Telescopic boom innovations are fuelled by soaring demand.

North American demand for telescopic-boom aerial work platforms reached pre-pandemic levels in 2022 giving manufacturers new incentives to fund product development. Access Lift & Handlers magazine reported that this is particularly true for rough terrain product lines used in infrastructure, manufacturing and commercial construction projects.

New powertrains, including a growing emphasis on all-electric products, promise to reduce carbon footprints to meet Environmental, Social and Governmental (ESG) goals that are increasingly important to stockholders and investors. Diesel-electric hybrids represent another path to reduced carbon emissions by permitting smaller engines to be used along with technologies like auto start/stop and intelligent machine control systems.

In addition, new ANSI safety standards requiring integrated load and tilt sensors have allowed manufacturers to increase platform capacities within the restricted operating envelope because they no longer have to rate equipment on a “worst-case” basis. These, and many other innovations, says the article, promise to keep OEMs busy and financially healthy in 2023 and beyond.