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Whether you’re in the construction industry or into electrical work, you can’t deny the importance of a cherry picker. These platforms are designed to provide easy access to high areas without compromising safety. However, there’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to this equipment. There is a diverse range of cherry picker types, each with unique features and applications. Keep reading as we elevate your knowledge of the various types and their uses.
Cherry picker options are numerous, with each one serving a unique purpose. Knowing what a cherry picker is and its uses makes it easier to select the right one for any task.
1. Articulating Boom Lifts
Reach Height: 10 – 45 m (33 – 148 ft)
Articulated boom lifts are among the most popular types of cherry pickers due to their ability to offer an extensive range of movement. This boom lift has multiple hinge points, allowing it to reach up, over and around obstacles.
Articulating boom lifts are available in a range of sizes to suit different needs and they often come with additional features such as rough terrain options and non-marking tyres. There’s also a variety of power options to adapt to various situations. To cap it off, the articulating boom lift meets the requirements of the Work at Height regulations.
2. Stick Boom Lifts
Reach Height: 15 – 48 m (49 – 157 ft)
Stick booms, also known as telescopic boom lifts, offer an extensive range of movement, just like articulating booms. This self-propelled cherry picker has a telescopic arm that can extend vertically and horizontally, making it suitable for use in tight spaces.
You can use telescopic booms both indoors and outdoors. There is even a 4×4 and rough terrain option for use on off-road sites. Stick or telescopic boom lifts have a caged platform to align with Work at Height regulations and ensure the safety of workers.
You can identify telescopic booms by their slender, straight arms that extend high up.
3. Scissor Lifts
Reach Height: 8 – 34 m (26 – 112 ft)
Scissor lifts, sometimes called flying carpets, are built for indoor and outdoor applications. They are useful for any task in which you require a straight lift for access. Scissor lifts come with large platforms, providing enough room for multiple workers at the same time.
On the downside, scissor lifts are usually unsuitable for use in tight spaces due to their large platforms. However, you may find some narrower models built for this purpose. Similar to telescopic booms, there are rough terrain versions of this boom lift and it offers guard rails for maximum safety.
Scissor lifts are generally self-propelled, but they are models carried by 3.5-tonne vans or smaller trucks.
4. Push Around Vertical (PAV)
Reach Height: 4 – 5 m (13 – 16 ft)
The push-around vertical platform or personal lift, is a small type of boom vertical lift featuring a scissor method of operation. PAV usually comes in useful in cases where you need indoor low-level access. As a result, you’ll typically find this type of cherry picker in small warehouses and factories as a replacement for ladders.
PAVs are generally small and lightweight, which makes them easy to carry through doors, narrow corners and across multiple floors of a building. Despite their small size, these cherry pickers meet the requirements of the Work at Height regulations as their low entry point ensures workers’ safety.
5. Mast Lifts
Reach Height: 4 – 10 m (13 – 33 ft)
The mast lift is a small type of cherry picker with a boom lift operation. Similar to PAVs, these cherry pickers provide low-level access in narrow areas and busy environments. You’ll typically find them in retail shops, public buildings, offices and hotels, where large cherry pickers are unable to work.
Mast lifts are suitable for use both indoors and in restricted spaces without posing any risk to workers on the site. With their caged platform, which provides safe access, mast lifts comply with the Work at Height regulations.
Mast lifts may also be known as mast booms.
6. Track Mounts
Reach Height: 13 – 23 m (43 – 75 ft)
Track mounts, sometimes called spider lifts, are the ideal cherry pickers when you’re working in outdoor areas with uneven ground. The design of this boom lift incorporates an articulating or telescopic boom mounted on a track to reduce ground pressure and add stability. Spider lifts can also be very useful on steep inclines and in narrow areas.
The track-mounted lift is suitable for both low-point loading and high-reach situations due to its extended height. With safety rails around the platform, this cherry picker complies with the Work at Height regulations.
Track mounts are often restricted to outdoor applications and might require additional permissions or logistics.
7. Truck Mounts
Reach Height: 20 – 57 m (66 – 187 ft)
Truck mounts or lorry-mounted platforms are the ideal boom lifts when you have to tackle projects across multiple locations. As their name indicates, these cherry pickers are mounted on various truck types. They are built to travel across sites quickly and require no time to get working upon arrival.
Truck mounts offer exceptional height capabilities, as high as 57 m (187 ft) in some models. The side reach of this cherry picker is also very impressive, which makes it suitable for different tasks, ranging from signage and telecom system installation to pest control and high-level maintenance.
Check out a post where we explore various van types.
Common Uses Of Cherry Pickers
Cherry pickers offer a practical solution for indoor and outdoor applications across various industries. Some of the scenarios where these elevated work platforms can prove to be useful include:
- Construction: The cherry picker is an indispensable piece of equipment in the construction industry. From repair to painting and placement of structural elements, hiring a boom lift makes the job easier and reduces associated risk.
- Agriculture: People in the agricultural industry also tend to use the cherry picker for various tasks, such as orchard maintenance and pruning of tall trees. Farmers can also hire a cherry when they need to harvest fruits and other crops that extend from high tree branches.
- Power & Utilities: During power line maintenance, the cherry picker provides a safe platform for workers to inspect and repair overhead power lines. It gives technicians easy access to utility poles for repairs.
- Warehouse & Logistics: The use of boom lifts also extends to warehouses. They make it easy to store items on high shelves and also access those stored previously. The cherry picker can also help workers access high storage areas in cases where they need to take inventory of products.
- Telecommunications: Telecommunications companies also rely on boom lifts when they need to service and install equipment on towers.
- Filming Events: Cherry picker hire is also common in the film and TV industry. When setting construction, this equipment can be used to put lightning, cameras and props in elevated positions, especially if filmmakers want to capture a unique angle.
- Window Cleaning: The cherry picker makes it easy to clean the exterior windows of very tall buildings without compromising anyone’s safety.
If you’re working at a construction or film site, you may be interested in the welfare van and how this vehicle can make your life easier.
Features To Consider When Choosing A Cherry Picker
There are a number of factors that you need to consider when buying a new or used cherry picker to ensure that it meets your specific needs.
Use
Given that the cherry-picker options are nearly limitless, it is important to consider the task you want to carry out when selecting one. While all cherry pickers offer elevated access, so are more suited to certain situations than others.
For instance, the scissor lift is better for any job that requires vertical movement. On the other hand, stick booms are designed for easy horizontal access, especially when you need to manoeuvre across obstacles.
Load Capacity
The load capacity is another vital consideration you need to pay attention to when choosing cherry pickers. Most cherry pickers have a maximum weight limit that you must not exceed. This includes the combined weight of the workers, tools, materials and everything else you’ll be working with. It’s also important to leave safety margins. Take into account any potential weight changes during the job.
The load capacity of a cherry picker is also determined by truck or van size, as a cherry picker’s gross weight cannot exceed that of the vehicle on which it is mounted.
Height
The working height of a cherry picker refers to how high it can reach. The reach height varies across types and also depends on the manufacturer. Push-around vertical platforms and mast lifts often have limited reach, making them suited for less height-demanding tasks. If you have a job that demands impressive outreach, your best bet is a truck-mounted cherry picker.
Power Source
You can’t overlook the power options when hiring or buying these elevated work platforms. Select the appropriate power source based on the work environment. For example, there are electric cherry pickers, which work well for indoor applications as they produce zero emissions. However, you should opt for a diesel or hybrid model in any situation where there’s no access to an electric power source.
Terrain and Environment
Evaluate the worksite’s ground conditions as well. If you’re working on smooth terrain, you’d want a model with non-marking tyres so you don’t damage the floors. There is, however, a rough terrain option mounted on a lorry, with larger tyres and four-wheel drive built in to navigate uneven terrain with ease.
Safety Tips When Using A Cherry Picker
As with all equipment, there are a number of safety tips that you have to keep in mind when using a cherry picker.
- Ensure that operators have gone through the appropriate cherry picker training before attempting to use boom lifts. Training covers everything from operation to response to emergencies to safety precautions.
- Conduct a pre-operation inspection where you look out for any damage, leaks or malfunctions before fully operating the cherry picker.
- Don’t exceed the specified load capacity when using this machine, as this could affect stability and jeopardise the safety of workers.
- Operators should always wear appropriate personal safety equipment (PPE). This includes a hard hat and non-slip footwear.
- Make sure the cherry picker is set up on stable ground. You can use outriggers when working on uneven or soft surfaces outdoors.
- For secondary protection, don’t hesitate to use a safety harness. This is crucial in the event of a slip or a fall while working.
Who Can Operate A Cherry Picker
A trained and certified worker can operate a cherry picker. Most employers require that any operator hold an IPAF (International Powered Access Federation) licence before using the cherry picker or any other powered access equipment. It’s also important for the operator to be physically and mentally fit to handle the demands of using the different cherry pickers. There is also a minimum age requirement of 18 for cherry picker operators.
Reach out to SDVH when you need cherry-picker hire services in any part of the UK. We also offer a range of trucks for hire for various commercial tasks.
Frequently Asked Questions
How High Can A Cherry Picker Reach?
A cherry picker can reach up to 57 m (187 ft). However, it depends on the type and model. Truck mounts have the highest reach and are the only types of cherry pickers designed to reach this impressive height. Articulating boom and stick boom lifts come in next, with a vertical reach of around 45 m (178 ft).
What Licence Do I Need For A Cherry Picker?
You need an IPAF licence for a cherry picker. IPAF provides training programs for the safe use of various powered access equipment, including cherry pickers. Operators who complete the IPAF training will get a Powered Access Licence (PAL) card to signify that they are qualified to operate a cherry picker.
Can I Hire A Cherry Picker In The UK?
Yes, you can hire a cherry picker in the UK. There are many rental companies around the country that allow you to hire various types of cherry pickers. You can count on SDVH for your cherry picker rental needs anywhere in the UK. We offer both short and long-term rental services to cater to various demands.
Is A Cherry Picker Easy To Use?
A cherry picker is generally not very difficult to use. However, you still need to undergo proper training before operating the equipment, as any mistake can cause serious accidents. It’s also important to undergo this training, as it prepares you for how to respond appropriately in case of an emergency. So, while a cherry picker is not very complex to use, operating one without being familiar with it is very risky.
Do Cherry Pickers Have Weight Limits?
Yes, cherry pickers have weight limits and it’s important to not exceed these limits when using them to avoid accidents. The weight limit is commonly referred to as the load capacity, and it is frequently specified by manufacturers. It varies depending on the model and the specific type of cherry picker.
Conclusion
There you have it, the different cherry picker types. From articulating boom and stick lifts to truck and track mounts, there is a diverse range of cherry pickers, all designed to provide safe access to elevated, hard-to-reach places. Knowing exactly how each type operates helps you determine which one is suitable for the task you have at hand.
