26 cranes access march/april 2012 - vertikal.net

26 cranes & access March/April 2012

Rough Terrain scissor lifts have been around since theearliest days of the self-propelled aerial work platform.The first self-propelled scissor lift is credited to SelmaManlift, which added a chain drive system to a pusharound hydraulic scissor lift in the late 1960’s. We takea look at how the RT scissor lifts have developed andreview some of the latest trends and platforms.The idea of a RT scissor wasspurred on by the early cherrypickers and boom lifts that werealready self-propelled, but unlikethose units developed originallyfor fruit picking, the scissor wasspecifically developed for therental market. It all started whenLos Angeles-based rental pioneerBob Irving, having purchasedsome of the first Manlift TreeFarmers for construction use,pointed out a Sky Witch scissorlift to Carl Ruegg of Selma Trailer,the company that produced theTree Farmer, and commented thatit would make an excellent rentalitem if only it was self-propelled.The machine was shipped up tothe company’s Selma factory andconverted into a self-propelledunit and it proved an immediatesuccess. Bob Irving went on tostart producing his own smallerlifts and formed a company thathe named after his son Mark -Mark Lift which became a leadingplayer in later years.

The big self-propelled scissor concept was so successful thatSelma Manlift as it was renamed,developed it into a standard productand the first units quickly developedinto an effective Rough Terrain scissor lift. Although only two wheeldrive, the units which became bestsellers, had large tyres, were relatively light weight, had a big

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March/April 2012 cranes & access 27

platform and in effect a differentiallock. As a result they could handlemost job site ground conditions withease.

Transportation was easy too as thedrive mechanism could be quicklydisconnected, allowing the units tobe towed behind a 4x4 or pick-uptruck. However the main reason fortheir success was that they wereperfect for rental, being highly reliable, easy to use, easy to transport and dirt cheap to maintainor repair. Anyone could work onthem and replacement parts were

readily available, mostly being general automotive components.The product remained in productionafter the company was acquired byGrove Manufacturing as a twomodel range - the SM31RT andSM42RT.

A neighbouring company in the tinytown of Selma California - UpRight -soon got in on the act, introducingits Flying Carpet in 1972. Howeverthe original models were more of ahard surface machine. The companyfollowed it up with the 8000 seriesFlying Carpet designed to ‘eat’ roughterrain. Again they only featured twowheel drive but had huge tractortype tyres and a massive chassisstructure. The lifts had their fans andthe brand ‘Flying Carpet’ became ageneric term in several countries.However the lower cost, more rentalfriendly Manlift machines were the market leading roughterrain scissors until the mid to late-1980’s when the hydrostatic drive and 4x4 models,launched by companies such asJLG were finally accepted by rentalcompanies and made the old Manliftunits look decidedlydated. The changewhen it came wasrapid and Grove never managed to regain the leadership of a market it had led for up to eight years.

The relevance of it allThe point of all this reminiscing isthat the importance of a product isnot all about technology and noteven performance … although thisis of course important. The criticalpoint has to be a product’s ability toturn a profit for the rental companyand be effective when working for acontractor.

This point is of particular interest forRough Terrain scissor lifts, as unlikeslab scissors their usage is cyclical,closely following the fate of thecommercial construction market.With most of them working oncladding and sprinkler installation,they suffer when work on big shedsslows and rental rates plummet to

oth Putting the smoothinto theRough

The Manlift SM42RT (above) and theSM31RT were perfect for rental - reliable,easy to use and transport and cheap andeasy to repair.

This rough terrain UpRight Flying Carpet of the early 70s has a platform height of 47ft with a 6ft hydraulic cantilever platform and a dual fuel petrol/propane system.Other features included a tow bar, 120psi and 120V power to the platform, spark arrestor exhaust system and foam filled tyres.

some of the cyclical nature of theconstruction market.

With the pressure to demonstrate‘environmental friendliness’ companies are also finding that having a strong environmental message when bidding to supplycorporate or public sector projectshas never been more important. TheAC drive system is now widespreadin the forklift industry representingover 60 percent of the market andthis has also spilled over into thepick & carry industrial crane marketall of which is going some way tofurther prove the technology’s goodperformance, reduced maintenancecosts and improved energy consumption.


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the levels of a micro scissor - orless. Conversely when constructionis booming, they are heavily in demand and yet… rental companiesrarely manage to achieve the ratesthat such demand would normallyjustify and so it rarely compensatesduring a boom for the down periodof the cycle. In spite of this they remain popular among rental salesmen as work is easy to identifyand when construction is buoyantthey are an easy sale. Many savvyrental companies have made theirfortunes by avoiding the sector, butif you want to be a full service supplier this sort of tactic is usuallyseen as too much of a luxury.

Market and product changes?

So what has changed since the late1980’s and what trends are emerging in terms of products? In anutshell the market has fragmentedin product terms, with ultra heavyduty models from companies likeHolland Lift becoming more mainstream, while compact RoughTerrain scissors have taken over asubstantial part of the non claddingmarket. In fact the original product -a scissor lift with an overall width ofaround 2.4 metres, overall length inthe region of four metres, with

platform heights of 30, 40 and 50ftand a mean lift capacity of 680kg -is no longer that popular. Althoughsuch units that can handle extendeddecks of seven metres or more arestill required for cladding work, theheavier duty models are increasinglypreferred with their big capacitiesand even larger decks.

market, when Genie added its AC direct electric drive system to a newversion of its compact Rough Terrainmodel range, which has created agreat deal of interest. End users areincreasingly switching to themthanks to their lower running costsand quiet operation, while rentalcompanies appreciate the fact thatthey can be used for both indoor andoutdoor applications helping avoid

Many in the industry - includingSnorkel’s regional sales manager forEurope Enrique Garcia Delgado -think that emissions legislation isonly going to go one way over thenext few years. “This, along withrising diesel prices and the customer's desire for cleaner, quieter lifts will drive innovation inall-electric and hybrid-electric RTscissors,” he says. “Snorkel has twobi-energy compact scissors andthey are among our most popularproducts in this category. Bi-energysimplifies the rental requirement fora contractor because they can usethe same machine on battery powerfor working inside a building as theyused on diesel power outside thebuilding.”

However for growth markets in developing countries, it would appear that the simplicity and durability of some RT scissor liftswill remain a distinct advantage.Customers in these regions are increasingly asking manufacturersto go back to the old school designby building uncomplicated, robustlifts that can be easily serviced and repaired - One can’t but think thatthe scissor Manlifts of the 1980swould be ideal?

Genie AC driveGenie was the first company to offerAC electric drive technology a mainstream aerial lift, when it introduced the Z40/23N articulating

RT scissor usage is cyclical, closelyfollowing the fate of the commercial construction market. With most workingon cladding and sprinkler installation,they suffer when work on big shedsslows and rental rates plummet.

A Snorkel S3370RTworking at the Toffee Factory site in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Genie has introduced AC electric drivetechnology on its GS-69DC series.

A more recent trend that looks liketaking off is the appearance of battery electric powered Rough Terrain scissor lifts. These havebeen around in one form or anotherfor some time, but it is only nowwith more efficient drive trains andbetter batteries that the concept isgaining real popularity - spurred perhaps by the rising cost of dieseland emission laws.

Mec was possibly the first companyto take electric power concept‘mainstream’ promoting the featurewith its mid-sized RT scissors andmore recently its compact range. Itwas only late last year that one ofthe major manufacturers started totreat this as a serious volume


boom in early 2007 and has nowtransferred that technology - albeitrefined - to its line of compact RTscissors giving a cleaner, quieterand more efficient drive system. Thetechnology is available on its GS-69DC series and Genie says that theplatforms’ power and performancewhen operated on outdoor terrain -as well as offering emission-free indoor use - is gaining acceptance.

As well as meeting European directives on emissions, AC drivesystems save ‘fuel’ costs. For example an independent studyshowed that a forklift may use £4 inelectricity whereas a diesel enginevariant may need £10 in fuel toachieve the same amount of work.The switch to AC rather than DCdrive provides several operationalbenefits. An AC powered machinesuch as the Genie GS-69DC stilluses a DC battery - of course - butan inverter in the machine’s controller converts the DC current toa three-phase AC current which isthen delivered to the motor controlling the function speed andacceleration.

Genie says that the advantages ofthis system include better acceleration, gradeability and liftspeeds ‘with operators noticing afaster and smoother response whichit claims increases productivity’.Fewer moving parts and a brushlessand therefore sealed motors resistant to water and dust, helpswith the application and results inlower maintenance costs and improved energy consumption. Thishas traditionally been a weak spotof DC powered equipment whichalso suffers from decreased

performance as thebattery looses itscharge. An AC powersystem offers thecontrol needed to maintain power -even as batterycharge runs low - providing up to 30percent less energyconsumption whencompared to conventional equipment.

Typical AC systemsrecover battery energy using threeforms of regenerativebraking: when the control lever or accelerator is

released (coasting), when the brakeis applied and when the directionallever is operated (switch back orplugging). Essentially, the inertia energy that is created by these actions is converted to electrical energy and returned to the battery,extending overall operating timesand operating cycles helping ensurethat the equipment can work evenan extended shift from a singleovernight recharge.

The company says that its three-phase AC motors are also smallerand lighter than an equivalent outputDC units and do not suffer the samedrop-off in performance. The newAC drive machines are 50 percentfaster than the older DC scissorsand 30 percent quicker than theirrough-terrain diesel- engined counterparts - and all with zero emissions.

The three new models - theGS2669DC, GS3369DC andGS4069DC - have working heightsof 9.9, 12 and 14.2 metres respectively and while they onlyhave two driven wheels they aresaid to be capable of travelling offroad and climbing 35 percent gradients. To help achieve this Genie refined its active oscillating frontaxle which helps keep all fourwheels in contact with the ground. The patented full-time oscillatingaxle automatically senses the terrainand adjusts the axle position tomatch the ground conditions, regardless of the scissor’s elevation.

Mec innovation?As mentioned earlier, California-based Mec produced inthat same small town of Selma thatspawned the first scissor lift, was

one of the first companies intomainstream electric powered RoughTerrain scissor lifts and currently hasthree interesting platforms thatwould fit into the RT scissor category - the Crossover, the Titanboom and the Speed Level in addition to its original mid and largesized models that tend now to bebuilt to order only.

The Speed Level was launched in2009 and although a virtual copy ofthe UpRight/Snorkel machines it offered electric power for the firsttime. As with the products originator, UpRight, the Mec SpeedLevel comes as with either a 30ftplatform height in the form of the3084RT Speed Level, or the 26ft andtwo electric powered versions.

Although this concept of machinehas never achieved major volumesthere is very little reason why thisshould be the case. The Mec machines can be quickly and easilylevelled by up to 14 degrees side toside and 10 degrees fore and aft

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The Genie GS-5390 is thelargest RT scissor in therange with 18.15 metreworking height, 680kg platform capacity and 40% gradeability

Mec Speed Levels can be quickly and easilylevelled by up to 14 degrees side to side and 10 degrees fore and aft without the need for outriggers

without the need for outriggers.There is an operator selectable manual or automatic levelling andthe 3084RT offers a working heightof 11 metres, a lift capacity of680kg, optional 4WD, a standard oscillating axle, 45 percent gradeability and power choices that

The originalSpeed Levelwas launchedby UpRight atIntermat in1990


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include dual fuel, diesel or electric.

Its second interesting machine isthe Mec Crossover - an electricsemi Rough Terrain scissor liftwhich is essentially a compact slab-sized scissor lift with some decent off-slab capability. The ideaof an electric scissor lift that canhandle gravel and softer ground hasbeen around for more than twodecades and recreates the conceptof popular products such as the UpRight XL24 or Economy Wildcatsof the late 1980s and early 1990swith their battery power, compactdimensions and flotation tyres,which gave way to the modern pureslab machines with their solid tiresand minimal ground clearance in themid-1990s.

The Crossover is available with either a 26 or 32ft platform height -both with an overall width of 59inches - 1,499mm - so they willpass easily through a set of doubledoors. Power is battery electric andare intended to be used anywhereyou might use a regular slab scissorwhile retaining the ability to servicethe outside of the building as well.While a regular platform is available,the vast majority of units have beenshipped with a highly unusual offset

platform design and glazing /sheetply rack. On the one side of the machine the platform extends to thevery edge of the machine, something that you can no longertake for granted on any scissor lift,and so is ideal for regular work upagainst a façade. The other side isset back in and the space taken bythe rack, so that the material whileoutside the platform is within theoverall width of the machine. Theidea is that you use the side thatsuits the work in hand.

The largest Mec scissor type machine is the Titan boom 40-S issaid to provide the lift capacity of asmall telehandler with the work areaof a big deck scissor lift and thereach and rotation of telescopicboom as the platform rotates on theboom which supports it. The Titanmay well revolutionise the waysome specific work is performed onsite. Whilst the typical RT scissorcan cope with a fair degree of roughterrain, its lack of outreach meansthat when working on externalcladding for instance the machinemust work close to and parallel withthe new building line which is likelyto have been excavated and backfilled during the foundationphase - not the best place for twowheels of a heavy machine to sit.Where a machine like the Titanscores is the few metres of outreach that can be gained by rotating the platform, allowing themachine to find more stable groundaway from the building as well asover-sailing any immoveable obstacles.

With the 40-S platform capable ofhandling pallet loads of blocks - upto 1,350kg - in addition to four men

and their tools it is a machine thathas the performance to speed upwork at height that might normallyhave required façade scaffolding orperhaps a small mastclimber. Bysliding back a centre gate in eitherside of the Titan’s guardrails, a packof bricks or blocks can be placed inthe special load area in the centre ofthe platform’s deck. Using the eightmetre telescopic boom, 1.8 metresliding platform and 180 degree platform rotation, the basket can bemoved into precisely the right position to reach the work. TheTitan has similar three mode steering to a telehandler - Twowheel, four wheel co-ordinated orcrab steer - helping it to position itself in confined spaces. Levelling isautomatic and given that the lift istechnically a boom with the potential to experience the catapulteffect, the platform is equipped witha running lanyard line on each sideof the platform floor.

the Titan boom 40 is now availablein Europe from international accessrental company Riwal and has become a ‘stock’ item at a numberof its operations, including theNetherlands, France, UK, Denmarkand Norway with other countriesdue to follow shortly and the company is also looking for localpartners to take on the concept

Kristian Langseth, manager of RiwalNorway says: “We are seeing increasing interest in the MEC Titan.Companies active in tunnel construction and road security arerenting it and considering buying it.They are very positive about the lifting capacity, the large workingarea and the gradeability of the machine. In addition various platform accessories are available toset up material loads on the workingdeck.”

One of Riwal’s largest customers iscurrently operating three Titans onone infrastructure project, applyinginsulation and cladding to tunnelceilings. In this application the material load capacity, large working deck, levelling and thereach are greatly appreciated.

A sort of forerunner to the Titan 40-S was the Manitou 150TP unveiled at Intermat in 2006 - although it resembled platforms builtby Aichi and Tadano in Japan. The150TP uses a three section telescopic handler boom, giving aplatform height of 13 metres, platform length of 6.5 metres whenextended and a 1,000kg platformcapacity. More useful is its healthysix metres of outreach which requires the setting of its telehandler-type stabilisers at thefront of the machine.

The idea of an electric scissor lift that canhandle gravel and softer ground has beenaround for more than two decades - onesuch machine was the UpRight XL24 fromthe late 80s and early 90s.

The Mec Crossover is available with a 26 or 32ft platform height - both with an overallwidth of 59 inches (1,499mm) so they will pass easily through a set of double doors.

Riwal is currently operating three Titans on one

contract applying insulation andcladding to tunnel ceilings. In this

application the material load capacity, large working deck,

levelling and reach are all particularly useful


Unfortunately by the time the 150TPwas ready for market, the globaleconomy was on the brink of collapse and investment in evenwell-established access equipmentwas on its way down. Interestinglyexactly the same fate befell the original UpRight Speed Level in theearly 1990s. So the 150TP waslargely ignored and only around 70units have been sold to date. However, like the Titan and variousSpeed Level machines, these ‘alternative scissor platforms’ havemuch to offer. But as is always thecase with new concepts, availabilityis limited given the purchasing mentality of the larger rental companies who would rather buyregular, run of the mill products. Perhaps the Titan, available for hirefrom Riwal will change customerand other rental companies’ opinions?

Back to Battery powered RTs

Electric RT scissor lifts are certainlygaining in popularity right up to theworld’s largest battery powered lift -Holland Lift’s massive 33.7 metreworking height Megastar

G-320DL30 4WDS/N. Other manufacturers with big electricRough Terrains include Iteco - nowthe access division of the Imergroup - with its IT180, IT210 andIT230 ranges. The IT180 offers aworking height of 13.9 metres and500kg platform capacity. The IT210has a working height of 19 metresand 540kg platform capacity, whilethe 16.9 metre working height,IT210 offers dual platform extensions to create a 7.1 metredeck, while offering a full 1,000kgplatform capacity.

ATN extends rangeTonneins, France based ATN is a relative late comer to the Rough Terrain scissor lift market, and inspite of the challenges of the recentrecession is ploughing ahead withits plans to offer a three model line-up double deck Rough Terrainsscissors. Currently it has two models, the CX12 and CX15 with 12and 15 metres working heights respectively although it is workingon the 18 metre CX18 which may beavailable later this year. The company claims that its CX-12 isthe only scissor on the market

the time taken to raise and lowerthe platform is very quick with theplatform going from the stowed position to maximum height in just40 seconds, this is something thatalways appeals to constructionusers, even though the actual timesaved in a day amounts to a fewminutes at best.

As with its articulated boom lifts,the platforms include an integratedand protected diagnostic systemwith a screen located under the covers, able to scan, detect andcommunicate any technical problem, using a message in thelanguage of the user. This simplifiesfault finding, reducing repair and callout time. The same screen can beused to configure the platform without need to connect an auxiliarylaptop.

The CX-15 4x4 scissor - 43ft platform height - has dual hydraulicplatform extensions giving a totalplatform length of 7.30 metres - perfect for long horizontal claddingpanels. An oscillating axle is standard, to help cope with difficultterrain, as are the auto-level stabilisers.

Dome attachmentAttachments for access platformsand scissor lifts in particular are increasingly important, enablingwork to be carried out both more efficiently and safer. Several

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The Manitou 150TP, like the Titan and various other ‘alternative

scissor platforms’ have much tooffer and may yet have their day

combining a 16 square metre platform area with a platform capacity of 1,100 kg. It also say that

Holland Lift’s massive, electric 33.7 metreworking height Megastar G-320DL304WDS/N.

The ATN CX-15 4x4 scissorhas dual hydraulic platform

extensions giving a totalplatform length of 7.30

metres - perfect for longhorizontal cladding panels


companies now produce a range ofproducts allowing board materialsand pipes to be carried on the platform in a safe position but alsomaking it easy for the tradesmen toplace them in position - speeding upthe time taken and helping reducethe strain and risk of manual handling.

In the UK Nationwide Platforms, partof the Lavendon group, operates the

largest fleet of scissors - more than6,000 - with a full range of platformsup to the large-deck 34 metre machines. Last year the companylaunched a range of material handling attachments for use on itsscissor lifts. These included theSkyRak and a SkyRak Plus, two attachments designed to safelystore materials such as steel tubesweighing up to 600kg. The company

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Nationwide Platforms supplied this SkyDuct attachment fitted to a modified GenieGS2646 scissor lift, capable of holding up to 350kg of materials without risk to operators or materials falling to the ground.

The problem was providing a safe and effective means of installing large

curved timber sections weighing between

100 and 250kg

March/April 2012 cranes & access 37

also developed a powered SkyHandler attachment which features a hydraulic lift controlledby remote control.

As well as helping to carry and liftmaterials for run of the mill work, attachments can be used to solvecomplex construction problemssuch as when working on a domedceiling. A recent example of this occurred at the Bramall Music Building’s state of the art, 450 seatauditorium in Birmingham, wherethe roof shape offers substantialacoustic benefits to the rehearsaland practice room. Taking on the challenge of managing the dome build, BAMConstruct enlisted sub-contractorJoyce & Reddington Bespoke Architectural and Contract Joineryfor the specialist ceiling work.Faced with the task of providing asafe and effective means of installing large curved timber sections weighing between 100and 250kg, Nationwide Platformsprovided the SkyDuct, a modifiedGenie GS2646 scissor lift, capableof holding up to 350kg of materialswithout risk to operators or of materials falling to the ground.

After placing the heavy materialsonto the modified platform, the roofinstallation team were able to raisethe timber sections to the required

height using remote controls. Withthe materials placed in the correctspot, the engineers used two otherscissor lifts to work from, securingthe timber in position. Finally, toovercome any issues involved withaccessing the working environment, the scissor lifts, complete with their SkyDuct attachments were lifted into theworking area by a crane.

As well as proving to be a highly-efficient means of working atheight, the access solution was unmatched by any other means ofaccess - including traditional scaffolding - which offered no clear,safe method of working. It is estimated that the use of theSkyDuct saved three weeks in theinstallation process.

“Responding to the unique challenges posed by the task, wewere eager to use our experienceand resources to help our clientwork as safely and productively aspossible,” said James Watson, Nationwide Platforms sales director. “By delivering a solutionthat was tailored to the preciseneeds of the task, we provided theappropriate equipment and innovations that helped ensure thework was completed ahead ofschedule.

To overcome any issues involved with accessing the working environment, the scissor lifts complete withSkyDuct attachments were lifted into the working area by a crane

26 cranes access march/april 2012 - vertikal.net

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