Tragically, it’s reported that aerial lift-related deaths account for 17% of fatal injuries in U.S. construction. When you’re working on an aerial lift, the risk involved is often in the back of your mind—and that consciousness is a good thing, keeping you more cautious when operating and working on the lift.

At Lift-A-Loft, safety is as important to us as it is to you when you’re elevated several stories up in the air. That’s why we take inspections and training seriously, and that’s why we’ve developed our cutting-edge fall protection systems. Although aerial lift accidents can be caused by everything from weather conditions to overloading to design defects, one of the greatest hazards is falling from the aerial lift.

As an answer to that risk, Lift-A-Loft has delivered another significant product development to the aviation industry in particular. The Lift-A-Loft TMX Series Truck Mounted Maintenance Lift is now available with an option for a telescopic overhead lanyard system. The overhead lanyard system was designed to provide workers fall-arrest protection while performing crown maintenance on aircraft.  Up to three workers can be safely attached while centered over the fuselage of an aircraft.

The telescopic scissor mechanism allows for easy maneuvering while still providing a 15-foot long, rigid and stable work platform—something that can’t be achieved with a conventional scissor lifting mechanism.

Both the platform and the lanyard system are extendable, allowing for great accessibility. The platform of the unit can traverse out the rear of the unit up to eight feet to allow for easy over-wing access. The platform is also equipped with four electrically actuated slider panels that can be extended out an additional 48” to one side of the platform, providing a safe interface to the fuselage.

Lift-A-Loft’s unique telescopic overhead lanyard system is a great safety addition for the TMX Series Truck Mounted Maintenance Lift. The aerial lift industry comes with a level of risk, but careful operation and thorough training combined with equipment designed with safety in mind all help keep you out of harm’s way. Check out our fall-arrest system today!

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Besides offering an outstanding line of aerial lifts, Lift-A-Loft also provides training on the maintenance, operations, and inspections for those lifts. Interested individuals can receive certification for inspections by completing training on site or at Lift-A-Loft’s factory.

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If aerial lifts are key equipment for your business, you know that this machinery is an investment. Aerial lifts are big-ticket purchases any way you look at it and there’s nothing worse than seeing your investment getting worn out over time. No matter how well you treat your lifts, there’s no way to keep everyday equipment from wear and tear, and all too soon your new aerial lift ends up damaged, defunct, or outdated. You’ve laid out an investment in purchasing your aerial lift, whether it’s a scissor lift, single man lift, truck mounted lift, or even ground support equipment, but it may look as though it’s days are numbered.

You may be considering a new or used purchase to replace that dated lift, but there’s another option. With the Lift-A-Loft Factory Rebuild Program, you can take your hard-working lift and restore it to a like-new condition. With a comprehensive rebuild, not only are you extending the life of your investment, but you’re saving money over purchasing a lift, making this a great cost-effective solution. And if saving some green isn’t enough of an inducement to rebuild, how about being green? Avoid scrapping your trusty aerial lift and keep existing equipment in service with some careful lift reconditioning.

A Lift-A-Loft factory rebuild is more than a facelift for your aerial lift, although a sharp new paint job is something you can look forward to. First your lift will be carefully inspected to evaluate the condition of key components, from drive mountings to mast sections. We will then completely disassemble and deep-clean your lift, and between sandblasting and solvent, your aerial lift will be free of all accumulated grime and gunk.

Major components, including wheels, platform and electrical enclosures, all lift chains, and more will be completely replaced. These new parts come with a one year warranty and even minor components—like coils, contact tips, and switches—get a 90-day limited warranty. (For more details on warranty extensions, click here.) The aerial lift is then painstakingly reassembled and painted, then run through careful testing to make sure it’s good as new.

One other benefit? The factory rebuild program is great for peace of mind. Not only are key components completely replaced, but your rebuilt lift is load tested to platform rated capacity and carefully inspected before shipment. Well-worn equipment poses a safety risk and puts your company in a bad spot. With a rebuild, though, your scissor lift, vertical mast lift, truck-mounted lift, or GSE will be completely restored.  The result is a lift that’s restored to its near-original purchased condition.  It even receives a thorough inspection prior to being returned to you. Talk about a return on your investment!  Click here for more information.

Have a wonderful week!

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Last week, we focused on Lift-A-Loft’s role in the complex aerospace industry. Today, we will be featuring our involvement in another unusual environment: shipping ports.

The nation’s shipyards are gateways for international transportation and trade of various goods. Given the delicate nature of some of these goods, such as fruits, fish, and other produce, extra care needs to be taken when transporting them about the yard.

One of our custom aerial lifts, the MSP-APX 11 SPL, was designed for such a purpose. The MSP-APX 11 SPL functions as a mobile, elevating workshop that has been specifically modified for use with refrigerated containers. This aerial lift is built to efficiently maintain containers in order to guarantee the best possible quality and safety of its cargo. We also provide a plethora of tools to cover issues from minor adjustments to major overhauls.. To maximize efficiency, this custom lift is built to be mobile even when elevated to its full 11 feet.  Its controls are fully proportional, and the mobile workshop can interface with the refrigerated containers it carries so maintenance and repairs can be performed with minimal hassle.

Shuttles or shipyards, we are always willing to work with our clients to best fit their individual needs. As experienced professionals in custom aerial lifts, we can do almost anything to help you get the job done.

Have a wonderful week!
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Happy Wednesday!

As manufacturers of custom aerial solutions, we find that our work gets us involved with a variety of projects and industries, some far beyond traditional worksites. Today, we’re going to take a brief look at our work with an industry that doesn’t immediately come to mind when thinking of an aerial lift company. Nonetheless, this customer group contains some of the most recognizable organizations in the world: the aerospace industry. The complex and meticulous work involved in air and spacecraft manufacturing involves extreme conditions and difficult, potentially dangerous situations. Because of this, the industry needs reliable equipment that can fit their needs precisely.

That’s where Lift-A-Loft comes in. Because we specialize in building custom aerial lifts, we can provide durable, versatile equipment that can support aerospace workers in ways standard lifts cannot. Our vertical mast lifts, scissor lifts, and truck-mounted lifts are all safe solutions for this complicated work, and we are always willing to work with our clients to create specific custom lifts. It is our goal to create aerial lifts that can support our clients in any way they need, regardless of any challenges that may arise. In working with the complicated environment of the aerospace industry, we have faced many difficulties, but we will always strive to do whatever it takes to help our clients get their jobs—however big they may be—done.

We are honored to have a long-lasting relationship with the aerospace community, and we hope to continue to provide custom aerial lifts for the air and spacecraft industry in the future. It is also our goal to forge similar partnerships with all of our clients. We will always assist in finding a custom solution for our customers, whether they work with space shuttles or street lamps.  Let us know how we can help!

Have a great week!

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Last week, we briefly touched on the safety of our standard and custom aerial lifts. This week, we will spotlight the various training, certifications, and inspections Lift-A-Loft requires to insure our clients’ and operators’ safety when using our aerial lifts.

For over sixty years, our goal has been to provide reliable and efficient aerial lifts for our customers. Naturally, safety is always a crucial factor in the production and maintenance of our aerial lifts. Today, we employ a team of experienced technicians to guarantee maximum efficiency and minimum risk.

We require and provide a variety of training for our employees (including training for the trainers themselves!). Through these courses, our employees reach the requirements set by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Our trainers are well-qualified to provide the training our dealers and customers need to ensure their aerial lift equipment is safe and in operating condition. Other trainings we offer include:

·        Maintenance Service and Troubleshooting

·       Operator Training

·        Annual Inspection Training

You can read more about each of our courses on our training page.

In addition to training, we also hold annual inspections of our aerial lifts. We perform the ANSI Certified Annual Inspection as well as our own Factory-Certified Annual Inspection. These meticulous inspections can be done on site or at our facility and are always performed by qualified inspectors.

We want to insure the safety of your employees and your company. That’s why we provide a variety of  training, inspection, and education services for clients. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns about our regimens and requirements.

Have a great week!

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We want to spotlight our selection of truck-mounted lifts. This set of aerial lifts is designed to accommodate a variety of projects. To ensure our clients’ satisfaction, we offer several models of aerial lifts of different sizes and designs—these come in the form of truck-mounted scissor lifts and vertical mast lifts. In addition, we also an endless number of custom aerial lifts including the TMP-SPL, created for flexibility and diversity; the IM24-SPL, specializing in sign maintenance; and the TMX32-15-SP, that can be used for mining facility maintenance.

Our versatile small and midsize models are built for multiple uses. Some models, such as the TL series of truck-mounted scissor lifts, can be installed in commercially-available pick-up trucks. Other models can save our clients time and money because they can be installed locally rather than at a plant.

Our larger models of aerial lifts, such as the TMX32, are built for heavy-duty, high-capacity jobs. These models boast large aerial work platforms for safely hoisting as many workers as needed to the project site.

As with all of our aerial lifts, we ensure maximum safety of our truck-mounted lifts with thorough testing and inspections by our qualified technicians. Our employees are trained in the requirements of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to further affirm quality and safety.

Our goal is to offer our clients innovative, reliable aerial lifts to suit any and all of their particular needs. Please let us know how we can assist you!

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Lift-A-Loft Corporation has developed a brand new, self-contained scissor lift that can
be easily mounted on or removed from the bed of a pickup truck: the TL22.

This aerial lift is designed for people who do not need a standard aerial lift to haul to the job site. The TL22 can be used in the bed of any truck with a 6’ or 8’ long bed that can support 2,650 lbs. of payload.

The TL22 aerial lift is a versatile and easily maneuverable product. “Keeping it simple is key,” says Lift-A-Loft CEO William Fulton. “After a simple installation kit is installed, the TL22 can be placed in the bed of the truck to do a specific job. When the truck bed is needed for other jobs, the lift can be removed and stored in just minutes. One truck can be used to change lights in the morning and haul cargo in the afternoon.”

This truck-mounted scissor lift also has other special features, including a 36” rear platform extension that allows an operator to work more closely and comfortably with a project. Additionally, the TL22 has a self-contained power pack that connects directly to a truck’s electrical system to power and recharge the aerial lift. The truck does not even have to be running for the charging process to occur, which is economically and environmentally advantageous. When mounted on a 32” truck bed, this aerial lift provides 21’10” of aerial work platform height.

Though this aerial work platform requires no outriggers, providing 500 lbs. of platform capacity, the TL22 is a safe aerial lift, meeting ANSI A92.2 requirements. This truck-mounted scissor lift comes with removable guard rails that will keep an operator safely on the aerial work platform at all times. The aerial lift can operate on terrain up to a 4-degree incline before the tilt switch will shut down the lift function.

Some suggested uses for the TL22 include Bridge and Tunnel Repair and Inspection, Commercial Sign Work, Construction, Facilities Maintenance, Film Work, Holiday Decorating, Home Repair, Painting, Parking Lot and Street Light Work, and Security and Traffic Signal Maintenance.

To purchase or rent this versatile, truck-mounted scissor lift, visit Lift-A-Loft’s Muncie, Indiana, location, or visit them online at http://liftaloft.com/.

Standard access equipment has the disadvantage of not fitting into tight spaces, which is why custom, compact vertical mast lifts have come into favor recently.

The primary reason for the growing popularity of this type of custom aerial lift is its lightweight frame, which puts it in the same category as a ladder. On wheels, this custom aerial lift can have a frame small enough that a single person can push it around. While ladders can be long and unwieldy, a compact mast aerial lift eliminates this problem by extending vertically only, never horizontally. Also, unlike a ladder, this type of aerial lift easily adjusts to any height you may need. In one custom aerial lift, you have multiple heights ready for use, something that would otherwise require two or three different ladders.

While working in finished buildings, there are always concerns about the floor’s weight capacity. You don’t want to damage the floor of your stockroom with an excessively heavy aerial lift. Again, a compact mast aerial lift offers an easy solution.

A mast aerial lift is also an alternative to a scaffold tower. Scaffolds take time to erect and require more than one person to construct. They are a cumbersome way to create an aerial work platform. A mast aerial lift, in comparison, requires only one person to raise and lower it, and it takes only a matter of seconds. The aerial lift acts as its own perfectly sturdy aerial work platform. It is also more maneuverable than scaffolding. While you have to tear down, move, and reconstruct scaffolding, a custom aerial lift rolls wherever you want to take it without having to adjust the height.

Equipped with guardrails and a regulated lifting speed, an aerial lift is a safer alternative than podiums and stepladders. Ladders are notoriously dangerous, while aerial lifts are dependable and predictable.

Utilizing a mast aerial lift is a way to optimize power access in a unit that fits indoors. It increases work speed and, thus, productivity. You can find this kind of custom aerial lift and any other type of aerial lift at Lift-A-Loft’s Muncie, Indiana, location, or see the products and services they offer online at http://liftaloft.com/.

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For the first time ever, the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) is holding their annual conference in the United States.  From March 25 to March 27, 2013, IPAF is hosting their summit in beautiful Miami, Florida.  This event is one of the most popular events in the powered access industry around the world.  Yearly, over 400 delegates attend this summit and participate in a collaborative, educational, and helpful experience for everyone involved—industry leaders and aerial lift customers of all kinds benefit from this event.

Perhaps one of the most beneficial parts of the IPAF summit is the opportunity you’ll have to network with hundreds of the world’s leading businesses and employees in the field of powered access and related services so that you can find the aerial work platform that best fits your company’s needs.  The federation says of its networking night:

“This informal networking event for delegates arriving early will be held at a fashionable Miami venue close to the conference hotel. This is a great opportunity to meet colleagues and do business in a unique environment. Limited sponsorship opportunities are available. There is no cost to attend, and the networking event is open to all IPAF members and to people holding a ticket for the IAPA Awards Dinner. However, places for this popular event are limited to around 250, so be sure to register early in order to be admitted.” 

In addition to the networking night, the most popular event at the annual IPAF summit is the International Awards for Powered Access (IAPAs), which honors industry leaders in a variety of aerial lift categories.  This is the most prestigious award ceremony in the aerial work platform industry and it is a wonderful experience.  Here is the description from IPAF:

“The International Awards for Powered Access (IAPAs) is a spectacular gala dinner and awards ceremony which will take place at the Hilton Downtown Miami Hotel. The IAPAs celebrate best practice and excellence in the powered access industry. Companies typically book tables and invite guests. Attendees can look forward to a first class evening of wining and dining, along with entertainment and excitement as the award winners are announced. Major sponsorship opportunities are available. This ticket-only gala dinner is expected to attract more than 450 guests from around the world, so book early to be part of this special evening.”

Consider attending the IPAF summit in Miami in March and take advantage of its location in the United States this year!  It is incredibly beneficial to the powered access industry as a whole and will be sure assist you with your aerial lift training needs.