Choosing the EWP for Your Work Application

Are you in need of an elevated work platform (EWP)? There are a few things to consider if you have been assigned the not-so-simple task of selecting the EWP for your company. If you are a first-time buyer, or relatively new to the industry, this guide serves as a great starting point to help you identify an EWP that fits your company’s work application.

Getting Started

First, it is important to ask: Who is the best person to choose this piece of equipment? Before you invest in a new or new-to-you piece of equipment, include the correct people in the decision-making process. Talk to operators and depot managers to understand their unique work requirements and product feature preferences.

Determine Your Needs

Next, decide what you need this machine to do. Will it be used for building utility infrastructure, servicing utility poles, maintaining street or traffic lights, trimming trees and limbs, or a combination of several duties? Are you already using a piece of equipment? If so, what more would you like this machine to help you accomplish? For example, a utilities company may have a unit with the appropriate working height and adequate storage space but needs to lift two operators in the air when working on utility lines. Selecting an EWP with a two-man platform, like Altec’s AT37M/P or TA55, would provide a solution for that need.

Working Height and Side Reach

It is also important to consider the physical locations of where you will work. When comparing specs, make sure the maximum working height and side reach of the unit meets the requirements of your work location. For example, if you have to set-up your EWP several meters from the job site and your tallest job is 10 meters, you may need to consider an EWP with a working height of 13 meters or more.

Material Handling

Does the work require that you lift materials such as cross arms, conductors, or signs? Material handling on EWPs allows the operator to safely and efficiently raise these components with a jib. The jib supports the weight of the materials, which leaves the capacity of the bucket solely to personnel and prevents damage to the edge of the bucket from manually lifting materials.

The use of material handlers eliminates operator injury from manual load handling and reduces the need for additional personnel or equipment on site. Before selecting an EWP with material handling, understand the weight of materials that need to be lifted and ensure the material handling capacity fits your needs. Altec’s material handling capacities range from 450 kg to 680 kg.

Safety Features

Because EWPs are designed to lift human beings in the air, a manufacturer’s commitment to safety is paramount. Additional safety features offered on an EWP might be a major consideration when making your selection.

Altec’s Load Management System monitors the load capacity of the EWP. In the event the boom becomes overloaded, the system shuts off any function that might cause an increasingly dangerous state on the EWP. The system has a display that shows the percentage of capacity used on the platform so the operator can stay within the EWP’s safe working limits.

Body Type

Once you have determined what type of unit is needed for the job, you will want to choose the correct body. Altec offers steel, aluminum, and fibreglass configurations to fit a variety of applications. For many operators, the EWP serves as the office space, material storage unit, and company car.

It is important for the operator to feel comfortable while having the appropriate layout and space to efficiently execute their jobs. Altec’s body design process begins with a list of your requirements and the body is built from there.

New, Used, or Rental

After you decide which EWP is best for your company, you may need to explore different options for acquiring the equipment, including new, used, or rental. At Altec, we offer all three solutions.

New equipment from Altec is custom built to each customer’s specifications. Our sales and engineering teams work directly with you to identify the best Altec unit to help you complete your work. For some of our customers, the ability to customise an EWP has allowed them to eliminate support units on the worksite, which enhances their efficiency and decreases their need to purchase and maintain additional equipment.

Altec’s used equipment options are a great solution for customers who want a tried-and-true unit that is ready-to-roll and sold at a reduced price. Our used equipment inventory features retired units from our rental fleet to cycle in newer units.

Finally, renting equipment can be a cost-effective way to obtain the equipment you need without a long-term financial commitment. This allows your company to maintain capital and take on profitable projects.

While there are several considerations when creating specifications for an EWP, this list will help point you in the right direction. No matter what piece of equipment you decide to purchase, the Altec team is available to speak directly with you to answer any of your equipment questions.

For more information on Altec’s EWPs, call 1 300 1ALTEC or contact an Altec representative  online.