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Getting a hole in your roof doesn’t happen often, thankfully, but how does it happen? 
 
We have only come across two causes so far which can do this; 
 
1 - Something dropping on your roof, such as (a) debris from a taller, neighbouring building or (b) an overhanging tree branch that has broken off, or 
 
2 – a small localised whirlwind which can ‘lift’ your roof slates/tiles. 
 
It doesn’t really matter how it happened, what matters is how are you going to deal with it! 
 
First, it’ll be a bit of a shock, discovering that you have a hole in your roof. 
 
Second, you think it’ll be expensive, time consuming and messy to sort out. 
 
Third, where do you start looking to solve your broken roof? 
 
 
Here at High Reaching Solutions, we not only supply tracked spider access platforms, with or without qualified and experienced operators, we also undertake works such as roof and gutter repairs and also gutter cleaning. The accompanying photos are of a property in Pickering, North Yorkshire where the owner had discovered that they had a hole in their roof, it could be seen from across the road. Their first call was to their ‘decorator/handyman’, who immediately suggested to them to call us, which they did. 
Photo of a hole in the roof with roof slates scattered on roof. Another view of hole in roof, a little further up the roof. A view which takes in the whole roof showing the hole and various slipped slates in different areas of the roof.
Our client had a project in Bridlington which had difficult access issues. Their project required working at height safely, but access via ‘normal’ cherrypickers was literally impossible due to structural equipment being in the way. After doing some research, they were recommended to get in touch with High Reaching Solutions, as Selina had been on that site before, which they duly did. 
 
Selina, High Reaching Solutions, Platform Basket 22.10 EVO tracked spider was booked to attend site with a qualified operator, as although our client had their own qualified operators, they were not proficient with tracked spiders. 
 
To gain access to the work area Selina had to first pass through a narrow gap between a wall and structural equipment, so her tracks had to be placed in the ‘narrow’ setting and her basket removed. Her basket was then carried to where she would be sited. 
 
Having set Selina’s tracks to narrow presented another issue to overcome. After passing through the narrow gap and to allow her outriggers to be deployed on the wall side, she needed to be as close to the structural equipment as possible. This meant that one track had to climb up a concrete step whilst leaving the other track on the lower level. This wouldn’t be a problem in normal circumstances, however, being close to the wall meant that the sideways lean created climbing the ‘step’ with one track would cause Selina’s boom to come into contact with the wall. To rectify the lean our experienced operator drove Selina onto her outrigger spreader pads, which were placed under the ‘lower’ track as her ‘upper’ track climbed the ‘step’, lessening the lean angle. She was then driven toward the set-up area with one track on the higher concrete ‘step’ and the other track on her outrigger pads, moving the pads from front to back as we went. 
Selina tracked spider, booms raised with client working from the basket.
 
Selina tracked spider in position after going through narrow gap and climbing concrete step.
 
View looking down on Selina, set up with boom raised.
 
 
 
Recently High Reaching Solutions were asked to assist with an awkward glazing repair. The contractors needed a solution to reach the damaged glazing panels, which were on a curved walkway tunnel, safely and efficiently. 
 
 
High Reaching Solutions selected Lottie, our 20m tracked spider Lithium Hybrid, not for her high working ability, but for some of her other attributes; 
 
 
• Ability to get to the worksite through a narrow access opening. 
• Able to set-up in a tight, awkward and sloping area. 
• Reach up and over the tunnel to work from above. 
• To use her rotating basket to get as close as possible. 
• But most importantly, to use her quiet Lithium Battery power so as to not disturb those close by. 
 
 
 
Lottie Tracked spider set-up on slopped, awkward area after going under low walkway.
 
Lottie set-up and reaching to the roof of glazed walkway with contractors working from the basket.
 
We hope you like the photos and if Lottie or one of her sisters can assist you with a project then please get in touch via our contacts page and we will get back to you. 
Lottie, tracked cherry picker, reaching on top of walkway
 
Due to issues beyond our control, Nancy, the 15m tracked spider had to be cancelled. However, as this left us with a gap in our fleet we decided to upgrade Nancy to the new Platform Basket 18.95 hybrid and placed the order in January 2023 with the understanding that this model was still being fine tuned in developement. 
 
Nancy has a working height of 17.6m with a max. side outreach of 9.6m and a Safe Working Load (SWL) of 230kg. Her full specifications can be found on our 'Applications Page', just click on her name to download her brochure. 
 
Well now she has arrived at Promax Access Ltd and will be with her sisters very shortly. 
 
Her sisters will be very pleased to meet her. 
Nancy, our new Platform Basket 18.95 hybrid tracked spider has arrived.
On our annual ‘Busmans Holiday’ to Vertikal Days this year at Peterborough Showground we were impressed by a lot of new products and services being launched, or soon to be launched. Amongst them was one that we did not expect. 
 
Let me elaborate! 
 
Whilst enjoying the fantastic hospitality on the Promax Access stand, we were surprised by the unexpected arrival of Carlo and Davide from Platform Basket. During our very pleasant and relaxed, on/off conversation over a few hours we were informed of several new products in the final stages of development, one of which, is a new 15m hybrid tracked spider, due to be launched later in the year. 
 
I can’t tell you any more about their new products as it is not my place to do so. However, what I can tell you, is that High Reaching Solutions has placed the FIRST ORDER in the UK with Promax Access for the new 15m hybrid tracked spider and her name will be NANCY. Hopefully she will arrive later this year or very early in 2023. 
 
Her sisters will be very pleased to meet her. 
One of regular arborist clients called us in to assist with making an unstable, storm damaged tree safe. A large part of the tree had already snapped off and fallen onto a house, stone wall and fencing causing some damage, leaving the rest of the tree unbalanced, fragile and too dangerous to climb. They needed and requested Selina’s assistance to help stabilize the tree enough to allow it to be climbed safely. 
Broken limb from tree fallen onto house, stone wall and fence.
Selina, High Reaching Solutions Platform Basket 22.10 EVO Hybrid tracked spider cherry picker, was requested as the tree was located in a very awkward position, which could ONLY be accessed via a steeply banked field. On first seeing the steepness of the field, it was necessary to assess a safe route for Selina, as obviously we didn’t want her to tip over or get stuck getting in or out. Tracking her across the slope was out of the question as there was a high probability of her losing at least one track, if not both, due to side pressure load. After walking the route, we decided the best (and only) option, was to track her up the slope at an angle until we reached a ‘relatively’ level area, then across a few meters before descending, again at a slight angle, toward the tree. 
Photo showing steepness of slope in field.
 
Selina, tracked spider entering sloping field.
Selina, tracked spider cherrypicker driving up steep slope in field.
Narrow tracked spider access platforms are designed and known for being able to get into tight and awkward spaces, this is their specialty! As spider platforms have developed and got larger, one of the main design additions is the multi-positioning settings for the outriggers, or legs. 
 
Outriggers are needed as, from the beginning, the spider platforms have been designed to be light in weight, not only for ease of transport, but primarily so they can also be used in areas where 'traditional' wheeled access platforms are physically too large and heavy. The outriggers also allow the spider platform to self-level, which means they can set-up on slopes/inclines whilst keeping the chassis of the machine horizontal, enabling a safe and sturdy structure to work from. 
Selina, our Platform Basket 22.10 EVO, using her adjustable leg settings in this situation and utilizing her 10m of outreach to allow contractors to gain access to a roof to carry out repairs. There was not enough room in the garden for a smaller tracked spider to get their outriggers down. 
Tracked spider cherry picker set in middle of fence reaching over roof.
 
The latest addition to our fleet, LOTTIE, a lithium/diesel 20.95 hybrid tracked spider has had her first outing. Although not doing a glamorous job of clearing gutters and down pipes, it is essential work to maintain the integrity of every building. And what a beautiful building and setting this is for Lottie. 
 
She certainly impressed our client with her smooth and sturdy operation. Using her radio remote controls enabled our experienced operator, whilst working from the ground, to manoeuvre our client in the basket to wherever he needed to be safely and efficiently by allowing all-round visibility. 
 
Lottie, tracked spider on lawn clearing gutters.
 
Lottie, tracked spider on gravel at the front of the house clearing the gutters.
 
 
After working on gravel at the front of the building Lottie was moved steadily around the property. When at the rear, plywood boards were used to protect the lawn and with Lotties' superb outreach, she only needed to be placed in one position to reach all of the guttering, which helped to speed up the work. 
The latest addition to our fleet soon to be with us is LOTTIE, a lithium/diesel hybrid tracked spider with 19.9m working height and 9.5m side outreach. 
 
She was born in Italy at Platform Basket and they have kindly kept us informed of her growth with these progress photos. A very close eye was kept on her as she grew, ensuring healthy and steady growth through her development. 
 
Platform Basket didn't need to cut her umbilical cord as she has remote control capability. They did however, ensure that all her functions worked correctly, including: 
 
Kubota diesel and Lithium power sources 
Remote Diagnostics 
Duel Speed Tracking 
Track Widening System 
Duel Boom Telescopic Operations 
Basket Rotation 
250kg SWL (Safe Working Load) Unrestricted 
Automatic Stabilisation 
Automatic 'Go-Home' Boom Function. 
 
First Parts Trolley with Lotties Components
Second Trolley with more Components
These two trolley's are the start of Lotties' 'Birth', her 'growth' will be steady and monitored all the way through. 
Selina, High Reaching Solutions Platform Basket 22.10 EVO tracked spider cherrypicker was requested by one of our valued clients to assist with glazing repairs at a school. 
Selina tracked spider cherrypicker going through an archway in a large hedge.
 
 
The restrictive access to the work area was no problem for Selina. Her quick release basket was soon removed and adjusting her tracks to the narrow setting reduced her width to a slim 1 meter and height to just 2.065 meters, allowing her to pass through the arch with ease. 
Selina after going through arch in hedge.