05.03.2011

MEC Crossover

California based aerial lift manufacturer MEC has released drawings of its new Crossover electric scissor lift which it will launch at Conexpo.

The essential idea of the Crossover is a compact slab sized scissor lift with some off-slab capability.
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The MEC Crossover 26RT with optional glazing rack

The models will be available with two platform heights 26 and 32ft and an overall width of 59 inches – 1,499mm so it will pass very easily through a set of double doors. The new models will be battery electric and are intended to be used anywhere you might use a regular slab scissor while retaining the ability to service the outside of the building as well.
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The side rack is incorporated into the overall width of the machine

The platforms will run the full width of the machine and a number of special options will be available including a built in glazing /sheet ply rack. Final specifications have not yet been published but total platform capacity is expected to be 450kg.

Vertikal Comment

The idea of an electric scissor lift that can handle gravel and softer ground has been around for more than 10 years and tries to recreate the success of products like the UpRight XL24, which gave way to the modern pure slab machines with their solid tires and minimal ground clearance in 1994.

Previous attempts have ended up much larger and morphed into the compact Rough Terrain category which bears little resemblance to what they were intended to be – in terms of width and length. They are not intended to be Rough Terrains, but simply need to be able to cover the outside areas where gravel, grass or soft ground is present. Please register to see all images

The UpRight XL24 went out of production in 1994, but are still available on the second hand market

The need for such a product has never been truly proven or disproven, as no one has managed to introduce a product that replicates the specification of the XL24CW as engineers get carried away with the RT ability.

Perhaps MEC have got it this time? Conexpo is just over two weeks away so we don’t have to wait too long for first impressions.