Custom Equipment Inc. has filled the first order for its new HB-1230 scissor lifts, the most recent addition to the company’s full line of Hy-Brid Lifts low-level access equipment. American Scissor Lift, Stockton, Calif., an independent dealer that rents, sells and services scissor lifts, boom lifts and telehandlers, purchased the first 27 units and will receive them prior to the end of 2013.

Custom Equipment introduced a prototype of the HB-1230 lift during The Rental Show in Las Vegas in February 2013, and American Scissor Lift was among the first companies to test it. The new HB-1230s will join 62 HB-1030 lifts that American Scissor Lift already has in its fleet.

“Our customers use our Hy-Brid Lifts for everything from electrical to drywall to plumbing,” said Mike Melthratter, president of American Scissor Lift. “They work in congested areas that often have low floor loading requirements, so they need lifts that are light enough and small enough to maneuver around framing and through doorways, but still provide enough platform space and capacity for their tools and materials. Hy-Brid Lifts meet those needs, so contractors generally keep them on jobs from start to finish.”

With HB-1230 lifts, contractors can work on projects like electrical, plumbing, drywall and sprinkler systems at working heights up to 18 feet. They can hold two people and up to 500 pounds on their platforms, which are 30 inches wide, 55 inches long and feature extensions that add nearly 29 inches of length. The units are compact enough to allow contractors to easily navigate through busy jobsites, while the extensions give them ample working area for tools and supplies. They also feature zero-turn radiuses for exceptional maneuverability around tight corners and through doorways.

The HB-1230s’ dual front wheels help distribute the machines’ weight for lower wheel loads. Paired with the lightweight design, the units are able to work on delicate flooring, including tile, laminate, raised floors and mezzanines, with much lower potential for damage. Users also can get onto poured concrete several days sooner with HB-1230s than with heavier competitive models. In addition, the counter-rotating wheels reduce friction so users can maneuver over tile or carpeting without marking or causing tears. To ensure a clean system for operating indoors in both finished and unfinished environments, their hydraulic systems are completely self-contained with only two connection points. This reduces the potential for hydraulic fluid leaks, which could lead to floor damage and potential safety hazards.

Custom Equipment uses state-of-the-art technology to test designs before building all of its lifts, including HB-1230s, which allows the company to use the optimal grade of steel. Because the steel is stronger, less material is required and the lifts weigh less than competitive machines. In addition, the process identifies stress points so Custom Equipment can reinforce them without adding a lot of unnecessary weight. The scissor stacks on HB-1230 lifts also offer more stability than the traditional post design of boom lifts.

In addition, proportional drive and lift systems on Hy-Brid Lifts give users greater control. They can adjust how fast the lifts travel and the rate at which they raise or lower the platforms, which can minimize damage when maneuvering close to walls or objects. While the platforms are operated up and down by the units’ hydraulics, two 12-volt, deep-cycle batteries power the electrical drive and steering systems. Since the systems are electrical rather than hydraulic, they draw fewer amps and require less overall power. Electric drive and steering is standard for HB-1230s, but is not available in other manufacturers’ lifts. Combined with lightweight construction, this allows the units’ battery power to last up to two times longer, or as long as 10-16 hours.

Finally, Custom Equipment designed the lifts for easy maintenance. They are powered by two absorbent glass mat (AGM) batteries that make HB-1230 lifts virtually maintenance free because they never require users to add water. They also feature on-board battery chargers that self monitor the current and stop it once the batteries are fully charged. This provides a distinct advantage over non-monitoring systems that continue to feed current into the batteries after they are fully charged. This can shorten the life of batteries and cause them to burn out.

Custom Equipment, Inc. engineers and manufactures all-purpose Hy-Brid Lifts in electric and push-around models. The all-purpose lifts offer exceptional capabilities in a heavy-duty but lightweight design, are easy to maneuver and reach working heights up to 20 feet. Contractors and maintenance technicians can use them from start to finish for a wide range of applications in industries as diverse as construction, drywall, electrical, HVAC, industrial manufacturing, painting and plumbing.