On Tuesday and Wednesday last week, the Lift and Access Showcase & Symposium took place with its newly expanded format that included machine presentations for telehandlers, aerial lifts, and cranes; equipment demonstrations; and educational sessions for OEMs, equipment users, and fleet managers in the rental industry.
The biggest news of the event was the announcement that the Lift and Access Showcase & Symposium will be collocated with a Ritchie Bros. auction next fall in Orlando, Fla. The formal agreement was made at the show and announced by Maximum Capacity Media President Guy Ramsey and Rob Blackadar, Ritchie Bros.’s divisional manager for national accounts, during the cocktail reception on Tuesday. The opportunity to connect with buyers of new and used equipment during the collocated events will be an experience like no other in the industry.
Showcase
A broad range of exhibitors joined the Lift and Access Showcase & Symposium this year. They included Niftylift, JLG, Teupen, Innovative Equipment, Jekko, MEC, Spydercrane, Oil & Steel, Broderson, Elliott, Manitex, Terex AWP, Skyjack, Tracked Lifts, Maeda, Grove, and a number of others (for a complete list, visit www.liftshowcase.com).
While many OEMs have participated in the product presentations before, this year’s event provided an opportunity for manufacturers to display additional product offerings that could be operated through obstacles. This allowed attendees to get a feel for the controls and operation of the machine.
Showcase units that were not reviewed by the editorial staff ranged in several varieties. For example, Snorkel showed both its newly introduced T66JRT and A62JRT boom lifts during the 60-foot boom lift product presentations, and the company also brought the A38E electric boom lift, the A46JRT articulating boom lift, and the S3370RT scissor lift to show attendees. While Haulotte is introducing a new 60-foot boom lift in the spring (look to LiftandAccess.com for more details), its unit was not ready for the product presentations. Instead, the company brought a range of other equipment geared toward the rental market, including the 45XA X-Boom self-propelled aerial lift, the Star 22J mast boom lift, and the Compact 3947E electric scissor lift. Spydercrane and Jekko brought a range of mini-cranes to display at the Showcase, and Terex AWP showed its new DC RT scissor lift. Look to future issues of Lift and Access for complete details on the Showcase.
Vendor Pavilion
More than 20 suppliers of industry-related components were on-hand at the Showcase, displaying their wares to the equipment manufacturers and attendees. Companies ranged from hydraulic components, to tires, to safety training companies, and many more. Because this is not a traditional tradeshow, exhibitors are encouraged to network with the OEMs and attendees outside the tent for maximum benefit during the event.
Symposium
In addition to equipment demos and presentations, a new component of the event was providing educational sessions to attendees. These ranged from a panel on engine updates and sessions on deciding when to rebuild or buy new equipment, crane regulations, and implementing telematics. During the engine update presentation, there was standing room-only, signifying how important this topic is to the aerial lift, crane, and telehandler industry.
Following the Symposium on day one, a reception was held for all attendees, and winners of the 2011 LLEAP Awards were presented trophies for their products’ innovation, leadership, influence, and benefit to the lifting equipment industry.
Lift & Access is part of the Catalyst Communications Network publication family.
