Masonry Magazine January 2008 Page. 28
MAST CLIMBERS
Hydek teaches contractors how to set up and take down the mast climbers.
1990s for those operating the company's work platforms. The company has trained more than 5,000 people.
"The key factors for safety in the construction industry remain the qualifications, experience and training of the responsible persons. For this reason, we have created a dedicated structure called Hydro Mobile University," Dequoy says. "During training, we cover installation, utilization, optimization, safety and evaluation of loading capacities."
Alimak Hek offers a comprehensive training course at its facilities in Atlanta and Houston, Manning says. Training covers installation, dismantling, troubleshooting and specialized electrical systems.
Hydek teaches contractors how to set up and take down their mast climbers. "There are masons out there who own their own mast climbers and are capable of erection and dismantling," Reddick says. "We'll teach them how to do it. It's much easier than typical tube scaffolding."
What's next?
O'SHEA EXPECTS to see a growth in the number of MCWPs used in the United States. He says the United States uses the same number of mast climber as Singapore, a country that's about 60 times smaller.
"That tells you about the potential for this equipment," O'Shea says. "I think as we go forward over the next 12 to 24 months, we'll see a large uptake in mast climber usage, giving further impetus for safe-use regulation."
Manning agrees that mast climbers will become more popular as business owners realize they're not a luxury.
"The mast climbing market will continue to grow at an unprecedented rate," she says. "As the industry becomes more and more focused on safe, economical alternatives and better educated on these types of machines, mast climbers will become the norm, rather than the exception."
New mast climbers will help shape MCWP's future. Bennu Parts & Service Inc. in Elk Grove Village, III., is bringing its new MCWP to the market this January. The continuous-climbing, two-tower system operates with the push of button, while an electro-hydraulic, self-levelling system keeps the platform balanced.
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