What is a Mobile Elevated Working Platform?

According to IPAF’s Powered Access Rental Market Report 2019, there are close to 1.5 million units of Mobile Aerial Working Platform (MEWP) in the world. In Singapore alone, there are estimated around 12,000 units of MEWP in the market. So, what is MEWP, why we need so many of these machines, and what makes its so popular and important in the construction industry?

So, what is a Mobile Elevated Working Platform? 

A MEWP is a mobile machine. It is used to move persons to work positions where they are carrying out work from the work platform, with the intention that persons are getting on and off the work platform only at access positions at ground level or on the chassis. It consists of a minimum of a work platform with controls, an extending structure, and a chassis.

It is time to get to higher ground with these MEWP. Whether it is washing windows or rescuing lives from buildings, use for infrastructure or building maintenance, use for concert or movie shooting, you can see MEWP is all around. Of course, MEWP is the most extensively used in the construction industry.

MEWP come in varied sizes, shapes, and functions. You can also have the option of either go for the diesel-driven or electrical-driven base on the actual requirement. Basically, there are 5 different major types of MEWP as below:

Learn the Comprehensive Guide on How to Choose the Right MEWP

5 types of Aerial Work Platforms 

Spider Boom Lift

The boom lift, also known as The Spider, is an aerial work platform often set up outside a building and resembles a spider with four legs. The elevated work platform resembles a cherry picker. The spider lift has a bucket at the end of the boom where workers stand to access the work area. Since it is mounted on a vehicle, it comes with durable tires and can be driven on uneven terrain. 

Spider boom is flexible, lightweight, smaller in size, and will allow you to access and reach the place that the other boom lift cannot reach. It’s a good replacement for articulating boom lift when the area is hard to access and commonly used for internal building maintenance and repair.

Articulated Boom Lift

An articulated boom lift, also known as a knuckle boom lift, has a work platform on an extended arm that can reach up and over obstacles, resembling your finger when you bend it. Articulated boom lifts have a turntable at the base which allows the lift to swivel in a full circle. This type of machine is used mainly for maintenance work and other tasks that are difficult to access. Unlike a scissor lift which can only extend directly above itself, articulated boom lifts are types of aerial lifts that can be used for repair jobs on the exterior of buildings, including piping. They provide convenience for hard-to-reach areas and can be used on uneven terrain.

Telescopic Boom Lift

This type of elevated work platform is used for tasks that require maximum reach capabilities. A work platform is mounted on a straight, long arm that sits on a movable turntable. Unlike traditional aerial platforms, telescopic boom lifts can access areas that are straight above or at a direct angle. Electrical repair, window washing, and other maintenance jobs are the most common that employ the assistance of a telescopic boom lift or similar elevated work platform. 

Scissor lift

One of the most preferred lifts, scissor lifts are a type of platform that can typically only move vertically. The upward motion is achieved by the application of pressure to the outside of the lowest set of supports, elongating the crossing pattern, and propelling the work platform vertically. The platform may also have an extending “bridge” to allow closer access to the work area, because of the inherent limits of vertical-only movement.

Scissor lifts are much more limited in use compared to the other types of aerial work platforms including articulated and telescopic boom lifts because they must be situated directly underneath themselves. They also cannot reach maximum heights. Therefore, they are best for indoor use like basic maintenance work and painting since the larger-sized bucket can accommodate multiple workers and equipment. There are rough terrain scissor lifts available to handle slightly uneven terrain when outdoor work is required.

Vertical Mast lift

Vertical Mast lift is a vehicle-mounted, boom-supported aerial platform. These lifts are used to access utility lines and other above-ground job sites. Despite vertical mast lift and scissor lift has a very similar objective of usage, they still can be differentiated. Scissor lifts raise via a scissoring action of the support beams while vertical mast lift raise by extension of vertical boom. Vertical mast list is more toward lightweight work, but scissor lift is more to heavyweight work due to scissor lift is much more stable and has higher platform capacity than the former. 

Out of these 5 types of MEWP, the most used in Singapore will be articulating boom lift, telescopic boom lift, and scissor lift due to their cost to benefit. 

Learn what is Boom Lift Range of Motion

So, which one do you need for your job? 

RENT MEWP IN JUST A FEW CLICKS