What is powered access?
Sometimes called "aerial work platforms" (AWP), "Mobile Elevating Work Platforms" (MEWP), cherry pickers or magic carpets. All are names applied to mobile mechanical devices which lift people and their tools and materials to work safely at heights up to 100 metres. Powered access is an alternative to the more traditional forms of access such as ladders, scaffolding and mobile towers.
Why Rent?
Major manufacturers (including JLG, Genie, Haulotte and Skyjack) sell the vast majority of their production into rental companies. This is because (a) equipment has a relatively high capital cost and stringent transport and maintenance requirements (b) a range of access equipment is required to satisfy different applications and owned equipment would therefore tend to be poorly utilised and (c) the need for equipment tends to be infrequent and inconsistent due to varying work schedules and applications. We estimate that 90% of manufacturing output goes into rental fleets around the world.
What drives market growth?
There are four main drivers of growth in powered access:-
- Commercial pressure to reduce project timescales
- Increased focus on safety in the workplace, accelerating the substitution of more traditional methods of access, such as ladders, scaffolding and mobile towers
- The increasing modularisation of construction processes, which tends to produce a greater demand for access equipment on construction sites
- Periodic shortages of skilled labour in the construction and refurbishment sectors, leading to a need to ensure those available are equipped with the necessary tools to be as productive as possible
Who uses powered access machines?
Aerial work platforms are used in the non-residential construction, refurbishment, facilities management, telecommunications, broadcasting, power and arboreal industries.