RER interviews Janne Pulkkinen, vice president North America; Johanna Kulmala, marketing manager, and Alan Hoffman, sales manager, Bronto Skylift about fleet management, the wind sector, international aerial growth and more.
RER: What are some of the new developments technologically in your company’s equipment during the past year?
Bronto Skylift: Bronto Skylift continues to be on the cutting edge of utilizing new technology and IOT. Our Skylift Fleet management system allows fleet owners to track all functions during the work day. It allows the owner to schedule and predict maintenance based on actual usage instead of calendar days or hours. It is customizable to allow the end user to track items of interest important to them. Bronto Compass system allows for remote communications with the Bronto Skylift aerial to troubleshoot operational issues and correct many without the need to dispatch technicians. Trouble can be pin-pointed and appropriate repair parts can be dispatched quickly to get the equipment operational in the shortest amount of time. In Europe we have also launched a new 35-meter work machine to answer the demand for a quick, easy and compact rental unit for inner cities.
RER: What trends do you see on the horizon with your company’s equipment, and the industry as a whole?
Bronto Skylift: The high reach aerial market continues to grow taller and taller. The wind sector is asking for more and more equipment above the 100-meter working height. Electric transmission lines continue to increase in height for both insulated and non-insulated products. At the same time there is a growing need for quick and compact platforms for inner city maintenance and repair work especially in Europe, but in U.S. too.
RER: Safety continues to be an important topic in the aerial industry. What are some of the new safety developments on your company’s equipment and do you see any new developments on the horizon?
Bronto Skylift: Being a global manufacturer, we see the most current requirements being incorporated on an ongoing basis. Our platforms are full of safety features and we value safety above everything else in our product development. The Bronto+ control system in our platforms takes care of stability and outreach calculations and training of safe working methods is always an integral part of purchasing a Bronto platform. For us safety is a way of working from product development to after sales and maintenance, not any sole innovation or development.
RER: How do you assess growth in demand internationally for aerial equipment?
Bronto Skylift: Bronto Skylift has been a global manufacturer for decades and we distribute equipment in over 120 countries around the globe. There are different areas developing in different parts of the world. For example, wind sector is still making the shift to fully utilize the aerials and so is the telecommunication sector. Safety awareness is bringing more and more areas to use aerial platforms.
RER: New ANSI standards are expected to be published later this year. Can you summarize the impact the new standards will have on the aerial rental industry?
Bronto Skylift: We have closely looked the new standards and it seems we have been fulfilling the new requirements already for years. Training plays an important role in the new standard. We always provide a basic operator training at minimum plus additional mechanical and/or calibration training if needed. Impact on the industry in general is hopefully added safety to everyone.
RER: Any other trends you are seeing or expect to see in the aerial rental industry?
Bronto Skylift: In addition to the size requirements for the aerials, safety pays a bigger and bigger role in the industry. This will have an effect on how the aerials are rented out and used. This will also bring new areas to use aerials where possible, which will of course have a positive impact.
