Popularity for low-level access lifts has grown rapidly in the last couple of years, and we see the market for low-level access continuing to increase, hitting a new market inflection point as this type of equipment becomes more widely adopted in applications that traditionally have used ladders or scaffolding.
There are three reasons why the market for low-level access lifts has taken off: 1) The size of the product; 2) environmental sensitives; and 3) safety consciousness.
Let’s take a closer look at each of these to better understand what’s going on with this trend…
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Because these types of machines are lightweight and compact in size, and they can be pushed into place or between work areas and require minimal storage space, they are ideal for use in a wide variety of applications. With less open space, and buildings getting taller and narrower, there is a greater need for products that have a small footprint, are lighter weight for use on sensitive flooring and can fit into and moved between floors in elevators for ongoing facility maintenance, from airports and data centers to high-rise buildings — and just about anything in between.
Additionally, because of their size and weight, they are also well-suited for fit-out and finish work on construction sites, such as painting, installing fire alarm or sprinkler systems, putting in (or replacing) lighting and dropping in ceiling tiles. Other common applications for low-level access lifts include refitting retail displays and updating seasonal décor, as well as maintaining production equipment in manufacturing environments.
This equipment also features portability benefits. Low-level access equipment can be lowered and moved from one location to another to perform multiple tasks throughout a facility in less time.
These MEWPs (mobile elevating work platforms) are also gaining favor among companies focused on eco-friendly solutions and sustainability. Human- and battery-powered lifts run quieter, as well as eliminate or reduce emissions altogether, making them suitable for use everywhere from clean rooms and data centers to hospitals, schools, libraries and office buildings where noise restrictions exist.
The demand for these lifts continues to grow as companies place more focus on replacing ladders and scaffolding in the workplace. Ladder falls and overuse injuries as the result of ladder use have many negative outcomes. In addition to employee injury, falls can lead to lost time, reducing productivity and costly workers’ compensation claims. Those who are actively seeking alternative solutions find that low-level access lifts are more ergonomically efficient to operate, more productive to get work done and can be used to improve safety in place of ladders and scaffolding. That’s because low-level lifts are designed and purpose-built to reduce strain on the body and lessen the risk of musculoskeletal injuries caused by repetitive movements, such as climbing up and down a ladder.
The rapid rise in workplace injuries and fatalities driving the need for change, and safety-conscious companies, including JLG’s parent company Oshkosh, are committing more and more to the elimination of ladders when another alternative exists.
For more than a decade, JLG’s parent company, Oshkosh Corporation, and its brands, including JLG, have been actively working towards eliminating falls from ladders in its proactive pursuit of the highest level of OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program (VPP). The company had made positive progress in improving workplace safety through the implementation of its robust Safety Management System. But then, a preventable injury from a ladder fall led Oshkosh to say “no more.”
Since then, Oshkosh has been implementing five steps within all of its facilities to eliminate ladder falls. To learn more, download the whitepaper “5 Steps to Reach Zero Falls From a Ladder.”
For many OEMs, including JLG, as companies like Oshkosh are looking to replace ladders with low-level access lifts, there has been a focus on increasing the product range of this equipment to address the growing list of jobs to be done up to 20-ft.
JLG, for example, most recently introduced its 1030P model, a push-around model that offers a 10-ft 2-in platform height, is 30-in wide and weighs just 755-lbs. This lightweight machine is designed with a compact footprint to push into place. It is ideal for use in place of scaffolding during both the finishing and regular stages of construction requiring a working height up to 16-ft. Its 30-in x 60-in platform, 550-lbs platform capacity allows for ample tools and materials to be brought to the workspace, thereby reducing user fatigue associated with ascending and descending a ladder. And, its lightweight design, in combination with a low ground-bearing pressure, makes the 1030P perfect for use on floors or in elevators with limited load requirements.
Other advancements in this type of equipment have been focused on enhancing the operator’s experience through productivity-focused features, such as the inclusion of tool trays for the convenient storage of tools at height, the addition of saloon-style doors and a step for access into and out of the platform. And in the case of the JLG EcoLift™ series, the development of a patented stored-powered lift/lower system eliminates the need to charge a battery during or between shifts.
Ladders and scaffolding have been around for a long time. People are very comfortable with them, though also understand the risks involved in their use. In fact, the market for low-level access equipment is influenced by three contributing factors when choosing low-level access equipment over ladders or scaffolding: Safety, Productivity and Ergonomics. All three of these factors are becoming increasingly more important with the rapid rise of labor rates, workers’ compensation and an aging workforce.In addition to manufacturing this type of equipment, JLG has also worked to increase the awareness of low-level access lifts as alternatives to ladder use. As companies consider using low-level access equipment as an alternative to more traditional ways of completing work at height, our advice is simply that end-users need to give these products a try. Rent one, then get feedback from employees on the comfort and effort level versus using a ladder. If employees feel more confident when using these products, we recommend doing a productivity study to determine if the rental or purchase of a low-level access lift makes sense for your business.Interested in learning more about low-level access equipment solutions? JLG has a full library of content available on-demand at JLG.com , on #DirectAccess and on YouTube . To get started, click here Do you want to stay up-to-date with industry news and issues similar to this? Make sure you subscribe below to receive monthly updates from #DirectAccess with newly posted content so you never miss important information.
Mezzanine floors are common in warehouses, factories, or logistics centers where cargoes are gathered and needs a huge space to store. Such buildings are a great way to maximize use of existing space, but what is the best way of lifting goods from one mezzanine floor to another?
Traditional loading methods mostly depend on forklifts, trolleys or manual work, which not only yield a low productivity, but also have risks of injury. Nowadays mezzanine goods lift is widely introduced and employed in goods handling business. But forklifts are still used in many warehouses controlled by manpower. This article aims to analyse mezzanine goods lift or forklifts, which one is better to be chosen.
Goods Lift or Forklift?
1. Safety hazards:
Forklifts are more dynamic and suitable for small loads lifting. But for big warehouses or logistics centers, it may not as powerful as goods lift in terms of load capacity and safety. It can impose an increased risk of accident if the item falls from the forklift when raised at height. While items lifted in a goods lift are secure and safe with no risk of any items falling, reducing injury to workers or damage to the goods.
2. Built-in safety features:
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Safety devices and designs of our goods lift ensure the safety and stable work performance in goods handling work. Our goods lifts have a number of built-in safety features including interlocked gates that prevent opening when the lift is not in the correct place, push to run controls and emergency stop buttons, manual emergency lowering and overload sensor. All these parts keep our customers and operators worry-free in jobs.
3. Goods packaging:
Goods that lifted by forklifts have to be packed or palletised neatly in case of falling down during lifting process. Loads do not have to be palletised or packed ready for safe lifting for a hydraulic goods lift platform, saving time, effort and packaging costs.
4. Work space:
More space is required to manoeuvre a forklift to lift goods from one floor to another, because the forklift needs to move in every directions. Mezzanine goods lifts only occupy a very small installation floor space and cannot be moved randomly in your work site.
5. Work productivity:
Goods lifting with forklift needs a qualified driver and loading workers to cooperate together. And when the forklift is lifting goods, other workers have to wait to load next batch of goods, which causes a loss of productivity. While the vertical cargo lift works faster and loads heavier than forklift, and only one operator can control the machine.
6. Training:
We offer free training for our customers about the instructions and safety guidelines required for the operation of a goods lift. Or customers can send technicians to our factory to learn how to install and operate the lift equipment. Working with a forklift needs expensive and time-consuming fork lift driver training and licensing.
7. Lower operation cost:
Forklifts are a more expensive option in the long term, because many regulatory checks have to be conducted due to their poor safety record. In addition, the costs of driver qualification are ongoing. Maintenance costs of a mezzanine goods lift are minimal and frequently confined to a yearly service to ensure good condition and work efficiency.
8. Bespoke goods lifts available:
Our goods lift elevator can be manufactured custom-built to suit the customer’s individual application. For instance, in addition to loading capacity, lifting height and platform size, other special designs like steel mesh enclosure, ramp, roller shutter door, etc can all be customized to your requests.
9. Business expansion:
In the long term, a forklift is not enough to take on all loading and offloading tasks for a company or a factory. Investing a goods lift is a potential and profitable thing to upgrade your business.
10. One-stop service:
The supply of a mezzanine goods lift from MORN LIFT is a one-stop job. For instance, we supply CE marked lifts, fully compliant with UK regulations, built to fit seamlessly into your individual application. We carry out installation, advise on health and safety regulations, and offer ongoing maintenance and servicing support.
11. Overseas door-to-door service:
We have more than a decade of exporting experience, during which our overseas services are improving year by year. We can send professional installation teams to your country to help install the lift and teach your operators how to use and maintain it.
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