DSP Electrical Contractors have conquered narrow 1.75m aisles and high level work on a current warehouse refit project using the UK’s first 1.2m wide, 22.5m working height electric scissor lift. Driveable at full height, the new PB Lifttechnik S225-12ES platform is on hire from access rental specialist, Lifterz, who recently took delivery of two of the machines – the first available on the UK rental market – from PB’s distributor, Ranger Equipment.
Cleckheaton-based DSP are using the super-slim scissor to install over 1800 linear metres of roof-suspended, smoke detection equipment at heights up to 20m. The 6-week contract is part of refurbishment work at the 212,000 sq/ft ‘Big Blue Warehouse’ in Birmingham to be occupied by leading retail group, WHSmith.
The PB S225-12ES scissor also has a 10.3 degrees patented levelling system and is wind-rated at full height for work outdoor off-slab, as well as indoor on-slab.
Extra capabilities
Lifterz joint MD, Ben Bowers, said: “Modern warehouses are getting taller, racking is getting higher and aisles are getting narrower, often under 2m. We saw the need to supplement our 18.5m working height scissors with the extra capabilities of the new PB scissors to meet this trend.”
Established January 2007, Lifterz, based in Wakefield, now owns a rental fleet of over 400 machines available across the UK and the Republic of Ireland through the Access Link. Despite tough conditions in access hire, Lifterz is reporting steady growth due in part to its specialism in platforms for warehouse, industrial and RMI work. The company runs mast booms, trailer lifts, electric, diesel and bi-energy booms, as well as electric and diesel scissors which account for around 70% of the fleet.
DSP is installing a piped Stratos HSSD 2 Air Sampler system in three 200m long runs in each of the warehouse’s three halls. Central runs are being installed at almost apex height of some 22m.
Paul Smith, director for DSP, said: “There was really no other machine that would have got us between the narrow racking and to the heights we needed to complete the job. Normally with warehouse work we install before the racking goes in. But being a refurbishment contract, the floorspace was already fully equipped and we had to work around it.”
He added: “Our engineers are delighted with Lifterz’ new scissor. It feels very steady and solid at the heights we are working, and we can drive at full elevation allowing quick progress.”
More on the PB Lifttechnik S225-12ES
The S225-12ES scissor features PB Lifttechnik’s patented automatic levelling system enabling height compensation of up to 200mm.
The system can offset level differences of up to 18% (10.3 degrees) and provides a 25% (14 degrees) gradeability. Coupled with a low centre of gravity, it allows lateral oblique rides up to 35% (19 degrees) when climbing.
This unique levelling ability allows the user to adjust the chassis so that the lift elevates parallel with high racking, elevations, columns, and at an optimal stability. A scissor chassis that is 2 degrees out of level on the ground will be 77cm out of vertical line at 22.5m in height. This requires extra manoeuvring of the scissor in order to reach higher work points without fouling structures, which will reduce productivity. Narrow space in this situation will further restrict the degree of manoeuvring possible, preventing the lift from being used at the full range of heights needed.
The levelling system also allows outrigger footprint to spread out towards the edge of the machine for better stability, as opposed to conventional outriggers which typically narrow within the machine footprint.
The machine’s low centre of gravity is a product of PB’s unique scissor stack design which uses just one centrally located cylinder to operate all three scissor stacks, above and below.
This allows lighter profiles to be used at the top, and results in a centre of gravity that lies in the lower third of the machine. It also keeps machine weight down (10,290kg) and floor loadings down – maximum bearing load is 30kN.
Every PB machine is stability tested to CE standards at the company’s German factory.
Overall machine width is 1.20m, overall length is 4.49m and stowed height is 2.56m.
Platform capacity is 450kg and the platform deck is 3.98m by 1.19m wide, gaining a further 1.5m in length when extended.
The S225-12ES is the largest in PB Lifttechnik’s new ES series of ultra-narrow electric scissors with working heights from 13m to 22.5m.
Ranger Equipment
Steve Hadfield
Tel: 0870 225 5554
steve.hadfield@spiderlift.co.uk
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