Solving Unique Problems with the Perfect Equipment

09/21/2020

Every so often, a jobsite obstacle is met with the perfect solution. Finding these resolutions includes testing equipment, creating workarounds, and often a lot of trial and error. One contractor found this to be true in a common jobsite inconvenience: fitting a scissor lift through standard doorways.

Doorway Dilemma

While it may not appear to be such a big obstacle, driving a 19 ft scissor lift through a framed and finished doorway can be quite a hassle. Bill Shields of Steel Wall Construction experienced this regularly on a retail construction job. That is until he found a perfect solution in the Hy-Brid Lifts PS-1930.

“On a project like this retail construction site, door frames are put on early in the process, right after we set the walls,” said Bill Shields, owner of Steel Wall Construction. “Once the door frame is set, it’s a half-inch below 7 feet, and none of the other lifts can go through that opening with their rails up. That process takes at least 15 minutes each time an operator has to go from room to room.”

With many construction projects on tight schedules, there are often multiple aspects being completed at the same time. While one group may be finishing the doorframes, another may be finishing the drywall installation. Maneuverability of scissor lifts is key, especially when operators are driving them from room to room to finish their job.

Hy-Brid Lifts fit through standard doors without requiring folding rails

“I was using a different manufacturer’s 19 ft lift and realized it required folding rails to fit under the doors. If guys have to tear down the railing every time they pass through a door, I might as well just scaffold it. They’re almost useless. I called Andy at Superior Rents and asked if he had a solution. That was when I was introduced to the PS-1930 from Hy-Brid Lifts and I’ve been very impressed. I use it for framing, sheetrock, finishing—the whole job start to finish."

Bill Shields
Steel Wall Construction Owner

Hy-Brid Lift used for painting at Superior Rents

Finding a Solution Together

Steel Wall Construction specializes in steel stud drywall in Springfield, Missouri. Owner Bill Shields has worked with rental center Superior Rents on many projects and says he will continue to do so for future projects. He relied on the knowledge of the Superior Rents team to provide him with an ideal solution to his jobsite setback.

“About a week into the job, Bill called me and asked if I had a 19 foot lift that would go underneath the doorways,” said Andy Galle, equipment sales specialist for Superior Rents. “I told Bill about the 19 foot lift from Hy-Brid Lifts and he was immediately interested. I followed up with him the day after he received the lifts, and he was absolutely thrilled. In fact, he has committed to using these lifts on a lot of future jobs, too.”

Customers’ Favorite Features

The PS-1930 comes with many features and benefits that make it a top-requested lift from the manufacturer. One of those features – non-folding rails – was a direct response to the recently updated ANSI A92.20 standards.

ANSI A92.20 standards, which went into effect June 1st, require manufacturers to increase the platform rail height on their MEWPs, which means many scissor lifts will now have to fold their rails. The compact dimensions of the PS-1930 allow the unit to fit through standard doors and elevators without an operator folding down the rails.

Besides the non-folding rails, rental customers and end-users find many other benefits in the design of the PS-1930.

“Hy-Brid Lifts have features that make them a top choice for customers,” Galle said. “The non-folding rails are just the beginning. Operators love the lightweight aspect and the high lifting capacities of the PS-1930, along with the improved drive system and the LeakGuard™ system. We can’t keep these units stocked; they’re always out in the field.”

The PS-1930 has a capacity of 650 lbs and is rated for one person plus materials. This high lifting capacity is something that Shields found helpful on the jobsite.

“Lots of other lifts stop at 500 pounds,” Shields said. “Drywall, equipment, and the drywall installer can get close to that capacity, so having more room to work with is easier. No one has to worry about the lift capacity getting in the way of completing the job.”

Shields said that the LeakGuard™ technology of Hy-Brid Lifts is a solution for another obstacle often faced on jobsites: working on finished floors.

“A lot of places stain the floors instead of putting on floor covering,” Shields said. “Because Hy-Brid Lifts have the pan underneath, I don’t have to worry about hydraulic leaking and leaving a stain on the floor.”

The LeakGuard™ Fluid Containment System is the company’s response to eliminate inconvenient and messy containment methods, including diapers. The new technology allows contractors to access more jobs with strict spillage regulations, including those with finished or sensitive flooring.

Relying on Teamwork

While there are hundreds of models from a plethora of manufacturers, sometimes a customer finds the perfect fit with one piece of equipment. It's not often that most problems can be solved with one solution, but when manufacturers, rental centers, and customers work together, anything is possible.

Scissor Lifts for Drywall