Abilene, TX - TGM Wind Services, a company that focuses on wind turbine blade and tower inspection, maintenance and repair, plus other high reach applications, has purchased its third Bronto Skylift Model S-90 HLA truck-mounted aerial in less than 18 months and, according to Kevin Darby, vice president of TGM, is poised to order two additional machines for delivery in mid-2011.
The huge Bronto S 90 HLA machines can lift up to 1,000 pounds of men and materials in an 8-foot x 3-foot, fully enclosed platform to a 295-foot maximum working height. Maximum horizontal outreach is 108 feet and when fully elevated, they can withstand winds speeds up to 28mph so they can be safely used on most turbines currently operating in North America today and access overhead areas on high-rise buildings. Mounted on a six-axle Kimball chassis, TGM's Bronto S-90 HLA machines can navigate most terrain and easily reach remote tower locations or negotiate jobsite obstacles.
Because of their advanced controls and one-button automatic leveling of the outriggers, from the time the Bronto aerials are driven onto the site they can be positioned, set-up and elevated to the overhead area in 15 to 20 minutes or less. When used on wind farms with multiple turbines, this can save considerable time and money in transportation and set-up costs alone compared to other methods of accessing towers, plus it results in faster, safer, and more accurate inspection and maintenance of turbine exteriors and blades.
The Bronto S 90 HLA machines that TGM operates are also equipped with electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic and water lines running inside the telescoping boom from the ground to the platform so that TGM technicians can operate powered tools and washers in the platform. This not only saves time, it is much safer as it eliminates having lines or hoses running down from the overhead platform to ground level.
Said Darby, "Our experience in operating Bronto aerials has been overwhelmingly positive. We are able to do more work in less time and give better service to our customers, while at the same time providing our technicians a safer work environment. And we haven't had any operating problems with the equipment. It's a win-win situation for everyone."
