15.02.2005

Is it a Scissor or is a scaffold tower?

The Wolfe Towermatic launched in the UK last year has started to gather momentum with orders coming in from tool hire companies looking for simple inexpensive solutions to cope with the anticipated upturn in demand as the new work at height regulations come into force. The latest multiple order for 30 units came from Doyles of Ireland following Hire Stations orders last year.
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The Towermatic Tower come scissor

Wolfe is a company known for developing innovative products for rental companies following a specific demand. This helps underwrite the development and ensures that the product meets market requirements. The Towermatic was developed with Hire Station, it was looking for something like the UpRight PedaLift, if possible with a simpler mechanism.

The resulting product is all aluminium and uses spring counterbalance in order to provide most of the lift for the scissor type structure. Set up is simple, while the unit has four outriggers, they are not required when indoors, although many will set them for the “feel good factor” and some additional rigidity. Then having set the lever with a certain technique that will take a few attempts to master, a single shove can take the platform to its maximum four metres height. the structure locks into place and the user then climbs the ladder built into the end of the scissor arms. Hoops half way up help provide additional security while climbing.
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The Towermatic is easy to climb

When the job is complete the user pulls smartly on a rope again a certain technique is required to fold tower “without making a meal of it” The process of erecting and folding is not that far away from a garage door, albeit a heavy one with big springs.

The advantages offered by this product are that it has no loose components, takes less minutes to master, has no electrics, hydraulics batteries or power source of any kind and thus can sit in the corner for weeks, even months and then be ready to use without concern.

Wolfe believes that he product has big potential not only with UK hire companies but also with industrial end users and also has hoped for the export market.. With an end user retail price edging towards £5,000 it probably comes a little closer to a powered lift than to an alloy scaffold tower than is ideal, but it is a high quality durable product that does offer certain users some advantages over both of them.