Hire and Rental News - May 2018

Rough-terrain handling manufacturer, Manitou has inaugurated its new R&D Test Centre in Ancenis, France where it will perform endurance and durability tests on all Manitou prototypes. ACCESS in ACTION 38 ACCESS IN ACTION • MAY 2018 Jean-Yves Augé, R&D Director of the Manitou Group said this new site is designed to assess the endurance and capacities of the group’s prototypes. “With a number of particularly innovative, high-performance test benches, the models are put to the test for cycles that can last up to several thousand hours, the equivalent of the average life span of a machine,” Jean-Yves said. “The tests guarantee the robustness of Manitou products from launch while reducing the development turnaround times. Several test robots and driving tests feature in multiple configurations among the tests performed. “The test benches also make it possible to analyse the resistance of the major New R&D Test Centre to test endurance and durability parts and a number of other types of components.” Construction began in May 2017 and was completed in January 2018, representing an investment of 1.5 million euros. The new R&D Test Center includes a driving circuit and an RT 2012-certified building. The site has 16 employees, specialising in driving and test bench maintenance. “By automating the various test phases, we are able to accelerate the evaluations on our machines to provide our users with ever more reliability. This is about certifying the capacity and endurance of all our ranges and our future innovative products. We are fully involved in continuous improvement.” Contact: 02 9517 3174 or visit website: www.manitou-group.com Manitou has inaugurated its new R&D Test Centre in Ancenis, France The Association wants to advise members to forward details to the National Office if they do encounter any of these fake EWPA cards, to allow the national office to investigate. In the meantime, members are reminded all EWPA Yellow Cards have a licenced operator number that can be verified online on the EWPAWebsite. Latest At the same time as the Supervisor Course, the Advanced Boom Operator Course was launched. This is aimed at users of MEWPs with operating characteristics that are more complex and include functions such as: extending axles, sequential lifting, envelope control, dual rated capacity, variable leg position and electronically controlled platform levelling. Senior Accredited Trainers (SAT) have already delivered the MEWP Supervisor Course to two Tier One construction firms New EWPA Training – Advanced Boom and Supervisor Courses and the feedback was very positive. Both of these courses can be delivered by EWPA Senior Accredited Trainers (SATs). The EWPA reports it has had eight SATs successfully go through the program who are able to deliver the Advanced Boom and MEWP Supervisor Courses. These Senior ATs are: Andrew Cameron – Equip-Safe; Aaron Middleton – Workplace Training Centre; Aaron Tosswill – EWP Training Solutions; Alan Gelsthorpe – EWP Training Solutions; Chris Taylor – Cobra Training; Michael Ward – Auskil; Peter Brownbill – APB Training; Phil Middleton – Workplace Training Centre. For more information contact Lisa Brandsen at the national office: lisabrandsen@ewpa.com.au In February the EWPA launched an Australian industry first – MEWP Supervisor Course. This was developed to provide site supervisors with practical knowledge regarding the safe use of MEWPs on sites where multiple MEWPs are in use. EWPA Yellow Card Verification – beware fake Yellow Cards (photo) versions of the Yellow Card also have a QR code on the back which will link directly to the online verification tool. The most accurate way to identify a genuine EWPA Yellow Card is to verify the card number against the EWPA national database. This works for all cards issued by the EWPA since August 2001 and can be found at: www.yellowcard. ewpa.com.au/Public/Home/Verify The EWPA database provides details of training and any fraudulent cards will not be recognised. Contact the National Office if you have any questions regarding a card number on: 02 9998 2222 or: www.ewpa.com.au The EWPA has become aware of a number of ‘Yellow Cards’ being passed off as EWPA endorsed cards.