17.09.2024

Vertikal Days 2024

Last week’s Vertikal Days show - held for the first time at the Newark showground - introduced a number of changes and new challenges with the show now stretching almost half a kilometre on the old Vulcan Runway making sure visitors added to their daily steps. The two aisle set up was however popular with many visitors heading down one side before having lunch in the Catering Pavilion and then back the other side to the exit and car park.

Overall, the weather was mixed. Day one had its fair share of sunny periods, interspersed by showers and strong wind gusts, followed by a heavy downpour and hail as the evening networking event got underway. Day two was much better and was largely sunny and warmer.

Around 3,000 individual visitors attended the show, with many returning on day two to check out the numerous new products, technology, associated equipment and to speak with the many companies offering specialist services. This year saw more than 40 new exhibitors representing more than 50 new companies, while the larger Marketplace hosted around 60 suppliers, making it the most diverse display of lifting related equipment in Europe this year.

With so many highlights it is difficult to choose what to include in this first overview. However at the risk of upsetting those not specifically mentioned, the pictorial review below will hopefully pick up the majority.

The following are either new product launches or simply caught the eye. XCMG launched a record breaking articulated boom lift, the 161ft XGA48K with a 48.7 metre working height, the very first unit to leave China, shown alongside the record breaking telescopic the 217ft/70m XGS 70K telescopic boom.

Niftylift unveiled its first telescopic boom to go into production, the 66ft all electric HR22S with a 22m working height shown alongside a new updated and improved 33ft 4x4 HR12 boom lift.

Socage launched its new Isuzu mounted Forste 14A Speed pick up lift, while first timers at the show Keith Rhodes Machinery introduced the Landoll industrial telehandler products from Kansas, USA.

Haulotte showed its first 46ft all electric HA16E articulated boom with range extender, alongside its compact Swift Up push around low level lifts and its FASTN lanyard attachment sensing device.

Zoomlion and LGMG were two of the three Chinese manufacturers that launched telehandlers at the event - the other being Sany - while Liebherr showed its new 400 tonne All Terrain, 150 tonne telescopic crawler, as well as one of its all electric lattice 'Unplugged' crawler cranes.

Kobelco introduced its new 75 tonne telecrawler and 150 tonne lattice crawler with the latest Stage V engine.

New spider cranes included Maeda’s new MK3053-C and Unic’s URW-546-2.
CMC launched its new 20 metre S20 spider lift, which it only announced last week, while new exhibitor Aldercote showed its latest van mounted and 4x4 lifts.
Dingli highlighted its 138ft BA44HRT articulated hybrid boom along with its increasingly popular heavy duty high reach scissor lifts.

JLG demonstrated its new second generation 45ft EC450 AJ articulated boom lift along with its latest Power Towers low level machines.

while LGMG launched its new UK sales operation headed by Aron Westby, which officially takes over from dealer APS in October.

On the APS stand a JLG boom lift stood alongside a 33 metre Hinowa spider lift and the company's new Toughlift material lift line up.

Sinoboom not only had its latest models on show, but the stand was manned by latest recruits - Sinoboom UK managing director Craig Rooke and European sales director Rik Kiddle - who discussed the new UK subsidiary and European production plans.

First time exhibitor Jovoo showed the 45ft V14 14 metre articulated boom, another first time exhibitor MEC highlighted its wide range of Micro scissors.

Manitou also focused on scissor lifts with its all new range including the 19ft SE 0808 slab electric.

Platform Basket/Promax introduced the updated 10 metre Heron 10 mast boom, the new 18 metre Spider 18.95 Hybrid and the Elma PCR12 mini tracked pick and carry crane.

The new Socage related Raptor made its UK debut with its latest model, the 25S spider lift.
The show was the first outing for Central Platform Services - CPS - as the CTE Traccess spider lift dealer for the UK following its appointment in January. It was also able to talk about the new Smartlift SL 809 High Reach glass handling robot, based on the 1,000kg/4.5m SL 1009 Outdoor, it has 1.5m more reach, and can take 800kg to a height of just over six metres.

Sany was yet another Chinese company to launch a new telehandler on the market alongside a 60 tonne All Terrain... the list goes on and on.
We will add further photos to this pictorial overview over the next week or so and will also cover it in the next Cranes & Access magazine.

The Marketplace