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Nationwide Access has taken delivery of 17 new Genie boom lifts in an order worth £1.3 million.
The machines are all high-reach self-propelled diesel booms capable of carrying workers and their equipment to working heights in excess of 80 feet.
The order comprises three Genie S85s, ten Z80/60s and four Z135s, Genie's largest self-propelled boom with a lift height of 135 feet.
"The investment reflects a growing demand for high-reach boom lifts in the building maintenance and industrial sectors" says Nationwide Access Business Director David Roebuck.
"The standard diesel boom lift is a machine with a platform height of up to 45 feet. We have roughly 1,500 of those in our current fleet. Booms over 60 feet are relatively uncommon, and a few years ago were considered a rarity. But now there is a fast-growing market for ultra-high self propelled booms."
This market is being driven by a number of factors, not least being a trend towards taller buildings. Mr Roebuck cites the new Beetham Tower in Manchester and a 135-foot high warehouse built for Screwfix in Stoke-on-Trent as examples.
"High reach booms are invaluable for post-construction finishing and snagging work on high rise buildings as well as for routine maintenance" says Mr Roebuck. "People are also using more and more powered access in place of scaffolding in many instances", he adds.
Another benefit of these high reach boom lifts is the fact that they do not require a qualified operator to accompany the machine. "Truck-mounted booms over 60 ft are mounted on an HGV chassis which requires a qualified driver", says Mr Roebuck. A self-propelled boom lift can be operated by the end-user, as long as they are properly trained.
The Genie S85 is a self-propelled diesel boom lift ideal for carrying out maintenance work on high-rise building facades. The Z80/60 has the added flexibility of an articulating boom which allows the operator to reach up and over obstacles. This is invaluable when accessing large complex structures, such as industrial buildings and installations.
The Genie Z135 is currently the World's largest conventional articulating boom platform, with a maximum height of 135 feet and a 20 foot telescopic fly jib for unrivalled accessibility. At present there is just one of these huge machines working in the UK, and this order of four machines puts Nationwide well ahead of the competition in terms of machine availability.
"Many applications which currently require the erection of scaffolding to provide safe access will be tackled much faster and much more safely with a powered boom lift", says Mr Roebuck.
"The new Work at Height Regulations have brought about a radical re-think in access solutions for all client groups. But the great thing for many people is that the safer option of powered access can also be more cost effective. Bringing in a diesel boom on short-term hire is a far better deal than erecting and then dismantling scaffolding", he says.
END
Nat0.234
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