News
- Time Machine.
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15 June 2010When it opened in October 2008, Westfield London was keen to identify platform solutions which would provide the high levels of efficiency vital to running the Capital’s newest shopping experience.
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Time machine
When it opened in October 2008, Westfield London was keen to identify platform solutions which would provide the high levels of efficiency vital to running the Capital’s newest shopping experience.
In-house personnel undertake the majority of maintenance and ‘at height’ tasks in and around the centre. Event rigging overnight in the centre’s trademark Atrium or other media sites is one of the bigger tests for the team and its chosen platforms.
“We usually have just 8 hours to set up events, including all the staging and rigs for lighting and technical production,” says Simon Jones, Westfield London’s technical manager for events.
“Clients are paying for the site so it’s vital we have everything ready to go for them on time. We need reliable, versatile platforms which we can work with quickly to get everything done.”
Following the launch of Westfield London in 2008, the team trialled various equipment to find the optimum product and consequently selected the Teupen tracked SpiderliftR.
“The Teupen proved to be efficient, speedy and the best for reliability. We use a 30m model (Leo 30) to set up events in the Atrium. It gives us all the operational speed we need to get everything done overnight.”
He adds: “We can also take full advantage of the 200kg platform capacity. Two operators can be up in the basket with their harnesses, work gear and tools, and still use the full working envelope.”
The Centre uses larger Leos (23m, 30m, 40m and 50m) in the dynamic Atrium space with its trademark tree-like columns.
Simon Jones points out: “The platforms are relatively light for their size and the tracks spread floor loads, so we don’t need to worry about damaging floors or exceeding loads on upper levels.”
Using its non-marking tracks and broad stabiliser pads to maximise contact area, the Leo SpiderliftR cleverly distributes and diffuses the surface and concentrated loads imposed on the floor.
Surface loads for the full Leo range (12m to 50m*) fall well within the 5kN/m2 maximum design load of modern floor schemes. A notable feat given that the machines still anchor the greatest outreach-to-height ratio of any comparable platform, and from the most compact outrigger footprint.
Top to bottom, the Leos are well adapted to the challenges of interior space.
Simon Jones says: “The tracks give better control of the machine in tight space, allowing it to turn on its axis compared to the larger turning circle of wheeled platforms.
“The ability to raise or lower the tracks is also useful when we need to get through low doorways.”
This flexibility comes from the patented adjustable crawler undercarriage allowing track width, height and balance to be set for work on slopes, uneven ground or even straddling steps.
“The remote control is really useful,” says Simon. “You can walk around the platform as you operate it and check you are clear of obstacles.”
He adds: “If you need to crane the machine up a level, it has all the necessary fixing points for hoists. It’s German engineering that is made for the job. They’ve thought about the design. It’s never limited us.”
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- Teupen Spiderlifts Ideal for Roofing Work
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24 April 2009When it comes to working on roofs or chimneys, a correctly chosen platform can provide the most cost-effective solution and the safest possible alternative to conventional ladders and contract scaffolding
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TEUPEN SPIDERLIFTS IDEAL FOR ROOFING WORK
The Spiderlift Company, part of the Chesterfield based Ranger Group, is the sole UK importer for the high quality Teupen range of Tracked Spiderlifts which have proved to be exceptionally popular with British contractors.
When it comes to working on roofs or chimneys, a correctly chosen platform can provide the most cost-effective solution and the safest possible alternative to conventional ladders and contract scaffolding.
A self-propelled tracked platform such as those manufactured by Teupen often proves an ideal choice for high level work on buildings because of its ability to power its own way to the required location - even if it involves climbing slopes, negotiating soft ground or passing through gaps just 1 m wide.
The 23 m working height Leo 23GT has proved particularly popular with roofing contractors because it features telescoping lower and upper boom sections which allow up to 11.20 m of horizontal outreach, even with the maximum 200 kg cage load which equates to two people and their equipment. This performance is achieved using the standard jacking area measuring 4.10 x 4.30 m. However, it is possible to reduce this area down to as little as 2.30 m wide when faced with a particularly difficult site.
For fast and accurate set-up, the machine also features auto self-levelling with full manual override with an ability to place the hydraulically operated stabiliser legs on uneven ground on slopes of up to 26%.
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- Spiderlift at Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
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6 October 2008A Teupen Leo 36T tracked access platform has recently solved a difficult access problem at Tottenham Hotspur Football Club in North London.
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SPIDERLIFT SOLVES TRICKY ACCESS PROBLEM AT TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR F.C.
A Teupen Leo 36T tracked access platform has recently solved a difficult access problem at Tottenham Hotspur Football Club in North London.
The Premier League Club is planning to upgrade its comprehensive sound system and the first phase of this work requires exploratory work to be carried out on one of the exisiting high level bass speakers of which there are 16 located around the ground.
Unfortunately, there is very little space around the edge of the pitch on which to move and set-up a suitable access platform, but specialist hire company The Spiderlift Company, with a bit of planning, it would be possible to negotiate a Teupen machine into a suitable position from which to elevate an engineer to the required 22 m height.
Firstly, the 1.58 m wide platform was carefully tracked along the pitch-side pathway to the desired spot and onto a double layer of 25 mm ply sheets to provide maximum surface protection. Then, once some front row seats had been removed, it was possible to safely position the four stabiliser legs using suitable spreader plates and blocks, having had to initially run the machine up a ramp made from sleepers in order to clear the vertical side boarding.
The German built Teupen Leo36T is mounted on a rubber tracked undercarriage which exerts a ground bearing pressure of just 6.4 N/cm making it ideal for traversing soft or delicate surfaces. Once in position, the machine offers a maximum working height of 35.5 m with an impressive outreach of up to 15.2 m.
In addition, the Leo36T features a 'fuzzy logic' control system which provides ultra-smooth movements and hence high levels of operator confidence which, on the Tottenham job, enabled very precise positioning of the basket to allow the engineer to safely remove the speaker.
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- Spiderlift Gatecrashes Nightclub
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30 September 2008A pair of Teupen Leo 15GT Spiderlift Access Platforms have been hired a new Gatecrasher Nightclub in Birmingham recently, to speed up the refurbishment prior to a grand opening on 18th September 2008.
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Spiderlift ‘Gatecrashes’ Nightclub
A pair of Teupen Leo 15GT Spiderlift Access Platforms have been hired a new Gatecrasher Nightclub in Birmingham recently, to speed up the refurbishment prior to a grand opening on 18th September.
Situated on the first floor, with access from the ground floor via a staircase approximately 12 metres long, the nightclub has very difficult access for the contractor’s materials and machinery. The club was originally opened 10 years ago by a previous owner and powered access platforms have never been used there before, due to the difficult staircase access.
Gatecrasher consulted many hire companies, who declared that getting an access platform to the first floor could not be done, however one company recommended The Spiderlift Company, who were quickly contacted and asked to survey the problem.
Spiderlift’s Managing Director, Steve Hadfield attended the survey personally and declared that although this would be their greatest challenge to date, he was confident the Teupen Leo 15GT could navigate the staircase and be used upstairs. Steve comments ‘ The Teupen built Spiderlifts in our hire fleet are very specialist and highly capable, and tricky jobs like this are achievable in the hands of one of our skilled operators. We’re not a typical hire company and welcome challenges like this difficult installation, which was handled entirely by our trained staff, with the machine being handed over to the customer only when it was in the final working position’.
Throughout the installation of the first machine for Cannock Electrical Ltd, many contractors commented that The Spiderlift Company were attempting the impossible. However upon arrival at the upper floor a second contractor, Willow Communications Ltd stepped forward and asked for a second machine to be installed the following day for them. Both machines are now proving highly productive during the finishing stages of the refurbishment.
Gatecrasher themselves have been so impressed that they are now considering purchasing a Teupen Leo 15GT from The Spiderlift Company, to travel around their nightclubs throughout the UK and be used for maintenance, repair and refurbishment projects.
The Spiderlift Company are award winning Distributors for Teupen in the UK & EIRE. The Leo 15GT used at Gatecrasher is one of the smaller models within a range with working heights from 12 to 50 metres. All models can access standard doorways, work on delicate floors and soft ground, climb steep gradients and stairs.
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- Teupen Platform solves access problem for the UK's only balloon manufacturer
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12 December 2007The UK's only balloon manufacturer recently used a Teupen tracked access platform to replace a total of 50 fluorescent lighting tubes and associated starters throughout its large manufacturing facility in Derbyshire.
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Puffin Balloons of Chesterfield moved into new premises about five years ago in order to cope with an increasing demand for its premium quality latex balloons and at the time the light fittings were installed using a conventional scissor platform.
However, when it became necessary to gain access to the fittings for maintenance purposes it was realised that something special was going to be required because now that the production machinery is in place it is impossible to use a vertical lift platform.
Local company Ranger Rental, the hire division of Ranger Equipment, was able to come to the rescue with one of its Teupen Leo 15GT models which, thanks to its 3-piece articulating boom, carried a technician up and across the machinery with ease.
According to Puffin Balloons' engineering director, "The Teupen platform is an absolutely superb bit of kit and so we took the opportunity to replace all the high level tubes and starters, regardless of whether they were working or not. Hopefully, we will now not need to use the platform again for at least another five years!"
The Leo 15GT is one of the smallest models manufactured by Teupen of Germany for which Ranger Equipment is the sole UK importer. This machine offers a maximum working height and outreach of 14.90 m and 6.4 m respectively and, importantly, this impressive outreach can be attained using an overall stabiliser width of just 2.65 m, with no reduction in the unit's 200 kg safe working load.
For the Puffin Balloons' production environment, an access platform equipped with the optional 230v electric drive system was essential to ensure quiet and emission-free operation.
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