STAND I16
FROM LITTLE ACORNS
Metal and Modular introduced a game-changer, with their six metre unpowered ‘Navigator’ scissor lift. Rather than reaching even higher with their new machine, they’re actually making it shorter…
B
ased on recent experience, your author can now vouch for the fact that the
Navigator 6.0 scissor lift winds up to full height, and back down again, with speed and ease – using nothing more than clever gearing, highly tuned gas struts and good old human power. Small wonder that orders were quickly coming, and the Nationals are now starting to pay attention. In the meantime, the company has already developed a successor to the 6.0. Onwards and ever upwards, you might think, but the new ‘Navigator 4.5’, which was officially unveiled on the day of my visit, is actually 1.5m lesser in stature and a fair amount lighter. What was the thinking there? Product Design Director Michael Brown fields the question:
“In truth, it’s because other manufacturers, who have machines that are lower than ours, have got order books that will take longer than a year to supply! It was always going to be easier to reduce the size of the 6.0, but more difficult to go any higher. Our intention was always to have three machines – the Navigator 6.0 being the middle machine – so we wanted to introduce a smaller, lighter push-around. However, we’re also developing an eight metre two-man machine at the moment.”
The Navigator 6.0 has been available for a while now. Has anything changed with the design during this time?
“We’ve learned quite a lot over the last 12 months. The most significant change is the design of the upper section, which is now made of aluminium. The first machines were
First six metres, then 4.5 - where will Metal and Modular go next with the Navigator?
sub 600kg, but we knew that 500kg was the weight we wanted, and the new design has helped to achieve that. It’s a more usable weight, with most tail-lifts rated for half a tonne. It was a no-brainer, really.”
Material shortages are still causing problems in some areas. Is swapping to aluminium affecting your prices or lead times?
“It’s no better or worse. Obviously steel prices have gone through the roof, but so have other components that shouldn’t have been affected. We have tried to absorb price increases as much as possible, while maintaining a livable margin. At the moment we’re looking at lead times of around eight weeks.”
going to have a range of Navigators. The 4.5 is the next one to be launched.
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With orders for the 6.0 now increasing and a new machine launching, are you responsible for the entire manufacture?
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“We don’t do the laser cutting and folding, and we use Barrett for the tubes, as that’s the most efficient and they hold stockpiles. – the aluminum is supplied and machined by a company in Milton Keynes. All other assembly and TIG welding is done here. It’s a bit like putting an Airfix kit together, although a difficult one!”
26 Executive Hire News - January/February 2023 We were always
Metal and Modular is fulfilling orders of the Navigator 6.0s, with well over another 100 on the order books. What are your sales expectations for the 4.5?
“We already had to increase our fabricator/welder staff from three to eight to cope with orders for the 6.0, but I think the 4.5 will outsell it three to one. It really is a nice, lightweight and stable push-around, and it only weighs 300kg.”
Mr Plant Hire (MPH) was your first customer for the Navigator 6.0. What have they made of them?
“They have done a fabulous job promoting the machine, and we know that the hires they’ve had have been huge – so much so that they’ve been screaming for the next phase of their order.”
Lastly, what can we expect to see at this year’s Executive Hire Show.
“We’ll be showing both Navigators and accessories, and we’ll bring the Chemsafe and Flamesafe site boxes, which use the SureLock Pro system, as well as the cutting station, which has been further developed this year.”
That sounds like an excellent plan, particularly as the Navigator 6.0 went down so well at last year’s event. In either of its current forms, the Navigators require zero fuel, need little in the way of maintenance and are practically effortless in use.
Be sure to check them out on Stand I16. n
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