State, local and educational (SLED) organizations have unique needs that only specific equipment can meet. Aerial spider lifts can help you optimize maintenance operations at your municipal organization by eliminating some of the challenges associated with traditional lifts.
To understand the full impact on your organization, it's important to know what aerial lifts are and how they differ from traditional articulating and telescopic boom lifts.
What Are Aerial Spider Lifts?
An aerial spider lift is a low-impact terrain lift used for operations across various industries, including in municipal facilities.
The key features of an aerial spider lift include:
- Outriggers: The extendable legs stabilize the lift to protect operators from a collapse, even on uneven or rough terrain.
- Turntable base: The base of an aerial spider lift can rotate a full 360 degrees for easy maneuverability and maintenance.
- Tracked chassis: Aerial spider lifts have tracks rather than wheels, which makes them better suited to challenging environments.
- Boom: The telescopic arm, also known as a boom, typically has a guarded bucket on its end to safely raise workers to elevated heights.
- Lightweight design: Aerial spider lifts are more compact than traditional boom lifts, which helps reduce some of their weight and increase mobility.
Traditional Boom Lifts vs. Aerial Spider Lifts
Traditional boom lifts consist of a long, hydraulically controlled arm connected to a vehicle. This arm can come in one of two forms:
- Telescopic: This boom type extends straight out in one direction and can handle heavier loads than articulated lifts.
- Articulated: The boom features several joints that allow it to bend and maneuver around obstacles at height.
While aerial spider lifts are more compact compared to traditional lifts, they can provide height access of up to 120 feet or more. They're also significantly easier to maneuver in crowded environments due to their tracked chassis and the rotating turntable on the base.
Aerial spider lifts are also often safer than traditional lifts, as their outriggers provide additional stability and their tracks reduce the risk of workplace accidents when working on uneven terrain.
4 Key Benefits of Aerial Spider Lifts for Municipalities
Aerial spider lifts can be used for grounds and building maintenance applications in various organizations:
- Municipalities
- Counties
- State governments
- Special districts
- Independent school districts
- Public colleges and universities
Here are several reasons why:
1. Enhanced Accessibility
Aerial spider lifts offer low ground pressure, which enables safe operation on various indoor and outdoor surfaces. Their outriggers help protect the lift from toppling over on more challenging surfaces, such as soil or rocky ground.
Thanks to their compact design, aerial spider lifts can also fit through many narrow spaces such as gates and man doors.
2. Versatility Across Applications
A low-impact terrain lift with stabilizers enables you to work anywhere, on almost any surface. Your crew can work on hard-to-reach areas that would be inaccessible with a traditional boom lift, allowing you to use your lift for various applications across facilities and departments.
Municipalities have used aerial spider lifts for various applications, including but not limited to:
- Tree care
- Facility and campus maintenance
- Decorating large spaces
With so many potential applications, you can use your lift for jobs in multiple departments and reduce the need to purchase additional equipment.
3. Increased Efficiency and Productivity
Aerial spider lifts can enhance a fleet of SLED organization equipment by expanding your capabilities and reach.
With the capacity to use electric motors or an internal combustion engine (ICE), Tracked Lifts' hybrid lifts can provide on-demand availability for:
- Facility maintenance: Install light bulbs, wash interior structures and more with a compact lift that expands to your facility's maximum height.
- Infrastructure upgrades: Local construction can benefit from tracked aerial spider lifts' ability to reach high places on rough and uneven terrain. For example, the ruggedized OMMELIFT 2750 extends up to 49 feet and provides extra stability for bridge repairs, new construction sites and more.
- Campus maintenance: Small aerial spider lifts like the Platform Basket TL 13.80 can easily access indoor or outdoor areas to prune trees, clean windows on low buildings or even decorate common areas for the holidays.
4. Improved Operator Safety
Although fall risks are present with any equipment that enables operators to work at height, aerial spider lifts are generally safer to operate in challenging environments than traditional boom lifts due to their unique design.
Unlike traditional lifts, aerial spider lifts have a set of tracks and extendable legs that grip the ground and keep the lift upright. This extra stability from the outriggers and the tracks help protect operators from workplace accidents such as a lift collapse.
Cost Justification and ROI for Aerial Spider Lifts
While a new aerial spider lift often requires a high initial investment, there are many benefits that contribute to long-term cost savings:
- Increased uptime: With the proper maintenance, aerial spider lifts ensure your crew can focus completely on the task at hand rather than watching for breakdowns or malfunctions.
- Enhanced efficiency: The lift's size, low ground pressure and variable-width outriggers help ensure operators can safely navigate many different areas of your facility or campus.
- Lower equipment costs: With tracked lifts, you don't need to replace wheels or tires as often as you would need to with a traditional boom lift. The tracks also provide a more stable base, which reduces wear and tear and helps lower your typical maintenance costs.
- New revenue opportunities: An aerial spider lift's versatility and flexibility can help your organization open new streams of revenue with new services and capabilities.
Additionally, multi-departmental applications across your organization help effectively spread costs and increase versatility.
Why Choose Tracked Lifts for Your Aerial Spider Lift?
When you work with us, your organization gains all the benefits of the Tracked Lifts Advantage. You can safely access hard-to-reach areas to perform complex tasks, enjoying a versatile solution that traditional lifts can't rival.
As a leading provider of aerial lifts, we partner exclusively with industry-leading brands — Platform Basket and OMMELIFT — to supply durable, cutting-edge lifts for various applications and settings.
We also offer expert services with factory-trained technicians to ensure you get the maximum value from your investment:
- Annual inspections
- Hydraulic repairs
- Structural repairs
- Electrical repairs
Even if you purchased your Platform Basket or OMMELIFT lift from another company, we can service it to restore optimal performance.
Contact Tracked Lifts for More Information
You know the right equipment is essential for maximizing savings and enhancing your processes. SLED organizations looking to boost efficiency in their maintenance and outdoor operations should look into an aerial spider lift from Tracked Lifts.
Contact us today to learn more about our products or request a quote.
