08.02.2007

ARA yields few new products

The Rental show opened today in Atlanta at the American Rental Associations annual convention.

Once you managed to get past the ridiculously long and tedious queues to collect your pre registered badge! There were some interesting new products and concepts to see although new aerial or telehandler products were noticeably thin on the ground.
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Genie Z40/23 RJ boom lifts at work

The most innovative stand this year was without doubt that of Genie, it launched its new 40ft narrow aisle – 1.5 metre- articulating boom lift. The Z-40/23N and Z40/23N RJ the only difference being that the RJ has the optional rotating jib.
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The new Genie Z40/23N

The biggest breakthrough in this unit is its AC motor drive, rather than the direct DC motor drive this unit uses an inverter to covert its 48volt battery power to AC to run large three phase AC electric motors on the rear axle.
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Detail of the AC drive system in the new Genie Z-40/23

Genie claims that the benefits are significantly longer battery life, with 30 percent gradeability and thanks to contra rotating capability, tight turning circle of only 870mm excellent for a rear wheel drive machine.

Up and over reach is over six metres and outreach 6.9 metres. The only downside with this unit is that it weighs almost seven tonnes and is likely to cost at least as much as a Z45. but for some applications it will be a real winner.

The second major new product from Genie is the GS3232 this 820mm wide 32ft platform height machine, uses the chassis from the GS2632 with the scissor stack from the GS3246. The extra height from the narrow base is achieved with outriggers, or rather jacks. The lift is fully self propelled up to 22ft platform height and then must jack itself up to go higher.
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The new Genie GS3232

The jacks are there to ensure that the machine is perfectly level, whereas the 3246 can be at least two degrees off level. The added benefit of the jacks is to allow up to five degrees side to side levelling and three degrees end to end to work on slight slopes.
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The controller on the new Genie GS3232

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The extra outrigger pad has an enable button, a single button for auto levelling and indication lights

Snorkel is another company that launched a mostly new articulating boom, its new AB85RJ looks the business, with a husky dual riser lift mechanism, this 85ft platform height lift offers up to 19 metres of outreach at nine metres up and over height.
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The new Snorkel AB85RJ

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The new Snorkel features a dual riser

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Detail on Snorkel's first rotating jib on its new 85ft articulating boom lift

The top of the lift is all new while the chassis is shared with the company’s 85ft fixed axle straight boom. This is the first time that Snorkel has offered a rotating jib and the first company to fit one on this size of lift. The jib offers up to 140 degrees of rotation plus 150 degrees platform rotation.

JLG showed its new 1230ES mast type electric, displayed in a mocked up elevator to highlight its compact dimensions and light weight. With direct electric drive it could be a winner.
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The JLG 1230ES in a simulated elevator

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JLG could not confirm if the 'saloon' type gate on the 1230ES is approved for CE models

The stand was branded JLG and Oshkosh company, and both interim president Charlie Szews and Oshkosh CEO Bob Bohn were manning the stand. A fully equipped service truck from Oshkosh company IMT was also in a prominent position on the stand.

Haulotte exhibited its big booms and announced its plans to establish a national service operation with four new wholly owned support locations opening in 2007. It also said that it will be opening new sales companies in Argentina, Dubai and Japan during the year.
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Chris Koch GM of Haulotte North America details the company's plans to win a larger market share

The company said that it will launch four new aerial lift products this year along with its telehandler range which it intends to market in North America as well as Europe. The first units will ship in the second half.

Skyjack had no new products but did have a production model of its new 45ft straight boom first seen at last years ARA. The company said that it has already received orders from customers in Europe and will soon ship its first CE models.
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Skyjack is concentrating on booms

Ken McDougal the recently appointed group president for Linamar’s industrial division confirmed that Linamar is looking to expand its Skyjack business with moves into products such as carry deck cranes and telehandlers.
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Ken McDougal of Linamar/SkyJack

In the meantime it has stepped up its R&D on boom lifts and will begin production of a 65ft straight boom by the end of the year with a 45ft articulating boom destined for early spring production.
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The production version of the Skyjack 45ft boom

The company has also appointed David Hall as its European engineering product manager. Hall was previously with Grove Manlift.
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Nifty in its US colours

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Kevin (The caped crusader) O'Shea on the IPAF/AWPT stand

More news from Atlanta tomorrow.