Lift and Access LLEAP Award Winners Announced

The Leadership in Lifting Equipment and Access Platform (LLEAP) Awards, presented by Lift and Access magazine, is designed to recognize innovative products introduced between April 1, 2006, and March 31, 2007. Judged by a group of 12 industry experts in the crane, aerial lift, and material-handling fields, including national and independent rental companies, sales, safety, and consulting, and the Lift and Access editorial staff, 37 products in six categories were scored based on their leadership, innovation, influence and benefits. These categories include aerial work platforms; material handlers; cranes; optional equipment, attachments, or accessories; safety features or operating systems; and miscellaneous products.

Twelve products received recognition in the LLEAP Awards. Gold and Silver Winners were named in each category. Additionally, two Best Overall Winners • one original equipment manufacturer and one support product or service • were selected for best all-around innovation.

The two Best Overall Winners in 2007 were the Grove GTK 1100 from the Manitowoc Crane Group and Trojan Battery's Plus Series. The Grove GTK1100 has been one of the most talked about cranes since the company announced its introduction last fall. Crane experts who judged the LLEAP Awards called this machine innovative, impressive, eye-catching, and revolutionary • a perfect example of what an overall winner should be.

Trojan Battery's introduction of its Plus Series just barely made the cut-off for entry in the LLEAP Awards. As a leader in the industry, Trojan Battery offers a product that is innovative in its design and aims to improve battery life for machines it is incorporated in, according to our judges. Influence, innovation, leadership, and benefit are all key to winning the LLEAP Awards, and Trojan excels in each area.

A summary of all the winners follows. For complete LLEAP coverage, see the October 2007 issue of Lift and Access.

Best Overall Winner: Original Equipment Manufacturer and Gold Winner: Cranes
Grove GTK 1100 Crane

Announced in fall 2006 and first shown to the public at Bauma, the Grove GTK1100, manufactured by the Manitowoc Crane Group, Manitowoc, Wis., is a completely new concept in crane engineering. According to the company, the GTK1100 complements MCG's matrix of crane products, borrowing technology from all of its major crane platforms.

Originally designed for wind power and petrochemical applications, MCG also sees potential for the Grove GTK1100 in urban settings where height is critical and work space is limited, such as placing an air conditioning unit on a high-rise building. Instead of competing with other height-enhancing cranes, such as the 400-ton Manitowoc 16000, on applications like wind farms, the GTK1100 will provide an efficient alternative with its height, capacity, and minimal footprint.

This niche machine features a 251-foot vertical tower that is topped with a five-section, 197-foot telescopic boom. Overall height is more than 459 feet. Provisional charts show the crane lifts more than 77 tons to at least 394 feet.

For more information, visit www.manitowoccranegroup.com.

Best Overall Winner: Support Products and Services and Gold Winner: Miscellaneous Products

Trojan Battery Company Plus Series

Introduced in March 2007, the Plus Series deep-cycle batteries from Trojan Battery Company, Santa Fe Springs, Calif., were designed to address the needs of aerial work platforms users and owners, and as a result, the Plus Series batteries was developed to be durable, reliable, and easy to maintain.

Patent-pending SureVent flip-top vent caps make opening and closing the vents easy. Unlike common screw-top caps used by most battery companies, SureVent caps flip open and stay attached to the battery cover, preventing users from misplacing or getting dirt on the caps during watering.

The Plus Series' max-level water indicator is also unique. Because proper watering helps to maximize battery life, Trojan designed the max-level water indicator, which is essentially a built-in lip within each vent well. This visible indicator allows for precise watering and helps to prevent over-watering.

For demanding applications, the Plus Series' battery terminals are embedded in the hard plastic cover. Die-cast embedded terminals better withstand the heat and stress and eliminate terminal breakage.

For more information, go to www.trojanbattery.com.

Gold Winner: Aerial Lifts

Bronto Skylift Model S-331 HLA Truck-Mounted Aerial Lift

Bronto Skylift, Tampere, Finland, introduced the latest model in its HLA Series, the Model S-331 HLA truck-mounted aerial platform, in spring 2007. This machine is the world's tallest aerial lift. Designed for the alternative energy, utility and construction industries, the S-331 HLA also has a firefighting counterpart, the Model F-101 HLA, which was introduced in fall 2006.

Featuring a record 325-foot platform height, the S-331 HLA can reach the tops of wind generators and cell phone towers. It provides more than 108 feet of outreach and can reach 36 feet below ground level. The unit also features an unrestricted platform capacity of 970 pounds.

Depending on the chassis selected, the Model S-331 HLA has a transport height of 12 feet, transport length of 54 feet, and a transport width of 8 feet. Typical gross vehicle weight with chassis is around 136,000 pounds. When mounted on a six-axle commercial truck chassis, for example, the GVW is only 68 tons, and the S-331 measures only 8.2 feet wide and has less than a 13-foot transport height, making it more maneuverable and roadable than a trailer or special crane carrier.

To learn more, visit www.bronto.fi.

Gold Winner: Material Handlers

Xtreme Manufacturing XRM1267 Telehandler

Xtreme Manufacturing, Las Vegas, Nev., is owned by Don Ahern, president of Ahern Rentals, and was first created to manufacture telehandlers to serve Ahern Rentals' customers, as well as provide all end users with machines that are highly productive, easy to operate, and run at a lower cost per unit of time, which leads to a longer life for the machine.

Xtreme's most current model is the XRM1267 telescopic handler, which was introduced in January 2007 at World of Concrete. This one-of-a-kind machine features a 12,000-pound capacity and 67-foot maximum lift height. With the outriggers in position and the rear axle locked, the XRM1267 can take 6,800 pounds to its maximum lift height and 3,000 pounds to its maximum horizontal outreach of 53'8”. Weighing in at 46,300 pounds, the XRM1267 measures 26'6”x8'6”x8'11” when stowed. The unit's ground clearance is 15 inches, and its turning radius is 15'10”.

This telehandler uses a heavy-duty roller boom and dual hydraulic cylinders for improved lift and control. Powered by a 130-hp Perkins center inline engine, the XRM1267 features a 72-gallon fuel tank and three-speed power shift transmission supplied by Dana. The Dana theme carries on to the axles. Brakes are inboard wet disc, while the parking brake is spring-applied hydraulically released. The machine also has full-time planetary four-wheel drive, and four-wheel, two-wheel, and crab steering. Rear pivot steering is available as an option.

Read more at www.xtrememanufacturing.com.

Gold Winner: Optional Equipment, Attachments or Accessories

Loegering Quad Track System

In February, Loegering, Casselton, N.D., introduced its newest traction innovation • the QTS-Quad Track System • which is a set of four rubber-track undercarriages that bolt directly to the standard hubs of most telescopic boom lifts. This innovative track system eliminates down time associated with flat tires and the costly expense of fluid-filled tire repair. QTS also minimizes rutting in turf applications, improves traction in sandy soil, and improves safety by minimizing machine bounce during operation and travel.

Constructed of high-grade steel, the QTS features fully sealed greaseless bearings for minimum maintenance and an easy grease tensioning system for fast, reliable track adjustment. QTS also has 3,236 square inches of track to ground contact for excellent flotation in soft soil conditions, which increases versatility and extends the work season. To install, simply unbolt the tires, mount the Loegering wheel spacer with anti-rotate mounts, and bolt on the QTS. With the QTS rotation bracket, the tracks oscillate +/- 23.

Loegering's QTS was recently approved for sale and service as aftermarket equipment on Genie Industries' S60 and S65 telescopic boom lift models and the Z60 articulating boom lift. According to Genie, it has tested and confirmed machine performance with the QTS system installed and has determined that no reduction in safety or reliability will result with the use of the Loegering QTS when installed and maintained in accordance with Loegering's instructions.

For more information, go to www.loegering.com.

Gold Winner: Safety Features or Operating Systems

DBI-SALA i-Safe Intelligent Safety System

DBI-SALA, a Capital Safety brand, introduced the new i-Safe Intelligent Safety System in summer 2006 to deliver real-time solutions for inspection, inventory control, and information management. i-Safe combines Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)-equipped fall protection equipment with web-based information management to maximize the effectiveness and minimize the total cost of safety programs.

Currently, all DBI-SALA fall protection harnesses incorporate i-Safe tags as standard equipment. Each tag is programmed with a unique ID that registers its model type and history. The tags have no battery to limit their life and are resistant to grease, dust, and salt water to ensure efficient functionality. Tags are read by an on-site PDA that scans the piece of equipment and accounts for it by a unique number. One click entry logs inspections, equipment assignments by worker or location, and more.

Data is then linked from the PDA or laptop to a customized web portal, which is set up and hosted by DBI-SALA professional safety and information management consultants. The web portal provides instant access to inspection logs to manage the entire process, including scheduling, instructions and documentation for proving compliance. It also tracks inventory records, such as the equipment history, assignment by worker, and location for optimum asset management. The website also provides instant access to related safety and equipment information, training records, product advisories, official regulations, and useful links. Additionally, retrofit kits are available to incorporate i-Safe technology on existing harnesses or lanyards, regardless of brand.

Visit www.dbisala.com for more information.

Silver Winners

Aerial Lifts: Genie Industries Z-40/23N Electric Articulating Boom Lift

Material Handlers: Caterpillar TL Series Telescopic Handlers

Cranes: Liebherr Cranes LTM 11200-9.1 All-Terrain Crane

Optional Equipment, Attachments or Accessories: Star Industries Model 1208GLZR Glazier Work Platform

Safety Features or Operating Systems: Kar-Tech Mini Line of Radio Remote Controls

Miscellaneous Products: Up-N-Atom Retriever No Idle System

LLEAP Judges

In addition to Publisher Guy Ramsey, Editorial Director Tracy Bennett, Editor Katie Parrish, Managing Editor Erin Whitehead, and Senior Editor Lucy Perry, the following industry professionals judged the 2007 LLEAP Awards:

Phil Bishop, industry correspondent, Phil Bishop Media Services

Stephan Brown, vice president of sales, Modern Equipment Sales & Rental Company

Joe Geraghty, co-owner, North American Rentals

Howard Kaplan, safety manager, Southwest Industrial Rigging

Jim Mango, president, Six & Mango Equipment, LLP

Kevin Parr, district manager, New England High Reach, United Rentals

Matt Rocca, president and CEO, GAR Equipment Corp.

Steve Shaughnessy, managing director, specialist equipment, Ashtead Plant Hire Co.

Jeff Stachowiak, national director of safety, Sunbelt Rentals

Lance Sullivan, fleet product and service manager, Sunstate Equipment Co.

Edmond Tamas, construction support engineer, Fluor Corp.

Larry Zaback, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Coast Crane Co.