Hire Equipment & Services Special Focus April/May 2026 www.pwemag.co.uk Plant & Works Engineering | 37 5. Plan access and equipment location. Temporary chillers or heaters need space and clear access. Whether equipment is positioned in a plant room, yard or car park, access routes and positioning should be agreed and recorded in advance. Activating a contingency plan A clear activation process helps manufacturers respond quickly to system failures and minimise the risk of unplanned downtime. Engaging a specialist provider enables rapid access to temporary heating and cooling equipment, supported by technical expertise and emergency response. For further information please visit: https://www.icscoolenergy.com to downtime and supporting more efficient, resilient operations in an increasingly challenging energy landscape. As part of this futureproofing, manufacturers can also gain greater control over operational costs, particularly during periods of dynamic increases in production demand. Practical steps to improve manufacturing resilience There are several practical actions manufacturers can take to strengthen contingency planning. 1. Conduct a site and operations audit. Risk assessment should cover all operations. In manufacturing, process temperature is often critical, making chillers, boilers and heat pumps a priority. Understanding where and why equipment is used is essential. 2. Record and share critical information. Audit findings should be documented alongside electrical and utility requirements. Information must be accessible to multiple people, with hard copies on site and additional copies stored off site, as systems or personnel may be unavailable during a crisis. 3. Put a Plan B in place. With risks identified, manufacturers can work with a supplier to agree what contingency equipment is required and how it will be deployed. Availability is key, so support must be available around the clock. 4. Complete remedial works in advance. Temporary equipment requires suitable connections. Simple preparatory works such as installing pipework or power supplies can dramatically reduce response time during an emergency. Construction workers fitting pipes or plasterboard at heights up to 5 metres will now benefit from a new accessory launched by JLG Power Towers, for its leading models of lowlevel access equipment. “Efficiency is critical in construction fit-out operations, and people working at height will often struggle with lifting larger, bulky items such as sheets of plasterboard or pipes, even when using an electric access platform,” explains, Andrew Menham, Senior Business Development Manager – Europe JLG Power Towers. “That’s why we have designed a board and pipe carrying accessory, to help make those tasks simpler and support workers to adhere to safety best practices.” The new board and pipe carrier can be fitted to the Power Tower and Power Tower Duo elevating electric platforms. It features a small ledge that can support plasterboard sheets, with a maximum weight capacity of 75kg. Plus, a rack along the handrail that can carry lengths of material such as pipe, threaded rod or strut, weighing up to 45kg. The Power Tower mobile elevating platform and Power Tower Duo (which is designed for two-person capacity), are designed to be compact, and at 0.78 m, can easily pass through standard doorways. When fitted with the new accessory, the board tray can be folded away when not in use, so the platform can still fit through standard doorways for easy manoeuvrability around a site. ? Both platforms offer a maximum working height of 5 metres, and are rated to lift 250kg total weight, which includes one person plus the material. The Power Tower Duo offers a two person lift capability, when the attachment is not in use.? They offer compact working footprints of 1.89 x 1.22 m for the Power Tower Duo, and just 0.78 x 1.62 m for the Power Tower. Both models feature a spacious 1.52 m x 0.75 m platform size to support a comfortable working environment. Further accessories have also been added to the JLG Power Towers product portfolio. These include an anticlimb grate, which is designed to discourage operatives from standing on horizontal bars to gain extra height. This helps to encourage best practice, helping to reduce the risk of falls and helps reduce the likelihood of tools dropping. A new compact platform option, the Power Tower CS confined space basket, is also available. It allows the full cage to be used within restricted areas, supporting working at height more efficient and comfortable in tight or awkward spaces. “As an innovator in equipment for low-level access, designed to support sage and efficient operation, we observe and respond to the real challenges that customers face, as site managers, as health and safety leaders, and as equipment users says Andrew Menham. “These new accessories are an important development in supporting safe practices, compliance, and efficient working in construction and fit out applications.” For further information please visit: www.jlg.com New accessory improves safe handling of materials on low-level access platforms
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