Despite all the constraints the global economy has experienced over the past couple of years, demand for high-capacity telehandlers remains steady — and is promising for future growth. A lot of the increased demand for higher-capacity telehandler models has to do with the sheer size and scope of materials to be handled. For example, the growing online consumer base has inspired a new wave of big-box distribution and warehousing facilities of at least 200,000 sq. ft. — industrial projects of this size and scope use larger building materials that require equipment that can maneuver the busy job site without compromising lift capacity, driving greater demand for telehandlers to support heavy lifting and placing.
In fact, today high-capacity telehandlers are being used to do work that had historically been done by small rough-terrain cranes, excavators and wheel loaders equipped with forks to improve productivity with advantages such as compactness, mobility, maneuverability, speed, lift height and forward reach. That’s because high-capacity telehandlers can help users save time, money and labor on the job site by allowing operators to accomplish multiple tasks with one machine.
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The need for high-capacity telehandlers
High-capacity telehandler models are most commonly used on general construction sites, especially on bridge building projects, where crews today are faced with “building up” instead of “building out”. These machines’ higher lift capacity helps minimize the number of trips required to move bulky, heavy materials, while their enhanced versatility allows them to move efficiently across the work site for improved productivity.
In addition to these more traditional uses for high-capacity telehandlers, demand for much larger, more powerful telehandlers is growing as specialty industries, such as mining and quarries, wind farms, industrial construction, energy exploration/extraction, log handling, waste and recycling, require machines that can pick and carry heavy, bulky loads on job sites. An uptick in applications across the energy sector, in particular, has led to the need for more versatile machines that can handle heavier loads while traversing uneven terrain.
High-capacity telehandlers versus rotating models
There is a place for both rotating telehandlers and fixed-boom, high-capacity telehandlers on job sites. For example, high-capacity telehandlers are preferred for their pick-and-carry power and ability to more efficiently maneuver busy job sites, while rotating telehandlers generally remain stationary providing very high lift capabilities and capacities for the pick-and-place requirements. Having both machines on the job site is ideal for optimal productivity that doesn’t compromise operator or machine availability when both jobs need to be done.
Thanks to their maneuverability, speed and forward reach, we may see high-capacity telehandlers replace more traditional machines, like wheel loaders, in certain applications where greater reach is desired. The advantages of high-capacity telehandlers over traditional equipment are versatility (lift height and forward reach), a compact footprint and travel speed.
JLG’s high-capacity telehandler portfolio
For years, higher capacity telehandlers maxed out at a 12,000-lbs lift capacity, but now, the industry is seeing models with capacities ranging from 14,000- to 45,000-lbs. JLG, for example, offers three high-capacity models:
- The 1644 with a maximum lift capacity of 15,650-lbs (7,098.72 kg)
- The 1732 with a maximum lift capacity of 16,755-lbs (7,599.94 kg)
- The 2733 with a maximum lift capacity of 26,600-lbs (12,065.56 kg)
JLG® high-capacity telehandlers are the first telehandlers in North America with optional SmartLoad technology. SmartLoad is an advanced bundle of three integrated technologies that work together to deliver a greater level of operator confidence.
The SmartLoad bundle includes:
- AUTOMATIC ATTACHMENT RECOGNITION: This recognizes the attachment on the end of the boom and displays the appropriate capacity chart to the operator.
- A LOAD MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM (LMIS): This graphically depicts the location of the load within the capacity chart, indicates whether the load is compliant and prevents the operator from violating the boundaries of the chart.
- And a LOAD STABILITY INDICATOR (LSI): This works with the LMIS system to limit operation when the load is nearing the maximum capacity indicated on the capacity chart.
Armed with real-time load data this package provides operators with increased confidence while fleet owners avoid the costly repairs that may result from overloading a machine.
Additionally, the JLG high-capacity telehandlers were among the first to include JLG’s precision gravity lowering system and a soft stop boom control that slows boom functions at the end of the cylinder stroke. These models also have a reverse camera and optional reverse sensing features.
These telehandlers were designed with the operator in mind, boasting spacious cabs with enhanced visibility, two-speed hydrostatic transmission and an optional boom float and ride control feature for enhanced load stability when traveling on uneven terrain.
As demand for these machines has increased, JLG has continued to focus on delivering features that improve operator confidence and machine versatility, such as a spacious cab, a reverse sensing system and a reverse camera.
One of the new features that we recently introduced on our high-capacity telehandlers is the remote-control option, which enables operators to control the boom from outside the cab, providing improved visibility during load placement. Because high-capacity telehandlers are often used to place loads on top of buildings, such as setting HVAC units into place on rooftops, with remote boom control, machine operators have the ability from outside the cab to place material at height, achieving precision placement further onto a building. And, it can potentially eliminate the need for two people — one in the cab and one at the location where the material is being placed — for improved job site efficiency. On JLG high-capacity telehandlers equipped with the remote boom control feature, operators can wirelessly operate the following machine functions: Engine startup, boom raise / lower, boom extend / retract, fork tilt up / down and auxiliary hydraulics. A platform docking station is required when operating the remote boom control from the fork-mounted work platform. This docking station provides a stable surface to magnetically mount the remote-control box.
Accessorized for productivity
Attachments are one of the main factors that contribute to a high-capacity telehandler’s increased productivity over other machines. While a standard fork and carriage is the most popular telehandler attachment, many other application-specific attachments are available. Attachment options for JLG high-capacity telehandlers include:
- Bale Clamp
- Bale Cradle
- Dual Fork Positioning Carriage
- Pallet Forks
- Side-Shift Carriage with Dual Fork Positioning
- Standard Carriage Forks
- Log Handler
- Pipe Grapple
- Coupler Mounted Hook
- Material Handling Arm
- General Purpose Bucket
- Grapple Bucket
- Light Material Bucket
- Multi-Purpose 4-in-1 Bucket
- Coupler Mounted Winch
- Steel Coil Handler
Interested in learning more about JLG’s high-capacity telehandler models? For more information, click here.
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