Man & Material Lift Engineering Develops Explosion-Proof Battery-Powered Boom Lift

Man & Material Lift Engineering, Cudahy, Wis., recently completed Factory Mutual (FM) testing for the UL “EX” standard on battery-powered boom lifts. All battery-powered boom lifts working in hazardous environments where explosive gases, dusts, or other volatiles may be present must meet the UL “EX” standard. Explosion-proof enclosures and intrinsically safe controls were utilized to comply with the stringent requirements.

“EX” boom lifts current available from Man & Material Lift Engineering include the 46-foot T46EX, the 60-foot T60EX, the 80-foot A80EX, and the 80-foot T80EX. The company originally developed the explosion-proof battery-powered boom lift for painting C5A and C130 aircraft. Other applications where these machines can be used in include oil and gas industries, chemical process locations, fuel storage areas, paint and solvent production and storage areas, oil mill extraction locations, and offshore platforms.

Man & Material Lift Engineering also developed the VM30EX AC-powered vertical lift for hazardous environments. This machine has been engineered to meet specific guidelines set forth in NFPA70 for Class I, Division 2 Group D where combustible dusts and other volatiles may exist. Typically applications include spray painting, petrochemical, biofuel, gas plants, and oil extraction mills. In these environments, painting and/or production may continue uninterrupted within the vicinity of this unit without violation of NFPA or OSHA regulations.

Power is supplied by 110-volt plug in EX receptacle and an extra hard usage cord. An explosion-proof sealed junction box and safe shut-off switch at the ground controls enable the machine to work in explosive environments.

The VM30EX vertical lift features a 30-foot platform height, 350-pound platform capacity, proportional controls, and 110VAC electric power. Other models are available with platform heights from 15 to 41 feet.

For more information on explosion-proof aerial lifts, go to www.exmanlifts.com.