Here is the first view of the all-new RR14 evo 3 Hybrid rail access platform in the UK. The new Evo 3 hybrid rail access platform is fitted with all-new engine options. This includes a tier 5 diesel engine and a removable Hybrid battery pack. The lithium battery pack has the option for the user to change whilst the machine is still in use. Alternatively, the battery will charge while the tier 5 engine is running and also whilst working. The new RR14 Evo 3 hybrid rail access platform will be shown at the Plantworx/Railworx 19 shown 11-13th of June, then a week later at the Rail Live show. The machine is sure going to be popular so get your enquiries in early.
Visit us on the stand N1 at Plantworx or get in touch with our friendly and knowledgeable staff who will be happy to deal with any questions which you may have.
Promax Access @ Plant Worx/Rail Worx 2019
5 June 2019
Promax Access Ltd will once again be exhibiting at PlantWorx/RailWorx event, the UK’s dedicated working construction event with a showcase of plant, tools, equipment and services.
The Plantworx/Railworx event is on the 11th – 13th June 2019, at the East of England Arena, Peterborough, where Promax are on outdoor exhibition stand, N1. This ever popular bi-annual event has this year just got even bigger with the addition of RailWorx 2019, and Promax will be showcasing a number of new and exciting products.
Plantworx/Railworx 2019 New Promax Products
New for this year, will be the UK launch of the Platform Basket RR14 EVO-2/400 Hybrid Road-Rail access platform. Featuring a lithium battery pack & Tier 5 diesel engine, the green credentials of this machine are second to none. Also on display will be the new PB 20.95 Spider access platform. This platform features a big 250kg cage capacity at the full working outreach of 9.5m. We will also be displaying other popular machines from our industry leading Spider access platforms, including hybrid lithium options throughout the entire range. Come along to stand N1 where we can assure you of a very warm welcome and an even warmer coffee. See our class leading machines and get some great giveaways.
DIRECTIONS
By Train
Peterborough is located on the East Coast Main line running from London Kings Cross to Edinburgh. A number of fast trains run on this network, making London accessible in 45 minutes on specific trains. The station has its own taxi rank, which means reaching the East of England Arena is approximately 15 minutes away once the train has arrived in the station. A shuttle bus to the Plantworx event will leave the station on show days at approximately 30 minute intervals. The last shuttle will leave the showground one hour after the show closing time on each show day. The Shuttle Bus will run 08.00 – 18.00 Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday At the show there will be a taxi rank located at main entrance gate
By Car
If looking for us with your SAT NAV, please use PE2 6HE as the postcode. As you near the venue please follow directional signs to locate both Exhibitor and Visitor parking. You will then move to one of our hard standing or grass FREE PARKING areas. There will also be a designated area for disabled parking.
APF Exhibition 2018
11 September 2018
New innovative Tracked Access Platforms At The APF Exhibition 2018
APF Exhibition 2018
20-22nd September 2018
Ragley Hall Estate, Alcester, Warwickshire
Attending their 8th APF exhibition 2018 the UK’s longest established ‘Spider’ Access Platform Sales Company, Promax Access Ltd will be exhibiting new innovative Tracked Access Platforms from their 13-43m working height range.
On display will be a New Spider 27m featuring the heavy duty chassis option and a number of Spider platforms that are also fitted with optional insulated cages. Details of the New, similarly insulated Spider 22m – 46Kva tracked chassis access platform will also be available, awaiting its official launch later this year.
Every machine in the Promax Spider range is now also comes as standard with a user friendly pictorial diagnostic display. This is to provide immediate operator assistance when required.
Pop along to experience not only strong build quality, but also user friendly controls and operating systems. The great terrain-ability due to the big ground clearance of this established range of safe work platforms.
Stand 1895-1920 in
Promax Access Limited
Shaun Day
Tel: 01226 716657
promaxaccess.com
info@promaxaccess.com
Reach New Heights
15 July 2018
Choosing the right powered access platform for property maintenance
We make decisions every day of our lives. Some are certainly simple and carry no risk – like deciding what to have for breakfast: bacon and eggs or alternatively cereal? There are the daily decisions like crossing the road: low risk if chosen carefully. Other decisions, especially business ones that involve money are high risk and require careful consideration.
Think first
Growing your business and acquiring specialist equipment is a major consideration and requires a lot of preparatory work. In an SME (Small to Medium Enterprise) it’s all too easy to put off big decisions, the day to day operations and workload have a nasty habit of getting in the way. But without thinking about your business and where you want to be, you run the risk of treading water and letting your competitors gain the advantage.
Take a step back
Stand back and look at what your competitors are doing. Are they getting the sort of jobs you would like to get, are their businesses visibly growing whilst yours isn’t? Are you giving the best service you can to your existing customers? Is there something you could offer them but can’t at the moment? Would a better powered access platform for property maintenance meet the need? If so, which one? Asking these pertinent questions will generate a lot of information as you do your research.
Five point buying decision plan
1: Gather the raw information – specific and general
Specific : about the equipment, your service and customers
General : general knowledge about life and events that touch on the specifics above
2: Inwardly digest
Turn the raw information over in your mind and look at it from different directions. Bring the facts together and see how they fit. When ideas, even partial ideas, begin to form jot them down. Don’t bother to try and analyse and develop at this stage. Just make a list of what might work, what you will need and potential customers.
3: Forget it!
So far it’s been the conscious mind that’s been working. At this stage you probably can’t see the wood for the trees. Take a break from the decision thinking. The mind is a wondrous thing. It works on two levels: the conscious and the unconscious. Spend some time doing what you enjoy doing out of work: a weekend with the family; watch that film you’ve been meaning to see; attend a local event; fit an early morning walk into your schedule. As a businessman once said: “chill out and sleep on it for a week”
4: It appears!
Sometimes you wake up at 3 in the morning with a solution; or when out on an early morning walk, the ideas float before your mind and the puzzle comes together. It may not fully form but you will have a good grasp of what needs to be done.
5. Make it reality
At this stage, share what you have with others: family, friends, colleagues, advisors. Invite comments and criticism. Hone it and perfect it.
Ask the experts
At any point you can get in touch with the experts at Promax Access. Run your ideas past them and ask which powered access platform would best meet your needs. Need to reach a certain height? Want to expand your building maintenance capabilities? Want to work both indoors and outdoors? Promax Access provide an extensive range of solutions along with honest advice and an excellent reputation.
Promax can be contacted by phone or email using the website contact page. Or you can use the website “Chat” facility.
Take advantage of the best.
Promax Access sell a variety of equipment available for working at height.
Raising Your Powered access Expectations
8 July 2018
What are your powered access expectations?
If you are a small business owner in the property maintenance market, you will probably be using ladders and scaffolding to reach those jobs that need doing at height. Whilst first floor windows and guttering can be reached using ladders or erecting scaffolding, the larger commercial contracts require a more efficient and safer means of working at height.
Growing your business means winning more commercial contracts and that means becoming more flexible and efficient in fulfilling contracts. Powered access platforms are efficient, safe and can cut time and costs for most jobs at height but investing in plant is a big decision for many companies.
The options are to rent, buy or lease the equipment. There are pros and cons to all three and discussing with your accountant will help you to decide which is most advantageous to you. You will need to evaluate your current circumstances, your capabilities and your future plans.
When deciding which finance method to use a simple rule of thumb may help your decision process. If the equipment will be not be used more than 60 to 70 percent of the time, then start with renting. So if you are pursuing a new contract that is short-term, then renting may be the best option. It has its advantages: a specific machine can be rented for particular work, usually for the length of the contract. This will give you experience in operating the access platform and fulfilling the contract on time and within budget. However, the risk is that if the equipment is not being used because of a change in project schedule or an unforeseen hold-up, you still foot the rental cost and your profit on the contract could go out of the window.
Raising Your Powered Access Expectations
After gaining some experience by using rented powered access platforms and with a few larger jobs starting to appear on the horizon, then buying or leasing might become a better financial option. As with all purchasing decisions start with a few simple considerations.
1 – chose the right equipment for your needs.
Consider both now and for the foreseeable future (2 to 3 years). An ideal entry machine would be the Spider 13.65. This is a versatile MEWP which is road towable by trailer behind a 4×4 or van. It has a simple, but also intuitive operating system and an air/water power line to the cage. This access platform has a working height of over 40 feet and an outreach of 20 feet. It is ideal for property inspection and maintenance.
2 – weigh up the finance options.
Some suppliers offer finance plans for customers and will also help them buy the plant they need. Look for accredited lending schemes that also have payment options including hire purchase, leases and contract hire. Promax Access has a number of options available and their friendly staff can guide you through the entire process.
3 – talk to your accountant.
Discuss your financial plans and seek any tax benefits. Talk to them about Enterprise Finance Schemes and any help that may be offered to local businesses (for example: by Finance For Enterprise)
A final thought on powered access expectations
Don’t forget savings could be made by purchasing a pre-owned access platform. It’s just like buying a used car, check its service/maintenance history and whether it comes with new LOLER certification. From time to time Promax Access have specially selected equipment available.
Cleaning Glass Structures At Height
30 June 2018
Reaching new heights in the glazing industry
The use of more glass in buildings is becoming increasingly more popular with architects. Innovative technology will allow for more unusual shapes as well as more sustainable products to be produced with glass. But what about cleaning glass structures at height?
It’s used in windows, facades, roofs, elevators, balcony railings and internal structures such as stairs and inter-level pathways. Not only is “structural glazing” becoming more popular but high-tech coatings to the glazing provide higher energy efficiency.
There are two other key factors:
Firstly, in terms of being environmentally friendly, 30 percent of the raw materials for new glass comes from melted old glass.
Secondly, it’s hygienic and easy to maintain.
However, safely cleaning glass structures at height can be challenging. Whilst easy to clean and maintain, reaching the exact place to carry out the cleaning and maintenance can be the hard part.
Spider lift access platforms with their manouverability and telescopic booms provide the safest method of accessing those high glazing structures, both indoors and outside.
Which Access Platform is Best For Cleaning Glass Structures at Height?
Whether the access platform is bought or hired, there are some essential questions to answer:
• What height does the operator need to reach?
• How far out?
• What weight will be lifted?
• What size cage will be needed?
• Is the cage detachable?
• The turret rotation that is required?
• What length “working envelope” is needed?
• What power source is needed?
• For access – what minimum width and height are needed?
• For ground surface – the total weight of the platform?
• Is remote radio control needed?
Expert advice
Promax Access has been a market leader in the UK for over 15 years. They are not only leading providers, but also pioneers of spider lift access platforms and lifting equipment solutions. Our team of experts and engineers are available to answer questions and provide guidance in choosing the most suitable powered access platform.
We can be contacted by phone or email using the website contact page. Or you can use our handy website “Chat” facility.
Take advantage of our expertise to develop new customers in the expanding world of “structural glazing”.
Powered Access Platforms For Property Maintenance
24 June 2018
“I run a property management company. Can you tell me why I should consider your powered access platforms for property maintenance” A question we often hear at Promax.
That’s simple. All buildings require regular maintenance to protect the value of the owners’ investment. From domestic buildings to large industrial and commercial structures they all need the same protection from the elements.
Guttering and pipes need cleaning and repairing; facias and soffits need treatment and replacing; roofs suffer storm damage; electrical and communication cables need installing and checking; bird damaged areas need cleaning and spike deterrents installed; brickwork needs repointing; cladding needs installing or replaced. These are just a few of the jobs that property owners turn to buildings maintenance companies to get done.
Powered Access Platforms for Property Maintenance
For the property maintenance specialist, all these jobs require working at height safely and efficiently. Our powered access platforms for property maintenance (MEWP or “Cherry Picker”) is essential. They are versatile, compact and accessible. Their ability to work in confined spaces and on difficult terrain along with a high level of outreach and reduced ground pressure provide outstanding performance. They are user friendly with intuitive operating systems providing an efficient and secure working space for personnel.
To Sub-Contract or Not to Sub-Contract?
Many property management companies sub-contract the maintenance of their buildings to specialist firms. These are companies that offer not only access platforms, but also highly skilled personnel. This is an outgoing that companies will pay from profits. They perceive using the correct machinery and working safely at height as a costly expense. However, they want the work carried out as cost efficiently as possible without a compromise to quality. Actually owning your own powered access platform for property maintenance is a cost effective way key to success in this area of your business.
Promax Access Specialise in Access Platforms
We can help to source the correct high level access platform to suit your specific requirements and realistic budgets. Our range of equipment reaches from head height up to nine or ten story buildings. Our powered access platforms for building maintenance are suitable for both internal and external work. They are transport easily and will access through narrow passageways and doors. The Promax team have extensive experience and advice and is just a phone call away.
If you are looking to win larger contracts in Property and Building Maintenance then the addition of a powered access platform is a key step to success.
Powered Access Platforms for Window Cleaning
17 June 2018
Gain the Powered Access advantage
Industrial window cleaning businesses are increasingly taking advantage of what powered access platforms for window cleaning can offer.
Ladders and abseiling are often used but there are inherent risks in carrying equipment and getting water to windows above two storeys. Many new buildings have large windows, often with glass domes and atriums. The more traditional methods have difficulty in getting to these hard to reach places.
Power Access Platforms for window cleaning are much safer and larger window areas be cleaned more quickly. Getting closer to the glass allows for a cleaner, more professional finish.
Buildings where powered access platforms for window cleaning excel…
Office buildings
Apartment blocks
Public sector buildings
Schools and Academic Buildings
Housing Associations
Shopping Malls
Your business may already be working in some of these sectors, but if you are looking to expand your existing operation with high access equipment, or thinking of entering new markets, then purchasing a new powered access platform will give you a very competitive edge.
The experts at Promax Access can help in choosing the right machine (often referred to as a MEWP – Mobile Elevated Working Platform – or more colloquially, a Cherry Picker). They offer free advice and also guidance, taking into consideration your specific requirements.
Things to consider…
• The ability to work both outdoors and indoors
• Use in narrow access spaces
• Reach heights up to 100 feet
• Dual power options (e.g. no diesel fumes in Malls)
• Raise the operator with cleaner’s scraper and also plenty of water to exact requirements
Example One
You want to get more contracts where the requirement is to reach heights up to 4 stories and with an outreach of 20 feet. The work is indoors but with a standard door width access restriction. Schools and academic buildings might be an example. A suitable power access platform would be a SPIDER 13.65.
Example Two
You may already be working in the Shopping Malls sector but are also looking at expanding into exhibition buildings with vast architectural glass structures. Again the requirement is for use both indoors and out but with a working height of 100 feet and an outreach of 50 feet. An industry leading solution is the Promax Access SPIDER 33.15. With it’s telescopic lower and upper boom arrangement, this machine provides a unique up-and-over working envelope, with smooth and stable operation.
Both these machines have an Air/Water and power line to the cage. This facilities not just window cleaning, but also permits high pressure cleaning of external walls, cladding and gutters.
Summary
These are just two examples from the Promax Access powered access platform for window cleaning range. Study the market you want to enter or expand into and choose the right working height and outreach you require from our range of equipment.
Safer Working at Height
25 February 2018
Reducing trapping and crushing incidents
Serious trapping / crushing accidents and deaths have been reported in all industries, particularly for temporary working at height in construction and maintenance sectors along with a variety of other trades including electrical contractors, painters and decorators, arborists and tree services.
Many accidents are caused by MEWP users whose main job is electrician/painter or similar activity and use powered access platforms infrequently. With infrequent use it is easy to forget the initial training both for the MEWP being used and the safety and rescue procedures that should be in place.
Although powered access platforms make working at height safer and more efficient, it is both employers and users who are liable if the people in charge of the machinery are not properly trained.
Under UK health and safety laws and work at height regulations, training in the use of powered access is compulsory. Anyone working with the equipment needs to know how to inspect it, to operate it safely, and to recognise and avoid any potential hazards. As well as this general training, they should also be given familiarisation training on the specific model that they will be working with.
The risk assessment from the ground should identify any overhead or adjacent objects that may cause problems. Many MEWP occupants have been trapped against overhead or adjacent obstructions whilst in the platform, especially when the operator has been trapped over the controls.
There are a number of key factors have been identified that contribute to operators being trapped or crushed whilst within the powered access platform basket.
• Working alone – if nobody sees or hears the problems in the raised basket, the resultant delay in getting help can be crucial. All MEWPs should be fitted with ground controls for emergency rescue with the ground member of the team being fully trained in their use. (Even older machines can be retro-fitted with ground controls.)
• Operator error – is still a major factor in working at height accidents. There is no standard control panel on MEWPs and if the infrequent operator needs to change to a different machine, the wrong lever may be operated or even accidentally knocked if the controls are fitted very close together.
• Overhead hazards – failure to perceive and identify potential hazards in the surrounding workplace area, not just above but all round. In tree work falling branches may snag and bring down adjacent branches directly into the basket.
• Leaning over the side rail – accidents have been reported where the operator has been leaning over the side rail whilst manoeuvring.
• Poor ground conditions – failure to allow for bad weather, hidden drains and soft sub-soil is another contributor.
Many of these risk scenarios can be reduced by good and frequent training. Every manager and operator needs to ensure their training is current and that their PAL card is valid for the machine being used.
Tree Cutting Benefits Of Powered Access Platforms
18 February 2018
The Advantages of Powered Access Platforms for Arborists
The correct tree trimming tools and equipment are essential but often bulky when trying to work safely at height. To get people, tools and equipment to the correct height there are times when traditional working solutions can limit productivity and endanger the arborist.
Powered access platforms offer a flexible way to reach jobs at height – they are fully mobile and can access areas with restricted space, improve site safety, and save money.
Mobility
Spider lift access platforms have the advantage of being transported, set up and utilised quickly and easily with flexibility, depending on the demands of the job. Spider lift access platforms are lightweight with low ground pressure, especially advantageous when working near garden pathways and manicured lawns.
Placing the MEWP carefully and raising the platform allows the operator to get a close view of potential tree cutting problems that are not always seen from the ground. Identification of dangerous branches and potential fall areas for cut wood will help reduce the risk of accidents. Tools can be safely taken to where they are needed without the risk of hauling up by rope.
Safety
With no arduous climbing to the crown and working from a stable platform, the arborist can get a good view of the work that needs to be done without putting themselves and others in a hazardous situation.
Familiarisation with the powered access equipment manual is essential reading along with a pre-work risk assessment. Training in the use of access equipment is required by law and will benefit businesses as the equipment can be used safely, quickly and efficiently by a small number of staff.
Cost effective
Reducing the time needed to manually climb and haul tools up into the tree can reduce the time needed for individual jobs. More jobs done in a week will help raise productivity and profit. In addition the reduction of time needed at the location can mean less obstruction and inconvenience to others.
Using a powered access platform when providing a tree surgeon service enables the optimum tools to be used when working on the tree. Working efficiently and effectivity will raise the quality of work done leading to higher customer satisfaction and recommendation of your tree services.
Summary
Whether you are looking to buy or hire the equipment for arboreal work, powered access platforms, are mobile, safe and flexible. They resolve a number of issues posed by traditional rope climbing and lifting methods including access to hard to reach and potentially hazardous areas. With the correct procedures in place, health and safety risks are reduced whilst jobs can be completed in less time. Whatever the size and location of your job, they are easy to operate and install, safe to use and can cater for a range of needs and requirements to enhance your tree services.
Promax Access provides advice in choosing from their range of Spider Lift Access Platforms ideally suited to your tree surgeon’s business.