Skyjack is to launch a new ‘E’ range of slab electric scissor lifts with direct electric drive, which will replace its current models that use hydraulic wheel motors.
The new Skyjack SJ3219E
While the overall changes are significant and substantial, in time honoured Skyjack tradition, the company has retained as much of the current product as possible including structural components and overall design, limiting new content to around 25 percent or less.
The main change is the shift from hydraulic drive to AC brushless electric wheel motors for the drive function, eliminating around 60 percent of all hydraulic fittings, and reducing the risk of leaks, while boosting battery life between recharges by at least 20 percent - more for extended drive applications.
The electric drive motors on the SJ3219E
The drive system layout remains unchanged with front wheel drive on the compact models and rear wheel drive on the larger models. The motors are all sealed to an IP66 rating to eliminate any water ingress or contamination.
Wider models have rear wheel drive - note also the electric brake release and emergency down functions
The first production units will start to come off the production line in Canada within the next few weeks and will be rolled out across the company’s other plants over the next 12 months or so.
Other changes include smoother constant torque drive, a more compact controller with new low battery warning light, which is triggered when only around 10 percent of usable capacity remains - providing around 10 to 15 full work cycles, allowing the user to finish his work before putting the machine on charge.
The new control box
A 10 second time-out enable button activates the controls, once pressed a bright green light on the control panel illuminates warning the operator that the controls are live. After 10 seconds the controls are deactivated, and the light goes out. The cable to the controller is now eight core instead of 16, making it more supple and easy to handle.
The enable light signifies that the controls are live
The hydraulic pump drive motor remains the same, although the hydraulic system has changed, with a smaller tank and simplified manifold. The hydraulic tray has also been modified in order to contain all of the machine’s oil in the case of a catastrophic leak, such as a burst tank - should it ever occur.
The old plunger type ‘pin brakes’ - which were still in use on the ANSI machines - are replaced with disc brakes, similar to those already in use for European models.
The hydraulics have been slimmed down and simplified
The diagnostics control panel now faces out so that it can be seen and used without needing to open the swing-out machinery box. The emergency descent is now electronic with the switch located at the rear of the chassis as is the charging point - a Delta Q automatic multi voltage battery charger is standard, while AGM maintenance free batteries are optional. There are a few other more minor improvements, but the structure and all of the accessories are unchanged.
The lower controls and diagnostics point now accessible without opening the covers
The European load sensing system has also been dramatically improved in order to comply with the latest ANSI standards, and feature new lower friction lift cylinder wear rings to reduce pressure spikes and a new rotary sensor to monitor scissor stack elevation position, in place of the old angle transducer. The system also self-tests on first elevation - both dynamically and static - and is said to be significantly more accurate and consistent.
With E-Drive, Skyjack has also introduced a new CANbus based operating system, although it retains its standard color-coded and numbered wiring but now combines its with the externally visible diagnostic display. This means that no plug-in tools are required for day to day troubleshooting.
Senior product manager Corey Connolly said: “A longer run time per charge and fewer lifetime charge cycles mean our customers will find they spend less on batteries over the life of the machine and that is just one of many benefits. Our new Vertical Masts were very well received and now, after more than two years in the market, we see E-Drive as a proven winner, and I am sure our customers will welcome this change on our core scissor range." The following video shows the features more dynamically
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Skyjack president Ken McDougall, added: “This is an exciting time. Rolling out our new E-Drive across our eight model DC scissor range takes time. I think it is worthy of note that we have been able to achieve that without a real term increase in cost. By providing significant reductions in our customers’ cost of ownership we have a truly competitive offering that more than lives up to the Skyjack simply reliable ethos. With our new E-Drive machines we will see our customers getting more done for less.”
Vertikal Comment
This looks like a good next step for Skyjack, the new system has been well proven on the company’s mast lifts for some time, making this a sensible and logical next step in its scissor lift development programme and adoption of new technology, while retaining its philosophy of keeping its products simple, familiar and reliable. It is also another step towards a truly global product line.
Technically Skyjack is simply catching up with the rest of the market, but in its own time and when it feels totally comfortable with the technology and componentry etc. It was one of the last companies to drop diodes or adopt motor controllers for example, but its products have continued to be popular due to their reliability, ease of service and most importantly being a company that is easy to deal with.
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