Concrete contractors are always looking for ways to do their work more efficiently and safely. This is not a one-size-fits-all industry because concrete projects each have unique needs and requirements based on the jobs that must be performed.
Concrete contractors are hardworking individuals responsible for building roads, bridges, single-family or multi-family homes (apartments, townhomes, and high-rise condominiums), commercial buildings, industrial facilities and installing water and sewer lines. Whether working on new construction projects or making additions, alterations, or reconstructions, workers in the concrete industry perform physically demanding work.
Moving structural elements like retaining walls and concrete foundations to precast concrete slabs and panels, building boards, roof tiles, railroad ties, posts, poles, prestressed bridge beams, and trusses, the work done on these job sites is taxing on equipment, too, especially machines used for lifting and moving heavy loads of concrete.
The equipment used by concrete workers is an extension of the tools they need to accomplish their specialty work: Telehandlers are often used on these job sites to move and lift concrete, and boom lifts and scissor lifts are utilized to help concrete workers access areas at height after the concrete is put in place.
Let’s take a look at which equipment is right for the job…
Telehandlers
Moving equipment and materials on job sites can be a major undertaking, especially on large projects. Optimizing material handling is especially key to success when doing concrete work. It’s not just about loading and unloading delivery trucks; it’s about getting the materials exactly where they need to be. Pallets of material, like brick and block, need to be precisely placed on scaffolding where the work is being done without jostling the temporary structure or damaging the permanent one. And once mortar and grout have been mixed, concrete crews need a way to deliver the material to the masonry structure, often at heights not reachable without extra lift and reach help.
Traditionally, forklifts or cranes were used for this type of work, but with all these jobs to be done on concrete job sites, telehandlers can not only lift higher but also extend further to help crews get materials where they are needed. And by utilizing a variety of attachments, like pallet forks, brick forks, buckets, and undercarriage hooks, crews gain more versatility when using these tool carriers on concrete projects.
With the ability to pick up and carry heavier loads, up to 27,000-lb, and pick up and place loads to higher heights, with enhanced reach capabilities up to 75-ft, JLG® and SkyTrak® full line of telehandlers, including compact, high-capacity and high-reach models, with a variety of accessories available to support heavy lifting and placing tasks.
JLG rotating telehandlers offer concrete contractors even more lift capacity and reach, up to 4,400-lb at a maximum height of 97-ft. Because they can rotate, the operator can set up in one place and pick-and-place objects without driving around the site. Like the JLG and SkyTrak fixed-boom models, JLG rotating telehandlers can be used with various attachments, including 360-degree rotating forks, buckets and fork positioning carriage, to give operators more capabilities and the ability to adapt to multiple tasks efficiently.
Boom lifts
Boom lifts are also commonly used in concrete construction work. Whether articulating or straight, boom lifts are a staple in tilt-up wall buildings. These walls are typically set in place using a crane, and operators in a boom lift are positioned to remove bracing when needed. Boom lifts also secure extra anchors when attaching walls together, where applicable.
Space restrictions, capacity, power source, job site conditions, and movement type are all important factors when picking a boom lift for work. JLG high-capacity (HC3) boom lifts, equipped with a proprietary load sensing system, make working at height more safe and productive for concrete contractors. That’s because HC3 boom lifts are designed to allow more people, up to three workers in the platform, and/or more materials to operate at height while safely determining the zone of operation. These boom lifts have three operation zones, all monitored by the load sensing system, to allow for 660-/750-/1,000-lb of capacity.
Scissor lifts
Boasting more deck space and capacity than boom lifts, rough terrain scissor lifts allow concrete contractors to get up right against walls and structures to get workers to height.
JLG’s full line of rough terrain scissor lifts are available in both engine (RT) and electric power (ERT) scissor lift models range in platform heights from 26-ft to 47-ft and are capable of driving at full height, resulting in fewer trips up and down throughout the day for greater productivity. Plus, zero platform offset minimizes the distance concrete workers have to reach to access work on buildings or other structures. Additionally, these models are equipped with LiftSense, a standard JLG-exclusive feature, which shows concrete workers the maximum work height they can achieve before they elevate based on side-to-side and front-to-back tilt, as well as the current capacity in the platform.
As an option on RT models, JLG’s QuikLevel Advanced technology automatically levels the machine on side slopes up to 4.5°, while still allowing operators to drive at full height under certain conditions.
Maintenance considerations
Technology is constantly evolving, and JLG is evolving with it. The new JLG ClearSky Smart Fleet™ technology provides concrete contractors with better insight into the maintenance and service status of JLG telehandlers, boom lifts and scissor lifts. This technology allows concrete workers to wirelessly connect to equipment and look at everything from fuel and battery levels, as well as to perform diagnostics with the built-in analyzer app. This IoT (Internet of Things) platform also gives users actionable insights about equipment usage, uptime, maintenance history and more.
JLG also offers a Multi-Digital Indicator (MDI) that allows operators to quickly and easily check the status of their JLG access equipment without special equipment. The MDI shows hours, battery charge, and DTCs (diagnostic trouble codes), allowing for efficient troubleshooting.
Training needs
Job site safety begins with training. It’s more than optimizing productivity and minimizing downtime; it’s also about learning from qualified instructors to help prepare concrete workers to make the right decisions at the right time when operating and/or servicing JLG equipment.
It’s vital that concrete contractors understand the training requirements or each individual’s responsibilities for MEWPs (Mobile Elevating Work Platforms) — i.e., boom lifts and scissor lifts — or telehandlers as outlined in the most current industry standards. JLG University (commonly known as JLGU) offers operator and maintenance training on all models of telehandlers, boom lifts and scissor lifts. Training opportunities available through JLGU support safety, confidence and compliance. By taking advantage of JLG’s training offerings, concrete contractors can stay compliant, stay safe and stay on the job with interactive learning tools and customized learning paths.
Whatever the work to be done, JLG can help contractors in the concrete industry complete it with its full line of aerial lifts and telehandlers, aftermarket parts and accessories, training opportunities, and more. To learn more about JLG equipment and services for the concrete industry, contact us at https://leaveyourmarkwithjlg.com/concrete/
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