VERTICALMASTS
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INTERNATIONAL
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2015
equipment that is highly portable; sonot just
moveable but able to get through awider range
of doors andhalls and intomore elevators
than other types ofmore traditional access
equipment.They alsowant equipment that is
easilymanoeuvrable and easy to transport.”
Users alsowant longer duty cycles and faster
charging batteries, addsMrMarzicola.
Basically, facilities are looking for
alternatives to ladders and scaffolding that
provide the productivity of aworkplatform,
like the ability toworkwithbothhandswithin
an enclosedplatformwith an anchor point,
whilemaintaining the portability and compact
dimensions of a ladder.
New technology
Advances in technology are also openingdoors
formast lifts.We have already heard from JLG
on the subject of Lithium.MrConnolly at
Skyjack expands on the theme of batteries.“As
battery technology has changed over the past
few years, so toohas the options available on
mast lifts.
“A few years ago therewas a push for low
maintenance battery options andnow all
manufacturers offer them as an option.As
battery technology continues to improve,
and associated costs come down, so toowill
the options available on verticalmast lifts.
What is the sense inpromoting the efficiency
of amachine, if it is not utilising the best
technology available?”
Furthermore,once a solid surface has been
established, verticalmastsmay be one of the
firstmachines brought onto a jobsite.“Their
lightweight and the nature of their design and
operation allow them to operatemuchmore
efficiently then a scissor liftwould, allowing
them to gomuch longer betweenbattery
charges,”addsMrConnolly.
AsMrBeltrame explains the verticalmast
was developed inFrance, indeedbyATN’s
founderDaniel
ATN Piaf 810 on tracks demonstrates a
vertical mast in an off road setting.
TheSprint is a substantial upgradeof Bravi’sCaddy and is aimedat retail outlets.
MarinaTorres, salesmanager at Bravi, says there is anotablemove to vertical
masts in retail, away from ladders and stepladders asmore companies focus on
safety. “This is not just from an ethical point of view,” saysMs Torres,”But due to
all the related costs that comewith an accident.”
Bravi has already supplieda largenumber of products
tomajor furniture retailer Jysk. Bravi isworkingwith it
tounderstand its needs and increase safety for employees
across its branches inNorway, Sweden, Latvia, Hungary, UK, among
many others.Ms Torres says the smaller stores are taking themanufacturers’
Spingopush-aroundand theSprint for bigger stores and
warehouses and is confident that the companywill
implement this newway ofworking in all its
centres over thenext two to three years. Ms
Torres adds that the retail sectorwill grow
substantially, as toowill the industrial side
for the company’s LeonardoHD, unupgrade
from the longstandingLeonardo,which is now
becoming accepted in themarket.
RETAIL SWING
Duclos before he started that company. “In
France,which is different to the rest,mast
booms are not considered as a niche product,
they are used for industrialmaintenance,
shopping centres and for light construction
duties.
“In other countries, such as theUK,
Scandinavia orGermany,mast booms find
their place thanks toworking at height
legislationwhichhas pushed rental companies
to invest seriously in the sector.”
ATN isworking to introduce its range in
Asian countries, includingChina or Singapore.
“InChina, for example, labour costs are
increasing quickly.So,Chinese companies
prefer to invest in reliablemachineswhich
are cheaper than labour.On the other hand,
Singapore is a verywell developedmarket,
providingmany opportunities.”
According toGenie,geographically,Europe
is seeing small growth inmanually propelled,
self-propelled and self-propelledmachines
with jibs. The same is true formanually and
self-propelled vertical lifts in theAsia-Pacific
region.
“InNorthAmerica, there has been
moderate growth in self-propelled
lifts,with stronger numbers seen
for liftswith a jib.”
Skyjackhas seen themost
growth in Japan in recent times
with themarket size nearly
doubling each year since 2011,
similar to electric scissor lifts, says
MrConnolly.“It is likely a combination
of the reboundingmarketmore product
awareness andmoremanufacturers present.”
Summing up the segment,MrMarzicola
adds,“These products are being
widely adopted in theUS,Canada,
Europe andAustralia andmany
other regions.Anywhere you
find sophisticated commercial
development equippedwith indoor
electric,HVAC,plumbing and
such youwill find these products.
The level of adoption follows the
level of safety regulation inplace.”
AI
VERTEX LIFT
Lift-A-Loft has launched theVertex, a compact
verticalmast lift. It has a12 ft platformheight,
allowing aworkingheight of 18 ft. It can travel
through a standarddoor and canwork in very
narrow aisles and congested environments. The
unit offers 500pounds capacity and comeswith
a variety of options tohelpwith order pickingand
other applications.
What really sets theVertex apart, says the
manufacturer, is the90degreeplatform rotation
to either side. This providesmore than28 ft of
outreach and allows theoperator toposition in tight
areas formaintenanceor productionapplications.
