Custom Equipment's HB-1230 was one of four self-propelled and one pusharound lift the company displayed at ConExpo. The HB-1230 low-level scissor is designed to be an alternative to mast lifts, allowing for easier maneuverability around confined spaces and thus increased productivity. The lightweight lift has a zero turn radius, substantial platform size, and 18-ft. working height, making it ideal for contractors doing electrical, plumbing, drywall, and sprinkler system jobs.
The lift’s 30"x55" platform can hold 500 lbs., and features an extension that adds nearly 29 ins. of length. This allows users to load the lift with more tools and supplies than competing mast lifts, thereby reducing the number of trips up and down to reload the platform.
The HB-1230 weighs 1,670 lbs., which is less than many mast lifts. Its dual front wheels also help distribute the machine’s weight for lower wheel loads. With this and the lightweight design, the unit is able to work on delicate flooring, including tile, laminate, raised floors and mezzanines, with much lower potential for damage. Users also can get onto poured concrete several days sooner with HB-1230 than with heavier competing models. In addition, the counter-rotating wheels reduce friction so users can maneuver over tile or carpeting without marking or causing tears.
The unit is compact enough to allow contractors to easily navigate through congested spaces, and its zero-turn radius offers exceptional maneuverability around tight corners and through doorways. In addition, the HB-1230’s completely self-contained hydraulic system has only two connection points, so it is a clean system for operating indoors in both finished and unfinished environments. This reduces the potential for hydraulic fluid leaks, which lead to floor damage and potential safety hazards.
Custom Equipment test designs before building all of its lifts, including HB-1230s, which allows the company to use the optimal grade of steel. Because the steel is stronger, less material is required and the lifts weigh less than competitive machines. In addition, the process identifies stress points so Custom Equipment can reinforce them without adding a lot of unnecessary weight. The scissor stacks on HB-1230 lifts also offer more stability than the traditional post design of boom lifts.
In addition, proportional drive and lift systems on Hy-Brid lifts give users greater control. They can adjust how fast the lifts travel and the rate at which they raise or lower the platforms, which can minimize damage when maneuvering close to walls or objects. While the platforms are operated up and down by the units’ hydraulics, two 12-volt, deep-cycle batteries power the electrical drive and steering systems. Since the systems are electrical rather than hydraulic, they draw fewer amps and require less overall power. Electric drive and steering is standard for HB- 1230s, but is not available in other manufacturers’ lifts. Combined with lightweight construction, this allows the units’ battery power to last up to two times longer, or as long as 10-16 hours.
Finally, Custom Equipment designed the lifts for easy maintenance. They are powered by two absorbent glass mat (AGM) batteries that make HB-1230 lifts virtually maintenance free because they never require users to add water. They also feature on-board battery chargers that self monitor the current and stop it once the batteries are fully charged. This provides a distinct advantage over non-monitoring systems that continue to feed current into the batteries after they are fully charged. This can shorten the life of batteries and cause them to burn out.
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