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Exhibitor Profile : High on the agenda
Power Towers, represented on Red Band UK's stand, has chosen the Executive Hire Show to unveil its latest product. Alan Guthrie reports from the manufacturer's Leicester headquarters.
Equipment that facilitates safe working at height continues to figure strongly in hire fleets, as end users need to ensure that they comply with Health & Safety regulations. Power Towers is among the manufacturers that is developing machines to meet the specific requirements of hirers and their customers.
MD Brian King, who is also Sales Director of the truck-mount access equipment supplier CTE UK, first recognised demand for what would become the original Power Tower in summer 2006. “Lavendon Group, an established CTE customer, mentioned they were looking for a robust push-around access product that could reach higher than existing machines, without needing outriggers, and fit through doorways. Within weeks our now designer, Mark Richardson, had devised a prototype Power Tower. Soon afterwards, Nationwide, part of Lavendon, added the finished machine to its fleet, and Power Towers Ltd was established as a dedicated manufacturing business.”
A sigma-type lift mechanism is incorporated on the 250kg SWL machine, rather than a scissor configuration, to enhance stability, reduce weight, facilitate work above obstacles and to increase the platform area. Maximum platform height is 3.1m and the castors lock automatically when the battery powered lift mechanism is activated. “We launched the machine to the general hire industry at the 2008 Executive Hire Show, and demand has been strong since.”
Soon customers asked for a similar product with an even smaller footprint, but retaining a spacious platform, particularly for tasks during final stages of interior work where several tradesmen may be operating in a relatively small space. Consequently, the Power Tower Nano was developed, and was unveiled at last year’s Show. The machine is available with 1.8 or 2.5m platform heights, weighing 270 and 285kg respectively, and both have a 1000 by 730mm deck size with a chassis footprint of only 1200 by 750mm. The Nano has a strong vertical lift mechanism mounted to the end of the basket, rather than underneath, giving a platform entry height of only 360mm.
Next month’s Show will see Power Towers unveil its latest development on the Red Band UK stand, which was appointed a year ago as the distributor of the manufacturer’s products to the hire industry. The newcomer is a self-propelled version, the Nano SP, which shares many common components with the push-around Nano, including the mast and upper assembly. It has the same footprint and offers a 2.5m maximum platform height. Weighing 460kg, it can be used on upper floors of buildings and raised access flooring. Entry step level height is 390mm.
The Nano SP’s platform has a cantilever deck at the end for extended outreach, giving a maximum area of 1500 by 700mm. The zero-turn radius machine can be driven when elevated, and a proportional joystick control allows precise speed adjustment. Power comes from two 12V 105Ah battery packs that are claimed to give a travel distance of more than eight miles. Automatic pothole protection is incorporated and the maximum safe working load is 200kg.
Brian King reports that Red Band has achieved rapid success in extending Power Towers’ reach into the hire market, with recent customers including Mr Plant Hire of Enfield and Harpenden-based JMS Plant Hire. He also anticipates strong interest at the Show in the Nano SP, and expects safe working at height to remain high on the Health & Safety agenda for the foreseeable future. “Recent research commissioned by Crown House Technologies, part of Laing O’Rourke, suggested that mobile elevated work platforms can increase productivity and minimise possibilities of operatives making an inappropriate equipment choice, for work at height of up to 4.5m. Machines like the Power Towers line-up can, therefore, enhance performance and productivity, as well as safety.” •
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