Equipment supplier acquires world’s highest reaching self-propelled boom
Equipment North Inc. has the answer for mining companies in need of making repairs or performing maintenance in hard-to-reach places – the Genie SX-180.
With the ability to lift workers 180 feet into the air, the SX-180 is the world’s highest reaching aerial work platform, and Equipment North is the first to bring the mobile machine to Northern Ontario.
The SX-180 stands out and above the competition. Not only does the boom extend 180 feet into the air, but it also has the ability to reach out 80 feet horizontally. The platform rotation is 160 degrees, the vertical jib rotation is 135 degrees and horizontal jib rotation is 60 degrees. The vehicle also features 360-degree continuous turntable rotation.
The platform is self-levelling and measures eight-feet by three-feet. It is powered by a Deutz diesel engine and comes with an auxiliary power unit and an air line for tools. The machine weighs 24,948 kilograms, features four-wheel drive and is equipped with foam-filled tires to traverse rugged terrain.
A neat aspect about the SX-180 is the X-chassis extendable axles, which give the unit the ability to plant itself firmly to the ground and provide the stability required to send workers up 180 feet into the air safely and efficiently. With the axles retracted for transportation, the SX-180’s width is eight-feet, two inches. With the X-chassis axles extended under working conditions, the width of the machine extends to 16 feet, six-inches.
Equipment North feels the time is right for a machine with this capability. A decade ago, the company introduced a similar product to the industry in Northern Ontario, and it was a hit.
“We want to make sure that when more efficient and cost effective equipment is available, local companies have access to it,” said Equipment North vice president Ryan Matusch. “Ten years ago, we were the first company in Northern Ontario to take a chance and buy a 135-foot high boom. Now, they’re everywhere. People can’t work without them. I have no doubt that in another 10 years we’ll be saying the same thing about the SX-180.”
This machine is big. It measures out at 47 feet long when stowed, but it can still move around quickly and easily. The SX-180 can be trucked to any job site on a standard transport float without special permits, a critical advantage for clients.
“This unit is based in Sudbury and it is always here,” said operations manager Steve Walter. “It is for Northern Ontario. It loads up fast and we can have it to a job site within a few hours. Once at the job site, it is ready to go to work within minutes.”
Equipment North has had the SX-180 for three months. It will make a difference in the bottom line for clients. The unit is capable of handling jobs not only in the mining sector, but also in the construction sector and in other industries.
“There is a need for it,” Walter said. “As more people become aware that we have it, there will be more of a need for it. The SX-180 allows clients to reach areas they couldn’t reach before – areas where they had to use cranes or scaffolds, which can be more expensive. With the SX-180, you get up to work faster and more economically. It saves time and it saves
money.”
The SX-180 comes ready to meet the tough demands of the mining industry.
“Nearly every other boom has a capacity of 500 pounds,” Matusch said. “It doesn’t take much to reach that limit when you consider the weight of two grown men, let alone their PPE, tools and materials. This one can carry 750 pounds. Not only does this give workers an extra margin of safety and comfort, but it also allows them to work more efficiently. Extra capacity means fewer trips up and down to pick up material.”
The Genie SX-180 is available for rent or purchase.
