06.02.2012
Skyjack unveils 63ft articulated boom
Skyjack has shown the prototype of a new 63ft platform height/21.2 metre working height articulated boom lift at the Rental Show in New Orleans today.
The new unit, the SJ63AJ, was shown in the colours of the New Orleans Saints football team, following this weekend’s Superbowl, it is the latest in the company’s growing boom lift range and adds to its 46 and 51ft articulated models and 60 and 65ft straight telescopics.
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The new Skyjack SJ63AJ was launched in the colours of the New Orleans Saints football team
The most innovative feature on the new boom lift is its lift mechanism, with a dual sigma type over-centre riser with open throat knuckle joint and twin lift cylinders. The benefit of this design is that it keeps the overall height of the machine down low enough for transport in a standard container, while offering the best combination of outreach and up and over reach with constant zero tail-swing, perfectly vertical lift and a relatively compact overall length.
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The open throat knuckle and twin riser lift cylinders
The lift mechanism design is such that the platform can be lowered all the way to the ground with the risers fully extended. Outreach is just over 12 metres/40ft, beating Genie, JLG, Snorkel and Manitou, with only the single riser Haulotte offering more. Up and over reach is a very respectable 8.3 metres/27ft.
The machine’s Gross Vehicle Weight is 10,000kg/22,000lbs sufficiently low to allow two units to be carried on a trailer in the USA with a total all up weight of under 45,000.
Power comes from a Deutz 3b or Tier 4 diesel with the company’s standard drive system, using rough terrain drive axles, complete with operator controlled differential lock and 45 degree crank angle steering. According to the company this provides the new SJ63AJ with one of the best turning circles in the industry.
Production will begin towards the end of this year with most deliveries scheduled for the new year.
Vertikal Comment
This new boom follows Skyjack’s strategy of limiting new concepts to those that provide tangible benefits that are in demand by rental companies, without being too radical.
The boom introduces an excellent combination of features that should help further Skyjack’s aspirations in the boom market and should appeal to a large number of rental company buyers.
And Dont forget the HYBRID system in the HR21!
vertikal editor
We understand that the new Skyjack will offer 40ft outreach to the edge of the platform, whereas the 41ft of the Niftylift - currently the best in the industry - is working outreach- usually 1.5ft/500mm from the edge of the platform, which makes it around 39.5 or 40ft and unlikley to be bettered by the Skyjack.
We do plan to do a more detailed comparison in the next Cranes & Access, although the Skyjack numbers are currently subject to change.
Simon Maher
The Niftylift HR21 (missing from comparison above) offers 12.5m / 41ft of working outreach and weighs just 6,400kgs / 14,100lbs.