04.02.2008

A training challenge

A.M.P Access of Taunton - with the support of Niftylift and the National Construction College, has given its two senior apprentices the challenge of completely rebuilding two old and neglected Niftylift HR12 boom lifts from the ground up.
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The better of the two Nifty Lifts that the aprentices will refurbish

The two units concerned were acquired as part of a block purchase of aerial lifts from a company administration and have seen years of neglect including the robbing of critical parts, including the upper boom sectikon on one.

John Keely, managing director of Nifty lift Andy Person managing director of A.M.P Access, Paul Williams, the National Construction College assessor and Terry Cole-A.M.P. regional engineering manager officially launched the eight week programme on Friday.
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(L-R) John Keely of Nifty, Paul Williams of the National Construction College and Andy Pearson of A.M.P.

The two apprentices, Chris Verrin-Sipsom, based in Liskeard and Sam Lee based in Taunton, have eight weeks from today in which to strip out the machines and then completely rebuild them.

The job has been planned in 10 stages:
- A complete strip down and clean
- A full chassis structural inspection and rectification
- Replace slew bearing, bushes and pins repair and fit boom
- Hydraulic system full refit and replace where needed
- Complete review, repair and replace of Running gear
- Refit engine
- Full overhaul of electrical system
- Check test and run up
- Repaint and decal
- Test and prepare for new six month Loler test

The two apprentices will maintain a work board charting their progress and are expected to communicate with each other regularly on each others progress. They will be fully supervised throughout the rebuild by A.M.P’s rebuild-workshop foreman.
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(L-R)Paul Williams -National Construction College assessor, Terry Cole-A.M.P. regional engineering manager, Sam Lee and Chris Verrin-Sipsom A.M.P. Access Apprentices.

As of this morning the two will work full time on the project and the completed machines will go on display at SED and Access Days in May. Niftylift is supporting the programme and helping sponsor the rebuilding project.

Vertikal.Net will carry regular updates of the progress as part of our support for apprentice training and doing our small part in encouraging the recruitment of young people into the industry.

A.M.P currently has four apprentices going through the four year programme and is keen to extend this method of recruitment and to repeat the rebuild project as a key part of the apprenticeship, that should provide an in depth knowledge of all aspects of the equipment.