By Ken Osborn, vice president of sales and marketing, Tesco Equipment LLC
Aircraft line maintenance operators are constantly running into obstacles with the continuing changes in commercial chassis and industrial engine exhaust and emissions requirements. It’s next to impossible to properly maintain and service the 2008 and older chassis engine and exhaust systems without off-site direct dealership support. This is one of the reasons that Tesco has developed a new generation in maintenance lifts, powered by an electric prime mover with the collaboration and support of Charlatte USA and Averest Inc.
The Development Process
The original concept was considered when John Watson of Continental Airlines GSE maintenance approached Tesco/Charlatte/Averest with a question: “Why not electric maintenance lifts?” With the assistance of Charlatte and Averest, Tesco proceeded to investigate, develop and manufacture the Model ML2018E, which was approximately seven months in the making.
The development process for the new product entailed using the experience that Tesco has accrued in its 65 years of producing a line of maintenance, catering, cabin service and industrial hi-lifts.
The result is the new Model ML2018E Electric Platform Lift, which is an 18-foot platform lift that can service a majority of narrow and wide-body line maintenance applications. Its low profile design and full view driving capability provide the operator with a safe and effective platform lift. The platform lift is mounted on a Charlatte CBL2000E chassis with a 40 hp electric drive motor. It can reach speeds of up to 15 mph, and has a higher capacity and greater mobility than traditional electric maintenance vehicles. This unit is highly maneuverable and can be operated continuously for up to eight hours. It is recommended, however, that opportunity charging be done whenever possible.
And safety was, as always, a top priority in the product design. The new electric lift features an emergency lowering/stabilizer retract system, to ensure a safe, reliable hi-lift that meets existing ANSI, SAE, and OSHA safety standards.
We have received excellent feedback from many of the major airlines and believe that the ML2018E will provide maximum benefits over the traditional gas- or diesel-powered maintenance lifts. These benefits include but are not limited to:
- Lower operating costs
- Reduced maintenance costs
- Improved interface & operation around aircraft
- “Green” operation reducing emissions and pollution
Emission-friendly equipment is the technology of the future. The Tesco Model ML2018E incorporates “green” into maintenance Iifts.
For more info, visit www.tescohilift.com.
