02.03.2010

Merlo unveils new Platform

Merlo unveiled its new All Terrain aerial work platform, the MPR 15 and 18, along with a host of other new products, at a press conference at its Cuneo headquarters today.

The MPR combines the well proven running gear from the company’s Roto telehandlers, a 13 or 16 metre telehandler boom and a four metre by two metre scissor lift sized deck.
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The Merlo MPR 18 drives in

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Access to the platform is via inclined stairs

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The chassis has excellent ground clearance and can level up to 9 degrees side to side

The result at first glance is a 40kph road-going four wheel drive, four wheel steer, All Terrain big deck boom lift, with a lift mechanism similar to Manitou’s 150TP, but with the added versatility of a 1,000kgs platform capacity and 180 degrees of platform rotation in each direction, delivered by a slew ring under the platform support point at one end of the platform.
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The chassis cab is very well appointed with plenty of visability

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Having leveled the machine the operator moves to the platform

The fact that the platform rotates from one end and not the centre of the platform, means that it provides almost three metres of clear lateral outreach (four metres from centre line) from the edge of the 2.2 metre wide chassis. The lift is fully self propelled from the platform in any configuration and can level by nine degrees side to side and five degrees end to end.
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The operator can also rotate the platform...

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.....A full 180 degress to provide outreach over the side

A few basic specifications:- MPR 15 and MPR 18
- GVW 11,500 and 12,500 kgs respectively
- Overall Length -6.3 and 6.5 metres
- Overall Width - 2.24 metres
- Overall height stowed - 2.92 metres
- Working height - 15 and 18 metres
- Lift capacity - 1,000kgs
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Almost 3m of outreach from the side of the chassis

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The platform rotation is provided by a slew ring on the platform support joint

The new model will appear on the company’s stand at Bauma along with a large number of other innovations, including at least two Cingo spider lifts, one nine metres and one in the 14 metre rage, a 24 metre/six tonne capacity Roto telehandler and heavy duty 18 metre/5,000kg straight frame telehandler.
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The platform has a large working envelope, including forward outreach

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The boom up and platform rotated 180 degrees.

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And off she goes...

In addition to new models the company announced a new Eco Power drive system that links a machines Hydrostatic pump, motor and engine through a smart controller which reacts to the speed demands from the operator (via the accelerator) and delivers the power in the most efficient manner.
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The 6,000 kg/24 metre Merlo 60.24MCCS

A three way selector in the cab allows the operator to choose between Ecopower, Fine control or Full control. Fine control is intended for precise operation in tight quarters while full control is the normal hydrostatic drive.

The company says that the new system will provide up to 30 percent fuel economy and a 2.5 decibel noise reduction. The first model to be fitted with the system is the 55.9CS.

Vertikal Comment

The MPR15/18 looks to be a very interesting new concept. Most of the technology and ideas are not new, but bringing them all together into a single commercial package is most certainly new and highly innovative.

There are some applications for which this machine is a ‘natural’ and where it ought to make some rapid market penetration. Examples include on-apron aircraft maintenance, Routine street light maintenance and cleaning such as street light head replacement and street side tree pruning.

It ought to be a natural for tunnel maintenance work too, but the longitudinal levelling ability at just five degrees might just let it down, at least for some tunnel work?

So while this new lift looks right and has tremendous ‘curb appeal’ it is still likely to be a niche product, appealing to applications involving short, urgent jobs in different locations or repetitive highway work.

While it could also handle a great deal of regular big scissor lift work, its size and complexity in a market that has a glut of 40 to 50ft Rough Terrain scissors, will prevent that, at least in the near term. Although larger volumes are possible depending on the price Merlo feels that it can sell them at and the number of applications it can be tailored to.

In summary a great new product that looks right and that will prove to be very attractive for particular applications.

More details on Merlo’s numerous other new product launches and its market strategies here on Vertikal.Net later this week and in the March and April issues of Cranes & Access, Kran & Bühne and the Vertikal Guide to Bauma.