What do you see as some of the new trends in mobile elevating work platforms and telehandlers (not just with your company’s products). What are customers particularly looking for?
Early: I think if we look at fundamentals the rental industry is looking to OEMs for continued and improved return on investment. It is important to remember this as we talk of other trends. Whether that be in terms of technology or sustainability, they do not come without a cost. If they do come at a cost that cost needs to be recoverable in terms of rental rates or productivity. Both in aerials and telehandlers there is much discussion on electrification and its role in a more sustainable product offering and a more sustainable rental industry. Today, that trend has its origins in government policy and initiatives that can be leveraged through spending, a large part of which is on infrastructure and construction.
In this way contractors have sustainability objectives to meet and if rental companies are to be successful, they too need to look at the sustainability agenda when dealing with contractors. From a Skyjack perspective, we have always focused on the rental industry and through that focus we understand that technology used to deliver sustainability objectives needs to be up to the job and not just cool for cool’s sake. In that way, when we introduced E-drive to our DC scissor range, we ensured that the technology was well proven and that the technology itself did not increase product cost and was able to deliver lower life-time costs for the rental industry.
What improvements are being made in the aerial industry in regard to safety, in your products and in the industry as a whole? Are there particular areas of safety you feel need to be addressed more?
Early: Of course, I would look for us to provide continuous improvement in this area so that accidents are minimized. These are products that you need training to operate safely, and we encourage any organization that promotes appropriate training.
Technology can also help here. Available on all Skyjack machines is a QR code system, ELEVATE Live, which allows operators to access information like emergency lowering procedures, pre-use inspection guides, familiarization materials, and a machine’s current state of health, helping rental companies save money and reduce workloads.
When you talk about particular areas, one area comes to mind. We saw a tendency for operators being tempted to stand on platform rails for added reach. That led to the introduction of XStep on our SJ3219 model and our micro scissors. This gives operators an option to access hard-to-reach places such as in-between HVAC units, piping, and anything in close proximity to the top of ceilings. The XStep provides a firm, steady, and stronger raised platform and one that is not an integral part of a specially ordered machine that can be added or removed at will.
How much have rental companies improved in regard to safety practices and training their customers in safety in recent years? How would you like to see improvement in this area?
Early: The introduction of the ANSI/SAIA A92 MEWP Standards included requirements for rental companies to offer training on the use of mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPS). To support rental companies in those endeavors, we have provided a range of familiarization resources such as videos, “quickstart” guides, expanded manual information and of course Elevate Live mentioned above. In Europe, Skyjack was recently rewarded, winning the European Rental Association’s (ERA) Technical Committee Award: Best Training Materials Adapted for Rental and for a commitment to providing clear training materials for their rental customers. We have seen a number of rental companies active in this area, which is great to see, and trade organizations such as IPAF, ARA and ERA have been very active in this area for some time. Of course, there can never be enough activity in this area and while we have seen larger rental companies active it would be good to see similar progress with smaller companies.
What are the main new developments in your company’s products?
Early: In the past year we have seen the completion of the roll out of E-drive to the full range of DC scissors in which direct electric drive replaced hydraulic wheel motors, delivering improved duty cycles and lower lifetime costs. E-drive is also a feature on our new micro scissor range launched in early 2024. The two-model range micro includes a 13-foot platform height and a 19-foot platform height model, both of which include compact dimensions, low gross vehicle weight and low floor loading. Most recently we have launched a range of two e-booms in Europe. Available with 51-foot and 66-foot working heights and suitable for indoor and outdoor use, Skyjack’s new SJ45 AJE+ and SJ60 AJE+ models are battery powered electric rough terrain articulated booms that also include many of the design features that users have come to expect from Skyjack.
We continually ask manufacturers and rental companies about electric and hybrid aerial machines, and we find demand and acceptance is increasing each year, along with improved charging infrastructure on jobsites. Do you agree with this? What are your expectations for this market in the foreseeable future, particularly in rental?
Early: Yes, as we touched upon earlier sustainability initiatives are pushing things forward in this area. In July of 2024 we introduced two new all electric e-boom models into the European market and will follow this in early 2025 with two new hybrid electric models in Europe. Our initial focus is on Europe because in truth, as it stands today, there is more acceptability there.
In North America there is interest, although reservations remain on charging infrastructure. This means as interest turns in to demand over the next few years, it will tend to favor the hybrid model over the all-electric model. When talking about electrification, the discussion is a little bit different for telehandlers. While electric models are entering the market the discussion can be widened to other fuel sources such as hydrogen. Unlike aerials that have a significant stop-start profile, the telehandler’s operation is more continuous, which means hydrogen can be considered.
The questions then are on timeline, and the technological approach that will win out. I would think that is more of a medium-term phenomenon and that in turn will see a debate between a hydrogen burning engine or hydrogen fuel cell in an electric telehandler.
