Choosing the right lift, or mobile elevating work platform (MEWP), for your job site shouldn’t have to be a painstaking task. There are a few questions you should ask yourself when making the decision, so we’ve put together this quick guide to make it that much easier.  

Accessibility

A big question to ask before picking the right lift for the job at hand is: how accessible is the site? Job sites with many obstacles, whether they be on the ground or in the air, present additional challenges and may exclude certain machines. Another factor on this topic is that the accessibility of a site can dramatically change based on the stages of a project. So, when you know this will be the case, it’s important to choose a versatile machine. Straight, vertical reaches may require a scissor lift only while job sites requiring reach over, under or around access most likely will require an articulating or telescopic boom lift.

Articulating refers to a lift’s ability to hinge, or articulate, allowing increased accessibility to the needed areas. Articulating boom lifts are ideal for projects requiring access to tight or hard-to-reach areas. These lifts are ideal for confined work areas, indoor spaces, versatile projects and can be placed in numerous positions.

Telescopic refers to lifts which are engineered to extend up and down and resemble high-reach forklifts but include attached booms. Telescopic boom lifts are perfect for projects requiring materials be lifted to very tall heights, like roofing projects. These lifts are ideal for smaller job sites, when working from a distance, versatile projects and can be used on rough terrain areas.

Job Site Conditions

Job site conditions are an integral factor in choosing a machine that will effectively complete the necessary tasks involved on your site. Each MEWP is designed for specific conditions or are created to accommodate versatile job sites. It’s important to understand the job site and the related conditions before deciding on a lift. Certain lifts are ideal for rough terrain while others are more versatile or specific to smoother surfaces.

For example, Genie recently introduced the release of two “high float,” ANSI-compliant boom lifts. The lifts are engineered to avoid damaging soft ground surfaces while maintaining high lift capacities. Designers created the S-80 HF and S-85 HF machines to “float” on more frangible surfaces like sand and turf. The new boom lifts protect softer surfaces during operation that could be damaged by more aggressive tread on regular rough terrain machines.

Once you know the conditions of your job site, it will make the decision-making process much easier: indoor versus outdoor, rough versus smooth terrain and the needed reach capacity are details which will help you determine what lift best matches your needs.

Smaller compact lifts are great options to choose when completing work indoors, according to an informational article published by Genie. They offer maneuverability, compact size and can be manually or self-propelled. Also, power accessibility is important. Indoor job sites without power may require a gas/LPG engine or hybrid power source lift. These early stage job sites often have limited indoor lighting, so a platform lights package will help get the job done and keep workers safe, according to the article.

Depending on the site’s terrain, outdoor jobs may require machines with fully rough terrain capability. Rough terrain lifts enhance productivity by providing traction, speed and gradeability. Job sites which require work on rough surfaces initially and smooth surfaces later may require a versatile machine or multiple lifts.

Additional Restrictions

Specific requirements and restrictions are necessary considerations when choosing the lift that’s right for your job site. If there are noise or emission limitations, those will be major factors in what machines can be used. In some cases, hybrid, 4×4 or oscillating axles may be features that are required on the lift that is ultimately chosen.

A shift toward more heavily investing in electric-based equipment has been announced by a major manufacturer. 

Volvo CE, a subsidiary of the Volvo Group which focuses on the development of construction equipment, announced that it will stop manufacturing diesel engine-based compact wheel loaders and compact excavators, according to a press release distributed by the company. By mid-2020 it will begin to launch a range of electric compact excavators (EC15 to EC27) and wheel loaders (L20 to L28). This development is indicative of the industry-wide trajectory of investing in electric-based machines.

The organization referenced the successful implementation of their preceding electric-based machines as a factor in this shift.

“With this move, Volvo CE is the first construction equipment manufacturer to commit to an electric future for its compact machine range,” the company announced. “This follows an overwhelmingly favorable reaction from the market after the successful unveiling of a number of concept machines in recent years, and by working closely with customers. This move is aligned with the Volvo Group’s strategic focus on electromobility in all business areas.”

Volvo CE is among other companies in the construction equipment industry focusing on creating machines which fulfill the needs of projects requiring greener alternatives, i.e. electric options. JLG Industries, for example, is one company that both offers electric and hybrid options and forthrightly asserts their commitment to sustainability.

JLG has been a pioneer in producing environmentally friendly lift and access equipment while also continually seeking out and embracing new ways to be more sustainable in their operations, according to their website. The company states that sustainability guides their responsibility to the environment and to their customers, who demand green solutions.

With green construction evolving into a rapidly growing field and many companies committing to sustainability initiatives, the demand for products that reinforce resource-efficiency is expanding, according to eSUB, a company which designs software specifically for the construction industry.

Green building is a holistic concept that starts with understanding that the built environment can have profound effects, both positive and negative, on the natural environment, as well as the people who inhabit buildings every day, according to the U.S. Green Building Council. Green building is an effort to amplify the positive and mitigate the negative of these effects throughout the entire life cycle of a building.

Green technology, or products that can create a carbon neutral footprint, is one of the 2018 construction industry trends that is expected to carryover to 2019, according to eSUB.

Along with a growing demand for greener solutions, investing in electrical equipment is forecasted to yield relatively steady, long-term appreciation, according to Value Line, an organization which provides investment research on companies, industries, markets and economies.

Creating engines and machines that are energy-efficient is becoming increasingly more lucrative as government incentives expand.

For example, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will award $40 million in Diesel Emission Reduction Program (DERA) grant funding in the current fiscal year.

“By financially supporting projects that upgrade aging diesel engines, EPA is helping improve their efficiency and reduce air pollution throughout the nation,” said Andrew Wheeler, the acting administrator, in a press release.

Though Volvo CE has announced the reduction of diesel engines in their compact machine line, progress has been shown in equipping larger machines for electric-based operation.

In 2017, a partnership between two Swiss companies converted a Komatsu dump truck with a giant 700 kWh battery pack, according to Electrek, an organization which tracks the transition from fossil fuel transportation to electric. This one feat has an impressive impact in terms of fuel savings and emission reduction.

An even more prodigious project was completed by ForSea (formerly HH Ferries Group) when they converted the diesel engines in two of their massive ferries to completely battery-powered systems, according to a press release distributed by ABB, a pioneering technology company which was involved in the transition.

The 780-foot ferries carry 7.4 million passengers and 1.9 million vehicles between Sweden and Denmark annually, according to Electrek.

With the growing green building trend, government incentives and a focus on sustainability by many organizations, progressions in the electric-based equipment market are likely to continue.

Forklift tires are available in a few different options, each designed with particular intents and purposes. So, here’s a quick guide to help determine which tires are right for each forklift and jobsite.

The three types of forklift tires, include: cushion, solid pneumatic and air pneumatic. It’s important for forklift operator and pedestrian safety to select and use the correct tires for the appropriate environment and function. Check out the below breakdown on which tires are right for what tasks.

• Cushion tires are manufactured with solid rubber and are installed by directly pressing them against the wheel of the forklift. The advantage of cushion tires lies in their smoothness of motion, efficiency and amplified maneuverability. The primary functions suited for cushion tires include indoor and paved sites, like warehousing and plant applications. Cushion tires are not suitable for use on uneven surfaces, like gravel and rutted outdoor areas.
• Pneumatic, or solid, tires are created with solid rubber and is a popular tire choice among forklift owners. The popularity of pneumatic tires may steam from their versatility. Designed to facilitate both indoor and outdoor uses, pneumatic tires are ideal for forklifts with flexible functionalities. Perfect for machines with multiple functions, the few downsides of choosing pneumatic tires lie in the more expensive upfront costs and the slightly less smooth (as compared to cushion tires) indoor application. Having said that, the cons of solid pneumatic tires are far outweighed by the advantages which, to name a few, include durability, multi-functionality and resilient characteristics. 
• The final type of forklift tire is air-filled pneumatic. These tires are also created with rubber but, like the standard car tire, is filled with air. The advantage of these tires are that they feature deep tread, heavy-duty materials and are ideal for rough, outdoor applications. For forklifts intended for operation in uneven, outdoor environments, air-filled pneumatic tires might be the best option.