Safetech’s largest elevated work platform (EWP) was recently launched on the market fitted to a Scania P380 XT that the companies say will help cut mining operators’ costs and improve safety and efficiency. To assist a major mining company undertake safe maintenance of its biggest machinery, Scania’s special vehicles division tasked Safetech with creating an elevated work platform that was not only highly manoeuvrable on rough terrain, but also withstand the harsh Australian conditions found on arid mining sites.
It’s main function is to prevent the costly exercise of mining machinery and its components being removed from site for repairs or maintenance, as well as provide an ergonomic platform for workers. By raising materials and crew up to 11 m into the air and being able to extend the traversing platform laterally as much as 3 m, the 7.5 m long platform becomes a very solid and versatile place from which to undertake servicing, installation or repair work.
The EWP is rated to lift a payload of up to 1.5 t. The wide opening side and rear gates allow forklifts to load materials directly on the platform, reducing the need for cranes to lift materials to the machinery. When deployed, it sits securely on chassis mounted outriggers, rather than extending outwards, giving the platform a more compact footprint.
An auto levelling control system with a digital readout allows the truck to be levelled out perfectly before extending the platform upwards for greater stability. Safetech engineers designed the EWP with the clients needs in mind, and some of these features include auto levelling stabilisers, motorised access stairs, traversing platform and intuitive control system including remote diagnostics. In addition to personnel anchor points and tie-downs, control panels and safety gates, the platform also boasts compressed air lines on retractable hose reels and work lights, as well as a non-slip aluminium floor.
Scania’s Business Manager, Mining, Rene Van Oppen says the Scania XT was the perfect choice for the EWP mounting. “Working with Safetech we knew that the Scania chassis would be a good fit for the EWP they were designing because Scania puts a lot of effort into being easy to integrate with body control modules as well as securing to the chassis. And because there are many Scania trucks in operation on mine sites, it makes sense for mining operators to specify the Scania as the workhorse for this EWP concept.”
He adds: “Since beginning this project with Safetech there has been a lot of industry interest in the concept, and we are confident that other mining operators around the county and potentially across the globe, will be able to see the benefits of this EWP design. This gives mining operators so much more flexibility, as well as the opportunity to reduce downtime on their big machines or infrastructure, so it could literally save them millions of dollars per year.”