Lifts Category Winner
Z-40/23N Articulated Boom
Genie Industries
Designed for “up, out and over” applications, the Genie Z-40/23N articulated boom offers contractors a narrow profile of 4 feet, 11 inches wide to easily fit through standard-sized double doors. With a tight turning radius, just 2 feet, 11 inches, it can easily maneuver through tight passageways and congested work areas. The Z-40/23N features a maximum clearance of 21 feet, 3 inches; a maximum working height of 46 feet, 5 inches; and a maximum horizontal reach of 22 feet, 8 inches. The boom features a true multi-function control system that allows operation of several machine functions at once — from raise, lower and rotate to extend, steer and drive. It also features Genie’s new AC drive system, combining DC batteries with 3-phase AC drive motors for quiet, energy-efficient operation and continuous control of drive speed (from 0 to 4.5 mph), braking and turning.
RER: What makes the Z-40/23N Articulating Boom innovative?
Phil Harvey, product manager for Genie Industries: The Z-40/23N features Genie’s new AC drive system, combining DC batteries with 3-phase AC drive motors for quiet, more energy-efficient operation and continuous control of drive speed (from 0 to 4.5 mph), braking , turning and traction control. This technology is common in industrial forklifts, but it is new to the aerial work platforms market. It offers many advantages, including better machine control for maximum productivity, less drain on the batteries for extended life and longer intervals between charging.
RER: What are the benefits to the Z-40/23N Articulating Boom? How does the unit make jobs more effective and efficient for rental professionals and their contractor customers?
Harvey: The benefits include:
· AC drive system (detailed above)
· A narrow profile of 4 feet, 11 inches wide, which allows it to easily fit through standard-sized double doors and narrow aisles.
· With a tight turning radius of just 2 feet, 11 inches, the Z-40/23N can easily maneuver through tight passageways and congested work areas.
· Onboard text based, multi-lingual diagnostic screen for easy trouble-shooting. This is the first time this feature has been offered on smaller articulating boom models. The screen also provides menu based set-up of optional features to meet the specific needs of a particular application.
RER: Describe the development process of the Z-40/23N Articulating Boom. Where did the idea come from and who was responsible for its engineering and development?
Harvey: Ten years ago, forklift manufacturers began employing AC drive systems into its product offerings. As the technology evolved in the forklift industry, the cost for developing this technology became more affordable and readily available to other industries. About three years ago, Genie’s engineering department began investigating ways to incorporate the AC drive system into our articulating boom product line. We also took a close look at what was going on in the industry — what offerings our competitors had available, what sizes were popular with our customers and so on. From this research, we identified an opportunity to expand our product line with a 40-foot model. We married the opportunity to expand our product line with the possibility of employing the new AC drive technology in the aerial work platforms industry to develop the Z-40/23N, which we announced at The Rental Show 2007.
