb Group, said, “The acquisition of Hematec presents a significant opportunity for Klubb Group. The company has a strong foothold in Germany and Austria, boasting a strong

Hematec’s locations.

reputation developed since its inception in 1999.”

The deal will see Dinolift continue and extend the partnership it has with Hematec as its distributor in the German and Austrian markets.

Klubb said it is committed to preserving Hematec’s autonomy, allowing it to operate under its own name and identity.

Andreas Hänel, CEO and Founder of Hematec, will stay on as Managing Director. AI

ACCESS SHARE INDEX (ASI)

■ UK-based Speedy Hire has downgraded its profit forecast, citing a warmer winter and wider challenges in the construction sector. Revealed in its latest trading update, revenues in the UK for Q3 ending 31 December were up by 3%, down from the 5% it posted in its half year results. Revenue from regional customers declined by 6% following challenges across the Construction sector. Speedy said that despite the downgrade, the company is performing “resiliently in the face of cost inflation and macroeconomic uncertainty.”

■ French construction group Vinci has reported a 12% increase in revenue to €68.8 billion (US$74.2 billion) in 2023 but has warned that growth in 2024 is likely to be at a slower pace. Vinci’s order book stands at €61.4 billion ($66.2 billion), up 7% on 2022. Its operating income from ordinary activities was up 12.1% to €8.4 billion ($9.1 billion). Vinci Construction saw “very strong” business levels driven by major mobility infrastructure projects, work on structures for climate resilience, and the energy transition.

■ Ed Sullivan, a leading economist for the concrete and construction industries, is predicting a temporary downturn in the US economy in the first half of this year, followed by recovery in the second half and, importantly, no sign of a recession. Some of the determining factors include the end of the Covid-19 relief programmes, lingering impacts of monetary policy and credit tightening. It was noted that over the past year, the Federal Reserve has responded to rising inflation with the largest rate increases in more than 40 years. Inflation peaked in 2022 and appears to be improving currently.

ELECTRIC DRIVE / HYDRAULIC DRIVE

Working Height: 6m - 16m

The markets

The global access sector is buoyant, but it is accompanied by a range of challenges, notably global economies, with the US on a surer footing than the other major western market of Europe.

Manitou ended its 2023 financial year with a 22% rise in revenues over 2022, reaching an all-time record for the company of €2,871 million and forecasted further growth in 2024.

However, there are challenges in some markets, says Michel Denis, President and Chief Executive Officer of the material handling equipment and MEWP manufacturer.

Looking ahead to the rest of this year, Denis noted a likely downturn in the European market but this would be offset by growth in North America, where the company has introduced additional capacity with the extension of the Madison, South Dakota, US, plant

“The fluidity improvement of the supply chain, completed at the end of 2023, and the ambitious plan to launch new products will provide opportunities for resilience in

2024” said the company.

“We are noticing a steady improvement in our supply chain and a gradual return to the operating practices we had before the Covid and inflation crises.”

According to the ERA/ IRN RentalTracker there is a noticeable deterioration in business sentiment in Europe’s equipment rental industry from the middle of 2023 continuing through to the end of the year, although it is a far from dramatic decline.

Europe declines

In the survey, undertaken at the end of December and start of January, almost a third of companies reported a deteriorating situation, with more than 40% seeing no change and 27% reporting improving conditions.

We have to go back to the start of the pandemic in 2020 to find another period of

negative opinion on ‘current conditions’. This relatively low level of confidence should not be surprising, given that the survey took place at a time of higher interest rates and near or actual recession in the Eurozone and the UK.

However, the worsening conditions are not yet having a powerful impact on business volumes. There is still a large +20% positive balance of opinion on business levels in the final quarter of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022.

The employment question continues to be something of an exception to the broadly deteriorating trends, with many companies still trying hard to recruit staff. At the end of December, 92% of companies were either planning to maintain or increase their staffing levels and just 9% were expecting to reduce their workforces.

When asked about their expectations a year ahead, there

Q4-23

A video round-up some of some of the highlights from AI’s Access Confidence Survey, which asks rental companies, manufacturers and end users to provide their expectations of the year ahead. Visit www.accessbriefing.com to view it.

was no worsening in sentiment compared to the previous survey in June 2023, and there was a small increase in the positive balance of opinion to +22.5% (it was +19% in Q2 2023).

That is still rather low, historically speaking, but remains a positive finding.

Expanding plans

US-based United Rentals, and the world’s largest rental company, said there was strong demand, helping it reach record revenues, along with the acquisition of Ahern Rentals and its specialty division.

Its report for Q4 and the 2023 financial year revealed a 13.5% fourth quarter increase to the tune of $3.1 billion.

The company said it expects the future expansion of specialty to “further position it as a single source of total jobsite solutions.”

Looking ahead, United said it forecasts revenue for the 2024 financial year to be somewhere in the region of $14.6 billion and £15.1 billion.

Matthew Flannery, CEO, United Rentals, said, “Our fourth quarter results capped a year of new records, while staying laser focused on safety and operational excellence.”

Rental confidence in Europe as measured at the end of 2023.

Auction fever

Recent onsite Euro Auctions and Ritchie Bros. events revealed the high prices used access equipment is fetching and the demand for in-person auctions.

The European access market proved its strength when a Genie ZX-135/70 went under the hammer at the Euro Auctions Dormagen sale in Germany for a record €165,000 ($208,000).

It also demonstrated that inperson auctions are very much back in fashion following the end of the Covid pandemic.

The 2020 Genie ZX135/70 sale demonstrates how auctions can drive prices, with competitive bidders prepared to buy used rather than wait 12 months for new, said Scott McCall, Euro Auctions cranes and access specialist. At the Euro Auctions sale in Leeds at the end of January over £1.7 million ($2.15 million) worth of MEWPs went under the hammer. With prices strong, this set the bar for this Genie ZX-135/70 to make record money for an articulated boom lift sold at auction.

McCall, who previously worked for Snorkel, added, “I have been working with my network, taking in more and more excellent consignments from my industry contacts.

With lead times still out on larger scissor and boom lifts, Euro Auctions are keen to source more of these models and offer them to our keen buyer base.

“At the first two sales of 2024, at the Leeds site in the UK and the Dormagen site in Germany, we saw strength in the used lifting and access market, particularly with MEWP used equipment prices, as the demand for good, fresh, machines remains high.

“We have been taking in excellent used equipment from our customers in the UK, with one such consignment being 140 JCB scissors from British rental specialist GT Access.”

Large crowds

This consignment was split three ways with 50 of those machines moved to the company’s European auction sites in Zaragoza, Spain and Dormagen in Germany with the balance selling in the Leeds auction, with all sales making excellent prices.

McCall added, “We are also seeing a strengthening in prices

for rough terrain boom lifts, and slab scissor, with 2017 JCB S1930E’s averaging £3,250.”

Euro Auctions sells a high percentage of lots online, however, at the January Leeds sale, the number of buyers bidding on the day, in person, was one of the biggest crowds on record, resulting in a significant uplift in live bidding and as such, resulted in excellent hammer prices.

Registered bidders at Leeds were up 25% this January 2024, over January 2023 and of the 5,900 registered bidders, 1,000 were buying for the first time with Euro Auctions.

Easier supply

Using its Moerdijk Live Xperience event in the Netherlands as an example of how popular in-person auctions have become since the end of Covid pandemic, Ritchie Bros. sold more than 3,000 pieces of equipment when it took place in October last year.

It featured 3,800 items with 3,030 on-site and online bidders from 80 countries.

The company said more than

The Genie ZX-135/70 sold at the Euro Auctions Dormagen event in Germany.

A Genie ZX-135/70 in Italy. (not the one sold at Euro Auctions).

440 excavators, 640 boom and scissor lifts, 130 wheel loaders and other equipment items, trucks and vehicles were sold at the auction, which was taking place in-person for the first time in three years.

Highlights included a Magni RTH 6.25 Telescopic Forklift and a 2005 Spierings SK 1265 AT-6 6 Axle Tower Crane which sold for €142,500 ($179000).

“We’re coming to a point where we’re seeing increased

supply into the market based on both the work backlogs that are out there along with the original equipment manufacturers having caught up on some of their supply bottlenecks,” says Sam Wyant, president of international sales at Ritchie Bros., who joined the company in 2016 upon leaving Volvo Construction Equipment.

“We’ve come out of a period of tight constrained supply in the industry, and that’s what we see. When there’s an upcycle and the manufacturers can’t keep up with demand, then equipment supply becomes tight.

“As things start to moderate, and I’d say we’re in that moderation phase now, you start to see better equipment availability or the need to leverage additional channels for disposition.”

All this points to a healthy market, with companies now in

a position to sell old machines and OEMs able to clear order backlogs for new launches.

Robust activity

In terms of equipment demand, the company is seeing higher demand for platform lifts and telehandlers, while also noting heightened buyer engagement in channels, leading to what Wyant describes as “pretty robust activity.”

Wyant was speaking during the Moerdijk Live Xperience,

Ritchie Bros’ first in-person event outside the US or Canada, post pandemic. While equipment auctions have historically taken place in settings like this, Ritchie Bros has continued to develop its remote auctions since introducing its online bidding service in 2002.

“We can see that supply is catching up on higher-volume construction equipment,” Wyant says, “such as mid-size loaders and mid-size excavators. There

es-sen-tial - (/əˈsen(t)SHəl/)

seems to be additional supply available on some of those assets, but you still have a lot of niche assets where we’re hearing that supply is still tight. Large mining machines or mid-size mining machines seem to still be pretty tough to come by from an OEM standpoint.”

Wyant also observes that customers have become comfortable with online channels, which offers them a “very high level of comfort with the online bidding process.”

Despite this, he still notes a sustained high turnout at many of the company’s physical auctions, “We see still a lot of foot traffic on the inspection days. There’s a lot of customers that in addition to the investments we’ve made to bring better information to the online world, who still come and see and touch the equipment. There has been really good foot traffic post pandemic.” AI

1. adj.: absolutely necessary; extremely important see also Safe, IP67 Water-Proof Construction, Long-Lasting, Maintenance-Free, Scalable

2. n: something that is absolutely necessary see also 48 Volt, State-of-the-Art BMS, Lithium Iron Phosphate(LFP)

Ritchie Bros. auction yard.

Ready and willing

AI delves into the Indian market, which has been touted as the next ‘China’ in terms of growth.

Find out the viewpoint of Pedro Torres, CEO of Riwal Holding Group, and Munish Taneja, Country Manager for the Riwal’s Manlift brand.

India is on the cusp of major MEWP growth, now that the economy is on the up and there are major strides being made in infrastructure and global construction companies are investing heavily.

The stable political system, complemented by a 7.2% rise in GDP in 2023, the largest globally, has helped establish the base on which to kick start the aerial platform market; that being the acceptance of powered access as a cost-effective alternative over traditional means, along with other crucial factors like a rise in the cost of labour and increased acceptance of safety on worksites.

The estimated number of platforms operational in India is around 14,000 units, which reflects a year-on-year growth of 25% in the last two years. Leading the way in the Indian access rental sector is Manlift, which has 10% share of the country’s total rental fleet, according to Pedro Torres, CEO of Riwal Holding Group, and Munish Taneja, Country Manager for the Manlift brand in India.

Rental dynamics

Riwal is called Manlift in the UAE, Qatar and India and with the brand having been established 15 years ago, there was an expectation that large scale growth of India’s MEWP market would have come sooner, but the complex political and economic circumstances have meant that true potential for MEWPs is now just ready to be reached.

Taneja says, “Rental penetration in India is still very low. It has been growing in the past couple of years but it is nowhere near as mature as the construction equipment market. But, now we see that this is the time for us to prepare for the growth, and it’s about to take off to the next level.”

As Torres adds, Manlift benefits from the company’s experience in the European markets, and employs rental management

initiatives like the Manlift Way – the best practice ethos of the company, an international ERP system, sustainability policies, and the My Manlift app. According to Torres, Manlift has the added advantage of that it arrived so early in the Indian MEWP market that in many areas of the country aerial platforms are known as Manlifts, rather than any of the global generic terms like AWP or aerial platform.

However, these kind of emerging market quirks are set to end in India as its MEWP market takes off and the levels of competition among OEMs targeting the country increases. Torres forecasts that in five years’ time the MEWP population may have reached 40,000-50,000.

Manlift currently has three depots; the principle office in the North, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, a second in the West of the country, Sanand, Gujarat, and another in the South, Penukonda, Andhra Pradesh.

With exponential growth forecasted over the coming years, Manlift is set to introduce two or three depots to help cover India’s vast geography.

Torres adds, “We had been expecting the market to grow faster, but if you see the pipeline of projects, the economical country plans and the trajectory in terms of GDP, the country is expecting to be the third largest economy in the world ahead of Germany and Japan and behind the US and China by 2030.”

Huge potential

Although Torres and Taneja forecast that the five-year growth rate in India won’t be as fast paced as that found in China, which saw its MEWP population rise from around 40,0000 units in 2017 to approaching 500,000 units five years later in 2022.

Taneja says, “There is a huge potential. In the last two years we have done a lot of work in educating customers and the awareness is getting to an advanced level where customers understand the benefits, productivity, safety standards and efficiency at work sites.

“But this awareness is not everywhere. When you look at India, which has 28 states, the major economic activity is in the west and south of India and that’s where we see higher penetration levels, compared to the east or some parts of the north.”

In the forefront: Pedro Torres, left, and Munish Taneja, right, at the Manlift depot in Great Noida.

One of the major issues is that all aerial platforms in India are supplied with an operator. Torres says, “They think that if a machine does not have an operator, then they cannot use the machine.

“That means if a rental company grows quickly, it may have to employ potentially thousands more operators. This is a barrier to wide MEWP expansion in the country.

“The challenge remains to persuade users that they can easily be trained to operate the equipment.”

The custom of supplying an operator with every machine also creates inefficient work practice as two people are always required in the basket.

And, there is another reason why growth in India is not expected to be as fast as in China – the lack of domestic manufacturers.

“We do not have any major manufacturers

based here. The equipment is being imported from Europe, North America and China and that adds to the price, with shipping costs and custom duties.”

Future manufacturing

This situation is set to change, however. JCB has recently set up in the country and there is word that other major MEWP manufacturers in the west are planning to do the same with factories reported to open in the country this year.

“As more and more manufacturers come to India, prices will become more competitive and the delivery times will be better.

“[Whereas at the moment], we see more and more companies using scaffolding, as they compare the cost, and it is much lower. This would change massively if more new equipment was easily available.”

Apart from major international OEMs looking seriously at setting up in India, there are several existing companies in India that are in the advanced stages of product development, and Torres and Taneja believe there will be five to six Indian manufacturers in the next three years.

In the meantime, the traditional manufacturers from North America and Europe are well established in the market. “JLG and Genie are well known brands, having first mover advantage, and in the last couple of years we are seeing Chinese manufacturers being more aggressive in terms of their offerings,” says Taneja.

As of today, Taneja believes the Chinabased OEMs already have about 50% share of new machine sales in the country.

Would Manlift consider buying equipment from those Chinese suppliers?

Torres answers, “We will continue working with our main supplier JLG and that is our strategy, as it is in Europe, but we are open to other manufacturers because we can also import directly from China.”

As with many emerging markets, the boom lift is the most prevalent equipment type in India. Taneja comments, “The scissor market is very competitive. With India being such a large country, operating scissor lifts in these geographies can be challenging.

“With Manlift having a pan-India presence, we favour boom lifts, although we do offer scissors as a complete solution.”

In numbers, this amounts to 40% of Manlift’s fleet being scissors, while boom lifts make up the rest.

Torres adds, “There are more boom lifts in rental in India. That is what is being demanded and that is what we follow, but that will change in the next years to become more like Europe.”

Emission awareness

When it comes to which type of new boom lifts Indian companies are ordering, diesel is still the power option of choice, with all electric RT equipment not yet on many rental outfit’s radar.

Taneja says, “Electric scissors are more advanced, 60% of this equipment is electric, but for boom lifts it is 8-10%. The awareness of electric machines and the importance of >

The Manlift India HQ team: David King, Regional Director for Manlift Countries; Munish Taneja, Country Manager Manlift India; Mansi Gujrati, Finance Manager Manlift India; Roshan Alberts, Regional Finance.

Part of the Manlift fleet.

sustainability goals are not as developed as in mature markets.

“But this awareness is growing, and they are starting to understand the cost savings in fuel consumption and lowering CO2”.

The number of rental companies in the country is also growing, but the majority of them are ‘unorganised’ entities. “Among the organised companies, there are maybe five to eight, which are good around operations and safety.

“But the larger section is made up of unorganised companies - new entrants over the last two years which are testing the market with a few machines - there are maybe 100-200 of these,” says Taneja.

Rental rates are historically low, which makes investment in new equipment less attractive.

Therefore, importing used equipment has been the practice. But again that is changing. “As the market is growing we are seeing rental rates improving, but not at the level we would like - we see there is a scope in the next two years that people will be able to afford to invest in new machines. That is why some are evaluating Chinese equipment which is substantially cheaper.” A JLG

Multi-national attention

Besides these rental maturity factors, Taneja points out that multi-national companies are now seeing India as a “sweet spot” for investment.

“Then there are the growing sectors like infrastructure, airports, metro and highspeed rail, which are areas that are doing very well. And, to have better productivity, these contractors are looking at aerial platforms.”

With all this comes a growing middle class and an increasing cost in labour.

Torres adds, “We are seeing there is a shortage of skilled manpower, so we are focusing on training our customers to be operators, to international standards.

“We are always talking to our customers about best practice so that they understand that if they use their own teams as operators, they will be more productive.”

There are no current regulations for standards related to aerial platforms. Taneja reports, “as a responsible company we are promoting IPAF standards. We have a training facility and instructors, and we are training our own operators as well as those from other rental companies.”

Torres adds, “We have a lot of work to do between us, IPAF and the Rental Association of India. We trained 600 operators last year but that is not enough. We need to push to connect with other rental organisations to promote safety in the country and that will the change the way we work at height but there is a long way to go.”

On a positive note, Taneja adds, “More and more international companies are coming to India to manufacturer or introduce facilities and they are bringing safety standards.”

And as Torress reiterates, the future is bright. “If everything goes well we should invest at least €30 million in fleet in the next five years, and if we can do more we will. AI

Electric reality

Emission free is no longer a buss phrase or a ‘like to have; rather it has found its way into every scissor designer’s mind as OEMs seek to eraticate any leak, noise or pollutant.

The phrase fully electric may turn up often these days in MEWP-related conversation but that does not mean we should not talk about it anymore. The move to zero emission in scissor lifts is particularly fast paced and is perhaps laying the ground for the entire construction industry.

Skyjack has recently adopted all electric scissors with its E-Drive motors, driving the SJ3215 E and SJ3219 E.

According to Skyjack, the micro has now developed away from a niche to a meaningful segment. Driven by a move away from ladder use for low level access and towards increased utilization in specific environments such as data centres that require operation in restricted areas and

FULL HEIGHT DRIVING

on suspended flooring whereby low floor loading is required.

Now Skyjack is taking it a stage further and 2024 will also see the addition of its larger DC Scissors with E-Drive.

Malcolm Early, VP of Marketing at Skyjack, put’s the situation into context. “There is a lot of excited talk over new technology. Chiefly, a rental company is only making money when a machine is working. Whatever the latest whiz-bang feature, providing reliability and up time at the right price continues to be a challenge.

“That’s why, while Skyjack were not the first to introduce e-drive, we did it in our own time and when we felt totally comfortable with the technology and componentry, especially regarding reliability

MEC has launched a 38ft slab scissor that can drive at full height.

Besides the ability to drive at full height, the MEC 3232SE does not incorporate an outrigger levelling system, which the company said as a combination is a first for this product category.

Other standard features and benefits of the 3232SE include a chassis that is 32 inches wide with a platform capacity of 550 pounds. The machine is equipped with an efficient AC electric drive system and delivers more duty cycles from each battery charge than previously offered, thereby reducing emissions and jobsite power demand.

With a focus on value and total cost of ownership, AGM batteries and MEC’s patented Leak Containment System (LCS) comes as standard, added the company.

“Driving at full height is a bedrock requirement and expectation of any self propelled mobile elevating work platform. Driving at full height is the better solution that MEC brought to this category,” said Gary Crook, VP of Engineering.

Gary Crook, VP of Engineering points to the continued development towards sustainability in terms of energy efficiency and pollution reduction.

MEC introduced a full slab range of all-electric models last year. Safety challenges, more compact dimensions and increased platform capacities were all market requirements that MEC responded to.

Two recent introductions from the company are the 3232 and Micro 26-XD machines. The 3232 is a 32 Ft (09.7m) platform height slab Scissor on a chassis of 32 in (0.82m) wide. It is unique in that it drives at full height that among an improvement in productivity, there’s a significant increase in battery duty cycles due to the elimination of waste machine functions.

The drive at full height MEC 3232SE.

and ease of service.”

The launch of the new range of DC electric scissors, feature AC brushless electric drive motors among other significant design changes.

Launching globally throughout 2024, the ‘simply electric’ range will be replacing the current hydraulic drive models.

Development of the E-Drive DC scissors, focused on increasing operational uptime, reduced cost of ownership and improving resale value.

This means that productivity is boosted with an improvement of up to 20% in runtime per charge. E-Drive provides consistent power, traction and torque, with over 25% grade ability.

From a Skyjack point of view, 2024 will see it expand the E-Drive offering.

Apart from the new E-Drives, expect further developments in Skyjack’s low level access machines too.

Industry standard

The recent and on-going efforts on reducing fleet ageing will continue to provide benefits and more profitable utilisation in 2024. Additionally, rental companies and major contractors face increasing demands for sustainability information as the need for improved duty cycles and a more environmentally sustainable product is steadily increasing.

Nevertheless, oil free - in other words zero hydraulics - is becoming an industry standard, and Dingli has embraced it with its Oil Free series of scissor lifts, which offer direct electric drive and no hydraulics.

The manufacturer’s oil-free, all-electric

Skyjack’s electric scissor, the SJ3219E.

scissors are available up to 16m working height and incorporate electric actuators on the scissor stack, replacing the hydraulics.

For units above 10m working height, the scissors require two actuators working in tandem which Dingli’s owner, Xu Shugen is a major technological achievement and one that will be difficult to expand on.

“The technology is already very advanced. It may be possible to increase the height of the scissors slightly using this technology,” says Mr. Xu, “but it won’t allow it to be extend into rough terrains scissors.”

Adding to its range, Dingli has launched a new 12m narrow AC scissor. The JCPT1208AC offers a maximum working height of 12m indoors and 9.2m outdoors, with a maximum load of 250kg, while its width is only 0.83m.

In addition, the machine can provide stability without additional outriggers, as well as being able to drive at full height.

For convenient transportation, the height of the JCPT1208AC with guardrail folded is 2.05m, and with an overall machine width of 0.83m, it is designed to fit through narrow spaces and doors.

In terms of endurance, the model is equipped with a 24V240Ah battery. It is also equipped with a fully enclosed AC system like the company’s original models, with dual AC for lifting and driving.

New electrics

Zoomlion Access has expanded its range of electric powered scissor lifts, adding two new zeroemission models to its offering.

The new ZS0407E and ZS0607E scissors offer indoor working heights of 6.2m and 7.8m respectively, with platform capacities of 240kg and 230kg.

Part of the Zoomlion Green product line, the standout feature of the models is the

RTS GO ELECTRIC

LGMG has launched a new electric rough terrain scissor lift.

The 17.9m (58ft 9 in) working height SR1623E joins four other units in the range, SR0818E (SR2669E), SR1018E (SR3369E), SR1218E (SR4069E) and SR1418E (SR4669E).

The new SR1623E is a lithium battery version of the existing diesel engine-powered SR1623D (SR5390D).

It offers the same features as the SR1623D (SR5390D), except the power source.

The model’s large platform length of 6.57m or 7.4m extended (2ft 6in/ 24ft 3in), includes dual extension decks. The platform’s capacity is 680kg.

The oscillating axels and four-wheel drive provide 40% gradeability and enable the vehicle to drive on most rough terrain job sites. It is also equipped with auto-levelling hydraulic outriggers as standard.

The 17.9m (58ft 9 in) working height SR1623E joins four other units.

absence of any hydraulic systems - which means zero chance of hydraulic oil leaks for equipment users and rental companies.

Yi Zhong, Manager of Zoomlion Access’ R&D department, said, “Featuring electric cylinders for zero leaks and emission-free working conditions, the two models are purpose-built for construction sites with stringent environmental standards such as dust-free workshop, data centers and libraries.

“Besides, their compact size they can easily navigate into narrow spaces, better for indoor maintenance.”

Both the ZS0407E and ZS0607E, which offer respective gradeabilities of 30% and 25%,

The Oil Free Dingli JCPT1612PA.

incorporate an energy recovery device that is said to improve working time by 15% per shift and a load weighting system.

They are also fitted with maintenancefree components such as the knuckles and brushless DC lifting motor, which contribute to a lower total cost of ownership.

Removeable extender

Haulotte’s recent offerings, the HS15 E and HS18 E rough terrain scissor lifts, reflect the industry’s move to sustainability.

With a 100% electric design, these lifts operate emission-free, making them ideal for environmentally conscious projects and urban areas with strict emission regulations. “More and more cities and companies are taking steps to reduce their environmental footprint such as Emission Zones (LEZ), or green construction sites,” said the company.

The HS15 E and HS18 E boast a range of features designed to enhance productivity and safety on the job site from non-marking tyres for indoor use to a manual differential wheel lock for extra traction in challenging terrain. Furthermore, the inclusion of a 5.5kW removable range extender ensures uninterrupted operation, even in remote locations where charging infrastructure may be limited.

Part of the manufacturer’s Pulseo ‘green energy’ range, the scissors can be deployed on slopes up to 5° with outriggers to guarantee safe elevation on uneven ground. High ground clearance protects machine components in all terrain conditions. The HS15 E and HS18 E scissors feature load >

Genie’s GS-1932.

LOW BUT GROWING

Haulotte has noted the increased interest in low level access, includiing slab scissors below 6m working height, especially for light duty applications and indoor use. “Customers seem to be looking for more and more light machines, that are easy to use and to transport and are compact.”

They represent an alternative to ladders for more safety while working at height. Either push around or self propelled, these machines fit with many indoor and low height applications like facilities management, maintenance, cleaning, warehousing, M&E (mechanical and electrical) fitting and HVAC (heating ventilation and air conditioning), among others.

To answer this need, Haulotte introduced five new models to extend its solutions offer, including three slab scissors, two pusharound versions, the Swift-Up 3.4 and Swift-Up 4.5 and one self-propelled model, the Swift-Up 4.5 SP. The electric lifting is proposed as a standard feature to reach effortless the maximum working height of 4.5 m.

Part of Haulotte’s growing low level access range, the Swift Up 4.2.

capacity to meet the most demanding applications: cladding, insulation and maintenance work, among others. They can lift up to 750kg of load and up to four persons. The large work platform is 7.40m long when both extensions are deployed.

Haulotte electric machines are equipped with the Haulotte Activ’Energy Management system. A smart charger, that monitored all charge parameters, optimises charge cycles to improve the battery lifespan.

As lead-acid batteries require even more care, dedicated programs and options are available to remove any maintenance effort for users and owners like the automatic water refilling. Safety is paramount in the scissor lift industry, and Haulotte leaves no stone unturned in this regard.

Models covered are the Optimum 8, Compact Range: 8N, 10N, 10, 12 and 14.

Global options

In late 2022, Genie introduced lithium-ion for GS E-Drive slab scissor lifts.

Genie Lithium-Ion batteries have been specifically designed for MEWPs and are certified by the independent organisation Underwriters Laboratory (UL) against fire, electric shock and explosion.

The option is available globally on nearly all GS E-Drive slab scissor lifts, with the exception of the GS-1432m and GS-1932m micro scissor lifts and the GS-3232, GS-4046 and GS-4655 slab scissor lifts. Genie E-Drive scissor lifts are already low-maintenance machines, but equipment owners can reduce maintenance even further with the lithium-ion battery option.

Its secondary guarding system, integrated into the upper control box, utilises LiDar technology to detect the operator’s position and movements in real time.

Additionally, Haulotte is focusing on finance and has introduced an extended fiveyear warranty offering.

As the first access equipment manufacturer to offer this length of warranty, the company says, “We have decided to step up our commitment to support customers by extending the warranty on electric slab scissors from two years to five years.”

That’s because, says Genie, unlike a flooded lead acid (FLA) battery, lithium-ion batteries do not need to be watered and, with an expected lifespan of about 10 years, the Lithium-Ion battery also shouldn’t need to be replaced during the machine’s regular life.

Because many rental companies look to give older equipment a second life on the used equipment market, the Genie lithium option can be retrofitted with FLA batteries when the unit reaches the end of its useful life in a rental fleet. AI

The new ZS0407E scissor lift.

EVENT DETAILS

WHAT: IAPAs/IPAF Summit 2024

WHERE: Scandic Copenhagen Hotel, Copenhagen, Denmark

WHEN: 14 March 2024

www.iapa-summit.info

13 MARCH 2024

Networking event – at the Planetarium Site visit – GSV

ACCESS RENTAL COMPANY OF THE YEAR

AFI RENTALS, UK

During 2023 AFI was the first to market the Smart Off-hire Technology Project that allowed end-users to off-hire their machine by scanning a MEWP-specific QR code. The company also implemented the Machine Availability Checking System; a robust live system that works in real-time from mobiles or desktops and displayed on screens.

DAYIM EQUIPMENT RENTALS, SAUDI ARABIA

Achievements include a purpose built secondary guarding system for the aviation industry, running the youngest MEWP fleet in the country, a commitment to electrifying 30% of its fleet by 2025 and being the only KSA-based rental company to have IPAF and IADC accreditation with the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation.

KILOUTOU, FRANCE

The company launched an e-commerce website in France, as well as customer portal MyKiloutou. It acquired Denmarkbased GSV and Vendap, in Portugal, along with two others in Germany. Digital transformation came with Apizee, an online conference with customers to solve technical issues, and introduced Europe’s first electric heavy delivery truck.

MILLS, BRAZIL

Initiatives include a devotion to safety, being: the first company in the sector in

In summary

The shortlist for the International Awards for Powered Access 2024 (IAPAs) has been published. Here follows a summary of each shortlisted entry, providing a unique insight into the latest developments in our sector.

Event organisers Access International and KHL Group would like to thank the fivestrong judging panel for all their efforts in assessing the more than 130 entries received for this year’s event. Information about the judges can be found on the IAPA webiste.

The IAPA 2024 shortlist

Brazil to commit to SBTi

(Science

Based Targets) initiative and the first Brazilian rental company to offer a CO₂ platform that calculates emissions. Mills also introducted the TransFormar scholarships programme and launched an algorithm to predict battery maintenance needs.

CONTRIBUTION TO SAFE WORKING AT HEIGHT ELECTROELSA – PARACHUTE DEVICE

The Parachute can be installed on transport platforms, mast climbers and hoists to detect missing mounting bolts on mast sections before stopping the machine. The mast section, which is not correctly assembled is slightly raised to reveal the issue that caused the machine to stop.

GRAVITY JOE – PNEUMATIC BALANCER

The system aims to reduce musculoskeletal disorders and is effortlessly installed on aerial platforms, taking a weight of up to 18kg. It allows operators to work safely, boost productivity in drilling, coring and screwing applications, among others, to enable solo operation at heights, and allows a second operator to manage other tasks in the basket.

HAULOTTE – FASTN

In 2023 the company introduced the FASTN that alerts the operator when they’re not safely connected to it. In 2024 it will launch the Haulotte Dual Reach; a restricted envelope that allows the load capacity of the machine to raise from 250kg up to 350kg and tilt from 4° to 6°. In addition, safety KPIs are part of the Sherpal Pilot telematics solution with electric line detection.

SUNBELT RENTALS – PROJECTS & INITIATIVES

Sunbelt has introduced an external team to deliver work at height safety training and upskilling and introduced a range of safety devices, including EQSS OverWatch

secondary guarding, Nationwide’s Harness On, Skyjack’s XStep and JLG’s SkySense. Following a £1m investment, all new machines have telematics/access control as standard, while the Engage for Life and Safety Weeks initiative adds to the culture.

THE SUSTAINABILITY AWARD

CTE – MP 20 EV

Launched in the last quarter 2022, CTE’s MP 20 Ev was the first 100% electric truck mounted platform on 3.5 tonne chassis, with 20m working height. In partnership with Green-G Electric Vehicles the platform is mounted on a zero-emission commercial vehicle, the ecarry.

DINGLI

– ‘FUTURE FACTORY’

The OEM’s ecosystem is derived from Green travel by employees, its new factory park that saves 1.2 million kilowatt hours of electricity per year, intelligent manufacturing with automate bending, welding, machining, spraying and final assembly lines and a remanufacturing factory.

NIFTYLIFT – HYDROGENELECTRIC (H2E)

Being the first MEWP manufacturer to integrate hydrogen fuel cell technology into its products, the H2E’s hydrogen fuel cell fully charges the batteries from one G20 Hydrogen bottle, doubling the machine’s range while emitting no CO2 or other pollutants. The bottle is quick and easy to replace.

TRACKUNIT – EMISSIONS REPORTING

The tool responds to the urgent need for automated tracking of emissions from construction equipment. It is built on a “no machine left behind” principle and does the complex work of capturing CO2 emissions from every make and model of gas-powered and electric equipment – even when data is limited, lowering carbon footprint.

DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT AWARD

CRAMO – SMARTCONTROL SUSTAINABILITY SERVICES

The service offers an easy solution to rent and return lifts on site. Cramo will deliver a selection of lifts to a job site and rentals. Using the SmartControl function on the Cramo app, the user receives a PIN code to allow access the required lift.

JCB – LIVELINK

JCB spent 18 months creating LiveLink Next Generation connecting to 100% of JCB machines, as well as other manufacturer’s equipment to allow a comprehensive mixed fleet, and delivering simplified data driven actionable insights with the overall vision of adopting a digital first approach.

KILOUTOU – YOUSE

Offering a scalable solution for its clients to share their equipment with other contractors on the same worksite, a tracker with RFID reader is attached to each unit giving authorization of use in reserved time slots. It uses a digital platform and mobile app to reserve, lock/unlock the equipment.

TRANSGRUA – QR/ NFC EQUIPMENT CHECK

A digital tool used by customers through a QR code or NFC touch, with contents dedicated to each MEWP model. The tool gives the operator several options: checking the machine, workplace mode, downloading the manual and familiarisation without any type of download or installation of apps.

EQUALITY DIVERSITY & INCLUSION (EDI)

DAYIM EQUIPMENT RENTALS

Dayim has promoted diversity and gender equality in the workplace, contributing to societal advancement in the KSA through equitable hiring practices. This includes encouraging women to take on roles traditionally dominated by men, such as in workshops and recognising the importance of skill development for all employees.

DINOLIFT

The company has introduced Personal Development Plans with each employee so they each have a personalized roadmap for growth, along with its Elements of AI course – with immediate reward for course completions, Supporting Education Locally for local students, and monthly coaching sessions for supervisors, along with promoting ‘responsibility’ in the community.

MILLS

The TransFormar Programme is a commitment to making a positive impact by

generating education and employability for vulnerable young people. It offers technical and vocational scholarships to the 24% of young people in the country who neither study nor work. In addition, TransFormar works with customers and suppliers to generate more opportunities.

TEREX

At its 2023 leadership conference, Terex introduced a Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion strategy. The company’s DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) Site Roadmaps provide actions to support the strategy, while the 10 “I Will” statements encourage team members to feel safe, supported and valued and training is provided to leaders and managers.

IAPA INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY PRIZE

DINGLI – BT44ERT

This telescopic boom lift is pure electric, with a working height of 44.4m and dual capacity of 300kg and 454kg and is the tallest electric boom in the industry. The “X” shaped axle can be expanded without driving. There is a 230°amplitude angle of the jib, hooked back for container transport, and full redundancy of electronic control software and hardware.

FRANCE ELEVATEUR – LIVE LINE TRUCK MOUNT

The off-road aerial device can work on 400 kV live line working on transmission lines according to the EN 61057 standard. It has a 41m working height, 360kg load, and is mounted on a 32 tonne, 8-wheel truck. The bi-energy power allows power take off and 12 complete cycles in fully electric.

TRACKUNIT – ACCESS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

The system combines Bluetooth, QR codes, operator profiles, and external APIs for secure and compliant equipment operations. Users can increase productivity and save time by remotely managing equipment access across projects, plus enable operator access with a mobile app offering a choice of trusted digital keys.

TROJAN BATTERY COMPANY –AES BATTERIES

The new design lasts three times longer than standard AGM units, working in extreme temperatures, and withstanding repetitive partial state of charge. It features technological advancements, including a proprietary carbon additive to preserve the negative active material. It also incorporates additives and Deep Cycle Series (DCS) to prevent degradation of the positive materials.

PRODUCT OF THE YEAR CATEGORIES

MAST CLIMBERS/ HOISTS

ALIMAK – VECTIO 650

As Alimak’s largest transport platform with a size of up to 14.7 square metres, allowing wide and bulky goods, it reduces the need for a tower crane. The single-mast version has a capacity of 2,500kg or 7 passengers. The twin-masted version can handle payloads of up to 3,700kg or 7 passengers. The modular design offers flexibility through custom options on single or twin-masted systems.

ELECTROELSA – ELSA P46

An evolution of the P40, the model includes the Parachute safety device, (see Contribution to Safe Working at Height). In addition, the P46 has an overload detection system. It has deck options of 1m or 1.40m width with wall extensions up to 5m. In double mast it can have a length of 34m and working height of 220m and can be interchanged between single or double mast.

MABER – LIFT SHAFT HOIST

This construction hoist has been designed to be installed in small lift shafts, leaving the external part of the building free on the ground and facade. The hoist is equipped with comfort inverter to reach speeds of 40m/min, wi-fi codified powerless landing call system and Maber’s monitoring system, with delivery into MyMaber cloud service.

SCISSOR LIFTS & VERTICAL MASTS

ALMACRAWLER – BIBI 1090 PRIMO

The 10m working height tracked scissor has self-levelling up to 20° longitudinal and 14° lateral with AlmaCrawler’s patented technology, and can be driven at this level up to 6.5m working height. It has a full electric drive and extractable/swapable power pack that allows for infinite autonomy.

DINGLI – JCPT1612PA

Dingli’s oil free, direct electric drive series, has replaced the two hydraulic cylinders, with dual electric actuators. Due to the power difference of the motors, any change in output current can cause them to be out of sync. Dingli’s 16m JCPT1612PA allows perfect synchronization of the two actuators.

FARAONE – ELEVAH 6

Designed to offer superior stability, the Elevah E6 Move is also compact, with a base measuring 110cm x 78 cm. It has a maximum capacity of 200kg and a zero-turn radius. This unique feature allows for easy manoeuvrability even in narrow spaces. >

PLATFORM BASKET – HERON 10

The 9.6m working height, outreach of 3.45m with two people in the basket, and a capacity of 230kg are all achieved with a 1.2m width. It offers a unique in-profile stabilisation system which also allows it level itself. The basket can be swapped with 250kg hydraulic winch. There is remote loading/unloading.

SELF PROPELLED BOOMS AND ATRIUM LIFTS

DINGLI – BT44ERT

See Innovative Technology prize.

NIFTYLIFT – HR15 H2E

Launched in 2023, the HR15 H2E

IPAF MEMBER-ONLY CATEGORIES

IPAF TRAINING CENTRE OF THE YEAR

■ HSS TRAINING

■ MILLS

■ NATIONWIDE PLATFORMS

■ SPEEDY SERVICES

IPAF TRAINING INSTRUCTOR OF THE YEAR

■ BRIAN SNEDDON –NATIONWIDE PLATFORMS

■ JORGE ENCINAS – EXPDC3

■ JOSE RAMON ETXEBARRIA URRUTIA – PLATAFORMAS DARYAT

■ PETER HAZELL – AFI

■ WAGNER SILVA DOS SANTOS DE ANDRADE – MILLS

(Hydrogen-Electric) is the new low weight, all-electric drive 15m boom from Niftylift. It offers a 15.7m working height, with an outreach of 9.4m from a compact chassis of 4,680kg. It features hydrogen fuel cell technology, fully charging its batteries from a G20 Hydrogen bottle, doubling its range.

PALAZZANI – TTZJ 58

The TTZJ 58 is the highest spider lift in the world at 58m, offering 20m outreach, with 120/230/400kg basket capacity. It remains compact, light and agile. The articulated arm features a double telescopic and fly jib, with an up-and-over reach of 20m at 30m. There is also a bi-energy power option.

PLATFORM BASKET – SPIDER 54

The 54m working height spider has a basket capacity of 400kg without height restrictions. The diagonal track extension system allows mobility in extreme terrains. The standard unit includes a 990kg direct pull hydraulic quick-change winch. The 53kW engine and load sensing transmission with variabledisplacement motors/pumps enables agility.

TEUPEN – LEO27GTPLUS

The lightest 27m working height spider on the market has a new Fuzzy V control system with display design for easier operation and diagnostics, a unique 165° movable fly jib, four stabilizer positions, a lifting device of 300kg, and come home/memory function. The radio remote charges from the basket.

VEHICLE/TRAILER- MOUNTED

PALFINGER – P 280 CK EDRIVE

The emission-free 28m working height truck mount has fully electric Volvo FE Electric chassis with a 375 kWh capacity, that can

be charged during operation and powers both the vehicle and the aerial platform. The charging time with 150 kW DC is around 2.3 hours and the unit has a range of around 240km. There is a 300kg aluminium basket with integrated anti-squeeze protection.

RUTHMANN – STEIGER T 1000 HF

The new 100m working height truck mount has an outreach of 39m, exceeding industry standards by 10m, a 600kg basket capacity, and a machine length of 16.53m with a lightweight 53-tonne chassis. The unit achieves a unique power-to-weight ratio, with 500hp on the 53-tonne chassis.

SOCAGE – FORSTE 16A SPEED

This compact 15.9m working height articulated telescopic boom is mounted on a less than 3500kg vehicle. It is mounted on a Piaggio Porter NP6, powered by combined gasoline/LPG. The basket is front fixed for greater precision. The new hydraulic system with Socage’s control allows smoother and proportional movements, while its reduced overall weight allows greater customisation.

VERSALIFT DENMARK – V-200

Mounted on a on 3.5 tonne Iveco Daily, the telescopic boom provides 19.9m height, a 300kg basket capacity - with 100kg it has 14m outreach. Setup is fast with the automatic stabilization. The control system allows smooth operation, with narrow/wide jacking. Bucket rotation and outrigger setup is from the ground or in-basket LCD screen.

IPAF/ACCESS INTERNATIONAL LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

To be announced at the ceremony. AI

FACTS AND FIGURES

80% of scaffold erection and dismantling jobs “still done completely manually”

80% of time during scaffolding assembly is spent on material transport

73% of all costs in scaffolding are labour costs

There are developments and trends in the market and in scaffolding solutions that open up new opportunities for scaffolders. However, this requires the necessary flexibility and professionalism of employees and systems, which is a challenge given the current shortage of skilled labour and the rise in scaffolding prices.

The latest

While the construction industry is suffering a noticeable setback after the boom years, scaffolders can position themselves successfully in current market dynamics, writes Philipp Merath,

Director North & South America, at

The increasing complexity of construction projects and stricter safety requirements also offer opportunities to position oneself well. There are promising prospects in areas such as infrastructure, events, renovation of old buildings and energy-efficient refurbishment. Modern scaffolding systems and innovative planning solutions play a key role in leading the industry into a successful future.

Robotic solutions

Marr Scaffolding recently utilized a robot for one of its largest scaffold builds on record. Lindsey Anderson discusses the details with Bob Dembitzki, president and general manager of scaffold and shoring.

“W hen completed, there will be approximately 250 tonnes of scaffold wrapping the east, west and north elevations,” Bob Dembitzki, president and general manager of scaffold and shoring at Marr Scaffolding Company, says.   Dembitzki is detailing the project at 26 Court Street in Boston. The 175,000-square-foot municipal office building owned by the City of Boston, US, is currently undergoing a full interior and exterior restoration. The project covers 11 floors above grade, three basement levels and a redesign of the exterior plaza.

26 Court Street is a 130-foothigh structure with deep recesseds

“Using LiftBot saves up to 44% of man-hours, which directly addresses the labour shortage.”

windows that required outriggers and a large cornice on the 10th floor, approximately 100 feet off ground level – it is one of the largest scaffold

Peri.

Increased material costs

Rising material costs for building materials and raw materials are leading to a decline in new construction orders, which many construction companies are already feeling the effects of.

For scaffolding companies, this has the advantage that refurbishment projects in existing buildings continue to represent a

The 26 Court Street project in Boston.

techniques

projects in Marr’s 125-year history.

And it is also the first in the Boston area to utilize Kewazo’s LiftBot, a “robot” aimed at reducing worker fatigue while automating material lifting and transport.

Going through the phases

Kewazo was founded in 2018 with the vision to digitize on-site construction operations with robotics and data analytics, according to the company. The Germany-based business, which now has US headquarters in Texas, contacted Marr Scaffolding when the company was in town for a robotics seminar.

“While in Boston with LiftBot, Kewazo and Marr arranged for a demonstration in our South Boston yard,” Dembitzki explains. “With a positive response from our scaffold erectors, Marr and Kewazo decided to test it live on our Court Street scaffold installation project.”

Marr’s Scaffold Division began the first phase by installing systems scaffolding on the east and west side elevations of the building. By September all scaffolding had been installed and will remain in place for approximately six months.

During the first phase of the

project, two LiftBots assisted scaffolders in moving materials between levels. The battery-powered remote-controlled LiftBot has an operating speed of 138 feet/minute, a load capacity of 220 pounds and a working height certified up to 164 feet; its on-board computer also collects operational data and analytics, which enables Marr’s project managers to track on-site progress in real time.

“Marr was able to build an elevation with five scaffold erectors plus the LiftBot in lieu of with erectors and two electric winches,” Dembitzki says. “The labour was able to be deployed elsewhere on the project.

“Due to the age of structure and unknown structural integrity, Marr did not sit any scaffold legs on the cornice and opted to knee-brace

stable source of income. Flexible scaffolding systems that can be used efficiently for a wide variety of building geometries are often required here. The planning of these projects can also be complicated by a lack of drawings and plans, for example, which is reflected in the increasing demand for 3D building scanning and flexible components to reduce stock levels.

Another trend derived from this is the increased use of modular façade scaffolding.

Energy costs as an opportunity

Even though rising energy costs are affecting scaffolding companies, whether in terms of heating or the fuel consumption of the fleet, opportunities are arising, such as scaffolding for the installation of solar systems and the insulation of buildings and industrial plants.

In addition, planning and materials optimised for transport and storage can improve logistics and save fuel. For example, modular components can be loaded in a much more space-saving way than frames >

around the cornice,” Dembitzki adds. “In addition, some of the sidewalks around the perimeter of the building required reshoring from below grade to support the load imposed by the scaffold.”

Safety at the forefront

“Using LiftBot saves up to 44% of man-hours, which directly addresses the labour shortage, a long-term problem in the industry,” Kewazo says. “The robot reduces the risk of accidents and improves the working conditions on-site. With minor adjustments, the technology can be applied to additional tasks such as insulation, painting and other on-site material transport.”

The LiftBot, Kewazo and Marr say, does all of that while also enhancing

worker safety.

“The LiftBot has numerous safety features,” Dembitzki explains. “At startup of each shift there is an automated checklist to ensure everything is in proper working order. There are sensors located on the basket that will not allow you to overload or distribute the load unevenly.

The risk of falling materials during load-in is dramatically reduced if not eliminated. The basket swivels into the staging which allows the scaffold crew to unload from a fully guardrailed deck and without reaching over the edge.”

So, with safety and savings leading the way, could this – and future – robots be the “new normal” of scaffolding erection?

“I would say yes,” Dembitzki says. “Our crew members were able to establish a predictable and sustainable working pace with LiftBot operating at an ideal speed. Downtime was reduced and we were able to maintain a healthy, productive pace of installation that was sustainable for our scaffold erectors.”

The 175,000-square-foot municipal office building owned by the City of Boston.

Safety is at forefront in modern scaffolding project design.

PERI EQUIPMENT

With the Peri QuickSolve façade planner, scaffolding projects can be planned quickly and intuitively.

In the specially designed app, the building plan is first created and then the walls for which scaffolding is planned are specified.

In addition to the 3D preview of the scaffolding, a list of the items required to erect the entire scaffolding is then generated. As the planning tool is browser-based and accessible via computer or tablet, changes can be made flexibly, regardless of the current location.

QuickSolve façade planner helps projects to be designed more intuitively.

In addition to planning simple floor plans for residential and office buildings, a digital tool can also be used to plan the management of scaffolding materials on large industrial construction sites.

The use of mobile applications on the construction site enables the scaffolding status to be monitored, material and time consumption as well as the inspection processes are documented. The material can be estimated for each scaffolding configuration. This enables better control and execution of all scaffolding-related tasks.

Efficiency, safety and communication on the construction site are also supported by the integration of mobile 3D visualisations in scaffolding projects. Using augmented and virtual reality, plans can be virtually inspected or projected into the physical environment. The various visualisation options allow the respective models to be optimally integrated into the planning or construction process. The level of detail corresponds exactly to the construction planning. In this way, the virtual and real worlds begin to merge.

The Peri Extended Experience App is increasingly being used today. But what will the construction world of tomorrow look like? How will autonomous construction site vehicles, the use of artificial intelligence and robots on construction sites continue to change the world of work? As a pioneer in the field of digitalisation, we are already devoting ourselves today to the question of how the use of AI-based helpers can make everyday construction site life easier and how completely new ways of planning, managing and building with new technologies are made possible.

and can be flexibly adapted to different scaffolding widths. Systems that combine this space-saving component logic with quick and easy assembly are becoming increasingly popular on the market.

Personnel costs and labour

Well-trained and reliable staff rightly deserve a fair wage. Since a scaffolding company cannot hire too many of these A-level employees due to a lack of applicants or for cost reasons, it is all the more important to retain its employees and utilise them as efficiently as possible. Lightweight materials, integrated safety functions such as guardrail in advance or a self-locking anti-lift lock promote the health and safety of employees. Transport systems also make it possible to complete projects with fewer personnel in less time and with less physical effort. An example is Peri’s integrated advanced guardrail and the STS 300 Scaffold Transport System. This not only enables vertical and horizontal transport, but also the simultaneous loading and unloading

of the cages, which significantly increases the assembly performance.

High financing costs

The demand for more flexibility without investment costs could be met by the scaffolding rental option. This can not only

cover peaks in demand, but also minimise the variety of items in the warehouse. In addition, scaffolding hire makes it possible to realise larger or special projects without having to buy the material directly. In this way, new customer groups or areas of application can be developed with less risk. In addition to the versatility of components, the ability to combine them with other solutions is a way of preparing for new market trends. Scaffolding systems such as Peri Up are not only compatible with shoring and formwork solutions, but also with steel components from the Variokit Engineering Construction Kit.

In position

Despite rising construction costs and challenges, scaffolding is positioning itself by focussing on flexibility, professionalism and innovative solutions.

Manufacturers of scaffolding systems should increasingly stand alongside scaffolders as partners rather than simply being a supplier of materials. The aim is to fully utilise the advantages of modern systems. In this way, exciting new projects can be won and profitability increased without further burdening the fitters.

In addition, the use of digital tools, such as scaffolding planners, enables planning reliability. Advancing digitalisation, including augmented and virtual reality as well as AI-based assistants, are constantly finding new areas of application.

The aim is to pave the way for an end-to-end solution from planning to invoicing and to accompany scaffolding construction into an exciting future – in which digital solutions, customised services, and partnership-based collaboration offer security in a constantly changing world. AI

Flexible scaffolding systems that can be used efficiently for a wide variety of building geometries are often required.

Vast and varied

Coates, which is part of Seven Group Holdings, one of the country’s largest organisations, has a fleet value pushing AUS$2 billion, across 23 product lines, making it, as Dan Goodfellow, Group Manager of Products & Fleet Trading explains, “Australia’s largest rental company by a long way.”

Access equipment is Coates’ biggest single product category running to 8,000 units, which is split between scissor lifts, making up around 50% of the fleet, followed by boom lifts in the main, including a number of ultra booms, alongside a range of trailer mounted platforms.

Although trailer mounts are not a major part of the fleet in numbers, they have become an established offering and are found in all the company’s depots, as an alternative to the compact truck mounts commonly found in Europe.

“Towing behind a car is a lot more economical for us in Australia than having a truck mounted boom.

Dan Goodfellow, adds, “They are much more expensive, and we don’t technically need the narrow make up of a truck mount like you would in Europe. Plus the footprint of Australia, which you could overlay across all of Europe, means we need to travel large distances and still be mobile, so the trailer mounted boom suits our country.

“We have a number of towable machines for the trade space that comes into our depots, so it’s a general hire item for us.”

That trade segment is a small but vital part of the business in comparison to the

Access International spoke to two rental companies, Coates and United Forklift & Access Solutions, to find out what makes the Australian market and its MEWP operators tick.

company’s top tier customers involved in large scale developments or the likes of mining, which is another major source of business for Coates.

Trading tiers

“We’ve got our branches that do the general trade and mid-tier construction walk-in to get a jackhammer, a chainsaw or take a trailer mounted boom. Then you have the top tier large projects that might take 100 scissors in one go,” says Goodfellow.

It’s the top tier segment that amounts to around 85% of Coates’ business.

“We intentionally held our fleet size during Covid by holding on to some of our investments but also the supply chain of our suppliers was seriously impacted, so some of our product categories like Access did start to decline.

“We traditionally hold around $400 million of fleet size in Access but this did decline by 10-15% during Covid as we removed old fleet past 10 years but had long lead times of replacement coming in from our suppliers. We have since got back to our traditional fleet size in Access after purchasing over $100 million over the last two years, alongside some acquisitions to top us up as well.”

Supply challenges

One of the challenges that still lingers from Covid is the supply chain, which has been a constant, if improving theme, since the pandemic.

“It hit us really hard here in Australia in some product spaces where we’re only getting machines now that we ordered in 2021 or 2022. Not just for access but in a number of different product categories.

“There was a two-year lead time to get big equipment into Australia. So, it made it really hard to manage your fleet size in some product areas.”

The long lead times were exacerbated by the fluctuating cost of materials.

“We had a number of suppliers, again, not just access suppliers, that came looking to increase prices during Covid, after orders had been placed.”

Goodfellow adds, “So, we had some serious robust negotiations discussing price, lead times, freight costs and everything in between. But now as we push for more growth with investment we can certainly apply that pressure back onto the suppliers to ensure they reduce costs.”

In some cases prices have fallen back to less excessive amounts, in raw materials and freight especially.

“Our containerised equipment coming into Australia probably went four times higher than what we would have paid pre-

Coates equipment at Port Kembla, a suburb of Wollongong, New South Wales.

Coates on construction duties.

United Forklift & Access Solutions carries out construction work.

UNITED FORCE

United Forklift & Access Solutions, has an aerial platform fleet of around 3000 units, which, says Doug Rawlings, the company’s state manager, will grow as United continues to expand on the east coast.

The market rebounded very strongly from the Covid pandemic and has been notably positive in the mining and construction industries, says Rawlings. “There has also been a ‘catch-up’ of deliveries of new equipment with freeing up of stock availability from manufacturers and transport and logistics capability in delivering to Australia.”

Despite this there are signs of a slowdown. Rawlings adds, “The rental market has been strong for aerial platforms since the end of Covid with most businesses running at reasonably high utilisation. However, “There would appear to be a slight slowing in the market now and we are expecting to see more of that through 2024.”

As an indicator of United’s long-term confidence in the MEWP, Rawlings says its capex should reach around AU$45 million over the next 12 months, that being AU$15m replacement and AU$30m growth.

Servicing Australia

On the question of investment in equipment from China-based manufacturers, Rawlings’ answer is clear. “United are dealing with their long-term partners only where safety, quality, conformity are the focus.”

While overall prospects are good, there are some changes to be found in the market. “United’s biggest challenge is servicing regional areas throughout Australia. With large labour shortages already in metro areas it is increasingly difficult to service them and rely on contractors. United are working on how we expand into these areas over the coming years.”

On the subject of specific opportunites, Rawlings sees new ‘green’ equipment ticking the box. “United are proud of the long-term partnership we have with our key suppliers and the innovation they are providing around safety and electrification. We have great opportunities to take these products to our local customers and further expand our presence in the East Coast and in various regional areas.”

While there is some level of consolation, with smaller business owners retiring from the market, Rawlings doesn’t see a massive change in the landscape. “There is still a lot of diversity throughout Australia with many competitors and we don’t see this changing too much in the short-term.

United has a very clear expansion plan over the next five years by growing its presence in the East Coast and various regional areas throughout Australia, as well as focusing on innovation.

“We have some excellent partners who are well advanced in the electrification space with clear plans to further convert their product offering over the coming years including the RT access product offering.

United carries out wind turbine maintenance in a typically remote environment.

“We continue to move with our suppliers in this offering as the product becomes available.  Our focus is to also ensure battery technology is developed in an environmentally sustainable way with clear recycling programmes.”

United maintenance work on an historic building.

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Covid - we were up to $15,000 - $20,000 a container when it used to cost us four or five.”

Goodfellow adds, “For our full year 2023 to 2024, in some of our product categories, prices have actually come back, and it’s really good to see that they haven’t maintained their unreasonably high pricing.

Wider options

With more equipment options from a growing number of access manufacturers in the market, will Coates be taking advantage of the wider choice?

“We are now seeing some of the suppliers in China on an equal quality level to those traditional suppliers from Europe and North America. They still need some development in the service infrastructure in Australia to support the product, but this is definitely improving,” comments Goodfellow.

“Pre-Covid we’d already started looking and did a fair bit of investigation into some of the big access suppliers in China. It was already in my plan to try and diversify our supply.”

“My strategy was to try and get at least a major American supplier, one European supplier, one Chinese supplier. This would help Coates mitigate risk of supply by having options.”

There is growth in the market with infrastructure jobs in the pipeline across Australia, however, labour market constraints continue to be a challenge for the industry.

“Over the next three years, what will probably see some slow growth as much as anything is the fact that the pipeline of construction work continues to exceed the availability of skilled and unskilled labour. Across the industry, we don’t have enough technicians and we don’t have enough engineers to actually do the jobs themselves.

“So, we feel some of those big construction jobs will linger longer as industry capacity constraints continue to weigh on activity. Rather than those big projects cutting off in 2026, we’re probably

looking at 2029, which might affect the expected peak.”

Taking all these factors into consideration, Coates is already buying for 2025. “All of our big categories have already had approval through our board and are on order with the manufacturers.

“Access, for example, it’s probably another 1,000 units.”

Varied environment

If there is one obvious difficulty for a national business in Australia, it’s the vastness of the country and the challenging terrain that makes up much of it.

Coates has changed its structure in recent times to a hub and spoke model that relies on a central location, the hub, with a number of satellite branches supporting that hub.

“We run large hubs in our capital cities that now do a majority of our major repairs of equipment and take the calls via our Platinum call centres.

“Elsewhere, our branches across the country have a branch manager, customer service staff, general mechanic, yardie, and a loader and it’s a lot more efficient. The teams can just focus on great customer service and just making it happen.”

As previously mentioned, the remote location of some of Coates’ major work sites, such as the mine in Roxby Downs in South Australia, one of the biggest mining towns in the world, calls for a complementary approach. In this case the Roxby Downs mining site has a Coates branch all of its own.

Harsh conditions in Australia can range from cyclones and flood to devastating fires and drought and this type of emergency planning and provision is an area that Coates has always provided.

“These situations do provide challenges for consistency and planning. The emergency side of things is one part of the business we’re keen to develop further as part of our end-to-end solutions offering.”

Operators of lifting equipment in

Australia are subject to a major inspection at 10 years of age. The AS/NZ 2550.9 inspections standard means a piece of equipment, no matter of its condition, must undergo a major strip down of its lifting components and crack testing of all load bearing structures. It means the cost of this refurb, especially on smaller MEWPs, would be too high to be practical and equipment is therefore sold to the used market outside the country.

Younger fleet

“This means, we have a hard stop of 10 years on our equipment,” says Goodfellow, “It makes it a little bit easier to plan your demands because you know when things are going to be replaced.”

On the other hand, this ‘hard stop’ means you can’t eek out equipment that is not used much beyond the 10 years. While the 10year deadline looms large, the average age of Coates’ MEWP fleet has been dropping.

“We’ve probably gone from an 8-year average life on our access fleet down to about six in the last year and a half. It’s been an aggressive approach to just bring that average age down a little bit.”

It also recognises the benefits of new equipment such as electric and hybrid which match modern sustainability policies and are becoming increasingly available as manufacturers expand their ranges.

“We are on a sustainability journey as a company. We launched our first Sustainability Strategy in 2021, followed by our Greener Choices range in 2022, across a number of product categories.

“While we don’t currently have the same emission or environmental legislation in Europe, it is coming at us very quickly. Currently our top tier customers drive a large amount of demand for sustainable practices and products as they have similar emission reduction targets to Coates around significantly reducing emissions by 2030 and 2040.”

Scissors at one of Coates’ yards.

The West Gate Tunnel Project creates a new river crossing in Melbourne to alleviate traffic.

WHAT: Intermat 2024

WHEN: 24-27 April

WHERE: Paris-Nord Villepinte, Paris, France

www.intermatconstruction.com

Preparing for Paris

A selection of products set to appear at the Parisian show this year.

Intermat will be upon us again in April and the France-based show is gearing up to demonstrate tech options, particularly in the zero-emission space, and a range of access and telehandler-related equipment.

For further information on the MEWPs set to appear at the show, await the Intermat Show guide, which is to be published in the March/April issue of Access International BOBCAT will be showing a new range of rotating telehandlers for the first time at Intermat. The range offers nine Stage V powered models for the European market (for lifting heights from 18 to 39m) and four Stage IIIA machines for sale in the Middle East and Africa (covering lifting heights from 18 to 26m).

The 18 to 26m models are Deutz engine powered, with the 26 to 39m units powered by Volvo engines.

MAGNI will debut its new TH3.6 fixed telescopic handler at the show. The company said the machine is “the most compact” it has ever produced, coming in with a load capacity of 3 tonnes and height of 5.9m.

The compactness is what makes the machine ideal for work in tight spaces, while the ROPS/Level 2 FOPS certified cab with large windscreen gives the operators full visibility of the working area.

Elsewhere on the Magni stand, the company will launch its new RTH 6.31 elevating cab model. The machine comes with an elevating cab and is mounted on a mobile hydraulic support.

MERLO will show its TF30.7 telehandler. The machine is available in three heights, low-profile (1980mm), standard (2120mm) and suspended cabin (2210mm) and comes with a 360° LED pack, wideangle cameras and the new MAPS

device for detecting people in the vacinity. The model is the only telescopic handler of its size with its patented cabin suspension. Merlo will also highlight an electric power solution for the ROTO range that reduces emissions, fuel consumption and noise alongside the P40.13 and P40.17 telehandlers.

Extending ranges

SANY attends Intermat having established late last year a French subsidiary business with a 2,500 square metre facility south of Paris - the culmination of eight years of sales in the country.

New at Intermat will be three Chinesemade telehandlers - 7m, 14m and 18m - two of which, the STH1440 and STH1840, will be in full production by April.

Finally, on the access side, SUNWARD extends its scissor range with the all-electric SWSL 0807AC-A, powered by a single 24V lithium-ion battery, and completely hydraulic-free, making it well suited to work in environments such as data centres and hospitals. Also on show will be the 16m working height SWA 16JE articulated boom, which has already been displayed at some European shows.

As an example of the kind of tech and power storage solutions that visitors can expect to see at the show, there is a varied range from those related to the access industry or otherwise.

Bobcat will be showing a new range of Rotary Telehandlers for the first time.

Magni’s new RTH 6.31 elevating cab model.

The last edition of Intermat in 2018.

Power supply

Exhibiting on the stand of parent company Monnoyeur, power generation specialist

ENERIA with a hydrogen fuel cell powered GEH2 generator, developed with design partner EODev and produced at Eneria’s workshop in Montlhéry near Paris. The set, which is powered by hydrogen stored separately from the unit, offers up to 100kVA of power.

VOLVO PENTA is to show a new battery electric storage system (BESS) produced in partnership with TechnoGen. The system is intended to support on-site recharging of battery-electric machines. Featuring six individual battery packs, the new BESS will have a total capacity of 540kWh. Recharge rates will have a peak of about 70kW.

CUMMINS will also show its new NProxx hydrogen fuel storage system, while E-Neo, part of the Vensys Group, will unveil its new battery energy storage system. The BESS will help to support recharging of vehicles using retrofitted electrical drive systems.

This particular BESS has a choice of three power delivery configurations to support onsite work. A 100% hydraulic mode features a battery pack and hydraulic power system to power equipment. A second

version offers 100% electric power via AC and DC converters. The third option uses combined battery pack and hydraulic power.

Tech solutions

As well as featuring nearly 30 machines, the KOMATSU stand will incorporate new technologies and services intended to support digitalisation and electrification. Visitors will be able to explore excavators equipped with the Smart Construction 3D Machine Guidance kit, a tech system which is said to support productivity gains across a series of crawlers and wheeled excavators.

MOOG CONSTRUCTION, part of Moog Inc will showcase two solutions at Intermat – one of these is its next generation of TerraTech, an ecosystem combining power management and control software, hardware, and digital insights via IoT that can be used to design electric machines.

The other solution is its ZQuip modular energy solution to convert diesel-powered construction fleets into zero-emissions machines that create all-electric job sites.

Telematics and tagging specialist TRACKUNIT will use Intermat to showcase its latest technology, including its recently introduced emissions reporting system, which collects data from its telematics system and presents carbon emissions data.

The company will also show its K300 access control system, which allows equipment owners and managers to control who can use machines, based, for example, on their level of training.

Helsinki-based ONE CLICK LCA will promote its software that helps contractors, equipment manufacturers, architects and developers to understand the environmental consequences of their activity, whether in designing a new building, manufacturing an excavator, or building a major project.  AI

Sunward’s SWSL0807AC-A scissor lift will be on show.

Promote and enable the safe, effective use of powered access worldwide

Certified IPAF PAL Card is proof of platform operator training to the highest standard.

Available as eLearning or instructor-led course

Regularly audited to ensure the highest standard of training is delivered

Online verification of PAL Cards: www.ipaf.org/checkpal

Smart technology & fraud protected

Courses available in multiple languages

Optimal instructor-tocandidate ratio

PAL Card now available on IPAF’s ePAL app

www.ipaf.org/ePAL

Annually reviewed by the industry to ensure relevant and up to date content

Comprehensive range of training courses

Used by manufacturers of equipment worldwide

Operator theory module can be taken remotely via eLearning

Safe. Audited. Internationally recognised.

The IPAF Powered Access Licence or PAL Card is recognised worldwide across industries as proof of platform operator training to the highest standard. It is issued by the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) to platform operators who successfully complete a training course and pass a test at an IPAF-approved training centre. Ask for the PAL Card as proof of operator training! Now available digitally on the ePAL app.

Find your nearest IPAF approved training centre at www.ipaf.org

Complies with legal requirements

Focus on safety & efficiency

40 years of industry experience

Reassurance: A valid PAL Card proves the holder has passed an approved and audited IPAF theory and practical test within the past five years

IPAF reaches 500,000 ePAL App download milestone

An app developed for users of powered access equipment has reached the milestone of 500,000 firsttime downloads.

The International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) launched the ePAL app in June 2021 for operators of mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) and mast-climbing work platforms (MCWPs).

The app, which is free and available in seven languages, contains digital certification of training, including the IPAF Powered Access Licence (PAL) Card. It also allows sharing of safety guides and messages, logs machine use time and machine familiarisation, and can be used to report incidents and near misses.

Peter Douglas, IPAF’s CEO and Managing Director, said: “Reaching half a million downloads is a major milestone and a clear indicator that the powered access industry has embraced our digital approach.

IPAF DIARY

“ePAL provides easilyaccessible assurance that MEWP operators hold the right qualifications and helps to keep industry colleagues informed on safe working-practices.

“It also gives easy access to our accident reporting portal, helping to build a global picture of safety issues that informs our training, advice, communications and campaigns. The direct connection the app creates with powered access users around the world is central to our work.

“We’re grateful to everyone who uses the app for being part

IPAF will host or participate in the following events. Full details are at www.ipaf.org/events

2024

IPAF ELEVANDO ESPAÑA 2024 AND PDS

15-16 February 2024

Location: Hotel AC Sevilla Forum by Marriott, Sevilla, Spain

Elevando opened to all Members. PDS only for Instructors

SICUR

27 February - 3 March

2024

Location: IFEMA, Madrid, Spain

IPAF will be exhibiting at SICUR exhibition in Madrid. Stand TBC IAPA/IPAF NETWORKING EVENT 2024

13 March 2024, 19:00 - 21:00

Location: Copenhagen, Denmark IPAF SUMMIT SITE VISIT

13 March 2024, Time TBC

Location: Venue TBC, Copenhagen, Denmark

of our mission to drive safety in the powered access industry.”

As well as supporting safety work, the app has also helped to reduce the environmental impact of IPAF’s training and certification programme.

Mr Douglas said: “ePAL has helped us to significantly reduce our carbon footprint by slashing the number of plastic PAL Cards and paper certificates sent around the world each.

“Offering the PAL Card digitally also means lost cards and the associated costs have been eliminated for ePAL users.

IPAF SUMMIT 2024

14 March 2024

Location: Scandic Hotel, Copenhagen, Denmark INTERNATIONAL AWARDS FOR POWERED ACCESS (IAPAS)

14 March 2024, 19:00 - 23:00

Location: Scandic Copenhagen, Denmark BUILDTECH ASIA 2024

19-21 March 2024, 10:00 - 18:00 (GMT+8)

Location: Singapore IPAF SEA POWERED ACCESS DAY

info@ipaf.org +44 (0)15395 66700

www.ipaf.org/contact

“ePAL has made IPAF more efficient and more connected to powered access equipment users, and we hope to see its use continue to grow.”

The team at IPAF developed the app in partnership with member firm Trackunit. Søren Brogaard, CEO of Trackunit said: “Reaching the 500,000-download milestone for the ePAL app is a testament to our successful partnership with IPAF and our shared commitment to improve safety and efficiency in the construction industry. This milestone is a significant leap towards our goal of eliminating downtime and promoting sustainable practices.

“As we celebrate this achievement, we remain committed to our partnership with IPAF, focusing on innovation and continuous improvement for the benefit of the entire industry.” AI

20 March 2024

Location: Singapore

Registration opens soon. IPAF WOMEN IN POWERED ACCESS WEBINAR: RECRUITING THE NEXT GENERATION

10 April 2024, 12:00 (GMT) Online, via Zoom IPAF ITALIAN COUNTRY COUNCIL (INIC) & TRAINING MEETING (TWG)

12 April 2024

Location: Platform Basket, Poviglio (RE) INTERMAT 2024

24 - 27 April 2024

Location: Paris, France

IPAF ELEVAÇÃO 2024

8-9 May 2024

Location: Terras Altas Hotel, São Paulo, Brazil LIFTMESSE 2024

16-17 May 2024

Location: Slagelse, Denmark SEMINAR/WORKSHOPIPAF ANCH’IO 2024

31 May 2024

Location: Bologna, Italy

IPAF ASIA CONFERENCE & SHOWCASE 2024

1-2 August 2024, 09:00 - 17:00 (GMT+8)

Location: Nanjing City, China

New multilingual guidance aims to boost standards in powered access equipment rental

New multilingual guidance aims to boost safety and standards in the powered access equipment rental industry.

The global organisation promoting the safe use of powered access equipment has taken another step forward in the internationalisation of its guidance for equipment rental companies and users of powered access equipment.

The International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) launched the IPAF Rental Standard at its Asia Conference in Thailand in August and has now published versions in [INSERT LANGUAGES] to serve the global rental market.

Good practice

The IPAF Rental Standard was created to share recognised industry good practices and help rental companies comply with safety requirements and important legislation, and to

NEW MEMBERS

IPAF welcomes the following new members.

Full contact details are in the Membership Directory at: www.ipaf.org

CONTRACTOR/ INDUSTRIAL USER

Bouygues E&S Contracting UK Limited, UK

Dornan Engineering Ltd, Ireland

DEALER/DISTRIBUTOR

CLM Construction

Supplies Ltd, UK

Inspectec Ireland Ltd, Ireland

assist them in consistently delivering excellent customer service.It also enables contractors and end users to better understand what a good rental experience should look like and enables them to standardise the supply of powered access equipment.

Written by a group of respected industry experts, the standard comprises a set of guidelines for equipment rental companies, as well as contractors and end users of powered access equipment.

IPAF Rental+ Scheme Manager Martin Wraith said: “We’re delighted to have made the IPAF Rental Standard more accessible for equipment rental companies and their customers around the world.

“By adopting this voluntary standard, rental companies, contractors and end users of powered access equipment can increase safety, reduce incidents, and avoid lost working time.

“Voluntary compliance with the IPAF Rental Standard forms a stepping stone to IPAF Rental+ certification, which offers rental members independently-verified assurance of compliance to the standard.”

Wide adoption

Members of IPAF Rental+ are audited annually to ensure they comply with the requirements of the IPAF Rental Standard and promote continuous improvement.

IPAF Chief Executive and

Managing Director Peter Douglas said: “IPAF Rental+ is a badge of professionalism across the powered access industry.

“All of our UK hire company members have been mandated to achieve IPAF Rental+ certification since 2017, and our Irish Council recently introduced the same requirement for the island of Ireland.

“It is fantastic to see adoption of the Rental Standard gaining momentum, and this new multilingual resource gives the project a further boost.”  AI

HIRER/RENTAL

Ingenieria de Servicios

Generales y Logistica

SAC, Peru

OCCIMAQ S.A. DE C.V., Mexico

SST Hejs A/S, Denmark

Viking Access, UK

MANUFACTURERS

CMC Lift UK Ltd, UK

SALERNO PONTEGGI SRL, Italy

Sany Aerial Work

Equipment Ltd, China

Shandong Fast Heavy Industry Group Co., Ltd., China

SERVICE/COMPONENT SUPPLIER

Certek Ltd, Ireland

Ellon Lifting & Inspection Ltd, UK

Future Touch Srl, Italy

Lauri Caffè SAS, Italy

MT ASSISTÊNCIA

TÉCNICA LTDA, Brazil

Tru Cert, Ireland

Weihai Lidaer Machinery Co., LTD., China

Xin Ji Da Pte Ltd, Singapore TRAINING

Astron Arabia company

Ltd., Saudi Arabia

Formation Manutention Plus inc., Canada

Kent Forklift Training Ltd, UK

METROZ Formation & Services Sàrl, Switzerland

Safety Training and Consultancy Services Ltd, UK

SCE Academy Emmen

B.V, Netherlands

Schoko Pro GmbH, Germany

Stapler

Ausbildungszentrum GmbH, Switzerland

SW Construction Training Ltd, UK

VLOT Groep, Netherlands

INDEPENDENT INSTRUCTORS

Freek Bregman, Netherlands

Ion Lupascu, UK

Martin Germann, Switzerland

Michael Stamann, Germany

Ronald Stammbach, Switzerland

Sabine Meyer, Switzerland

SAFETY PROFESSIONAL

Hoi Leong Chia, Hong Kong

Roberto Corino, Italy

Tiago Silva, Portugal

Emerging safely

With powered access being such a young industry, there are numerous emerging markets in various stages of growth and related safety. Here we focus on three of those with the largest potential; Brazil, The Middle East and India.

In a country where around 40% of occupational accidents are related to workers falling from height, Brazil’s largest rental company Mills saw a way to contribute to society by leading its own campaign to increase the safety of people who depend on access at heights to carry out their activities.

One of the company’s strategic goals

is to achieve a 30% increase in the use of elevated platforms when working at height in the country, and to increase the number of trained operators per unit of rented equipment by 30%.

In addition to this strategy, Mills is working to build a safety culture in Brazil, acting in the market as an influencer to increase safety using the appropriate

Safety systems

While most mature access markets have extensive training systems and safety protocols, there is always room for improvement. In recent years a range of operator safetyrelated innovations have been introduced.

International issues

Across the global industry there remain fundamental issues of safety.

One of the other major areas, says Peter Ellis, who is the General manager Halo 4 Safety FZE, is the correct use of PPE when using a MEWP.

Most users in MEWPS have a standard hard hat with no chin strap. This could cause a potential incident if the user has a loose fitting helmet that falls, potentially hitting a colleague below,” says Ellis. “The other issue is the correct harness being issued. Most sites do use harnesses when working at height.”

This could be MEWPS, scaffolding or open raised floors and roofs.

Electroelsa’s Parachute safety device.

There are two major issues here, understanding the correct lanyard for the job and selecting a secure loadbearing attachment.

With regard to MEWPS and specifically boom lifts, a restraint type lanyard is recommended. When driving a boom with undulating ground conditions, there is a potential for the boom arm carrying the basket to flex. If the user is not

wearing the correct lanyard and harness, there is a potential for the user to be catapulted out of the platform.

“The second common issue is ensuring that the workers understand what constitutes a load bearing anchor point. Quite often, you will see workers on mobile scaffolds specifically in MEP and fit outs clipping to fire protection pipes above them, or to the handrails of the mobile tower.”

Parachute solution

A safety solution from Electroelsa sees its machines equipped with a new safety device known as the Parachute, which can be installed across the company’s range of material hoists, transport platforms, mast climbers and hoists.

This device, designed by Electroelsa, intervenes in the event of an operating anomaly that could cause the machine to fall freely.

The new safety device is able to detect any missing mounting bolts on mast sections. if bolts are not correctly mounted on the mast, the safety device stops the machine, and the mast section that is not correctly assembled, is slightly raised so that the operator can easily dee the issue.

According to Electroelsa, in the past 99% of failures involving this type of equipment has been caused when the bolts on the mast section during the assembly are not fitted correctly and the car overturns.

Haulotte’s FASTN operator protection system.

equipment and training.

One example of Mills’ contribution is with the mining company Vale – a Brazilian multinational that stands out for being one of the largest mining companies in

“Our new safety device is the solution to avoid that kind of human error,” said the company.

In addition to product solutions, Electroelsa provides training courses for fitters of its products. During the training courses, participants are instructed in detail on behaviours that should be maintained while working onsite. For example, the use of mobile phones should always be avoide and each procedure should be checked several times to ensure they have been followed correctly.

Harnessing safety

On the subject of secondary guarding, the most recent launch from Haulotte is the FASTN device, installed in the basket, which requires the operator to attach their harness to it while a MEWP is being used, otherwise an audio and visual reminder will be

the world, and is the largest in terms of iron ore, pellets, and nickel production. It has been a Mills customer for around 20 years.

Vale invests in occupational safety, managing this issue internally by developing people, standardizing processes, encouraging operational discipline, and complying with its routines.

The partnerhship between both companies resulted in different projects to increase the use of platforms for activities at height.

In the last year, the average volume of aerial platforms rented by Vale grew 10% compared to 2022. In addition to the use of platforms for activities such as roof maintenance, there was an effort to show how they are also used to rescue people at imminent risk of falling.

A schedule of workshops and seminars was then established to show company employees how MEWPs work. The training at Vale has now been established as a standard at three of its sites. >

raised to notify the operator.

The ‘active anchorage’ system can be installed easily on all types of MEWPs, designed for a quick deployment within rental companies’ fleets.

FASTN works on the same principle as a car seat belt, with the objective to create the same behaviour seen with modern car drivers whereby MEWP operators automatically connect their harness to the basket.

“The plan was to offer a smart solution to tackle one of the leading cause of casualties on MEWPsoperators falling,” said a Haulotte spokesperson.

FASTN also features a wake up function. If no operator movement is detected, the system will alert the worksite to a potential operator distress. An anti-bypass function on the device also alerts the worksite of a potential misuse.

Another function means that FASTN can detect a potential operator fall or ejection and directly alert the worksite for a quick rescue.

All the events are recorded by the FASTN control box and provide data towards KPI reports.

The launch follows Nationwide Platforms’ new version of its Harness On safety device.

HALO SECURITY

H4LO is an at height safety awareness device worn [on the helmet] of MEWP operators and through 360-degree [spherical] technology detects any unintentional contact or entrapment hazards that is within 1.5m of the operator.

H4LO is unique in that it is not fitted or specific to any item of plant or equipment. This provides the opewrator a safer working environment by providing an advanced, auditable hazard warning while ascending, descending, reversing, slewing or reversing in proximity to any structural hazard.

Harness On Intelligent Anchor Point Phase 2, dubbed the ‘seatbelt’ for MEWPs, was launched back in September 2022 at Nationwide Platforms’ Working at Height conference.

The Harness ON Phase 2 system has a patented ring, meaning the operator must connect their carabiner to the Harness On Intelligent Anchor Point instead of to the machine rails. Once connected, an electrical current will flow and switch the machine on. Without this connection the machine simply will not work.

If the harness is disconnected while a MEWP is in use, the machine will become inoperable.

Equalising gravity

The increasing demand for workplace safety solutions is evident, with workplace accidents and illness making up 3.3% of the EU’s GDP in 2022, totalling €460 billion.

In industries like machinery rental and construction, musculoskeletal disorders, responsible for 90% of occupational diseases, lead to production disruptions. Gravity Joe’s innovation minimises the impact of equipment weight on operators, addressing the main causes of musculoskeletal disorders.

Inspired by robotics and automation, Gravity Joe is designed for easy installation on aerial platforms, among other machinery, to eliminate equipment weight for an operator up to 18kg.

This aim is to allow operators to work safely, as well as boost productivity and performance. Accortsing to the company. Positive feedback from users in drilling, coring, and screwing underscores its effectiveness, enabling solo operation at heights.

This, in turn, allows the second operator to manage tasks, ensuring control over operations and freeing up the working area and making the task more effectivre.

A Mills boom installing glass window panels.

Nationwide Platforms’ Harness On.

The Gravity Joe in action.

Middle Eastern focus

In the Middle East and Asia regions working at height is regarded as potentially one of the most hazardous activities in the construction workplace, according to longstanding access industry professional Peter Ellis, who is the General Manager of Halo 4 Safety FZE, based in the region.

Although IPAF has played an important role in reducing this risk through competency training, there are still workers being asked to operate MEWPS, having only received minimal familiarisation instruction, says Ellis.

“Tier one construction companies mandate competency training on their projects and they insist on all operators holding valid IPAF operator licenses for the specific equipment being used.

“However Tier two/three construction companies will allow third party training companies to carry out attendance days These days are generic courses.

“They do not have theory and practical sessions and so do not to prove competency throughout the course with pass/fail.”

The certificate issued states they have attended a course on MEWPS only. Ellis

points out, the increase in risk is obvious, with little understanding of the importance of changing ground conditions, overhead obstructions, choosing the right model for the task.

KSI actions

The Dayim team has been actively coordinating with project owners to make IPAF training and use of Harness mandatory on the ongoing and upcoming Giga construction projects in Saudi Arabia such as NEOM, Red Sea Global and Qiddiyah.

Dayim Equipment Rental, one of the larget rental outfits ni the country, manages all equipment training for the Red Sea project, among others like Amaala.

Using its association with IPAF as an authorised training centre, the company is now actively lobbying to make IPAF training mandatory for MEWP operators.

“After Saudi Aramco’s mandate for IPAF, we continue to target mega projects and gov’t organizations to differentiate between IPAF and other unstructured training.”

As the first local rental company to be approved by the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation of KSA to offer work at height training, the company also launched an in-house designed secondary guarding system and a purpose-built solution for the aviation industry.

“We continue to approach and influence government authorities and institutions, urging them to enforce the mandatory adoption of IPAF standards within municipalities and governorates.”

India’s upward curve

See the interview with India’s largest renatal company Manlift, on page 14. AI

Dayim Equipment Rental units in construction applications.

3 POWER OPTIONS

Attendees to the ARA Show will find more than 650 exhibitors offering new rental products plus more than 300 Show-Only Specials, according to the organisers. While many exhibitors have kept a tight lid on new products and services to be launched at the show, we were able to unearth some details on what OEMs are planning – including some exclusive news you’ll only find here.

Expanding range

One of the biggest announcements will be from HY-BRID LIFTS by CUSTOM EQUIPMENT (4349), which is significantly expanding its equipment range into larger scissor lifts, vertical masts with and without jibs, articulating booms and telehandlers.

The move follows the company’s buyout by Turkey-based ASKO, which also owns Turkish MEWP manufacturer ELS Lift and construction equipment manufacturer MST Construction Machinery.

In late 2023, Hy-Brid Lifts, until now a low level access specialist, revealed which new product types it will start producing. Now, the company has provided some of the specifications of the equipment to be first shown at ARA.

The new scissor lifts will have working heights up to 51 feet, along with a large lifting capacity and working area and electric drive. The new line will also be outdoor rated.

The vertical mast lifts will be compact and have working heights up to 19 feet, again with large lifting capacities and electric drive. In addition, there will be mast lifts with jibs ranging up to 32 feet working height, with 10 feet of horizontal reach, offering the same wider features as the standard vertical masts.

The ARA Show returns to New Orleans this February. Here follows a snapshot of the access equipment on display there.

Big Easy lifts

Hy-Brid Lifts has traditionally produced low level access scissors but is moving into a full range of access equipment.

“This is a big and exciting step for us and we are excited to share these new offerings with you at next year’s ARA Show.”

Dual presentation

MEC (5825) will showcase its latest innovation, the DualReach 85-J Boom, with the ability to switch between telescopic and articulated mode, along with the new 3232SE 38-foot slab scissor that can be driven at full height.   The patent pending design of the DualReach 85-J allows users to choose telescopic mode for maximum outreach or articulated

mode for up-and-over tasks by turning a switch while the machine is stowed.

The company said the DualReach 85-J represents a paradigm shift in how job sites operate. The flexibility to adapt to different needs without the need for two different machines provides enhanced productivity, especially in complex environments, added MEC.

“The two-in-one machine functionality is a game-changer, particularly in projects with different work-at-height needs, where traditionally, both a telescopic boom and an articulated boom may have to be sent to a jobsite,” said MEC.

Besides the ability to drive at full height, the MEC 3232SE does not incorporate an outrigger levelling system, which the company said as a combination is a first for this product category.

The company’s first articulating booms will result in new models with working heights up to 49 feet and outreaches of 28 feet, along with the customary large basket capacity and electric drive.

Finally, the company will produce a series of telehandlers with lifting heights up to 56 feet and capacities up to 12,000 pounds, powered by a 134-horsepower engine.

The company said, “With the partnership with ASKO, we will be significantly expanding our product line and services offered.

Other standard features and benefits of the 3232SE include a chassis that is 32 inches wide with a platform capacity of 550 pounds. The machine is equipped with an efficient AC electric drive system and delivers more duty cycles from each battery charge than previously offered, thereby reducing emissions and jobsite power demand.

With a focus on value and total cost of ownership, AGM batteries and MEC’s patented Leak Containment System (LCS) comes as standard, added the company.

“Driving at full height is a bedrock requirement and expectation of any self propelled mobile elevating work platform. Driving at full height is the better solution that MEC brought to this category,” says Gary Crook, VP of Engineering.

The MEC 3232SE drive at full height scissor will be accompanies by a two in one articulated/telescopic boom lift.

Virtual world

GENIE’s newest debut will be fully virtual.

In development since 2020, Genie will demonstrate its new virtual reality training as a part of the company’s Train the Trainer program. Using Meta’s Quest 3 headsets with software provided by From the Future, Genie’s new VR Training is “an enhancement to our training program,” explains Scott Owyen, Genie’s director of training.

machines provides exceptional duty cycles and fully proportional controls, which offer a superior drive experience,” the company says. “The new range boasts simply more; with improved efficiency, controllability, and torque. This means that productivity is boosted with an improvement of up to 20% in runtime per charge. E-Drive provides consistent power, traction and torque, with over 25% gradeability.”

The simply electric range will be launched globally with availability in all regions throughout 2024, replacing the current hydraulic drive models.

Genie will use The ARA Show to give interested attendees the opportunity to try out the new program – which, the company stresses, does not take place of regulated training requirements. Instead, what Genie’s VR Training will do is give operators and trainers the ability to navigate and circumvent real-world hazards (electrocution, tip-overs, wind and crushing.)

“This platform combines the benefits of VR with proven, real-world hands-on training methodology to create an engaging and interactive user experience,” the company says.

The company’s Z-45 FE is currently the only model available for training purposes, but Genie said it will likely develop further modules, including some for telehandlers and scissor lifts.

Getting greener

SKYJACK’s

brushless electric drive scissors will be making one of their first public showings at The ARA Show 2024. The new SJ3215 E and SJ3219 E will be at Skyjack’s booth (4039) for the duration of the show.

During development of the new E-Drive DC scissors, Skyjack focused on increasing operational uptime.

The new range will carry Skyjack’s ECO mark as rental companies and major contractors face increasing demands for sustainability information, including operational carbon saving compared to previous models, mproved run time per charge, zero emissions, leak containment (Ecotray) and biodegradable oil optional.

“The innovative drive system on the new

Spin cycle

MAGNI TELESCOPIC HANDLERS

enhanced its RTH range of telehandlers with new 8.35 and 8.46 rotating models, which visitors can learn more about at ARA.

The introduction of the 8.35 follows the redesign of the 6.36 model, with upgraded load charts and a boost in lifting capacity, which has been increased by 2 tonnes.

For the first time, two extension modes have been introduced, M1 and M2. The modes give access to two different load charts.

The standard extension mode, M1, offers the maximum reach and higher load capacities to maximum height, while M2 restricts reach to provide increased load capacity of up to 8 tonnes (17,600 pounds). Compared to the previous 6.35 model, the 8.35 delivers 33% higher load capacities in mode M2 and 20% higher in mode M1.

The second launch, the RTH 8.46 is the result of the restyling of the first-generation 6.46 model and provides a new boom allowing lifting capacities up to 8 tonnes (17,600 pounds), which makes it the second largest in its class, says Magni, just behind the manufacturer’s range topping 6.51. The new model also adopts the M1 and M2 extension modes.

Compared to the 6.46, the 8.46 offers greater performances in terms of height, with 1m (3 feet) more maximum reach. It is able to lift 8 tonnes up to 22 m (17,600 pounds up to 72 feet), and carry 1 ton (2,200 pounds) to a horizontal reach of 31m (101 feet).

In addition, the model can carry up to 500kg (1,100 pounds) to the maximum reach of 33m (108 feet).

Magni said, “Both the 8.35 and the 8.46 rewrite the rule book on load capacity limits and guarantee outstanding results in any conditions of use, thanks to the ambitious research project focused on exceeding the industry standards.”

Skyjack’s electric drive SJ3219E will be on show.

High hopes

Jenny Lescohier sits down with Riccardo Magni

to find out what’s new with the company’s telehandlers, as well as his views on the future.

In 2016, Riccardo Magni sold 20% of the company he founded to Dingli, an upand-coming Chinese OEM with goals to make a name for itself in Europe with a line of scissor lifts designed by the Italian manufacturer. Since then, both companies have benefited from the partnership, however Magni regained full ownership in recent weeks a move to take full advantage of growth opportunities.

These are exciting times for Magni Telescopic Handlers. The Italian OEM also recently announced the enhancement of its RTH Series of rotating telehandlers during a dealer event at its US manufacturing plant in Texas and announced it has regained full ownership of the company following the purchase of the 20% stake it sold to Dingli in 2016.

At the recent event, the company

pounds, which makes it the second largest in its class.

Magni currently offers RTH models ranging from 5 to 13 tonnes.

The press was given the opportunity to speak with Riccardo Magni, who is also president of the company, during the meeting in Texas. Magni spoke with pride about the company’s designs and innovations, as well as his views on the future of equipment and the rental market. Following is an excerpt from that discussion.

What is the primary difference in the new rotating telehandlers just introduced?

We substantially moved the cab forward. This provides a good view of the forks and also to the right side of the machine. And because these machines travel on the road in

simple device that allows you to push a button and rotate.

We increased the very massive capacity of the machines because we completely redesigned the chassis and the boom, and we increased the ballast – the counterweight. We obtained with this stronger boom, stronger chassis and more ballast a much

Riccardo Magni, founder of Magni.

The US launch of Magni’s RTH line update at its manufacturing plant in Texas.

two weeks ago. I signed the agreement in China.

What led to this decision?

In 2017, [Dingli owner Xu Shugen] came to us and said he liked very much what we were doing, so we signed an agreement to design boom lifts for them. We designed 10 models. What they produce now is designed by me.

Besides that, [Shugen] told me he was interested in buying minority participation in our company.

At that time, for us it was a very, very big offer. He gave us €15 million for 20% of the company. We made an increase of capital for the company, and it helped us a lot at that time. Besides, he paid for the technology that we developed for Dingli, and we made an agreement with them to distribute the boom lifts (telescopic and articulated) in Europe, which is working well.

We have a very good relationship, even now. Dingli is also a family company, like ours. I asked him to sell me back my 20%. It took one year to discuss everything and he made a very good deal because now I’m paying €61.4 million for what he paid €15 million.

Now he has a fantastic range, is producing 5,000 units per year. He dedicated a big manufacturing site to this and is really very happy because we did a good job with the design of the machine that is very simple, very innovative.

How is the Magni boom lift design unique?

The machine design is completely different from what is on the market. My idea was to put the engine and everything on the chassis.

I have some critics for this, but I lowered the center of gravity of the machine, giving us an advantage in performance.

We normally have 1,000 pound capacity on the basket and we achieve very good reach without increasing the weight of the machine because of this layout. The lower centre of gravity machine is much better for

maintenance too. There are some patents on this.

Was that the incentive to buy back the 20% stake?

We had a very good collaboration with Dingli. In Europe, we are selling a very good volume. We go over €100 million in sales of the Dingli machine. Now we have an issue in that the European community has started the procedure to check Chinese companies for anti-dumping, like what happened in United States. It’s not very positive. We can always build this machine by ourselves, because the design belongs to us.

With the emphasis on alternative power in equipment right now, do you have plans for an electric rotating telehandler for your lineup?

We don’t see so much money in doing that. The costs are almost double over normal machines, time of use with the battery is very short - between three and four hours. And the power you need to recharge is very big. You need between 50 and 80 kilowatts of power, and so it’s not so usable on a jobsite.

We do have a solution that is very cheap and can solve the problem. We have an electric motor that we fit in the back of the machine, the Twin Power 400V. It plugs into the hydraulic system of [our rotating telehandler], which can be stationary on a jobsite for a month or more sometimes. When the machine doesn’t move, or in locations where you have no space, it can stay there and you can plug [the Twin Power 400V] into electricity. This module activates all the functions of the machine,

it costs $15,000 to $18,000, so it’s not very expensive. So you have no battery to recharge, and the cost is very low.

You can move the module from one machine to another machine in an hour. There are many of these in Europe, but it’s new in the U.S.

Do you think electrification is the answer for powering construction equipment going forward?

I don’t think electricity is a final solution to all problems because now everything is electric but I don’t know where we will find all this electricity, especially as in Europe.

Hydrogen is under development, and this could be a solution because you get good power. The big problem is hydrogen doesn’t stay in the metal tank, it goes out through through the metal. You need to have a carbon fiber tank, which is very difficult to build for the hydrogen.

How do you see global rental demand going forward?

Europe will not be very good next year due to the costs of construction materials, and the cost of money. The interest rate is very high. We have the war still in Ukraine. That is disturbing us. We have now a war in Israel as well.

We are waiting for the end of the war in Ukraine, and I think this will give us some improvement because 80% of the country needs to be rebuilt.

Our budget for next year is flat. We think the economy will be good in the US and we will even increase our revenue here in America. We are very happy that a big part of our revenue comes from the US.  AI

A fixed arm Magni telehandler on site.

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