Advantages of Spiders in Tight Spots

Posted on 2nd April 2021 at 11:30

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.

Lotties' First Outing

Posted on 3rd January 2021 at 13:31

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 Birth of Lottie

Posted on 15th November 2020 at 14:16

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

These two trolley's are the start of Lotties' 'Birth', her 'growth' will be steady and monitored all the way through.

Glazing Repairs with Selina

Posted on 22nd February 2020 at 11:57

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.

Sophie helps Scarborough Decorator

Posted on 13th September 2019 at 12:13

Jamie, from J. W. Decorating in Scarborough got in touch with High Reaching Solutions as he had an awkward project to do and wanted to do it safely and efficiently.

The property hadn’t been decorated for some years due to the awkwardness of its location in the grounds combined with a ground floor extension on one side, conservatory on the opposite side and an old slab-paved patio in the middle, which also contained large and heavy stone garden ornaments.

The only access to the side with the extension and to the patio area further on was via a narrow, sloping and twisting gravel path.

View from bottom of path showing where Sophie needed to come down.

View from top of path showing where Sophie needed to go.

Spiders in the Woods to Play

Posted on 17th July 2019 at 12:33

High Reaching Solutions received an urgent call to supply a tracked spider access platform for a project in North Yorkshire.

Our new client had been let down by their original supplier who supplied a machine that was not suitable for the task and was consequently removed from the worksite. Sophie, our Platform Basket 18.90 Pro, was delivered, in position, set-up and a full familiarization of her controls and functions given within 3 hours of the initial call.

Sophie Weaving in the Beams

Posted on 9th June 2019 at 15:33

Sophie, our Platform Basket 18.90 Pro was recently out on hire with one of our clients. They needed her to reach fire detection equipment within the roof space of an auditorium. However, they also needed her abilities to get through the narrow corridors and doors to get to the auditorium.

Sophie, being the smallest 18m working height tracked spider on the market when in transport position, standing at only 1.940 in height and 792mm wide, was able to access the auditorium with room to spare when in the hands of experienced operators.

8 Different Types of Terrain Tracked Spiders Can Overcome.

Posted on 16th March 2019 at 12:37

When you need to work safely at height consideration should be taken of not only where you need to get to at height to do your work, but also of how you are going to get there and the ground conditions where you are working.

Tracked spiders are the most versatile forms of mewps (mobile elevated work platforms) as they can traverse and set-up on many different types of ground environments. The types of terrain that you need to consider are: -

1. Sandy or other types of loose material, such as gravel, soft soil etc

2. Boggy waterlogged ground

3. Slopes

4. Ploughed fields

5. Restricted and narrow areas

6. Obstacles in the way

7. Uneven surfaces

8. Internal, delicate floor surfaces

The reason why spiderlifts can overcome these conditions is due to their design. They are light in weight and that weight is spread over the area of their tracks when moving, which reduces their ground pressure loading. The weight (point-loading) is then transferred and spread over a larger area when their outriggers (legs) are set, especially when using additional spreader plates at the ‘feet’.

They say that a picture can save a thousand words, so please find below some examples of spiders overcoming the environments mentioned above.

Sabrina the tracked spider cherrypicker crossing a mound of seaweed on a beach.

Sabrina the tracked spider crossing a beach

Scarlett Graces' awkward situation in Leeds

Posted on 13th December 2018 at 13:47

High Reaching Solutions were asked to supply a solution to an awkward situation in Leeds. Decorators needed to work safely at height, 11 meters up and in a relatively confined internal space.

They needed Scarlett Grace, our Platform Basket 13.80 Hybrid narrow tracked spiderlift as she was small and able to set-up and operate in a confined area. With her outrigger footprint of less than 3 meters, both in width and length and her boom just short of 3.5 meters in length without the basket attached. She also had negative tail-swing and her lithium batteries kept noise down to a whisper and engine fumes were non-existent, which is ideal for working internally.

Scarlett Grace going through offset doors

Internal view where Scarlett Grace needed to get to

Sophie at Robin Hoods Bay

Posted on 9th September 2018 at 16:35

High Reaching Solutions received a call from a property maintenance company who required a survey for a suitable cherry picker to carry out gutter repairs to a property on the North Yorkshire coast. The property was perched on a hillside, away from any road or hardstanding of substance and the driveway was steeply sloped and covered by low hanging branches from the tree lined route. These observations meant that truck mounted platforms and heavy mobile booms would not be suitable for the task, neither would scaffolding due to the vehicular access.

Sophie spider reaching out toward damaged gutter

Sophie tracked spider set up at top of bank

After measurements were taken and assessing the method of operation and risk assessment we established that Sophie, a Platform Basket 18.90 Pro tracked spider would be the most suitable cherrypicker for the task. Being easily transportable, light in weight and with low ground pressure combined with amazing working height and outreach capabilities made her ideal to get into positions needed to carry out the maintenance.