MARKET REPORT HEATING & LIGHTING
Let there be light - and heat
As the weather cools and the nights draw in, demand for heating and lighting equipment grows. Dan Jenkins signs a spotlight on some of the hottest prospects for the hire market.
The lighting market remains a hotbed of innovation and this season will not disappoint hirers looking for new products.
In September, Atlas Copco launched its new HiLight H6+ 8m lighting tower which comes with the company’s innovative ‘HardHat’ body, made of medium-density polyethylene rather than metal.
Gayle Palmer, Business Line Manager at Atlas Copco, said: “Metal canopies damage more easily and take a lot more looking after; they can look dented and rusty. These towers are out in all weathers and the polyethylene is really long lasting. It gives the tower more longevity. Also, the colour is solid right the way through the canopy, it isn’t just painted on. So, even if it gets a little dink or scratch, it doesn’t show up.”
The company has worked hard to minimise noise, with the H6+ rated at 55dB(A) at 7 metres. It is also the first lighting tower of its kind to be rated at IP69, meaning it can withstand being pressure washed and still prevent ingress of foreign materials.
“This is a really positive step forward with regards to protection of the control systems as there’s less risk of it requiring repair. Eighty or ninety percent of our sales are to hire and rental accounts, so anything that protects their business by making the equipment easier to maintain and reduce total cost of ownership is very positive.”
loads of 10 units on a 13m truck trailer, optimising transport costs. Service intervals are set at 600 hours, compared to 500 for many light towers, and an engineer only needs to access one side of the unit to complete all jobs. Atlas Copco says a service can be done in just 40 minutes. Another improvement over the H5+ is the control cubicle. On the older model, the canopy had to be opened to access the controls, whereas the H6+ has a side door for access.
Efficiency
“With better light coverage we can light a site with fewer lighting towers than our competitors. That is an interesting conversation with hire companies as their first thought is that they want to hire more units, not less. However, if they charge the same rental rate for four towers as they would for five, they can still generate savings for their customers. With only four engines running, they are using less fuel and pushing less CO2 into the environment. It is not about me-too products at a cheap price for us, it is about adding value to our hire customers and their end users.”
The casing of Atlas Copco's HiLight H6+ lighting tower is made of medium-density polyethylene, which withstands inclement weather and looks better for longer.
Trime UK has a similar focus
on efficiency and sustainability. Paul Hay, Managing Director of Trime UK, said: “Reducing noise and emissions remain key market drivers. Contractors in the London Low Emission Zone are being measured on emissions and noise, and machinery use is restricted accordingly. Our focus is the continued development of our Green Line lights, which increasingly provide environmental and carbon reduction benefits.
A dimming option enables the LED lights to be dialled down if required. “Lowering the brightness reduces fuel usage because it reduces the engine speed, so it also cuts CO2 emissions. Fuel consumption drops as low as 0.36 litres per hour, so it is also much more economical.”
The H6+ fuel tank has 110 percent containment capacity in the bund. It has a compact footprint and an adjustable tow bar, enabling
26
“We are also experiencing demand from the rail sector, as it also has requirements around noise and emissions. Sometimes they are working very close to residential areas.”
Addressing these markets, Trime launched its new T Zero Pro all-electric range in late September, featuring towers with zero emissions at the point of use. They are powered by lithium batteries
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44
