LIFT & ACCESS
5 THINGS TO LOOK FOR IN YOUR NEXT TELEHANDLER
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elehandlers are a vital part of many job sites. Thanks to their versatility, ability to increase productivity, safety advantages, maneuverability and ever-improving technology, they’re key to optimizing operations. Adding a telehandler to your fleet means knowing what to look for. Here are 5 essential details to keep in mind when buying your next telehandler.
FIND A MODEL THAT FITS YOUR NEEDS
The last thing you want is to have a telehandler sitting idly by on your worksite. The best way to maximize your operational gains with a telehandler is by using it as much as possible. To find the right model, you need to know if you require long boom reach, lifting capacity, a machine for the farm or for a construction job site, a compact machine to fit in tight spaces or a rotating telehandler to lift material or humans high up. Your daily task and your trade will influence your choice. For example, a 360-degree rotating telehandler such as the Merlo Roto is extremely popular on residential construction sites with roofers, framers, form workers, and steel erectors since the machine can work 10 hours a day, lifting material far out and high up, without ever changing position. Working with the right telehandlers can offer increased productivity, even when you’re not inside the cabin. A remote-control option is great for when you must work in tight areas or from a basket or platform. When a telehandler is on a worksite, operators can save time and effort thanks to the efficient build, the ability to switch attachments fast and their versatility to be used for almost any task.
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heavyequipmentguide.ca | OCTOBER 2021
CAPABILITY CONSIDERATIONS
Your telehandler is a jack of all trades, and should be capable of handling any task on your worksite. Need to load or unload materials from a delivery truck? Use a telescopic forklift. Need to lift bricks to your masons on the fourth floor of a residential building? Lift it with the telescopic boom. Working on an excavation project? Telehandlers equipped with a bucket can provide plenty of digging power. On the search for your next telehandler, versatility should be near the top of your list. Telehandlers can be found working on landscaping projects in downtown Montreal or driving through the Alberta prairies. This level of versatility is key for your operation. Unloading, handling, lifting materials or workers, stacking, digging: most owners put telehandlers at the centre of their operations. It’s the reason telehandlers can be seen on high-profile projects such as Toronto’s Eglinton Crosstown LRT project, the Calgary west road, the Montreal light train and several bridge maintenance jobs across the country. Your goal when purchasing your next telehandler should be to find a machine that can replace the capabilities of two or three of your other machines – such as a forklift or skid steer. Look for capability that will deliver the best solutions to your operations. Factors to consider include: Performance • Speed – how fast can the machine travel from one site to another? • Power – how much can it lift? • Precision – a hydrostatic transmission can ensure millimetric variations in the movements of the machine and in the positioning of the load.
