Mewps
The mobile elevated work platform has become an essential tool for those who work at height. The role of the mewp is by no means limited to aerial tree work. The general demand for access solutions has led to a proliferation of suppliers, both in the sales and in the hiring sectors. In such a vibrant market the options are extremely flexible. For example, the smallerscale customer can try a variety of machines from hirers before he makes his choice and calls a dealer; larger outfits can rent machinery at busy times to complement their own access systems. With so many operators up aloft, the access suppliers have made it their business to keep up-to-date and help customers comply with the latest legislation. Promax Access offers training courses at its own premises in south Yorkshire, or on site.

The company has collaborated with HSE, the Forestry Commission and the Arboricultural Association in the preparation of industry guidelines for the use of powered access in tree surgery and arboricultural work. Promax also provides some extremely useful tips for those sifting through the wide array of products on offer. Crawler (tracked) machines, the company points out, are not all intended for use on difficult terrain; in fact the majority of tracked platforms are intended for flat, hard ground, and some even specifically for indoor use. Heavier machines (especially ones with stabiliser legs), the advice continues, will be more rigid than a similar lightweight platform. This reduces the dynamic, or ‘bounce’, loads imposed through single stabiliser feet. Although the static load of a heavier platform will be marginally
greater, the point/punch loads imposed while working can be less than half that of a lighter machine and therefore much better suited to suspended, hollow floors and soft ground.

Many manufacturers give outreach figures at a point just above ground level, and reach can very quickly reduce as the height is raised. A good way to assess the performance of a machine, if outreach is an important factor, is to compare the outreach at 75% of the maximum working height. Promax has been supplying specialist access platforms and services
to a wide range of industries since 1993. They are now the sole UK dealers for powered access platforms from manufacturers Basket, Cela, Dino-Lift and Tadano. Not surprisingly, the range available from Promax is extremely wide. The Italian-manufactured Basket RQG, 18-tracked, spider-type platform has proven popular with arborists, and further refinements have led to the development of the RQG15, a machine designed specifically for tree work. Working
height is 15m, with outreach of 6.00/7.80/8.50m with safe working loads of 200/120/80kg respectively.

Power is supplied by a 9.0kW petrol, or a 6.8kW diesel engine. The Finnish Dino-Lift 205 RXT,
and larger 240 RXT extreme terrain wheeled machines, are also available from Promax. The working heights are 20.5m and 24m and both are powered by a Caterpillar 3003 17.5kW engine. Developed from the heavy-duty truck-mounted range, the Greentel 19m, 21m, 24m and 28m working height tractor-mounted work platforms have also made an impact in the arboricultural powered access marketplace. Driven by the pto, the Greentel can be mounted or dismounted in around 20 minutes leaving the tractor available for other duties.
Promax Access 01226 716657





Ranger Equipment Ltd, of Chesterfield, is the sole importer of Teupen access platforms. Operator/ demonstrator training and service facilities are available and spare parts and technical advice are available on a 24/7 basis. The distinctive red Leo tracked machines have
certainly made their mark on the access sector, with the 15G (working height 15m/outreach 6.4m), 23GT (23m/11.2m), and 30T (30m/14m) proving eminently suitable for tree work. The company has also invested £1.3m in a rental fleet of Teupen machines, which includes the only Leo36T and Leo50GTX platforms for hire in the UK. Ranger Equipment is announcing the arrival of a new model this month. The Leo 25T has been completely redesigned by Teupen.

The first example of this model now arrives in the UK. Utilising a telescopic boom, this model complements the popular articulating boomed Leo 23GT model. The advantage of a telescopic boom is speed, with maximum elevation achieved much more quickly than by an articulating boom machine. The key performance feature is its horizontal outreach of 15.5m, along with 25m working height. Boom rotation is 450° (the usual 360 and beyond) and the basket rotation offers an impressive 180°. Standard features include automatic self-levelling stabilisers with manual override, the ability to level up to 23%, and a ‘narrow jacking’ stabiliser system. It is fitted with a three-cylinder Kubota D722 diesel engine, a height-adjustable track system with up to 12% differential for cross-slope driving, and nonmarking
tracks with Teupen’s patented low-damage tread pattern.

Although much lower in cost, this model shares the same high quality and stable telescopic boom design as the Leo 30T model, with a crane industry-inspired trapezoidal section, self-centering profile and low-friction rollers. The Leo 25T’s party piece is its ability to be transported on the same special trailer as the Leo 23GT, due to a low gross weight of only
3000kg. The special-build ‘Fortuna’ trailer, supplied for both models, weighs just 450kg. This means that it can be towed with a Land Rover, or similar.
Ranger Equipment 0870 225 5554





With over 20 years’ experience in the industry, Facelift operates a fleet of over 600 machines from depots spanning the UK. The business started in 1985 when Managing Director Gordon Leicester bought a secondhand cherry-picker for his building maintenance company. The machine was never idle and the purchase of a second led to the company moving into access
hire. With 20 qualified technicians holding current Powered Access Certification, Facelift can guarantee demands for on-site assistance. It also provides LOLER testing and certification services in its workshops. Facelift’s range includes many platforms suitable for tree work, one example of which is the truckmounted Nifty V160. The vehicle is available with or without a fully trained operator and, at a GVW of 5000kg, can be driven on a non- HGV licence – although, a licence issued before 1997 is required. The working height is 16.2m with an outreach of 8.9m, despite the narrow vehicle jacking width of 2.4m. The Nifty X-Trax 12 and 17 models are ideally suited to working off-road. With its tremendous mobility, the latter is the machine to opt for on the most difficult sites. Innovative boom geometry gives the diesel-powered platform a height capability of 17m and a lateral reach of 8.7m. The machine
is also able to work safely on slopes of up to 32 degrees. When conditions are less demanding, the road-towable Nifty 170 may be the option to choose. The working diagram is similar to that of the X-Trax 17, but it is specifically designed for rapid set-up and use.
Facelift 0800 521595




Since its formation, A-Plant has expanded from a five-depot operation to a national network of over 200 locations covering the whole of Great Britain. The company has invested £8million in over 350 new powered-access machines. Split between four suppliers (JLG, Skyjack, Genie and Niftylift) the new £8 million plus investment is just one phase in a three year programme
valued at more than £30million. The company has added 17m booms from Niftylift to its fleet
of tracked access platforms. With a working height of 17.1m and outreach of 8.7m, the new TD170 track-mounted access platforms, purchased from Niftylift, provide an impressive working envelope. Their TrackDrive base allows travel over ground where four-wheel drive platforms would have difficulty finding traction. The weight-saving design of the TD170 also ensures that siteto- site transportation is economical.

Paul Dennis, Managing Director for A-Plant’s Specialist Products Division, said, “In addition to our new tracked machines, all of our new ‘wheeled’ machines are highly specified with four-wheel drive, and on-board generators to power hand-tools and other equipment.” The powered access investment has been accompanied by the purchase of specialised delivery vehicles. This allows A-Plant to deliver machines more quickly and take on more work from customers requiring early deliveries.
A-Plant 0870 0500797





Established in 1977, Planet Platforms has provided access for some prestigious clients in the past; the Royal Albert Hall and Shell Offshore, to name a couple. Much of their wide range of equipment may be unsuitable for the treework sector, but Planet Platforms (Southern) made
the trip to the Arborists’ Trade Fair at Cirencester last year. The Italian-built CTE access platforms were the centrepiece of their display. Imported and sold by CTE UK, Wakefield and
Leicester, the continental manufacturer has a long history of producing truck-mounted platforms, but the CS135 and CS170 on show in Wiltshire were definitely of interest to the visitors. Newly arrived from Italy, and available on hire from Planet Platforms, are the tracked versions of these machines – the Traccess 135 and 170. Powered by powerful diesel or petrol engines, the ‘bi-fuel’ facility allows for electric use where necessary. The maximum working heights are 13.5m and 17m respectively, with working outreaches of 7.0m and 7.2m. The weights are 1460 and 1850kg, with folded widths of 780 and 800mm. An articulated top telescopic, independent fly-boom increases the application window of the T135.

Standard operation and safety features include basket-load sensing, simple remote-drive control for manoeuvring and loading, as well as an easy-to-use control system. A quick-release removable basket is fitted, with a larger basket as an option. The safe working load of 120kg can be selected, as opposed to the standard 200kg, to increase the boom envelope. Internal routing of hydraulic/electrical services offers protection from ‘falling debris and branches’, according to the manufacturer. There is no doubt that these machines have been designed with the arborist in mind.
Planet Platforms 0800 0854161





There are other specialists in the field. For those who know what they require and are going to buy, Access Platform Sales of Huntingdon has a large range of new and used machines on offer. The company was founded in 1987 and the directors and staff have a long experience
in the access industry. The provision of impartial advice is a key element of the operation. Some of the best refurbished equipment in the UK is available, although nationwide rental can be arranged for a wide range of the company’s stock. The road-towable trailer-mounted platforms and the tracked boom platforms may be of most interest to the arborist. New sales of Niftylift and Omme machines are available in the former category and those of Goldlift, Leguan and Omme, in the latter.
Access Platform Sales 01480 893801





Arborplant specialises in the hire of arboricultural equipment throughout the south of England. Machinery can be collected from the depot near Henley on Thames, or delivered to the site. Access platforms available include the Octopussy 1265 and 1465 tracked models. Single-cylinder noiseless Honda engines power the machines which have a width of 850mm and outreach of 6.5m. The working height of the 1265 is 12m and that of the 1465 is 14m. Arborplant’s CTE 17m, tracked platforms are also proving to be very useful machines with their lateral outreach of 7.5m. A Teupen Leo 23GT tracked access platform, is also available
with a working height of 23m and outreach of 11.2m. The company has recently been in the limelight north of London, with the supply of a Leo 30T platform for tackling the old pollards in Epping Forest. There are about 50,000 of them and they require the periodic attention of the tree surgeons of Epping Forest Division of the City of London Corporation. It is reported that the level of customer service from the team at Arborplant has been excellent. Arborplant points out that it is worth the arborist’s time to keep in touch as regular additions are frequently made to the fleet.
Arborplant 0118 940 1740
Hilary Burke