Construction World January 2019

TELES COPIC AND ACCESS EQUIPMENT

JCH Platforms’ experience and systems make for a valuable synergy between its access platforms and mobile cranes allowing for the total lifting solution.

Some of the improved safety measures that comes from the Manitou range include galvanised steel baskets making them less likely to corrode and profiled mesh floors for better traction and safety.

VERSATILE PLATFORMS FOR TOTAL SOLUTION Experience on construction sites countrywide has allowed Johnson Crane Hire’s range of telehandlers and access platforms to fit seamlessly into its suite of lifting solutions for contractors, according to JCH Platforms sales representative, Ramona van Rensburg. “O ur expanded range of modern platform equipment options comes hand-in-hand with Johnson Crane Hire’s decades The Safe Man System (SMS) protects operators by minimising the risk of crushing.

of expertise in helping customers comply with safety and lifting regulations,” says Van Rensburg. “The expanded fleet now also allows contractors to select solutions that are both fit-for-purpose and cost effective, without having to rent larger equipment than they need.” Investing in telehandlers and access platforms Investing in a new fleet of telehandlers and access platforms from materials handling leaders Manitou, JCH Platforms has further augmented its value-added offering to customers, along with its vital expertise in safety and lifting regulations. The fleet separates and enhances the platform and telehandler offering available from others in the market with access platform units ranging from 12 to 28 metre and telehandlers from a lightweight two tonner to a 9 ton unit. Each unit in the Johnson Crane Hire fleet has its own special design and unique capabilities facilitating use by customers in varying applications. “One of our more popular smaller units is the ManGo 12 access platform, with a working height of 12 metres,” says Van Rensburg. “Unlike most access platforms, this unit is designed with the same access capability as a scissor lift, making it a lightweight machine for both construction and industrial markets but with the advantage of an articulated boom to overcome any vertical restrictions that a standard scissor lift would have.” For longer reaches, the popular ATJ range of access platforms includes the 180ATJ for an 18 metre reach, the 200ATJ with 20 metre reach and the 280TJ reaching 28 metres Some of the improved safety measures that comes from the Manitou range include galvanised steel baskets making them less likely to corrode and profiled mesh floors for better traction and safety. The hydraulic pump on the machine is fitted with a retraction pump that absorbs any residual oil in the system providing a much smoother operational experience. with its 4 metre telescopic jib that has redefines the up-and-over capabilities of this type of machine.

One of the most versatile offerings in JCH Platform’s telehandler range is the lightweight M420H Buggy, which can be operated on a building slab to move material over horizontal distances. Telehandlers will usually only reach as far as 18 metres or the third floor of an average building, where they will place material near the edge of the slab. Equipment exerting more than one tonne per square metre on a slab would generally require special permission by the engineer, but the Buggy is light enough not to reach this limit. While telehandlers working at ground level can place material near the edge of a slab at first, second and third storeys, the Buggy can work on the slabs themselves to feed the various work areas efficiently and quickly. Its low profile also allows it to work between floors, as the height restriction is less than two metres. This makes it ideal for confined areas, reducing the amount of foot traffic required to move bricks, cement and other building material. Also useful on a congested construction site is the MTX625 with a 6 metre boom and 2,5 tonne capacity, slightly larger than the Buggy and offering more muscle. In the 4 tonne class, there is both the MHT-X1440 with a 14 metre reach and the MHT-X1840 with an 18 metre reach. Optimal design of counterweight, engine position and boom configuration on these units reduces the effect that boom height has on load capacity. Further up the range is the MTHX790, with a 7 metre reach and a 9 tonne capacity. As safety enhancements, all telehandlers in the range come standard with reverse cameras, which are vital to ensure full operator visibility as the boom will usually obscure part of their field of vision. ROPS and FOPS are also standard features. Van Rensburg highlights that JCH Platforms takes full advantage of Manitou’s continuous product improvement to bring customers a range of benefits across the access platform and telescopic handler ranges. “The advanced technology in these machines – combined with JCH Platforms’ experience and systems make for a valuable synergy between our access platforms and mobile cranes, giving us the ability to provide the total lifting solution,” she concludes. 

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CONSTRUCTION WORLD JANUARY 2019