Reach for the sky

Although it isn't a 'cranes year' at SED you wouldn't believe it from the impressive names exhibiting at this year's show. Not only are there UK and other European companies but some from the US as well.

European company Svelt (stand 7C) may not be well known in the UK but it is one of Italy's biggest manufacturers in the field of access equipment. Its display covers a wide range of products from a variety of ladders through static scaffold towers and scaffolding systems to mast-climbing work platforms.

Fellow Italian manufacturer Oil & Steel will be displaying its Octopussy tracked access platform on stand 247. This is available in working heights from 10m to 27m. Its Snake and Scorpion models offer up to 21m working height and 12m outreach, and will be demonstrated at the show mounted on a 3.5t Nissan Cabstar chassis.

Trevor Vanson, managing director of Vanson Cranes (stand 346) will be using SED to promote the benefits of small tower cranes. The company will be focussing on the benefits of the recently launched VCT27 "fast-tow" self-erecting tower crane. This is the largest in Vanson's self-tow range to date with a reach of 27m and a lifting capacity at maximum outreach of 700kg. At a more modest 12m radius it can lift 1.8t. Also on display will be examples of more conventional Raivan tower cranes.

Genie will be showing new products on stand 12C along with a selection of existing powered access kit and the recently launched telehandler range. New in the articulated boom field is the trailer-mounted TZ 34/20. It has a 12.36m working height plus a 6.1m outreach. Lift capacity is up to 227kg and by using its hydraulic outriggers with the Genie Automatic Levelling System, it can cope with slopes of up 11û.

Also on display will be the new Z80/60, the tallest articulated boom in this family, with a working height of 26.4m, an outreach of 18.3m and an up-and-over clearance of 8.83m. Other articulated booms on the stand include the Z-45/25J RT and the electric Z-30/20N plus the rough-terrain scissors GS-3384RT and GS-2668RT, both with automatic self-levelling outriggers.

Electric scissors on show are the narrow-access GS-2632 and the GS-1932.

SED will also be the first showing of Genie's new telehandler range. Two examples, the GTH-2306 and the larger GTH-3013, will be on display. Both feature hydrostatic drive, three-mode steering and oil-immersed disc brakes on the front axle. The GTH-2306 has a maximum lift of 2.3t and can take 1.25t to the 5.71m full height. Its bigger sister, the GTH-3013, can handle a maximum 3t, or 2.5t at the full 12.64m.

SGB Youngman has a stand in Hirex@SED and stand 58C in the Cranes and Access Village. Its external display will be dominated by a large Boss tower. According to SGB Youngman, Boss towers take around 65% of the UK hire market for scaffold towers. On display will be two new products: the Cuplok Public Access staircase and the company's new edge protection system. The Cuplok Public Access staircase is designed for high-volume vertical circulation. It's also designed for use on construction sites and has a compact "four leg" version for tighter application with restricted access. SGB's new edge protection system comprises a versatile barrier system which can be clamped or screwed to concrete slab edges or falsework beams to provide fuller protection on exposed leading edges.

On stand 13C, Promax Access will feature the SuperDeck, the latest piece of kit from Japanese manufacturer Tadano. The new SuperDeck is a telescopic work platform equipped with a 21m boom and a 1,000kg capacity platform, which has 8.2m2 of area for operatives to move around in. It comes with either a crawler chassis or as a four-wheel drive unit. Also displayed (and making its world debut) will be the Basket SEL, a 14m road/rail work platform. This machine features a tilting chassis and other unique features to make a contractor's life easier. The stand will also feature the well-known Spyder 30m work platform, designed and built by Cela.

No matter what kit you use in your business, you can't escape paying for it. Take the time to visit the Bank of Scotland (stand 347) and the company will be able to discuss alternatives to cash that can be much more attractive to businesses.

IPAF is the acronym everyone in the construction industry recognises - even those not into powered access. The focus of the International Powered Access Federation's (IPAF) stand (308) is on the commercial benefits of safety for operatives working at height. Site safety is now an increasingly important focus for the construction industry and the Health & Safety Executive is coming down increasingly hard on breaches of safety. IPAF says it can demonstrate how it is possible to improve safety for personnel working at height, save on direct costs and still have a competitive edge in the tendering process. IPAF staff will be on hand to talk to those in the access industry, contractors using access equipment or to discuss its role in lobbying for greater safety awareness in the industry.

It is only recently that Haki (stand 234) started marketing its scaffold systems (including tailor-made systems for complicated structures) to the UK construction industry. On its stand will be its latest 750 Roof System, which Haki says can cover spans in excess of 30m. This will be demonstrated at the show and should prove interesting for contractors looking to protect operatives (and structures) from the vagaries of the UK climate.

Geda, linked to and sharing a stand with Haki, represents powered access, specifically rack-and-pinion hoists in both single- and twin-masted formats. Geda says the ZZP 1500/2000 transportation platform on display is unique in offering a choice of 1.5t capacity when hoisting personnel or 2t capacity when lifting goods. The MCP 1500 mastclimber, designed for use where footprint space is at a premium, will also be on display. There will be a working display of the Maxi 120 and Star 150 rope hoists and the 15P passenger hoist.

The Malmqvist MA2000 mast-climbing work platform is also on display at the show, making its UK debut.

Sennebogen is a good name to consider when specifying a crawler crane. UK importer EH Hassell & Sons will show you just how good with a representative display on stand 187 this year. Visitors can examine a 640HD (50t) crawler fitted with an elevating cab and a 630HD (40t) crawler fitted with a twin winch system.

On stand 264A Loadlift will display its PMR 100 brick/block grab for the first time. This 1.8t SWL rated unit has adjustable depth (down to 970mm) allowing the elimination of pallets. It will join a wide range of mechanical lifting equipment (including pallet forks) and the Jobox Site Storage Boxes.

SED visitors making their way to stand 11C will be able to see Upright's new bi-energy version of its AB38 (13.5m working height) articulated boom lift in advance of the international launch scheduled for Intermat in May.

SkyKing is positioned on stand 311, backing on to King Trailers' exhibition area. Its stand will feature a 12.5m working height 125RA reverse-articulated van-mounted platform, a 179T telescopic platform with a 17m working height and a 229TJ truck-mounted platform with a working height of 22m. A Wumag WT350 truck-mounted unit with a 35m working height and 29m outreach will also be on the stand.

On stand 1 Intervect is promising to show "an innovative vertical access solution". It will, of course, be displaying products from its range of rack and pinion drive vertical access solutions, which range from passenger/materials and materials - only construction hoists, mastclimbing workplatforms, transport platforms and underground access equipment to permanent and temporary lifts.

Cormach Cranes will be on stand 307 showing a selection from its range of lorry cranes. The company says its units have a revolutionary design and low unit weight coupled with advanced chassis design and backed by parts and service throughout the UK.

Manitou Access has recently extended its range of access platforms with the launch of three new models (see stand 26). n