Misty Mason
Product Manager, Low Level Access
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JLG Industries
Demand for MEWPs (mobile elevating work platforms) is hitting a new market inflection point as this type of access equipment becomes more widely adopted in applications that traditionally have used ladders or scaffolding.
Indoor construction and maintenance tasks often need to be done in areas that are difficult to navigate with larger, heavier aerial equipment lifts, including traditional slab scissor lifts.
Indoor MEWPs aren’t one-size-fits-all. There are many styles and options from which to choose based on the size of the product and environmental sensitivities. For example, compact scissor lifts, low-level access lifts and vertical scissor lifts are all examples of indoor MEWPs. And, human-powered lifts are lighter in weight and quieter than their battery-powered counterparts. While still small, battery-powered units tend to have a slightly larger footprint, are heavier and have a higher platform capacity, allowing renters to bring more tools and materials with them to the work area, reducing the number of times they need to ascend/descend during the workday.
The variety in these types of lifts means that equipment distributors, like rental centers, need to help their customers to choose the right model based on the job.
Here are some insights into how indoor MEWPs can be matched to meet specific job site needs.
Site requirements
Indoor MEWPs are being utilized more frequently so contractors can meet core job site requirements, such as:
• Smaller footprint to fit smaller spaces
• Lighter weight for use on different types of sensitive surfaces, like finished flooring
• Short- or zero-turning radius for enhanced maneuverability
• Ability to fit in freight elevators
These types of indoor MEWPs also allow users to access high-reaching or overhead tasks in hard-to-reach places like areas obstructed by infrastructure, tight racking, ducts, pipes, ceiling tiles or joists. Some vertical mast lifts have up-and-over capabilities to give operators the ability to maneuver around fixed obstacles at height to work.
And because these machines are lightweight and compact, they can be pushed into place or between work areas while requiring minimal storage space.
Applications
As contractors consider using indoor MEWPs as an alternative to more traditional ways of completing work at height, these machines are being used in a wide variety of applications. Their popularity continues to grow thanks to their ability to be used on sensitive flooring and 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 alarms or sprinkler systems, putting in or replacing lighting and dropping in ceiling tiles.
Other common applications for indoor MEWPs include refitting retail displays and updating seasonal décor, as well as maintaining production equipment in a manufacturing environment.
Environmental
Indoor MEWPs are also gaining favor among companies focused on eco-friendly solutions and sustainability.
For example, human- and battery-powered lifts run quieter and eliminate or reduce emissions altogether, so they can be used in clean rooms, data centers, hospitals, schools, libraries and office buildings.
Workforce
Ladders and scaffolding have been around for a long time, but the increasing market demand for indoor MEWP equipment is being driven by safety, productivity and ergonomics. These factors are becoming increasingly more important with the rapid rise of labor rates, workers’ compensation and an aging workforce.
Browse JLG’s entire line-up of indoor MEWPs, by product category, by clicking here.
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