One class of equipment featured at the 2012 Lift and Access Showcase & Symposium was compact rough-terrain scissor lifts with overall widths from 59 to 69 in. The majority featured 26-ft. aerail platform heights; JLG demonstrated its 40-ft. machine, which has comparable features and demonstrates the trend toward compact RTs with taller lift heights.
Compact RT scissor lift growth has gained momentum recently, with introductions or updates from Genie, Haulotte, MEC, and Snorkel joining long-time stalwarts from JLG and Skyjack. Product developments tend to aim at boosting travel power and simplifying operation and maintenance. Chad Hislop, product manager for Genie, sees the trend. “People have always expected a lot from RT scissors,” he says. “They can lift more people, material, and tools than any other aerial work platform.”
Hislop says that customers are looking for machines that can work indoors or out, stay on a job from start to finish, and are reliable and easy to service. He looks forward to the rest of 2013. “It is looking like a strong year for the RT scissor market,” he says. “As we see more construction projects starting, demand for these heavy-duty machines follows.”
Jack Harwood, North American sales manager for MEC Aerial Work Platforms, Kerman Calif., agrees that the market for RT scissor lifts is growing. “This market has seen activity, particularly in the crossover segment,” he says. “The electrically powered Crossover RT scissor can do 90% of the rough-terrain work that an internal-combustion RT can, but the electric RT can stay on the job until the end.”
He is hearing from customers that material-loading capability and the ability to drive at full height are also important features.
Lance Sullivan, director of fleet services for Sunstate Equipment Co., Phoenix, Ariz., sees both maintenance and new construction driving the market. “A lot of tilt-wall buildings are now reaching a maintenance cycle,” he says. But Sullivan notes that changes in architecture, with more open floor plans and more pre-fabrication are also leading contractors to need scissor lifts with more capacity and height for new construction. “The 26- to 40-ft. lifts are the bread-and-butter machines,” he says.
The six RT scissor lifts in the Showcase walkaround demonstrations were represented by Genie, Haulotte, JLG, MEC, Skyjack, and Snorkel, The models from Genie, Haulotte, Skyjack, and Snorkel were all powered by internal-combustion engines, whereas the JLG and MEC units ran on battery power. Genie offers a battery-powered version of the model it displayed, but chose to exhibit the IC version at this event.
All of the Showcase powered access machines offer four-wheel drive. Five of the six manufacturers offer it as standard. JLG makes it an option.
Other common features: stowed heights and widths that enable entry through standard-sized double doorways commonly found on commercial and public buildings; hydraulic leveling outriggers; rollout platform extensions; easy access for maintenance; and features that simplify troubleshooting. Read on to learn more about the units presented at the Showcase.
Genie GS-2669 RT
Genie’s GS-2669 RT combines 26-ft. aerial platform height with 1,500-lb. capacity on a chassis just 69 in. wide. It is part of Genie’s growing family of RT scissor lifts that also includes 33- and 40-ft. tall models, as well as electrically powered versions designed to work both outdoors and indoors.
The internal combustion-powered version of the GS-2669 RT represented the family in the Showcase scissor lift walkaround demonstration. Genie product manager Chad Hislop explained that Genie’s main goals for the 69-in. RTs are providing top-notch jobsite performance and easy serviceability.
To generate high-performance rough-terrain travel, Genie has made the GS-2669 RT’s standard power plant a 31-hp Kubota Model 972 dual-fuel engine. Optional engines include a 25-hp Kubota D1105 diesel and a 25-hp Perkins diesel.
To get power from the engine to the tires, Genie uses hydraulics to drive piston motors and reduction gear hubs. Four-wheel drive with positive traction control is standard, as are an oscillating axle and foam-filled rough-terrain tires. The system provides full-power travel forward and reverse, with a top speed of 3.5 mph and maximum gradeability of 40%. The minimum inside turning radius is just 6'11".
The powered platform measures 9'2"x5'3". It includes a 5-ft. slide-out extension deck with 300-lb. capacity. The aerial platform consists of a steel frame and a replaceable aluminum deck. Its standard features include folding guardrails, an AC power outlet, and a full-height swing gate. The lift and drive functions are operated by fully proportional controls.
Ease-of-service features include onboard diagnostics, a side-mounted engine, and equipment enclosures with doors that swing wide open, as well as a tilt-down hydraulic manifold and a fold-down control box that are easy to access. The control box and hydraulic manifold sit side by side so all troubleshooting can be done conveniently in one spot. Wago electrical connection strips help make it easy to test, diagnose, and repair any problems. And the control panel displays error codes that help shorten servicing time.
On the opposite side of the chassis, the engine compartment also has large doors that swing wide open, and the engine sits on a tray that swings out 90° to enable full access to both sides for service and maintenance.
Even the platform access ladder at the rear of the machine is designed for easy servicing. The bottom rung is suspended from rubber supports so it can move if it hits an obstacle. This helps prevent ladder damage. It also enables replacing the bottom rung as an individual piece, instead of having to install a whole new ladder for one damaged rung.
Hislop noted that in addition to serviceability features on the machine itself, Genie ships 95% of service parts the day they’re ordered.
Haulotte Compact 2668 RT
Last September, Haulotte rolled out redesigned versions of its Compact 2668 RT and Compact 3368 RT rough-terrain scissor lifts. According to Tom Bell, Haulotte’s general manager for Canada, the many significant upgrades came as a direct result of customer input. Bell presented the Compact 2668 RT in the Showcase Walkaround.
The Compact 2668 RT combines ruggedness and rough-terrain travel capability with 26'9"maximum access platform height, full-height drive capability, and 1,250-lb. platform capacity.
Based on customer input, the 2668 RT is now powered by a 24-hp Kubota D1105 diesel engine that meets the Tier 4 emission standard, runs more quietly, and uses 5% less fuel than the previous engine.
The powered access machine has 11 in. of ground clearance, second most among the Showcase scissor lifts. Its travel system uses four-wheel hydraulic drive with automatic differential lock and foam-filled, all-terrain tires for rough-terrain traction. The machine can travel up to 3.4 mph and climb a 40% grade. Its two-wheel steering permits a tight outside turning radius of 11'6".
The hydraulic leveling outriggers, which come standard, sit within the powered platform’s footprint and are protected by heavier bumpers and covers. All four can be deployed or retracted automatically with one switch, and the system offers auto leveling.
The platform measures 8'3" long by 5'1" wide and has a 3'11" rollout extension deck standard. A 110V outlet comes standard, as do fold-down railings. With the platform stowed and the railings folded down, the 2668 RT stands just 5'2" high.
The scissor stack slides from back to front as it extends to raise the platform. Even at full height, the stack is even with the platform. Eliminating cantilever gives the access platform a solid feel.
One major result of the redesign is a new CANbus control box that uses a joystick, toggle switches, and buttons in place of the former touch pad. Now all switches and lights can be replaced individually. All functions feature proportional control, and the joystick is a reliable Hall-effect controller. The entire control box can be easily disconnected for secure storage.
Maintenance access has been improved with a better hood enclosure, and the machine’s self-diagnostic tool has been relocated to speed up and simplify service analysis.
JLG 4069LE
JLG’s 4069LE electrically powered scissor lift provides 40-ft. aerial platform height and 800 lbs. of platform capacity in a compact 69-in. width. Its versatile design and exhaust-free electric power let it work on slab and in rough terrain, indoors or out, so it can stay on a job from start to finish. Its narrow width and 6'7" stowed height with rails folded down enable it to pass through a double doorway. The machine’s overall length is 10'2" and inside turning radius is just 7'6". The 4069LE’s 48V electric system is powered by eight, 6V 370Ah deep-cycle batteries, which are housed in two sealed, lockable enclosures equipped with quick-disconnect couplings and fork pockets for easy handling.
The powered access system provides ample power for daily operations. JLG product manager William Dovey, who presented the 4069LE at Showcase, says the system will run 90 Hird cycles per charge, and that the machine’s performance has been proven by years of operation on jobsites. The standard automatic plug-in 23A SCR charger is mounted in a cabinet at the front of the chassis. The cabinet can also hold an optional diesel-fueled 40A, 6-hp Kubota genset that can recharge the batteries when plug-in power is not available, or as needed during extra-demanding operation. The gen-set charger can be set to kick in automatically when the batteries have discharged 30%, or it can be operated manually.
The travel drive is DC direct electric, with the rear wheels driving and the front wheels steering. The rear axle oscillates 8 in. for better ground contact and traction. JLG’s ATC automatic traction control system is standard on the rear wheels so that if one wheel slips, the other gets the power. All-wheel drive, using hydraulic assist on the front wheels, is optional.
Top travel speed is 3 mph. With the standard two-wheel-drive, the machine will climb a 35% grade. With optional four-wheel-drive, it will climb a 45% hill. Urethane-filled, non-marking tires are standard.
The powered platform measures 9'7" long by 5'5" wide. The 3-ft.platform extension rolls out smoothly on large polyethylene rollers, can be locked at 6-in. increments, and has a capacity of 250 lbs. A 110V receptacle on the platform is standard. The stowed platform sits 5'9" above ground, and the maximum drive height is 30 ft.
The 4069LE’s control box provides fully proportional control of traveling and lifting. Operations are selected by toggle switches and lights tell which function is selected. Operation speed and direction are controlled by the fully proportional joystick. Travel is fully powered both forward and backward; lifting is powered up, with gravity lowering.
The control box is connected to the machine by a cord and can be used in the location the operator finds most advantageous. A quick twist on the umbilical connector enables the control box to be removed and locked up for storage.
MEC Crossover 2659ERT
The Crossover 2659ERT (and its taller sibling, the 3259ERT) is MEC’s way of bringing the benefits of on-slab electric scissor lifts to the rough-terrain market. According to Joe Mason, who presented the 2659ERT for its walkaround demonstration, MEC’s electrically powered Crossover RT scissor lifts have a combination of compactness, power, and maneuverability that let them work an entire project from start to finish.
The Crossover 2659ERT delivers 26-ft. aerial platform height, 1,000-lb. maximum capacity, and drive-at-full height capability in an exhaust-free scissor lift that measures just 8'9" long by 59 in. wide and has an inside turning radius of 4'11".
The 48V DC, 250Ah standard battery pack will power almost two days of work before needing a charge. An optional 48VDC, 375Ah battery pack will power three days of operation when fully charged. The optional onboard diesel-fueled generator can recharge the batteries anytime, permitting recharging while the lift is in use.
The four-wheel drive travel system on the powered platform will move the machine up to 3.2 mph or climb a 35% grade. Pneumatic tires come standard. Foam-filled or turf tires are optional. Hydraulic outriggers are also optional and feature one-touch auto leveling.
The scissor stack has maintenance-free bearings. The access platform has a non-skid steel deck and measures 7'7" long by 3'10" wide. The rollout extension, which comes standard, adds up to 3'6" of extra length and can be locked at intermediate lengths. A 110V power outlet on the platform also comes standard.
The aerial platform’s standard equipment includes a 250-lb. capacity sheet material rack designed, installed, and approved by MEC. Its optional equipment includes MEC-designed and -approved pipe-handling racks that will hold up to 250 lbs. of pipe, poles, or conduit. The Crossover 2659ERT can handle 1,000 lbs. to full height in the platform, or 750 lbs. in the platform and 250 lbs. in either the pipe rack or sheet material rack.
Fully proportional drive and lift controls simplify operation while maximizing control. MEC says the electrical power system reduces maintenance by eliminating the service associated with an internal-combustion engine. All electrical and hydraulic components are protected in easy-access cabinets and can be accessed without raising the platform. An electronic self-diagnostic system with readout helps speed troubleshooting and shorten service time.
Skyjack SJ6826 RT
Skyjack’s SJ6826 RT scissor lift offers 1,250-lb. capacity and 26-ft. access platform height in a stable package that stands 68 in. wide, weighs just 6,400 lbs., and can travel with the aerial platform at full height and deck extended. The optional outriggers fit within the machine’s footprint.
Skyjack senior product marketing manager Paul Kreutzwiser said the SJ6826 RT carries the traits for which the company’s products are known: ruggedness, reliability, easy access, and easy servicing.
The standard power plant is a 31-hp Kubota 972 dual-fuel gas/propane engine. A 24-hp diesel engine is optional, as is a diesel engine with scrubber.
The powerful four-wheel drive travel system will climb a 50% grade—the steepest among the scissors shown at Showcase. The symmetrical 4WD system links diagonally opposed tires (left rear with right front, and right rear with left front) hydraulically. If one tire loses grip, diverter valves transfer power to one tire on each side of the lift for better traction and control. Foam-filled tires are standard. Options include air filled, air filled with sealant, and non-marking solid rubber.
Skyjack’s rigid scissor lift stack gives the operator a solid, secure feel, thanks to the clevis-shaped scissor ends, which enable the scissor arms to load atop each other and eliminate pin slop. The stack uses closed steel tubes to keep moisture out for long life. The two trunnion-mounted hydraulic lifting cylinders are designed so their tops can be unbolted and the cylinders rotated down for easy servicing.
The rugged all-steel Skyjack aerial platform measures 8'0" x 4'8" and features checkered deck plate for traction. The 300-lb. capacity rollout deck adds up to 5 ft. of extra length and can be locked at pre-set intermediate positions. The railings can be folded completely down to reduce stowed height 5'3.5". When the platform is stowed, the deck sits just 49.5" above ground for easy loading. A 110V AC outlet comes standard on the platform.
The analog control system uses relays and valves for easy troubleshooting and servicing. Skyjack’s standardized color-coded wiring system, the same from model to model, tells technicians what function each wire serves. “For example, wires 13 and 14 are always lift and lower,” said Kreutzwiser during the presentation. The wire colors also lead technicians to what valve or relay controls each function.
Other easy-servicing features include a steel access ladder that bolts on for easy replacement, a tilt-out hydraulic manifold, a 90° swing-out tray that gives easy access to both sides of the engine, fork pockets on the fronts and sides of the chassis, and tie-down/lifting lugs.
Skyjack warrants the machine’s structure for five years, and the entire lift bumper to bumper for two years.
Snorkel S2770RT
Snorkel’s S2770RT is a compact, lightweight yet durable scissor lift designed to work in tight spaces like those between commercial buildings.
It offers 1,250-lb. platform capacity and 27-ft. platform height on a chassis just 72 in. wide. Optional stabilizers fit within the powered access machine’s footprint and offer self-leveling capability. The aerial platform combines a steel frame with an aluminum deck. It measures 8'1" x 5'5", and the sliding deck extension adds 4 ft. of length. It will hold four workers, plus tools. A power outlet is standard on the platform, and the machine can travel with the platform at full height.
Designed to handle rough terrain, the S2770RT’s 13-in. ground clearance, 22.5-hp, water-cooled Kubota diesel engine, four-wheel drive, articulating axle, and poly-filled tires let the 6,172-lb. scissor lift travel at up to 2.8 mph and climb grades to 35%. Options include an LPG-powered engine, a hydraulically driven generator, and non-marking tires. Inside turning radius is just 9'3".
Wide swing-out doors on the engine and machinery compartments offer easy access to the engine, hydraulics, and electrical components. Electrical and hydraulic schematics are mounted right on the doors for easy reference. The controls use relays, so there are no circuit boards on the machine, making troubleshooting and repairs easy and more economical. The controls are proportional in order to combine operating efficiency and function precision.
For easy transporting, the platform guardrails fold down to bring the stowed machine’s total shipping package to just 11'0" x 6'0" x 6'0"
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