Height for Hire orders 52 m Falcon Spider from Worldlift

Ireland's Height for Hire has ordered a 52 m working height Spider lift from Worldlift Industries. When delivered next August or September it will be the world's largest Spider-type platform, offering just a few extra metres height than Teupen's 50 m Leo.

John Ball, managing director of Height for Hire, which trades as Easi UpLifts outside of Ireland, told AI that the 52 m machine was a natural extension of its already large fleet or around 50 Spider-type platforms, which includes several Worldlift 42 m machines and well as smaller Omme units.

"We've taken the view that the mid-sized Spider market has been butchered to death [by other rental companies]", he said, "We're confident that the 52 m unit will generate a comfortable yield. We're in a position to purchase when it's difficult for some rental companies to get finance, so we hope that it will give us an advantage."

Designs for the 52 m are nearing completion, and Mr Ball said it would use a similar double track design to the 42 m model, although will obviously be heavier and a little larger. Like the 42 m model, the 52 m will be powered by a diesel engine or via a mains electrical supply.

Mr Ball said the lift will offer customers the Spider concept for jobs indoors or outside, but with more height than ever before; "It's the nature of the business that when a machine is launched, inevitably there is an appetite for a larger one."

He said he did not have a specific job earmarked for the machine, but was confident that there would be work; "It's the old story in rental - it's hard to hire it until you have it."