The annual IPAF Summit took place this week in Miami, Fla. Lift and Access attended several powered access-focused sessions, noting highlights from the event.

Ron DeFeo, Terex CEO, opened the Summit with a statement on how safety is a personal issue and impacts not just you but loved ones. He  shared that Terex has had five fatalities in his 20-year involvement but two of those occurred in the last six months. Safety statistics are presented at all board meetings before any sales or profits are reviewed.  DeFeo shared that the commitment to a focused safety culture has produced a major improvement, and excluding the most recent Demag acquisition, work lost time rates have been brought down to 1.14 from 3.92 in 2007. He also pointed out that even the world-class standard of 0.4 is a goal to attain it is still not good enough. He challenged attendees to make a commitment to safety, but in order to do so, they must quantify results and measure improvements.

Jordan Barab, deputy assistant secretary of labor for OSHA, presented on the efforts being made by the agency to reduce the number of deaths attributed to falling from height.  He reported that over 4,500 workers die every year in the United States, and of those, 250 are killed from falls.

Teresa Kee of NES and Giles Councell of IPAF reported on the successful testing and  implementation of AWPT's access platform eLearning module for operators training. Also presenting was a team of NES employees, including Tony Radke, Sue Rudnick, Mark Ferguson, and Tim Burwood, who were joined by Tony Groat of AWPT to share their perspective and experiences of adopting and implementing the  new program and its acceptance by NES employees. Kee opened by sharing that NES had set a internal goal to have trained 98% of its 1,000 employees and was happy to report that they successfully accomplished this goal.  Kee presented that nearly 80% of all NES employees, even office staff, felt the program was effective. 

Ebbe Christensen, president of Reachmaster, presented during the access platform breakout session the topic, "Mission Impossible," which focused on how to train an organization to sell, service, and support a compact lift rental and sales organization  Ebbe underscored the importance of a strong raining program at all levels to ensure success in all areas of you organization. This includes both employees and powered access equipment users.

A new onboard lithium battery option now lets BlueLift compact tracked lifts work as fast on battery power as they do when using the onboard internal-combustion engine.

Ebbe Christensen, president of ReachMaster, Kingwood, Texas, which is North America’s exclusive distributor of BlueLift aerials, says that the new battery not only delivers comparable operating speed to that from a gasoline or diesel engine, but also has the staying power to work a full shift, then recharge with just a few hours of plug in. Christensen also notes that the lithium battery requires no maintenance, other than charging.

The standard BlueLift power arrangement combines a Honda gasoline engine for outdoor use with a 110V plug-in electric motor for use any time quiet, exhaust-free operation is needed. Customers can also choose a Hatz or Lombardini diesel engine in place of the Honda gas engine.

The optional new lithium battery can complement any of the internal-combustion engines to provide an alternate power source that can be tapped when a job demands quiet or no-exhaust operation. Christensen says that the lithium/internal-combustion combination is a first in the market for aerial lifts in this size range.

ReachMaster had previously offered a battery pack that was towed behind the lift on a trailer. The new design puts the battery right aboard the lift and reduces the overall weight by eliminating the trailer. The new battery also offers more power in less space.

The onboard lithium battery is available for all four BlueLift models, which provide maximum platform heights of 33 ft., 40 ft., 47 ft., and 66 ft., and maximum basket capacities of 440 lbs., even at full height or full horizontal outreach.

In addition to the new onboard lithium battery option, the BlueLift line offers: the compactness to fit through a single or double doorway; automatic outrigger setting and leveling; the ability to set up on uneven surfaces; umbilical or wireless remote control; CANbus computerized controls, individually adjustable tracks, a two-person basket; and the stability to work in winds up to 28 mph. Their overall weights range from about 4,000 lbs. for the smaller models, to 6,600 lbs. for the 66-ft. B72.

North America’s first BlueLift B72 with the onboard lithium battery is now working in the Atlanta, Ga., rental market. During just more than a month of operation, the new machine is performing quite well, according to its owner, Sunbelt Rentals.

“We’ve had it out on rent since the day we added it to our fleet—and we already have three more rentals lined up,” says Billy Page, manager of Sunbelt’s Atlanta branch. “The customers tell us they are very happy with it.” So far, the BlueLift B72 is changing light bulbs, replacing lighting fixtures, and replacing damaged drywall in an upscale hotel.

Page reports, “The B72 operates just as fast and well on the lithium battery as it does on the gas engine. It works a whole shift, and recharges on a five-hour plug in.”

Page says good experiences with previous BlueLifts helped him decide to add the new B72 to Sunbelt’s Atlanta fleet. But he also mentions a few key features beyond the lithium power that were important. “For a lift of its reach and capacity, the B72 is compact and fits into atriums easily,” he said. “Also, I like the easy-to-use controls, the auto-leveling feature, the machine’s stability both on tracks and on outriggers, and the covers that protect the cylinder rods.”

Page says that although the B72 is compact and light enough to be towed on trailer behind a pickup truck, Sunbelt prefers to transport and deliver it on a rollback truck.

Reachmaster, Inc. has announced that they have hired Tom McKendree as national sales manager. McKendree started his career in the equipment industry in 1984 with ConQuip, Inc. then in 1989 his own company H.T. McKendree Co. (both independent manufacturer’s representative companies). In 2007 H.T. McKendree Co. formed an alliance with Sales to Industry to represent Reachmaster’s product line including the Falcon Lift, BlueLift and Winlet.

“We are excited to bring Tom onboard at Reachmaster,” said Ebbe Christensen CEO/President at Reachmaster. “He is an enormous asset with his extensive experience in sales, marketing and business development combined with his expertise and knowledge regarding our complete product line.”

Along with McKendree ReachMaster has hired Stephanie Gunther as key account sales manager. Gunther will primarily be in charge of developing and managing key rental accounts. “I am extremely excited to work for such a detail-oriented, dependable, yet innovative company like Reachmaster,” said Gunther. “Our focus is to provide our customers with complete equipment solutions while upholding the highest possible standards of customer service. Our new lithium battery hybrid technology is groundbreaking and I can’t wait to share it with our customers!” Gunther started her career in the equipment/rental industry in 2009 as Sales and Marketing Manager at Tiresocks, Inc. "We're also very fortunate to have Stephanie join our team to enforce our focus on the national rental sales, benefiting from her successful experience in the market" says Ebbe Christensen.

ReachMaster Inc., Kingwood, Texas, has introduced Galizia walk-behind industrial cranes to North America.

ReachMaster announced during last week's ConExpo 2014 trade show in Las Vegas, Nev., that it is now the exclusive Galizia crane distributor for North America. ReachMaster displayed a Galizia model G20 in its exhibit at the show.

According to Ebbe Christensen, president of ReachMaster, his company elected to offer the G20 first because the crane’s 2-ton capacity, compact size, and maneuverability fit well in a wide range of uses.

Other Galizia models can lift up to 45 tons, and ReachMaster plans to offer additional units based on customer demand. ReachMaster key account sales manager Stephanie Gunther says the company is already seeing inquiries for the next larger Galizia model, which can lift 7,700 lbs.

Two features that set the Galizia G20 apart from its competitors are that (in North America) it comes standard with brakes on the two front wheels and that all of the travel and boom-operating controls are located in the steering handle. The convenient control locations let an operator simultaneously travel, steer, raise the boom, and extend the boom while keeping his or her hands in one place.

The built-in LMI, which is standard, graphically shows load radius, boom-tip height, capacity, as well as diagnostic messages.

The chassis measures 79 in. long, 36 in. wide, and 65 in. high with boom stowed. The wheelbase is 63 in., which together with 180° steering of the rear tire gives the G20 a 71-in. minimum turning radius. The complete crane weighs 4,409 lbs.

The telescopic boom has one fixed section and two extending sections. The top section of boom is pulled out and locked manually, and the middle section extends hydraulically.

The G20 is powered by a 24V, 320-Ah battery system that drives a 2.7-hp electric motor for each front wheel and a hydraulic pump that powers the boom.

Capacities range from 4,409 lbs. at 1’6” ahead of the front axles, to 551 lbs. at 11’5” of forward reach. The maximum boom tip height is 16’6” at a forward reach of approximately 5 ft. At that position, the G20 can lift 661 lbs.

Christensen says he expects key initial applications to be in curtainwall installation and maintenance, handling of pumps, molds, dies, and other heavy industrial equipment, handling heavy statues and exhibits in museums, and other uses that require handling heavy components in tight spaces.

Christensen also said that customers can count on excellent parts and service support from ReachMaster's well-trained staff of service technicians, who are experienced in supporting several types of specialized lifting equipment.

ReachMaster Inc., Kingwood, Texas, unveiled the first new PB brand scissor lift in North America at the ConExpo trade show in Las Vegas earlier in March. ReachMaster recently became North America’s exclusive distributor of the heavy-duty, German-made scissor lifts, and ConExpo was the first showing of the new lifts in North America.

The model on display at ConExpo was the PB74-48, which stands only 4 ft. wide, yet can raise 991 lbs. to a maximum platform height of 68 ft. The lift is 14’8” long and weighs 22,686 lbs. Its platform measures 47 in. wide by 157 in. long, and can be increased to 47 in. by 215 in. when deck extension is deployed.

Lizzy Lift, Franklin Park, Ill., has purchased the PB74-48 that was displayed at ConExpo, plus a second one. Both will be delivered this summer. 

The PB74-48 is powered by a 48V electric system that uses 24 2-volt batteries. The system drives the hydraulic system that powers travel and also extends the scissor stack to raise the platform. The batteries provide several days of average work from a single charge, and a 110V onboard plug-in charger comes standard. The lift can operate on 110V plug-in power while the batteries recharge, and Christensen says that properly maintained batteries should last seven to eight years.

Jennifer DuBose-Lombard, president of Lizzy Lift, said, "In our opinion, the PB Lift is the next ‘Big Thing’ in industrial maintenance and equipment installation applications.” DuBose-Lombard says Lizzy Lift has already received many inquiries for large, high-capacity scissor lifts and feels the PB lifts will serve their customers well.

Lizzy Lift prides itself on locating difficult-to-find specialty equipment so that its customers can focus on running their businesses. The company handles forklifts, scissor lifts, boom lifts, high-capacity lifts, and specialty and material handling equipment.

Ebbe Christensen, president of ReachMaster, said, “We are very excited to work with Lizzy Lift to bring the first ever PB Scissor Lifts to the U.S. market. Lizzy Lift’s business model of providing their customers with both groundbreaking solutions and the highest level of customer service has a lot of synergy with us, and we are happy to be a part of it. We look forward to working with Lizzy Lift for years to come.”

Christensen pointed out some of the PB74-48’s unique features, including the lift’s use of one double-acting hydraulic cylinder, mounted in mid stack to raise and lower the platform. “The design uses less power to raise and lower the stack, so the batteries work longer on each charge,” he says. Raising the platform to full height takes about 2.5 minutes.

Christensen also points out the PB74-48’s sturdy construction, with the bottom three links in the scissor stack being wider than the upper four for added stability, as well as the large-diameter, teflon-coated, maintenance-free steel pins that connect the scissor ends. Christensen says the pins’ large diameter distributes loadings better than smaller pins for long life and to provide extra rigidity for the stack.

The machine has controls on the ground and in the platform, and the system includes an onboard computer that has a weight/sensor control for the platform and scissor system. The computer has a data logger on it that can record and store historical data. It can also provide telematic diagnostics.

Lizzy Lift, Franklin Park, Ill., has added two 68-ft. (platform height) battery-powered scissor lifts to its fleet.

Made in Germany by PB Lift and sold in North America exclusively by ReachMaster, the PB 7448 lifts measure only 4 ft. wide and 14'8" long. Stowed height is 8'4".

They have a 991-lb. platform capacity and can be driven at full height and can climb a 25° grade. Overall weight is 22,686 lbs.

Lizzy Lifts' two new units are the first delivered in North America. The model was introduced to this market in ReachMaster's stand at last March's ConExpo show in Las Vegas.

Lizzy Lift purchased the two units, which feature 13' x 4' platforms, at the show and took delivery in September.

One of the units is on rent to a racking project in Midlothian, Texas, where it is expected to be on the job from four to six months. The other one is in Lizzy Lift's Illinois facility, available for rent anywhere in North America.

Lizzy Lift president Jennifer DuBose-Lombard said several potential customers have shown interest in the super-tall machines for building-maintenance applications. 

Finnish manufacturer Dinolift has named ReachMaster, Inc., Houston, Texas, as its new exclusive distributor in the US, Canada and Puerto Rico. The agreement takes effect Jan. 1, 2015.

ReachMaster will be responsible for all sales and after sales support of the complete Dino range in the markets named above.

The appointment reflects a strategy to expand the success of Dinolift products in Europe into the North American market, particularly for the extensive line of Dino trailer lifts and Dino self-propelled machines, mainly the RXT articulated boom lift with outriggers.

“We are very happy to re-enter the North American market, and in ReachMaster we have the right partner to be successful,” said Karin Nars, director of sales and marketing for Dinolift. “We are looking forward to working together with Ebbe Christensen and his professional team.”

ReachMaster, Inc. has for more than a decade successfully pioneered North American distribution of compact and specialty aerial lift equipment, including the Falcon, Denka, BlueLift, and PB Lift brands. “We are very excited and proud to be given the opportunity to re-launch the Dinolift brand in North America,” said Ebbe Christensen, president of ReachMaster. "It is a perfect fit and fills a gap in our portfolio, making the ReachMaster range of high quality lifts unmatched by anyone in the industry today.”

The increased focus on logistics and indirect operational costs in the U.S. rental market today represents new opportunities, particularly for Dino trailer lifts. “Trailer lifts have long ago proved their status as the most cost efficient solution for safe access at height in Europe, where high fuel and labor cost combined with environmental impact have made trailer lifts one of the strongest ROI categories,” said Christensen. He added that, the U.S. market is getting ripe for the very same reasons.

Said Nars, “We believe the Dinolift products have everything it takes to be successful in North America, not only the trailer lifts, but also the self-propelled RXT series with outriggers." She then added, "With this new partnership, we combine the market experience of ReachMaster with our 40 years of innovation and production.”

Dinolift celebrated the 40th anniversary of Dino platforms earlier this year. In addition to trailer mounted aerial work platforms, the company also produces self-propelled booms and crawlers in Loimaa, Finland.

Group-photo caption: Shown, from left, are: Conrad Juliao (ReachMaster), Stephanie Gunther (ReachMaster), Antti Kaukonen (Dino), Ebbe Christensen (ReachMaster), Karin Nars (Dino), Tom McKendree (ReachMaster).

ReachMaster Inc., Kingwood, Texas, has begun importing and distributing Dinolift self-propelled, articulating boom lifts in North America.

ReachMaster exhibited its first Dino, a 72-ft. platform-height 240RXT, at the American Rental Association’s The Rental Show in New Orleans, La., during late February. ReachMaster President and CEO Ebbe Christensen said that models offering platform heights of 61 and 81 ft., both with 475-lb. platform capacity, will follow shortly.

ReachMaster recently became the exclusive importer and distributor of the Finnish-made Dino self-propelled boom lifts serving the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

Although well known in Europe, with 40years in the aerial-lift business, Dinolift is brand new to North America. Christensen said that ReachMaster has added the brand to its product lineup because the Dinolift offers a unique combination of features, including high reach in a lightweight machine, continuous turret rotation, automatic outrigger setting, four-wheel drive, three-mode steering, 35% gradeability, and an oscillating front axle.

Power is provided by a Kubota diesel power pack.

The Dino 240RXT on display at The Rental Show, offers 39’10” maximum horizontal reach, 475-lb. unrestricted platform capacity, a 2’4” x 4’3” platform, 90° basket rotation, proportional boom controls, and two AC outlets in the platform. Turf tires come standard, and the machine can travel at 2.9 mph stowed or 0.93 mph with the boom raised.

Stowed for transport, the 240RXT measures 21’10” long, 6’11” wide, and 7’11” high. It weighs 9,700 lbs.

Christensen says ReachMaster has seen interest in Dinolifts from many kinds of customers, including rental companies, maintenance departments, tree-care services, window cleaners, and building washers.

At The Rental Show, Christensen also announced that in the next six months ReachMaster will begin importing and distributing Dino towable trailer lifts with platform heights from 33 to 79 ft.

“The increased focus on logistics and indirect operational costs in the U.S. rental market presents new opportunities, particularly for Dino trailer lifts,” he said. “Trailer lifts have long proven to be a cost-efficient solution for safe access at height in Europe. The U.S. market is getting ripe for the very same reasons.”

“The increased focus on logistics and indirect operational costs in the U.S. rental market presents new opportunities, particularly for Dino trailer lifts,” he said. “Trailer lifts have long proven to be a cost-efficient solution for safe access at height in Europe. The U.S. market is getting ripe for the very same reasons.”

A new self-leveling tracked scissor lift named the Bibi Lift has rolled into North America.

ReachMaster, Kingswood, Texas, is the exclusive North American distributor for the compact, easy-to-operate Italian scissor lift whose adjustable rubber tracks and self-leveling system let it travel on sloping or sloppy ground and set up almost anywhere without outriggers.

ReachMaster says the design presents a safer, more efficient way to get the job done than previously available scissor lifts.

The Bibi 26-BL features 19’4” platform height, 550-lb. capacity (including up to two people), and a 54.7"x28" platform with single-gate entry. For extra outreach, the whole platform can slide forward 2'10" while keeping its full capacity. The Bibi LIft can travel with the platform fully loaded and elevated to 13'5".

According to Stephanie Gunther, key account sales manager for ReachMaster, the Bibi 26-BL is designed for a variety of applications ranging from general rental to construction, landscaping, tree care, park maintenance, window cleaning, building maintenance, vineyard work, solar park installation, agriculture, and many others.

The two crawlers can be adjusted in and out and up and down independently, and the self-leveling system between the chassis and scissor stack keeps the platform level during travel and operation -- unless the operator chooses to tilt the scissor stack as much as 4° to either side in order to get closer to the work.

The bi-leveling chassis can handle side slopes of up to 21° and climb grades as steep as 25°. Gunther says that although the system is a first for North America, the performance of Bibi Lifts working in other parts of the world has well proven its effectiveness.

The machine's dual-power system uses a quiet and reliable 13-hp. Honda iGX390 gasoline engine driving a hydraulic pump, and also has a separate, electrically driven 220V pump that can run on 110V or 220V plug-in power. Both hydraulic pumps are plumbed into the machine's hydraulic system, so either power source can run the machine. The power plant includes a 1kW generator to provide electricity for tools.

Fully proportional controls make operation easy, smooth, and accurate.

Compact size and relatively light weight make the Bibi 26-BL maneuverable on site and easy to transport from job to job. Stowed, it measures just 6'4" long, 4'11" wide, and 8'3" tall with its platform railings up, or 5'4" tall with the railings folded down. It weighs just 4,400 lbs.

The Bibi 26-BL is the tallest unit in a family of nine track-mounted scissor lifts with platform heights from 9'0" to 19'4". 

Watch a video of the Bibi 26-BL at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFNpAJgTF58

Lizzy Lift, Chicago, Ill., an equipment-rental company that serves customers nationwide, has bought its third PB 7448, a 48-in.-wide, battery-powered, scissor lift with a maximum platform height of 68 ft.

Lizzy Lift bought the high-reaching scissor lift from ReachMaster, Inc., North America's exclusive distributor of the products, which are manufactured in Germany by PB Lifttechnik.

ReachMaster unveiled the first PB 7448 at ConExpo 2014 and sold the first two in North America to Lizzy Lift at the show. Those lifts were delivered in September 2014.

The PB 7448 is an advanced electric scissor lift that stands only 4 ft. wide, yet can reach 68 ft. of platform height (74 ft. of working height). 

Lizzy Lift reports that its first two PB lifts have remained in high utilization with long-term rentals ever since they were delivered. The high usage has led the company to add a third PB 7448 to its fleet just a year later.

Anne Mondlock, rental manager at Lizzy Lift, said the high-reaching scissor lifts rent primarily to existing rack-installation customers, but that Lizzy Lift  receives a high volume of inquiries from other kinds of users, since Lizzy Lift is the only company in North America that currently has the tall, narrow lifts.

ReachMaster representative Stephanie Gunther says that the PB 7448 is battery driven and features well-thought-out details that give excellent usability. Those details include compact design, a tight turning radius, proportional steering, and error-checking diagnosis.

Some of its other features include a weight sensor/control for the platform and scissor system, dual controls (platform control box plus ground controls), and a highly advanced diagnostic system.

Jen DuBose, Lizzy Lift president, said, "In our opinion, the PB Lift is the next "big thing" in industrial maintenance and equipment installation applications.” DuBose says that adding a third unit will let the company serve more customers who seek high reach in a narrow footprint.

ReachMaster debuted the brand new 79-ft. (platform height) BlueLift B85 at the Tree Care Industry Association's recent TCI Expo in Pittsburgh, Pa.

ReachMaster, North America's exclusive importer of BlueLift products, says the new B85 is the only compact lift in the United States powered by a combination of a lithium battery and a gas engine, making it the only true hybrid machine in its class.

With a platform height of 79 ft. and a working height of 85 ft., the B85 is the tallest BlueLift model, surpassing the B72 by 13 ft.

Measuring just 3'2" wide, 6'6" tall, and 17'0" long when stowed for travel with the platform removed, the BlueLift B85 is far and away the most compact lift in its class.

The B85 shares the same new revolutionary technology introduced this year on all BlueLift products, including: innovative electro-hydraulic system that lets a user operate two functions independently at the same time; improved efficiency; the convenience of one controller fits all, and many more.

The system simplifies reduces the number of control circuits, increases power, and lets a user dial in functions with fully proportional control. It also makes operation smooth, precise, and fast, so it is ideal for rental, tree care, building maintenance, window cleaning, and many other applications.

The double-stacked articulating lower boom, four-section telescopic upper boom, and articulating jib deliver up to 79 ft.of platform height, 47'10" of horizontal reach, and 550-lb. unrestricted platform capacity from a machine that weighs just 7,600 lbs.

The B85's key features include multi-position outriggers, auto-leveling, auto centering of the turret, and a two-speed drive system. The standard B85 is powered by a 15-hp Honda gasoline engine and an electric motor, giving unlimited use of the platform both indoors and out. The lift can be also be ordered with a single-cylinder diesel engine and/or lithium-ion battery pack, or the with a hybrid the combines batteries and a combustion engine.

The new system, coupled with BlueLift’s lithium hybrid technology "will revolutionize how the industry defines the latest generations of compact lifts," said Stephanie Gunther, ReachMaster's key-account sales manager. "By improving the operator interface significantly, these hugely versatile stalwarts of the powered access world have become more accessible, safe and simple to use.”

Pinnacle Tree Company, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, purchased the first BlueLift B85 right off the show floor at the Tree Care Industry Association's TCI Expo in mid November.

The new model joins the highly successful B72 that Pinnacle has been running since the beginning of the year. Pinnacle Tree Care owner Greg Templeman, said: “We have been working with the ReachMaster team for a long time. We are very happy with our BlueLift B72, and now we are really impressed with the new B85."

Templeman added, "It has the superb performance and build quality we have come to expect from a BlueLift product. This is a great addition to our range. It will be welcomed by our operators, many of whom are already familiar with BlueLift booms and confident in their operation. It’s very easy and intuitive to use.”

ReachMaster President Ebbe Christensen said that during the show ReachMaster also received a number of requests for other BlueLift AWPs, including the most popular B72, as well as interest in the new B85.

Ruthmann GmbH and ReachMaster Inc. have teamed up to bring North America a new 108-ft. working-height (102-ft. platform height) aerial lift that mounts on a non-CDL truck chassis.

Read the exclusive story in the March-April Lift and Access.

The companies will launch the Ruthmann Eagle T-108 A in booth G2794 at the ConExpo-Con/Agg trade show in Las Vegas, Nev., March 7-11.

The Ruthmann Eagle T-108 A is aimed at the 100+ ft. market for professionals and can be driven with a standard American driver’s license, as the unit is below the CDL requirements with a total weight of only 24,900 lbs.

The new unit offers a vertical work height of 108 ft. and 69 horizontal reach with a 700 lbs. basket capacity. The lift system – which is taken from Ruthmann’s well-known and award winning “Steiger” line-up - is a 108-ft. straight telescopic boom topped by a jib.

The multi-beveled boom profile provides incredible strength and stability, combined with Ruthmann’s highly applauded Ruthmann Cockpit. An innovative operational control system with strong emphasis on intuitive operation and an informative full-color display panel, guiding the operator through every step of safe operation.

The lift system is shipped complete from Germany to ReachMaster Inc., in Texas, where it is mounted on the well-proven Ford F650 chassis, powered by a 6.7-liter Power Stroke Diesel mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission.

This unit is the first in a series of sub-CDL units planned for the market under the Eagle name. As is common practice for ReachMaster Inc. as an exclusive specialty lift distributor, the products are market und their own brand name rather than a ReachMaster designation.

While the Ruthmann Eagle is a new product and venture, it is backed by Ruthmann GmbH’s extensive history and experience as one of Europe’s premier manufacturers for truck-mounted aerials.

Rolf Kulawik, Managing Director of Ruthmann GmbH: “We have been active on the U.S. market for some years through our cooperation with Time Mfg. (Waco, TX) on our taller units 125 ft. and above and that remains in place with no changes. However, it has also allowed us exposure to the market segment for smaller units that could be driven without CDL, reflecting opportunities similar to those we have seen in Europe, where the use of smaller truck-mounted lift has made a huge difference for professionals and the rental industry.”

Time Mfg. opted to focus on the taller units, prompting Ruthmann GmbH to look for another partnership for the smaller models, and ReachMaster Inc. was selected for that role.

Added Kulawik: “We have known ReachMaster Inc. for several years, and even before we acquired Bluelift SpA (now Ruthmann Italia) which is also distributed in North America by ReachMaster, Inc. In addition, Time Mfg. and ReachMaster, Inc. have also known each other well for years, and both being Texan companies they speak the same language!”

Ebbe Christensen, president of ReachMaster Inc., said: “We are very excited about this opportunity to join forces with a manufacturer of Ruthmann’s caliber and magnitude. In the past, we have taken on the role of pioneering new product categories, in particular from Europe, and this falls well within our focus on niche products. As often is the case, habit is the strongest obstacle to innovation, but we believe that once the market sees the benefits of a mobile unit of this size and quality that can be operated with a standard driver’s license, it will spark interest in the segment”

Just shy of 33 ft. long, the unit is more compact than other 100+ ft. truck mounted lifts, and easier to operate. In addition to the obvious advantage of eliminating the need for CDL, the operational cost is also lower as their will be no DOT administration and insurance will be less as it from a liability point of view is rated as a big pick-up truck.

Added Christensen: “We see opportunities for the unit in several market segments, from cell phone tower maintenance over wind power (wing tip repairs), to more traditional applications like window cleaning, building maintenance and tree care. And of course, the rental industry should take special interest in this concept as it can lower logistic costs dramatically and represent a new revenue source. Opposite a boom lift, the truck - as a

mobile unit - can drive to and from sites under its own steam, and you eliminate costly and time consuming deliveries, both to the benefit of the rental companies and their customers.”

ReachMaster, Inc. is now a Certified IPAF Training Center
and launches the new training product at ARA’s (American
Association) Rental Show in Orlando Feb 27, 2017
ReachMaster, Inc. adds yet another activity to its range of products by
becoming a certified and approved IPAF Training Center.
Kingwood, February 23, 2017
ReachMaster, Inc., Kingwood (Houston), Texas, is one of the latest official IPAF training centers in North America.

IPAF (International Powered Access Federation) is a global not-for-profit members' organization that represents the interest
of manufacturers, distributors, users, rental, and training companies involved in the powered access industry.

IPAF promotes the safe and effective use of powered access worldwide. The organization is headquartered in the UK, but operates and maintains a North American office with full
time staff to promote IPAF and its offerings.

Ebbe Christensen, president of ReachMaster, said, “We have been an active member of IPAF for several years, and I have personally served – and still serve – on the organization’s North American Regional Council. So, it was a natural next step to become an official training center. Given our niche oriented products, we have always had a high focus on safety by offering operational training on all our brands, and being able to now also offer certified IPAF training only adds to those efforts.”

IPAF provides the PAL (Powered Access License) Card to those who successfully complete the training, which is offered in seven lift categories. The PAL card is the most widely held and recognized proof of training for aerial lift operators, and is valid for five years. It shows the lift category that the operator has been trained in, as well as a photo ID.

Said Christensen: “The PAL card concept is very common in Europe, and growing rapidly in North America, and we hope we can do our part locally and wherever we sell our equipment to increase the number of cards issued. In today’s world, where we
thankfully see very well-manufactured equipment, the most important single element to further increase operational safety of aerial lifts is proper training.”

ReachMaster Inc. is launching the new activity at the upcoming American Rental Association’s “Rental Show “in Orlando Feb 27-Mar 1, 2017, following the official opening of the training center on Feb 16, 2017, where CEO & Managing Director of
IPAF, Tim Whiteman, was in Texas to hand over the official approval plaque.

Christensen concludes: “We couldn’t think of a better opportunity than the Rental Show to launch this new product and activity, given the many lift professionals that will attend this event. No industry is more exposed to operational lift safety issues than the rental
industry, so we obviously want to let the players know that ReachMaster Inc. is now one of more than 30 active trainings in North America that can offer what we consider the best aerial lift training in the world.”

After more than three years of ReachMaster Inc. being the exclusive distributors of Dinolift aerial lifts in North America, ReachMaster, Inc. and Finnish manufacturer Dinolift have mutually decided to terminate their current agreement, effective December 31, 2017.

Ebbe Christensen, president of ReachMaster explained: “When we signed on with Dinolift
in 2014, both parties knew it would be an experiment. None of Dinolift’s products were
known in the market, either from a name or a segment point of view.”

Ebbe Christensen added that although moderate success has been achieved with Dinolift’s
self-propelled, outrigger-supported, RXT series boom lifts and track-mounted XTC series, the overall result hasn't reached the market penetration both companies had hoped for.

Karin Nars, sales and marketing director for Dinolift, said that “Despite a very close
cooperation between us, neither of us believes the results we both want can be achieved
in the near future under the current agreement, and as such we both respect the priorities
that prevail in our respective companies.”

Both Ebbe Christensen and Karin Nars note that the companies are parting in an
absolutely friendly and professional manner, and underline that there will be no changes
in parts supply or technical support for sold units, which will continue to be supported by
both ReachMaster. Inc. and Dinolift.

ReachMaster Inc. strengthened its sales organization by adding a new regional sales manager and partnering with Sun Marketing and its eight sales representatives. 

Effective May 1, Dustin Viertel took up the new regional sales manager position with primary responsibility for sales in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas and overall sales in the central United States. 

Viertel comes with a background as construction manager at Bluegreen Southwest as well as sales representative for Sunbelt Rentals in Texas. He will be located in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. 

“We are very pleased to welcome Dustin onboard to our team,” said Ebbe Christensen, president of ReachMaster, located in the suburban Houston area. “Dustin has extensive knowledge of construction and maintenance equipment, as well as great experience from the rental sector, which is exactly what we need. While our traditional image as a premier provider of atrium lifts remains strong, we have seen a development in our product lines that expands beyond indoor building maintenance. Both our Falcon and Bluelift lines have increased their application portfolio with new units, and our newer product lines like the Bibi track-based scissor lift and our Ruthmann Eagle truck mounted lines continue to grow well beyond our image as strictly a provider of atrium lifts.”

Earlier this year, ReachMaster entered into an agreement with the Sun Marketing group and its eight sales reps, covering the southeast continental United States. 

“Sun Marketing, headed up by Bill Benjamin in]Florida represents decades of aerial lift equipment sales experience, thanks to their former representation of Nifty Lift and Haulotte,” Christensen said. “At a time where we need more feet on the ground than ever, Sun Marketing is a great addition to our sales network as our lines demand detailed technical and application understanding. Bill and his team are highly respected throughout the entire Southeast states and fit very well into our sales network.”

ReachMaster is now offering anti-entrapment safety systems on all their Falcon and Bluelift compact aerial lift models.

While many scissor and boom lift manufacturers have introduced these systems on their models, the Houston-based company is claiming to be the first to do so in North America for the compact lift segment.

“We have witnessed how these systems saves lives and how Europe, and in particular the UK, has adapted to these new systems on a larger scale,” said Ebbe Christensen, president of ReachMaster.

The International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) had a major impact on the development and integration of the systems in the U.K., and Christensen said the organization was instrumental in bringing the systems to North America.

“With our involvement in IPAF, it has been a natural priority for us to add these safety features also to the compact segment,” said Christensen, who was recently elected as chairman for IPAF’s North American Regional Council.

The anti-entrapment safety system has an activation bar across the control panel. If it’s pushed down by the body of the operator, the unit will immediately stop its movement and move in the opposite direction of its last operator input. At the same time, an alarm will sound at the ground controls, alerting people on the ground that there is a critical situation.

If the entrapment situation rectifies itself by the automatic reverse movement and the operator is safe and unhurt, the unit will reset and the operational functions will resume so that the operator can lower himself to the ground. If the operator is incapacitated or hurt and continues to lean on the bar, the unit will remain nonfunctional, only allowing the crew on the ground to lower the units through the emergency lowering systems.

The systems will be offered as an optional feature the for Falcon and Bluelift models.

“We have decided that the customers should make that decision initially, so we will not offer it as standard, but rather a highly recommended option,” said Tom McKendree, national sales manager for ReachMaster.

However, McKendree says he believes that the system is likely to become standard equipment in the future.

ReachMaster will be offering the system for new units and also as after-market kits that can be applied to most existing models.

German aerial work platform manufacturer Ruthmann is expanding its presence in North America.

The company has established its own subsidiary Ruthmann North America L.P. and plans to continue to develop its presence in the North American market along with its two long-standing sales and service partners, Time Manufacturing and ReachMaster Inc.

Uwe Strotmann, general director of sales at Ruthmann GmbH & Co. KG, has been appointed president of the new company with Rolf Kulawik, managing director at Ruthmann GmbH & Co. KG, named as executive vice president, both based in Germany.

Tom Goyer will take up a new position as vice president of sales and market development in North America and daily manager of the new company. Goyer is based in Tampa, Florida, and will conduct his nationwide activities from there. He brings with him extensive experience in the truck-mounted powered access industry and will be responsible for the strategic development of the Ruthmann truck mounted products in North America.

Kulawik says one of the reasons for this new initiative is to be able to better service their customers.

“With this step we want to provide more support and focus to our sales and service partners by being closer to the customers,” Kulawik said. “Tom [Goyer] knows the North American market for truck mounted aerial working platforms like the back of his hand and is therefore the ideal candidate for this new important position.”

Time Manufacturing in Waco, Texas, has been Ruthmann’s long-time partner for larger truck-mounted aerial work platforms, and together the two companies have developed the U.S. market for the well-known Ruthmann Steiger products. A key element has been the process of adapting the German-made lifts to conform with ANSI standards. The SKYBIRD 215l is a result of these efforts and sets a new benchmark in North America for this category.

ReachMaster Inc. in Houston has served as the exclusive importer and distributor for the past eight years in North America of the Ruthmann Bluelift line of compact track-based lifts from Italy, and the company will continue to do so.

Last year, ReachMaster expanded its portfolio of specialty lifts to also include the Ruthmann Eagle T108A, the first truck-mounted 108-ft. lift in the United States that can be driven without commercial driver’s license.

“The joint development between our companies of the Eagle mid-range truck mounted line has shown there is a niche market for this type of product,” said Ebbe Christensen, president of ReachMaster, Inc. “We welcome Tom [Goyer] onboard as another great example of Ruthmann’s commitment to the market. I have known Tom for years, and I know he will be a great asset for us in developing this segment of the truck-mounted market together.”

Strotmann said that there are plans to add new models to expand the Eagle line, which will continue to be promoted both at upcoming trade shows and ongoing roadshows.

Goyer said he is looking forward to his new opportunities and concludes.

“The Ruthmann products fit perfectly in the North American market place,” Goyer said. “Together with our partners, we look forward to offering the best of everything in one, coordinated package: high performance, top quality, and superb service and customer support.   This is what the North American market has been waiting for, and I am very excited to be a part of it.”

For further information, please visit www.ruthmann.us.

A new self-leveling tracked scissor lift named the Bibi Lift has rolled into North America.

ReachMaster, Kingswood, Texas, is the exclusive North American distributor for the compact, easy-to-operate Italian scissor lift whose adjustable rubber tracks and self-leveling system let it travel on sloping or sloppy ground and set up almost anywhere without outriggers.

ReachMaster says the design presents a safer, more efficient way to get the job done than previously available scissor lifts.

The Bibi 26-BL features 19’4” platform height, 550-lb. capacity (including up to two people), and a 54.7"x28" platform with single-gate entry. For extra outreach, the whole platform can slide forward 2'10" while keeping its full capacity. The Bibi LIft can travel with the platform fully loaded and elevated to 13'5".

According to Stephanie Gunther, key account sales manager for ReachMaster, the Bibi 26-BL is designed for a variety of applications ranging from general rental to construction, landscaping, tree care, park maintenance, window cleaning, building maintenance, vineyard work, solar park installation, agriculture, and many others.

The two crawlers can be adjusted in and out and up and down independently, and the self-leveling system between the chassis and scissor stack keeps the platform level during travel and operation -- unless the operator chooses to tilt the scissor stack as much as 4° to either side in order to get closer to the work.

The bi-leveling chassis can handle side slopes of up to 21° and climb grades as steep as 25°. Gunther says that although the system is a first for North America, the performance of Bibi Lifts working in other parts of the world has well proven its effectiveness.

The machine's dual-power system uses a quiet and reliable 13-hp. Honda iGX390 gasoline engine driving a hydraulic pump, and also has a separate, electrically driven 220V pump that can run on 110V or 220V plug-in power. Both hydraulic pumps are plumbed into the machine's hydraulic system, so either power source can run the machine. The power plant includes a 1kW generator to provide electricity for tools.

Fully proportional controls make operation easy, smooth, and accurate.

Compact size and relatively light weight make the Bibi 26-BL maneuverable on site and easy to transport from job to job. Stowed, it measures just 6'4" long, 4'11" wide, and 8'3" tall with its platform railings up, or 5'4" tall with the railings folded down. It weighs just 4,400 lbs.

The Bibi 26-BL is the tallest unit in a family of nine track-mounted scissor lifts with platform heights from 9'0" to 19'4". 

Watch a video of the Bibi 26-BL at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFNpAJgTF58