Platform Basket's innovations at Bauma 2022

At Bauma 2022 Platform Basket has chosen to offer products with a "green" type of propulsion, i.e. reduced environmental impact.

The entire range of self-propelled products in a “green” version has been presented at Bauma 2022. The development of this technology is of course not the only area of development by Platform Basket's engineers but rather complements their ability to create new products designed around this existing technology.

Platform Basket presented its new 15-metre high Spider Platform Basket in a world preview, the Spider 15.70. Equipped with Hybrid propulsion, internal combustion engine and lithium-ion battery pack, it will initially join the existing Spider 15.75 model. It is a new model designed with a double pantograph to make the platform extremely compact when folded into the transport envelope and at the same time offer improved obstacle clearance while maintaining a total working height of 15m. The adoption of high-strength steels has enabled a significant reduction in element weights, which contributes to improved stability. This technological solution allows a reduction in the stabilisation footprint, while maintaining excellent stability with a load capacity in the basket of 230kg, for those who need to load 2 people in the basket. The adoption of a variable weight ballast to maintain the total weight of the platform even when offered in the hybrid version is no less important and makes this design, which has already been developed in the recent 20.95 model, unique: the batteries are located in such a position that they contribute to stability in a manner equivalent to the reduction in counterweight.  Finally, it is worth noting the platform control system, now standardised by engineers in the same way in all models, which allows rental companies to have machines of different sizes but operating with the same logic. Simple to use and easy to maintain.

Other new products were on display at Bauma 2022:  the Spider 18.90 is the evergreen top-of-the-range model at Platform Basket, a machine that boasts almost 15 years of sales leadership worldwide and is now available in a more modern version with 230kg basket capacity and improved lateral reach compared to the previous version, thanks to the adoption of thin gauge high-strength steel. The adoption of radio-type remote control and operating logic for this model, which are equivalent to all platforms in the PB range, will allow rental companies to have a platform with greater performance and at the same time the same operating logic as the other platforms in the range. The track drive system using electric motors directly connected to the transmission is worth mentioning and innovative. This study is aimed at optimising the energy efficiency of the accumulators so as to significantly lengthen the operating time for the same amount of mechanical energy. Platform Basket's technical staff recently set up a specific R&D unit to research innovative propulsion solutions to replace endothermic engines, which are increasingly in the eye of the storm in terms of emissions. Last but not least, the platform equipped with a radio-type remote control system will later also allow use with a hydraulic winch to make the model increasingly versatile for every application.

The 43m working height Spider 43T was exhibited with improved basket load capacity from the current 330kg to 400kg. This was required to provide more versatility for use in telecommunications and electrical maintenance. The possibility of having three operators and a good amount of tools on board the basket are very important requirements; for this reason, the engineers promptly revised the design, improving its performance. The version exhibited with the Minoege rental company colouring is the third unit purchased, and our collaboration with the company has enabled us to acquire very useful information in quite a short time to make the product perform better than the competition. Finally, the winch provided for this model is also worth mentioning, allowing it to be quickly interchanged with the aerial basket and offering a lifting capacity of 500kg.

The Spider 13.80 ED Hybrid on display boasts a technological upgrade related to the controls, which have been changed from manual to radio-controlled as standard. Thanks to the adoption of these controls, this model also now allows automatic stabilisation, facilitates the loading and unloading of the platform on towable light trailers and, above all, the remote control system allows operation diagnostics, which can be displayed directly to the operator on board the basket.

The Spider 22.10, conceived and developed in collaboration with the American dealer, now boasts a technical update aimed at improving durability at work. As these products are dedicated and intended for a very demanding clientele in the world of pruning, the experience gained in the last few years of marketing have led to a small restyling aimed at improving the wear of the telescopic extension arm made entirely of fibreglass.

In addition to the above, best-selling models from PB's current range were on display at the Munich event. The Spider 22.10 EVO (Evolution) model is now equipped with remote control identical to the other models in the range and now also features automatic reclosing in the transport gauge. The 27.14 Hybrid model is a lightweight, ultra-compact platform capable of lifting two operators to a working height of up to 27m and offers such a compact footprint that it can pass through the most inaccessible access routes (880mm wide). The Spider 33.15/300kg model, which has already been in the range for a few years, will be displayed in its full optionals Hybrid version. This model allowed PB to enter the segment of medium/large tracked self-propelled vehicles eight years ago and today represents one of the best design/construction technologies developed and appreciated by PB's international sales network. It offers an obstacle clearance height together with a lateral outreach not easily comparable and achievable with other design solutions.

We will also be present with our PBT (Platform Basket Telematics) telematics system, the device developed in Platform Basket which, in addition to the interaction between user and purchasing company, allows for fast diagnosis and a wealth of statistical usage data aimed at making new projects increasingly in line with market needs and/or demands. The ability to connect in real-time and perform updates and interventions remotely are among the special features of the system that has been designed in this way.