Sneak Preview: Bil-Jax's Summit Series of Towable Aerial Lifts
Image 1. Bil-Jax's Summit Series of trailer-mounted aerials includes three articulating and two telescopic models.
November 16, 2005 — After the management team purchased Archbold, Ohio-based Bil-Jax from its German parent organization, plettac AG, in 2003, the company set several new product development programs in motion. Launched at the 2005 Rental Show, the 3632T telescopic towable lift was the first introduction of several new products currently under development — and the first machine to emerge in Bil-Jax's new trailer-mounted boom product line, the Summit Series.
Bil-Jax plans to add four new members to the Summit Series family in 2006, consisting of three articulating models that will be introduced at the 2006 Rental Show and an additional telescopic model, expected to be introduced later in the year. According to Bil-Jax, up to four additional models will also be introduced in 2007 to round out the entire product offering.
Designed as an integrated family, these machines will provide a high level of parts commonality for ease-of-service and a common look and feel between the models to allow for ease-of-use and operator training. According to Steve Citron, director of business development, the differences between the Summit Series and Bil-Jax's previous Workforce XLB line-up are tremendous. “The Summit Series designs reflect advances in hydraulic and electrical technology that have occurred since the XLB era (circa 1990s),” he said. “The success we achieve from this product line will be the catalyst for the development of other superior access products.”
According to Citron, specific differences include:
· Hydraulic outriggers with ReGen circuit • previous models had manually set outriggers;
· Self-leveling system and common ground and platform control box interfaces for ease-of-use and operator training. Commonality of the control box interface also stretches across the entire product family;
· Significant improvements in load capacity over the XLB models;
· Significant reductions in machine weight through design optimization by using cutting-edge design software and analysis tools; and
· Options and accessories beyond anything ever available for the XLB models.
At the Rental Show, Bil-Jax's three new articulating Summit Series models • the 3522A, 4527A, and 5533A • will be introduced. The 3632T, featuring a 36-foot-tall platform and 32-foot maximum horizontal reach, will also be on display. Competing in the most popular model height category in
Enlarge Image
Image 2. Comparison specs of the entire Summit Series.
Taking the place of Bil-Jax's 42-foot XLB-4725, the 4527A provides specs and features comparable to slightly taller 50-foot machines, including a 45-foot platform height, a 27-foot maximum horizontal outreach, and an up-and-over height of 20'9”. A stowed length of less than 20 feet provides a nice compact package for this 45-foot machine. This model weighs in at a trim 3,800 pounds and, according to Bil-Jax, can be towed by more vehicles than heavier 50-foot models.
The tallest Summit Series model slated for introduction in 2006 will be the 5533A articulating towable aerial lift, which replaces Bil-Jax's 5031A. Featuring a 55'3” maximum platform height and 33'5” maximum horizontal outreach, the 5533A offers a large two-person platform with a 500-pound capacity for the big jobs. The 5533A's total weight of 4,400 pounds is less than most traditional 50-foot models, making it easier to maneuver and tow. It also provides a larger working envelope than its predecessor.
All articulating models in Bil-Jax's Summit Series product line feature an upper telescopic extension boom, which can be positioned at a negative angle, and a 4'3” platform jib, which provides 150º (+70º/-80º) of vertical motion, a rare combination that provides exceptional reach, working envelope, and platform-positioning capability not typically found in some height classes. Bil-Jax also offers an optional horizontal jib rotator for all the articulating models, and although this has been an option offered by self-propelled boom manufacturers for years, it is an innovative concept for towable booms, eliminating extra set-up time by providing significantly more working area and improving access to hard-to-reach areas or places where machine set-up is difficult.
On the telescopic front, Bil-Jax will introduce the 3632T's big brother, the 4642T, in the latter half of 2006. This straight boom model features a 46'4” platform height with a 42-foot maximum horizontal outreach capability. Standard features include a 500-pound platform capacity, 360° continuous turntable rotation, easy-to-use platform and ground control stations, a quick-disconnect platform and optional material-lifting system to convert the machine into a light-duty crane, and Class 3 hitch towing capability.
Enlarge Image
Convenient integrated forklift pockets are standard equipment on all Summit Series models, providing the ability to lift the machine on and off delivery vehicles. These machines also feature hydraulic outriggers with an automatic self-leveling system that allows machine set-up in less than 30 seconds and compact outrigger footprint dimensions, allowing machine set up in space-restricted work areas. The tow speed rating is 65 mph for all Summit Series models.
Image 3. Bil-Jax touts that its new Summit Series has the best outreach in each of the models' class.
Optional equipment for the Summit Series includes DC/gas hybrid power, material-lift package, drive and set, manual platform rotator, combination hitch, spare tire and mounting kit, air and water lines to the platform, operational warning light, tool tray, and fluorescent tube caddy. Additional options will be announced at the upcoming Rental Show.
