Advanced Access Platforms has taken delivery of two of the first bi-energy 26-metre Hinowa spider boom lifts to be sold in the UK as it continues its drive to champion green working at height.
Access Platform Sales, UK and Ireland distributor for Hinowa products, has supplied Advanced Access with the Hinowa Lightlift 26.14 Performance IIIS tracked spider platforms.
The machines, powered by a low-emission diesel engine or lithium electric batteries, will be based at Access Platforms’ ‘Eco Depot’ in Canning Town, East London, the first of its kind in the capital.
Advanced Platforms Director John Corcoran said: “We’re responding to our customers’ needs. They want spider platforms because construction projects are getting taller while sites are more constrained.
“At the same time, there is growing demand, through initiatives like the London Low Emission Zone, from our customers and their clients to provide working at height solutions that minimise carbon footprints.
“The Hinowa is the best spider platform on the market. They’re pushing ahead with electric and bi-energy technology, so they’re the platforms we want. On top of that, APS’s after-sales service is excellent.”
Advanced Platforms already has a fleet of Hinowa platforms, made up of Hinowa Lightlift 15.75s and Hinowa Lightlift 20.10s. It is now investing in platforms from the Hinowa range with even higher working height.
The Hinowa Lightlift 26.14 gives a maximum working height of 25.7m and outreach of 13.7m, as well as an unrestricted lift capacity of 230kg. Yet its tracking width is just 990mm and total weight is 4,365kg.
Access Platforms’ choice of bi-energy power provides excellent flexibility, not least in terms of supporting both indoor and outdoor operation.
The platform can be operated just with the long-lasting lithium batteries, for zero-emission and low noise operation, or on full diesel power. Operators also have the choice of tracking to worksite using the diesel engine, and switching to lithium electric to work at height.
APS Major Accounts Manager Linda Betts said: “Advanced Platforms is at the forefront of what we see will be a working at height revolution, as operators switch to electric power.
“We’re delighted that John and his team share our vision for providing cleaner, more sustainable service with no compromise on performance.
“We’re also pleased that they already have customers who want to take these platforms on long-term hire. It reflects the growing need for our spider platforms in the rental market and the confidence there is in their capabilities.”
The investment in Hinowa spider platforms is part of a major expansion push by Advanced Access which has seen the company invest over £5m in new machines since the start of 2020, most of them electric, bi-energy or hybrid models.
By the end of 2020, Advanced Access, which has its HQ in Sutton, Surrey, will have 729 hybrid or electric platforms out of a total company fleet of 1,182 machines in London, all based at the Canning Town Eco Depot.
The company’s growing fleet of Hinowa spider platforms is a critical element of this investment programme, given the machines’ special capabilities.
John Corcoran explained: “We’re finding construction clients are changing their practices to cope with new demands of developing sites in and around London, in particular.
“Buildings are getting taller, while working areas around them are getting more constrained, as sites are more densely developed, a situation made for Hinowa spider platforms because they’re so compact.
“Also, planning authorities are allowing development of more new sites, especially on the outskirts of London. Many of them have trees on them that have to be cleared, another task perfectly suited to Hinowa spiders.”
As well as the Hinowa Lightlift 26.14, APS can supply the even higher Hinowa Lightlift 33.17 Performance IIIS, which has a maximum working height of 32.5m and outreach of 16.5m.
Both models can be supplied with three power modes: diesel and mains electric; bi-energy; or full lithium battery electric power.
