Nifty confirms dozens of sales at APEX

On the first day of APEX British manufacturer Niftylift was able to announce three significant equipment deals. UK rental companies GT Access, Advanced Access Platforms and Facelift each placed orders with the company in double figures.

GT Access order takes the company's fleet to 500 machines and includes HR17 hybrid and HR21 articulated booms. Facelift's order is for HR15s, HR12s and a mixture of trailer mounted products and Advanced Access Platforms ordered HR12 and HR17 hybrids.

The HR17hybrid is a new 17m working height model which uses a 15kW diesel engine and battery combination to offer the user a highly economical, "green" machine, which can still draw on power 5% greater than that generated by a conventional 37kW engine and is very low maintenance.

The 15kW engine uses just 3.5lt of fuel in a full 8 hour working day. The catalytic converter insures 85% less hydro carbons, 85% less carbon monoxide and 60% less dangerous particulate are released during operation.

The engine drives the HR17 hybrid's hydraulic system through an alternator, which charges the battery. Should the operator require more power, for example employing 4 wheel-drive, the alternator acts like an additional motor and combines with the engine to provide 5% more power than a 37kW engine.

The HR17 hybrid can run with battery along, diesel engine alone or combination of the two. A flat battery will charge in just three hours with the engine running or can be charged by plugging into the mains.

Using high grade steel and optimising design with powerful computer programmes Niftylift has kept the weight of the machine to 4700kg.

The HR17 hybrid has the Niftylift toughcage with SiOPS - the company's system which prevents crushing incidents.

John Corcoran of Advanced Access platforms said of the HR17 hybrid, "This machine is the answer to every hire company's dreams."