Powered Access Report 2021

A supplement of:

D E R E W O P S S E C C A REPORT PLUS

AIMINGE HTIGAHLKS ELECTRIC

IN GENI PPLY CHA U S D N A KIT

AIT DANGLLINIGRTEHVE EBALS PLANS DING DLE EAST D I M E H T FOR

G N I S RI E V O B A S D D O THE

JLG

NEER O I P R O T C CESS SE HALLENGES C A E H T NS TC HOW O E I K T R A A V O M N G IS MEETIN H AND PRODUCT IN WITH TEC

SIMPLY RELIABLE MOBILE ELEVATING WORK PLATFORMS

ELECTRIC DRIVE

ALL TERRAIN

HIGH CAPACITY

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1 A supplement of:

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The published material, adverts, editorials

AIMING FOR NEW HIGHS The Middle East’s powered access sector has weathered the storm of Covid-19 and emerged stronger – this is the overarching message we received when compiling this report.

In our discussion with the major brands of the access equipment sector, what emerged was that while order books dried up at the height of the pandemic in 2020, in 2021 the scenario has turned full circle and they are full to the brim. While this is indeed good news, it brings with it its own problems of plenty. Most of the companies are struggling with global supply chain and logistics issues in supplying such large order backlogs, but are hopeful that 2022 will both see bottlenecks ease and demand continue to grow.

Meanwhile, innovation continues apace in the sector, and in the following pages OEMs dwell upon the rise of electrification with lithium-ion batteries and digitalisation, as well as how the region’s access sector is maturing into a user of scissors, lowlevels and all other varieties of access kit – not just the straight booms as before. In all this, safety too has improved, courtesy the untiring efforts of IPAF – another positive for the future as the sector aims high!

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Anirban Bagchi Editor, CMME

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DINGLI P OWERED ACCESS REP ORT 2021

DINGLI DANGLES THE BAIT

WITH IMPROVED PRODUCT QUALITY AND THE OPENING OF DINGLI MIDDLE EAST, THE CHINESE BRAND IS POISED TO LURE CUSTOMERS TO ITS FOLD WITH A MIX OF MARKET-FOCUSSED PRODUCTS BACKED

BY AFTER-SALES SERVICES AND PARTS AVAILABILITY, SAYS PETER ELLIS, GM, DINGLI MIDDLE EAST

Dingli is not yet among the highly visible brands in the Middle East’s access equipment market. What are you doing to change this?

Historically Chinese products have had a reputation for low buying price but with low quality – and Dingli was perceived in a similar fashion in this region. I joined the company in December 2020 as a consultant and in the 12 months since we’ve managed to change the market’s response to Dingli.

During 2021, we have had a great response to the brand from the market. We have exceeded our first-year expectations, which has prompted us to now go ahead with our plan of setting up Dingli Middle East in the UAE.

After many years of experience in the regional access equipment sector, I have to say I’ve found the quality of the products Dingli are now producing to be excellent.

More importantly, my customers are saying it. The product is very competitively priced, but the quality of the design and build is excellent. Dingli now have one of the most modern production facilities in the industry. They have developed automated processes throughout their production lines on all product categories.

Please describe the Dingli range available in the Middle East market, covering scissors, booms and articulated lifts, as well as

3 Chinese powered access brand Dingli is all set to open its Middle East office in Dubai and target the region with its improved quality.

their various power sources.

Dingli have a full range of AC drive and hydraulic drive scissor lifts available, from the 6m Micro Scissor to the 16m. The 10m, 12m, 14m and 16m electric models also have lithium-ion batteries available as an option.

The RT scissor range offers diesel or battery power with 12m, 15m, 18m and 22m units available. We have just added 28m and 32m options in the last three months.

We are also able to offer diesel and electric telescopic booms ranging from 24m to 30m, and articulated diesel and electric booms from 16m to 28m. Another product line Dingli offers is the mast lift, which we supply in oneand two-person upright lifts and stock picking platforms.

Please describe the Dingli aftersales service and parts network in the Middle East. What state are they in now and how they are being ramped up?

As part of the developments to set up Dingli Middle East, we will be carrying stocks of various models of booms, scissors and mast lifts.

We are also going to be carrying stocks of all fast-moving parts in the country and employing a technician to support our after sales activities in the region.

Which are the most popular models in the Dingli scissor lift and boom lift ranges? What makes them desirable for customers?

When there is a very competitive market, as in the Middle East, smart investment looks for niche products that can demand a better return on capital employed (ROCE).

The Dingli 2212DC electric narrow 22m scissor is growing in demand and, with only two or three options from other manufacturers on the market, Dingli are doing very well with this product.

Also, I believe the Dingli 0607DCS micro scissor is going

4

DINGLI P OWERED ACCESS REP ORT 2021

to be a big success in the region.

This is because most mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) contractors are using scissor lifts in the 7.8m height range whereas when you look at 90% of their work, it is actually just under 6m. The Dingli 0607DCS unit has a working height of just under 6m, is cheaper to purchase and is more compact, and so can move around congested sites more easily.

These above models apart, another Dingli model that has already gained good popularity in the region is our 16m electric scissor lift, which has features that place it in a segment that is very practical for the region and finds great use in various types of jobs.

Please describe Dingli’s efforts in the area of Innovations - such as models and features being worked on that bring in new technologies and power sources, and cleaner and greener machines.

One of the biggest developments that Dingli is working on is in the field of Lithium-ion batteries. Not only is the idea to make these batteries increasingly available on our electric boom lifts at lit-tle or no extra cost, but also to have them available on most of our electric

“We have exceeded our first-year expectations, which has prompted us to now go ahead with our plan of setting up Dingli Middle East in the UAE”

A typical wet battery will have a life span of around 15 months in the Middle East market, so at Dingli we are doubling the minimum life of the battery until replacement.

scissor lifts as an option.

We are also working on refining the batteries themselves from a usage point of view, with features such as shorter charge times and longer usage times, so that there are fewer charging cycles in the battery’s lifetime. Also, we have a three-year warranty on the battery.

Dingli is seeing a rise in demand in the region for its scissor lifts, especially for models such as the 2212DC - a narrow, 22m electric model.

Coming to the Middle East market, what is state of its access equipment sector and what does the future hold?

After the disruptions and lockdowns caused by Covid-19 in 2020, this year has only been marginally better for the region, given that various impacts and restrictions of Covid continue to be in place.

On the business side of things, the UAE market is a very competitive one for rental companies currently.

This is putting pressure on utilisation levels, which leads to more aggressive pricing following on from the pressure. There are niche product segments in the market, and this, in my opinion, is where the rental companies should be spending their capital.

In the wider GCC, it is the Saudi Arabian market where I see the major growth happening in the next five years, with all the large projects announced recently that have either just started or are planned for next year and beyond in 2023.

Now that Dingli Middle East is being set up, what are the brand’s future plans in the region and why should customers opt for Dingli access equipment?

We are starting with a three-year plan in the region, which is to continue growing the business in the Middle East through market expansion in the rental segment and also by increasing end-user opportunities through dealers.

I think Middle East customers should seriously consider Dingli and opt for us because not only do we continue to offer competitive prices, but also high-quality products, with an aftersales operation that aims to soon be the best in the region.

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6

IPAF P OWERED ACCESS REP ORT 2021

HEIGHTS OF SAFETY

WITH THE INTERNATIONAL POWERED ACCESS FEDERATION (IPAF) ALWAYS RAISING THE BAR FOR SAFETY IN THE ACCESS SECTOR, THE RESULTS ARE SHOWING, SAYS REGIONAL MANAGER JASON WOODS

T

he International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) has a difficult and unenviable task in the Middle East’s powered access sector – that of putting safety at the top of the agenda in a place where the traditionally mindset has been one of being lackadaisical where safety is concerned.

Jason Woods, regional manager for the Middle East and South Asia at IPAF, has been waging a long battle in the region to put safety where it belongs – at the top of the agenda – and says that the results are finally showing.

“Training is certainly on the increase.

We’re expecting to have trained more than 10,500 students this year,” he tells CMME. And most of those students are operators

of access equipment, especially booms, at rental companies.

“We’re still seeing more of a trend towards boom lifts. Then the next step down is scissor lifts, and our next category then would be static booms. If you think of the layout of the rental business, you find that booms are always the stronger category than the other two. But scissors are catching up. When I first arrived in the UAE, I think the market was some 85% booms. We had 3-4% scissors and then mixed equipment. But scissor lifts are way more common now.

“We have very active accredited training centres. As IPAF, we continue to do professional development with the instructors. Currently, as we were in the pandemic, we switched our PDS –

professional development seminar – to online, remote sessions. Before that we would meet in person at the training centres, with all the instructors coming together.

This now happens a lot online and the discussion points are generally around the training module - so we talk about health and safety, risk management, typical causes of incidents that a construction site would have. And we try and bridge the gap through the PDS for instructor to client.”

This year the IPAF has run over 12 such PDS sessions, Woods reveals, where the instructors have been brought together back online for at least an hour a month to discuss various aspects of safety and training – anything from the course material, health and safety audited procedures to how to plan the training room.

7 This is part of the IPAF’s constant growth in the region, Woods says, adding: “Over the last few years, we’ve always been growing, and we’ve seen something like a 30% increase in trainees coming through every 12 months. Even though we had a tough time with the pandemic it wasn’t actually that bad. We still had around 8,000 students trained in 2020. Much of it was instructor led, so it wasn’t just online. Even though we saw closures in some countries due to Covid-19, you must remember that the rental business didn’t stop. They still had machines going out to the clients because projects were still running and someone still needed to operate the machines. What we found encouraging was a change with managements here, who insisted that the courses be delivered through e-learning. We’re seeing a good trend through e-learning now.”

Revealing the content of these new courses, he says that they are dedicated for people who manage equipment on their projects. So the content of the courses cover a broad spectrum, from dealing with potential risks at job-sites and how to manage those risks to selecting equipment and identifying what types of hazards can affect performance in the project.

“It’s a bigger overview of managing the equipment. It’s more in-depth as a manager, as opposed to an operator,” says Woods.

For operators there in of course the IPAF’s ePAL card certification. But to make things even more stringent and safe, the validity span of the card has been reduced from a five-year license to a two-year one.

“This is because we found that less training is not good for our industry. We’re still seeing incidents, not always fatalities, but still incidents. And when you talk to companies, their operator error callouts were still quite high – around 30% at some stages - and you also find that damage to equipment is still quite high. This has got to reflect on the training.

“I was visiting a project recently in Abu Dhabi and the biggest complaint was that operators keep hitting the wall. It takes a lot of skill and training to operate MEWPs safely and efficiently - and when you look at the workforce we deal with in the GCC, you have to work harder with your training to get that message across.”

“Training is certainly on the increase.

We’re expecting to have trained more than 10,500 students this year” The IPAF training course is designed for experienced operators, Woods explains, so the two-year license now gives the operator an opportunity to prove he’s been operating machines frequently every two years to qualify for a card renewal. “It doesn’t always mean he has to go through the full module, but if I’m an operator in this region I must have at least 24 entries into my logbook to qualify for the card renewal. There are still tests involved and a theory and practical exam, so you have

to be good to continue that license.”

The official attitude towards safety in the region has also become serious, Woods points out, with the GCC countries now issuing guidance that operators must be trained and competent. “So, as an employer you’ve got to define what is competent. If you think 10-15 minutes of familiarisation is going to be enough, then you’re mistaken. In 2017, we worked with Oshad - Abu Dhabi Occupational Safety and Health System Framework - and we focused on specific competency. Prior to that Oshad’s code of practice would only mention that the operator ‘must be competent’, but since 2017, it mentions you must have an IPAF qualification. Back in 2019, we did something similar with Dubai municipality and in Dubai it now mentions clearly that you must have a PAL card as an operator and you must have a qualification such as our ‘MEWPs for Managers’ as a manager.”

Woods explains that these are all positive developments that have got the IPAF very busy with training in the region, averaging about 6-8 courses delivered a day to as many as 8-10 students in each course, which is well over 60 students a day.

“Our training centres need to be given a lot of credit for this. We always look at how we can continue to drive safety. The next step is to support third-party inspection bodies to gain more competence - and our plan is to make this one of our next steps which will help the industry.”

8

COVER STORY P OWERED ACCESS REP ORT 2021

As the brand that started the access industry, JLG has been a market leader in the Middle East, with its wide range of boom lifts being used in various sectors.

“Coupled with the huge innovative progression we are now bringing to market, it is refreshing to see how the company that started this industry continues to bring solutions to truly ‘redefine the job-site’”

9

RISING ABOVE THE ODDS

CONSTANTLY MEETING MARKET CHALLENGED WITH TECHNICAL AND PRODUCT INNOVATIONS, SUCH AS BIM LIBRARIES, TELEMATICS, ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT, DEVELOPMENT OF LITHIUM POWER AND LOW-LEVEL ACCESS, JLG REMAINS AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE POWERED ACCESS MARKET

E

ver since John L Grove’s pioneering introduction of the powered access machine, JLG – the brand he created – has been among the leading companies in the sector in almost every region of the world it operates in. The Middle East is no exception.

Continuous product refinement and introduction of ever new technologies, innovations and new models, as well as an adherence to quality, have all played major roles in JLG being a leader in the access equipment market today in the region.

Among these new introductions in recent times are rough terrain scissor lifts, especially electric powered ones that have proved especially popular.

Ian Hume, sales director at JLG for the Middle East, Africa, India and Russia

(MEAIR), says that among JLG’s most popular launches in the last 18 months is its new rough terrain scissor range with the electric powered ERT4769 model proving the most popular.

This model offers the user a 14.3m platform height, large platform basket with deck extension and rough terrain ability to get around job-sites.

“We have added more High Capacity (HC3) booms to our offering with HC3 booms now available from 14m to 28m. In Europe and the USA, we have also launched the Davinci all electric scissor and Electric Construction booms, with both models set to be introduced to the Middle East region in 2022,” says Hume.

“JLG has also launched a range of stock picking models targeting the growing logistics and retail sectors. These machines are called Driveable Stock Pickers (DSP) and

10

COVER STORY P OWERED ACCESS REP ORT 2021

with two models now available, we are seeing very encouraging uptake on this solution that brings greater efficiency and safety.”

JLG is “renowned in the market for supplying strong, robust and safe equipment”, Hume adds, and points out that the brand is proud to have “the highest retained value in the sector”.

“Coupled with the huge innovative progression we are now bringing to market, it is refreshing to see how the company that started this industry continues to bring solutions to truly ‘redefine the jobsite’. Working at height is still one of the most dangerous aspects of a construction site or with-in a maintenance application; therefore, being a trustworthy supplier with safety at its core has continued to fuel JLG’s popularity. Safety features and advancements in our products has rein-forced this with anti-entrapment technology such as SkyLine and space awareness technology such as Sky Sense – which focus on keeping the

operator safe to get the job done.”

JLG is also abreast of usage trends in the market, having been responsible for ushering in some of these as a leading brand. Right now, Hume points out, “the industry is making big strides towards electrification of the product being offered to the market”.

“Next year will see the JLG Electric

Digitalisation and electrification are the new trends for the future in the industry and JLG is at the forefront with its new technologies.

Construction (EC) Booms arrive in the Middle East. Our EC boom range offers a rough terrain performance boom powered 100% by lithium batteries. In mature markets like Europe, there is already a very strong demand for such a solution, and we are very excited to see the Middle East market start to really create that pull in demand needed for greater investment in such electric solutions,” says Hume.

Projects like Neom in Saudi Arabia, Masdar City in the UAE and the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar all have venues looking at alternative, more sustainable solutions, he explains. Hume projects that this will continue to snowball in the coming 18 months and “we can’t wait to drive this with our extensive range of electric equipment”.

“We will also be bringing our allelectric scissor (Davinci AE1932) to the Middle East in 2022 to show the market how JLG is really innovating in this space. The Davinci scissor has zero hydraulic oil and is completely electrically powered,” he reveals.

JLG DAVINCI

THE ART OF SCISSOR LIFT JLG’s DaVinci lift is powered

protecting sensitive flooring

capacity indoors and out

by a single lithium-ion battery

in data centres, hospitals,

at the full 19ft height. Plus,

expected to last 10 years — in

museums and more. Zero

advanced features such as

other words, the machine’s

leaks. Zero diapers. Zero

Variable Tilt technology –

full lifespan, explains Ian

hassle. That’s uptime you

allowing limited elevation on

Hume. This advanced battery

can count on,” says JLG.

side slopes – increases the

can fully charge in just 3.5

The company says that the

scissor’s work envelope and

hours and also enables

DaVinci lift is the first unit

opportunity charging,

in the industry to recover

delivering hours of uptime

energy while the platform is

DaVinciGO app eliminates

with as little as 20 minutes

descending. This capability

the need for a separate

of charge and up to 100ft of

contributes to a 70% decrease

analyser or any spe-cialised

driving and gradeability to

in power consumption.

tools by allowing users to

load on five minutes of charge.

Addi-tionally, the DaVinci

tap into intuitive, smart

produces zero emissions. “In

phone-enabled diagnostics.

true all-electric scissor lift

short, it’s the eco-friendliest

Real-time information can be

features zero hydraulics,

scissor on the plan-et.”

viewed, the lift calibrated and

“The industry’s first

eliminating hydraulic leaks

The DaVinci scissor lift’s

maximizes users’ productivity.

As added tech features, the

configured, and performance

entirely, reducing customer

fully electric actuator lifts

parameters dialed in or even

maintenance and clean-

more weight than a standard

remotely engaged with the

up costs and lowering

hydraulic cylinder, allowing

JLG service centre for support,

total cost of ownership.

the platform to carry up

such as for installing over-

It’s the ideal machine for

to a class-leading 275kg

the-air software updates.

11 Staying with tech innovations, he adds: “The digital age is upon us and it feels like we are in the midst of another technical revolution as we become more connected every day. JLG now has a plethora of digital solutions, such as the JLG BIM library, which offers architects and contractors the ability to input the full range of JLG machines within a BIM model. Then there is our AR App, developed to allow users to select a JLG product and place the machine within a jobsite. This has proved very popular in remote regions where the challenge of bringing a physical machine is very challenging. The JLG AR App is also able to support and guide the user to perform a machine in-spection and provide operation guidance and decal viewer. We will continue to develop and add on to this great tool.”

JLG also offers its customers a complete telematics system called Clearsky, which allows for remote monitoring of equipment and can even support technical teams with remote diagnostics, Hume adds and says he expects to “see Middle East rental fleets leverage the advantages of telematics in the coming 24 months with most owners having some kind of telemetry to their machines”.

Another area where JLG has stolen a march over the competition is in lowlevel access, where its Power Towers division remains a market leader in the segment. Giving more details, Hume says: “The Middle East now has a very good base of Power Towers products available in the region’s rental fleets.

We forecast a surge in demand in Saudi Arabia in 2022. The two models that continue to see high demand are the two-man Power Towers Duo and the completely non-powered machine, EcoLift, which has no engine or battery and has incredible ROI for rental companies.”

So how does the future look for JLG in the region? Answering this, Hume says that JLG is very ex-cited for 2022 and is expecting rental fleet expansions to come back to 2018 levels based on the project pipeline

across the region. While believing the market will show very strong recovery, he sounds a note of caution by saying that 2022 will have its challenges.

“Of course, Covid had a big impact on all markets, however we are now seeing a very strong recovery that is leading to an increase in the physical utilisation returning to a healthy

Articulated lifts are also prominent among JLG’s extensive line-up of models of all varieties, and are a popular choice in the region.

level for the rental companies and rental rates seeing solid percentage increases across the region.

Throughout the pandemic, the ability for the suppliers to assure efficient supply of parts and deliver a high level of communication through digital means was crucial. There has been a renewed drive towards technical training for service and sales teams to optimise their equipment, with the industry seeing a shortage of skilled manpower in the sector.”

The constraints now are the prevailing global supply chain issues and Hume says that JLG is being affected like all other manufacturers.

However, JLG does have a favourable position, as it can “leverage our global manufacturing footprint making the supply chain less constricted”.

“Certain key material costs continue to rise, with steel prices particularly impacting the equipment industry.

Another key cost that impacts the Middle East is that of freight from China, USA or Europe, in which we have seen containers and RORO freight rates double and, in some situations, triple their pre-Covid levels.”

All in all, Hume says that despite the positives, 2020 “will not be without challenges, but JLG will strive to lead the industry and support our customers”.

12

GENIE P OWERED ACCESS REP ORT 2021

AIMING HIGH

AS THE MIDDLE EAST’S ACCESS SECTOR MOVES TOWARDS ELECTRIFICATION, GENIE IS DEVELOPING NEW MACHINES AND TECHNOLOGIES, AND WORKING TO IMPROVE SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES, SAYS SHARBEL KORDAHI, MD OF TEREX EQUIPMENT MIDDLE EAST AND SALES DIRECTOR FOR GENIE AERIAL WORK PLATFORMS IN THE MIDDLE EAST, SOUTH OF AFRICA AND RUSSIA What is the state of the Middle East access sector and how has Covid-19 impacted it?

In 2020, when the pandemic was at its peak, a lot of manufacturers saw their order books drying up. The equipment sector, especially access equipment, is a cyclical business, so the minute any crisis hits there is an adverse impact on the sector.

Also, we depend a lot on the CAPEX of rental companies, but the rental sector completely stopped their spending in 2020, so it was a very difficult year. That being said, we saw an increase in uptake on the end-user sale. I think there was an appetite for people to go after some good deals in the market because end users knew they could find good deals. We continued to work on the end-user market, which was very successful for us in 2020, and most of the turnover that we had was because of our dealer network and end-user sales. Among the most active segments within the end-users

were a lot of facilities management and maintenance companies.

How has the regional market performed in 2021?

This year is a completely different story. There has been a reintroduction of CAPEX in the sector as the year has progressed, even though 2021 had a slow start in the Middle East - unlike the rest of the world, where rental companies were very aggressive from the beginning in catching up on what they missed in 2020. In the Middle East, the market started a little slower but caught up quickly - and we’re going to have a really good year. Expenditure from rental companies and a still strong end-user market is the driving force.

The big issue we have at the moment - which is again on the back of the pandemic - is the supply chain, which is massively disrupted. Like all other companies in the market, we are experiencing shortages in many areas, including engines and

13 The use of scissor lifts has increased in the Middle East, especially the electric models, according to Genie, which expects the trend to grow.

some electronic parts. The facility that we have in Jebel Ali was really our saviour in 2021, where we could sell a lot of the products that we were stocking there. But going forward, we still see a lot of restriction on the supply chain in 2022. Although we are going in with a very healthy background of orders - one of the healthiest I have seen in my 12 years with Terex - I think there will continue to be a lot of disruption and supply chain issues next year.

Did the supply chain issues affect your parts delivery? How helpful was Genie’s Jebel Ali facility in this regard?

We have the spare parts that are required for pre-delivery inspection (PDI) and any quick repair that is needed on the machines we stock.

In case something wrong is detected during a PDI, we can quickly repair it.

But this is something in the works for our future: we will have something more extensive on the spare parts front in Jebel Ali.

“I think the trends are clear that the market is going towards electrification.

There is not only a lot of interest in electrification but also a lot of push towards it.

Many rental companies are asking us about our electric products on booms and scissors”

In terms of usage trends, which are your most popular units? How is the sector catching on for scissor lifts?

I think the trends are clear that the market is going towards electrification. There is not only a lot of interest in electrification but also a lot of push towards it. Many rental companies are asking us about our electric products on booms and scissors. At the same time, I think we also see a small change in the market where booms are concerned. Seven or eight years ago, the Middle East was a straight boom and telescopic boom market. In the past two to three years, it changed into articulated booms - and now we see again the trend coming back into straight booms. I think what’s happened over the last few years is that the market has taken a lot of articulated booms and because of the lower rental rates on the straight booms, which were predominantly the biggest sector,

14

GENIE P OWERED ACCESS REP ORT 2021

we now see that the straight booms in the market have aged. Rental companies are probably trying to replace these old units and that is driving a new demand for the straight booms again.

models, but is there a customer to pay them a good rental rate? The models can already be supplied if there is demand in the market. However, in the long term, the technology will get cheaper and the demand will rise, making these the twin factors for a market shift.

When it comes to the general trend towards electric equipment, what else does that include? Is it possible that Genie will electrify its larger outdoor models and entire range in the foreseeable future?

That is not only possible but is definitely what will happen in the long run. Now, how long will that take, we cannot say today. We do have a road map and we’re working on more and more electric booms. We have now introduced the Z45 electric NFE. We have the Z60 NFE. We are also introducing a straight boom in the range of 60-feet and I think the future will be to go to 80, probably more. It all depends on how fast the technology will be able to catch up.

What will be the main power source for the electric models?

Lithium batteries will be the key for the future of the electric models.

Lithium battery technology has already become very advanced and capable. But it is also a question of cost and how soon the technology

Which are Genie’s new models right now?

We have introduced the Z45 FE and DC recently and it won’t be long before we launch the S60 FE and DC. And there will be more products in the near future. We also have the J-series, which is now catching on very quickly in the market, with rental companies starting to see the return on investment with a lower purchase price. They still get 300kg of platform weight capacity but at a little lower purchase cost than the XC along with reduced maintenance expenditure as well. can become even more affordable and thus more commercially viable.

Today everything is possible, but the only question is: is there a market that will pay for it? If we bring a 125ft fully electric boom lift, is there a customer that will pay for it? It may even well be that some rental companies will purchase such

Long a staple of the regional access sector, booms are expected to make a comeback, with rental companies replacing stocks.

What about low-level access? Does Genie have any specific models for this fast-growing segment?

We have our range of push-around AWPs and AC driven units. We are not looking at investing heavily in the low-level access market because it’s a niche one that’s not yet at the level where we think mass production would become viable for us, especially in the Middle East. We don’t see a massive market for it yet.

Also, the rules and regulations in this part of the world do not actively promote low-level access machines. In the UK, for instance, there is a maximum height ceiling above which you cannot work with a ladder, making low-level access machines a necessity.

I know that the IPAF is working very closely with a lot of municipalities, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi, for more regulations, and Dubai has recently issued regulations on working at heights – so the mandate is gradually coming in. But it’s also down to the awareness of the enduser to say ‘I have to implement

15 Genie projects increasing uptake of scissor lifts in the Middle East, as well as a trend of electric models with lithium batteries gaining ground.

these mandates’. You can have a mandate but you cannot monitor everyone all the time, so you have to have that push from the end-user to implement that mandate. Awareness needs to be increased in that area.

What is Genie working on in digitalisation and new technologies?

At Genie we’ve won awards for our telematics system, and I know we have one of the best systems on the market. It’s not only a telematics tool but also a diagnostic tool that prevents maintenance issues from coming and disrupting work up by preempting them.

We are also working on some other areas, such as e-commerce, on which there will be a big push from the parts side. There are other new initiatives as well that we’re working on when it comes to digitalisation and innovation on the machines, but whatever we’re doing it’s not for the sake of it. We always like to say there needs to be a purpose for innovation.

You can digitalise everything, but unless it is purposeful and adds value, it’s not really worth it.

“Lithium batteries will be the key for the future of the electric models. Lithium battery technology has already become very advanced and capable.

But it is also a question of cost and how soon the technology can become even more affordable and thus more commercially viable”

What are some new projects and customers in the region that Genie is involved with?

I think it’s not a secret that everyone is looking to Saudi and all the projects that they are announcing. But let’s not discount the other GCC countries. In the UAE, there is a big push now on the environmental side and they will host the 2023 Environment Summit.

The ongoing Expo is also a success and going forward, I think there may be more of a push in the region on sporting events. The FIFA World Cup is next year and other such events will follow. I think the GCC region will always be a very active for new projects. The rise in oil prices will also continue to drive public spending and infrastructure. So, as these things happen, the project pipeline will increase - and so will the demand for Genie’s products.

16

QER P OWERED ACCESS REP ORT 2021

QUALITY AT THE CORE

THROUGH A NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH PLATFORM BASKET, QUALITY EQUIPMENT RENTAL (QER) IS BRINGING A NEW TYPE OF ACCESS EQUIPMENT FROM A NEW BRAND TO THE REGION WHILE MAINTAINING THE PROMISE OF QUALITY IN ITS FLEET, ASHFAQ HUSSAIN, THE RENTAL MAJOR’S GENERAL MANAGER, TELLS CMME How has Covid-19 impacted QER? Please describe some of the important measures QER took during the pandemic and how the business is recovering now?

Like most businesses, Covid has also impacted our business significantly. QER took urgent steps to reduce the impact as much as possible through timely vaccinations, placement of resources closer to our customers and enhancing our supply chain to reduce the impact on our business. Most of our customers are based in Western region and during Covid

we had to increase our onsite teams and spares with our customers to provide them on time support. We’re happy with how we dealt with the challenges at this time and looking forward to a performance as we start grow our portfolio into next year.

When and why did you team up with Platform Basket? Can you describe some of their most popular models that you have for hire?

QER partnered with Platform Basket, a wellknown Italian manufacturer in 2018. Our

most popular model is platform basket 27.14 which is a 27-meter spider lift. It has a total weight of only 5000kg and offers an outreach of 14.4 metres with an operator in the basket and 12.7 metres with 230kg capacity. It is the most compact 27m tracked-lift with only 890mm of width, with an hydraulic operated undercarriage, that enables the machine to pass through a single door 3,5” wide. All features meet the continuous demand of the market that wants to access platforms as compact and light as possible, but with very high

17 Offering Platform Basket in the UAE market is a step that Ashfaq Hussain, general manager, QER is confident will pay rich dividends.

performances. Our spider lifts and other machines are currently deployed on projects like SeaWorld, The Royal Atlantis and Media Zone to name a few.

Has QER introduced any other new models in the access equipment segment in 2021? Can you describe the most popular ones?

Yes, Platform Basket recently introduced Spider 39T at GIS 2021 exhibition in Italy and this will soon be available in our fleet.

As well as featuring a telescopic boom the Spider 39T is equipped with extendable crawler tracks and is powered by a 37kw diesel engine. It is based on the design of

the company’s larger Spider 43T machine, which we also stock, and is fitted with rubber tracks and stabilizers. We are very much looking forward to rolling out this model here in the Middle East early next year.

Which other segments have performed well in 2021 and why?

QER is a very diverse rental business covering different products in our portfolio. Our fleet covers a wide range of equipment from diesel generators, light towers, telescopic handlers, backhoe loaders, air compressors, rollers, access machines, excavators, motor graders, dozers and forklifts. Our earthmoving and

spider lifts segments have been doing particularly well in 2021 due to many ongoing earthworks projects in the UAE as well as our partnership with Platform Basket.

What other trends are you currently seeing in equipment hire and in the industry in general?

Equipment rental industry in the UAE is very dynamic and has even more growth potential given that there are many development projects are in the pipeline. QER also provides equipment services to the Oil and Gas industry and has successfully managed HVAC projects for reputed clients. As the oil and gas sector is going be very busy in the coming years due to high oil prices we think there will be a strong demand for rental equipment across the board particularly, power generation, air systems and lifting equipment.

Do you plan on adding any other products to your portfolio in 2022? Or any other news to look forward to?

We are actively working with our partners Platform Basket to have most sizes of Spider lifts available in the UAE market for both rental and sales requirements of our valued clients. We currently have 10 models of varying height and outreach in our portfolio, with the addition of the Spider 39T being our main focus right now and growing this segment will be a priority for us in 2022 and beyond.

NEW PARTNERSHIP

QER TEAMS UP WITH PLATFORM BASKET QER has teamed up with

confined areas. They

Italian company, Platform

are used in multiple

giving the operator

Basket, to supply an unrivaled

industries including

further flexibility to

range of self-propelled

tree care professionals,

set up in tight spots.

tracked cherry pickers or

painting contractors,

spider lifts, available in

restoration contractors,

various sizes ranging from

building maintenance,

13 meters to 43 meters.

construction sites and

These machines are

positioning options

According to QER, “if you’re eyeing for compactness, ultralightness, excellent Tyre grip,

utility work. The lightweight,

stability beyond any obstacle,

universally recognised for

compact design of the

their versatility, reliability

Spider Lifts means they can

traditional boom lifts. The

minimal emissions, rapidity & safety, and versatility,

and exceptionally smooth

access tight, narrow spaces

larger models have an even

this machine is definitely

manoeuvrability even in

not normally accessible by

greater variety of stabiliser

the answer to your need.”

18

SNORKEL P OWERED ACCESS REP ORT 2021

SNORKEL ON THE MOVE

ACCESS EQUIPMENT SPECIALIST UNVEILS ITS FIRST LITHIUM POWERED ROUGH-TERRAIN BOOM LIFT AND UPGRADES ITS MID-SIZE DIESEL BOOM LINE WITH HIGHER LIFT CAPACITIES

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ccess equipment heavyweight Snorkel has gone on a new launch spree recently, unveiling the ninth model in its lithium-ion battery powered family of rough terrain mobile elevating work platforms and telehandlers, as well as upgrading its mid-size telescopic boom lift line with higher lift capacities.

The new Snorkel A46JRTE, which made its global debut at the Vertikal Days exhibition in the UK earlier this year, became the company’s first lithium powered boom lift. It joined eight other lithiumpowered Snorkel models which have been introduced since late 2019, including the SL26RTE and SL30RTE electric Speed Levels, the S2255RTE, S2755RTE, S2770RTE,

S3370RTE and S3970RTE electric rough terrain scissor lifts, and the electric SR5719E/ SR626E compact rough terrain telehandler.

Snorkel says the A46JRTE uses the same lithium-ion battery pack solution as the other models in the family and offers a “true zero emission rough terrain solution”, without compromising on the reliability and four-wheel drive capabilities of the diesel equivalent. It comes as standard with three 111Ah (5.75kWh) lithium-ion battery packs, which satisfies many applications, including heavy-use, according to the manufacturer.

The automotive-quality lithium-ion battery packs are produced in the northeast of England and are individually equipped with the latest battery management systems (BMS), says Snorkel. Requiring zero maintenance, the battery packs have been

tested in climate chambers between -25°C and +60°C, making them suitable for use in most environments.

According to Snorkel, the lithiumpowered models are delivering extended duty cycles per charge, when compared to similar models. “Based on typical use in rough terrain under test conditions, a single charge can last for more than one week, and in light use on elevation jobs with minimal driving, this increases to more than two weeks on a single charge,” states an official communique from the Ahern Group manufacturer.

The A46JRTE has a powerful AC electric motor, increasing efficiency of the hydraulic drive system and providing high torque, which results in increased traction and improved rough terrain performance.

19 Snorkel adds that the electric motor also delivers 62% less job-site noise and with no engine fan, dust generation is reduced for safer and cleaner operation in low emission zones and green areas. With minimal battery and electrical system maintenance required, servicing costs are reduced by up to 93% when compared to an engine, while also eliminating the costs and risks of waste oil and filter disposal. Less servicing also reduces the load on service engineers.

Snorkel’s original diesel-powered A46JRT is capable of reaching a maximum working height of 16.3m and has a working outreach of 7.35m and benefits from a zero tailswing and 1.5m jib boom for manoeuvrability in confined spaces. The new lithium-powered four-wheel drive A46JRTE expands the A46 family to three models. Snorkel continues to offer the diesel-powered four-wheel drive A46JRT model, as well as its two-wheel drive electric powered A46JE, which is suited to indoor and outdoor work on concrete slab and is popular in industrial applications.

Matthew Elvin, CEO, Xtreme Manufacturing & Snorkel, said: “The launch of our first lithium-powered boom lift is an

“The compact and mid-size aerial lift and telehandler segment is a sweet spot for electrification, and our lithiumbattery technology is proving to be a zero-compromise solution in this product category”

Snorkel’s new A46JRTE uses three 5.75kWh lithium-ion battery packs with a single charge lasting over a week under testing.

exciting next step in our development of zero emission alternatives to diesel. The compact and mid-size aerial lift and telehandler segment is a sweet spot for electrification, and our lithium-battery technology is proving to be a zero-compromise solution in this product category, delivering zero emissions, reduced noise and equivalent or better performance than the diesel.”

Meanwhile, as it breaks new ground with the electric lithium-powered models, Snorkel has also not neglected the traditional diesel ones. The company also upgraded its line of mid-sized telescopic boom lifts in the early autumn of this year, with all six models in the line-up now featuring a new dual envelope design as standard, delivering higher lifting capacities on all of them.

The Snorkel 400S, 460SJ, 600S, 660SJ and 600S and 660SJ All-Terrain have been fitted with a newly designed, globallycompliant jib boom. Measuring 1.67m, the new jib boom reduces the stowed length of the unit for ease of transportation, while enabling higher lifting capacities.

All six upgraded models will now deliver a maximum platform capacity of 454kg with a restricted working envelope and 272kg unrestricted. Developed in response to customer demand, the higher lifting capacities enable workers to carry additional tools and materials to the work area, increasing job-site productivity. The latest models also feature upgraded controls with a visual indicator showing the operator which capacity zone they are in, and clearer graphical display for ease of operation.

CEO Elvin explains: “We are very pleased to be able to give our customers more capacity and features on already popular models. We know that the increased capacity will be welcomed by our valued customers and will play a part in delivering enhanced productivity on jobsites around the world.”

20

LAST WORD P OWERED ACCESS REP ORT 2021

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100+

RAISING PRODUCTIVITY TO THE POWER OF THREE Get more work done with the new JLG Hi-Capacity HC3 boom lifts.

Featuring an expanded work envelope with three capacity zones, these machines can carry up to three occupants and tools to height in every zone.

600AJ HC3

600S HC3

660SJ HC3

460SJ HC3

EXPLORE OUR HI-CAPACITY HC3 BOOM LIFTS When you need to carry more weight to height, you have options with the telescopic boom lifts from JLG. Our lineup currently includes the 400, 600 and 800 series Hi-Capacity booms. Get the specs for each available machine, and don’t forget to check back for information about new models.

Learn more at www.jlg.com JLG Industries | JAFZA View | PO Box 262728 | LB 19, 20th Floor, Office 05 | Jebel Ali | Dubai | measales@jlg.com

ABOVE IT ALL

The Snorkel family of articulated boom lifts offers three powerful options to suit a range of work at height applications. The Snorkel A46JRT diesel boom lift combines a superb working envelope with power and precision for full versatility. The industry-leading Snorkel A46JE electric boom lift excels in maneuverability with clean and quiet operation. The NEW Snorkel A46JRTE lithium-ion powered boom lift delivers impressive 4-wheel drive performance.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL Snorkel™ on +44 (0)845 1550 057 or visit www.snorkellifts.com