20–28 m lift and higher: which to choose (up to 57 m)

The platform of a 20 m lift stands at about 18 m (a 6-storey building, a hall 18–20 m high), that of a 28 m lift at about 26 m (8–9 storeys). You choose an articulating boom lift to reach over obstacles and to work “from the inside” of a structure, and a telescopic boom lift when a long, straight reach matters. The cherry pickers (aerial work platforms, MEWPs) in our fleet, by height:

• At 20 m: the articulating boom lifts Genie Z-60/34 and Haulotte HA20 PX (in a hall without exhaust fumes, the JLG M600JP bi-energy) and the telescopic boom lifts Genie S-60 (20.3 m) and JLG 660SJ (22.3 m).
• At 25–28 m: the articulating Haulotte HA260 PX, JLG 800AJ and Genie Z-80/60 and the telescopic Haulotte H25 TPX, Genie S-85 and JLG 860SJ.
• Above 30 m: the articulating Genie Z-135/70 (43 m) and JLG 1250AJP (40 m) and telescopic booms up to 57 m (Genie SX-180).

Below are their reach and weights, and what you need to prepare on site.

What is a 20, 25 and 28 m lift enough for?

• 20–22 m (platform at 18–20 m): 6-storey buildings, halls 18–20 m high, stadiums and sports halls, churches, high-bay warehouses, lighting masts and columns, banners hung across a street.
• 25–28 m (platform at 23–26 m): buildings of 8–9 storeys, silos and grain elevators, industrial chimneys, tall halls and steel structures, office block façades, church towers.
• 40–43 m (platform at 38–41 m): buildings of 13–14 storeys, grain elevators, cooling towers, tall halls and industrial structures — Genie Z-135/70 and ZX-135/70, JLG 1250AJP, Genie SX-125 XC, JLG 1350SJP and Haulotte H43 TPX.
• Above 43 m: Genie SX-180 (56.9 m, outreach 24.4 m, capacity 340 kg, weight 24.9 t) — the highest lift in our fleet.

20–28 m articulating boom lift: reaching over obstacles

Diesel 4×4 articulating boom lifts reach over lower buildings, canopies, pipelines and structures:

• Genie Z-60/34 — 20.4 m, horizontal outreach 11 m, capacity 227 kg, weight 10.2 t.
• Haulotte HA20 PX — 20.65 m, outreach 13.5 m, capacity 230 kg, weight 11.7 t.
• Haulotte HA260 PX — 26 m, outreach 14.6 m, capacity 230 kg, weight 14.2 t.
• JLG 800AJ — 26.4 m, outreach 15.8 m, capacity 230 kg, weight 15.8 t.
• Genie Z-80/60 — 25.8 m, outreach 18.3 m, capacity 227 kg, weight 17 t — the largest horizontal outreach in this class.
• JLG 1250AJP — 40.3 m, outreach 19.25 m, capacity 450 kg, weight 20.0 t.
• Genie Z-135/70 and ZX-135/70 — 43 m, outreach 21.3 m, capacity 272 kg, weight 20.4–21.1 t.

For halls and for work without exhaust fumes at 20 m you use electric articulating boom lifts:

• Genie Z-60/37 DC: 20.2 m, outreach 11.15 m, weight 7.5 t.
• JLG E600JP: 20.4 m, outreach 13.5 m, weight 7.8 t.
• JLG M600JP bi-energy: 20.4 m, outreach 13.5 m, weight 8.0 t. Electric inside and diesel in the yard.

20–57 m telescopic boom lift: a long, straight reach

Diesel 4×4 telescopic boom lifts have the greatest horizontal outreach and quickly reach high in a straight line:

• Genie S-60 — 20.3 m, outreach 15.5 m, capacity 227 kg, weight 9.4 t.
• Genie S-65 — 21.8 m, outreach 17.1 m, capacity 227 kg, weight 10.1 t.
• JLG 660SJ — 22.3 m, outreach 17.95 m, capacity 230 kg, weight 12.7 t.
• Haulotte H23 TPX — 22.6 m, outreach 19.5 m, capacity 230 kg, weight 13.1 t.
• Haulotte H25 TPX — 25.3 m, outreach 16.9 m, capacity 230 kg, weight 13.7 t.
• Genie S-85 — 27.9 m, outreach 23.3 m, capacity 227 kg, weight 17.2 t.
• JLG 860SJ — 28.2 m, capacity 230 kg, weight 16.7 t.
• The largest telescopic boom lifts (capacity 230–450 kg, weight 19.3–20.7 t, horizontal outreach 24.4 m, or 20 m for the Haulotte H43 TPX):
  • Genie SX-105 XC: 34 m.
  • Genie SX-125 XC: 40.1 m.
  • JLG 1350SJP: 43.3 m.
  • Haulotte H43 TPX: 42.2 m.
• Genie SX-180 — 56.9 m, outreach 24.4 m, capacity 340 kg, weight 24.9 t.

Articulating or telescopic? When the platform has to get round an obstacle or enter a lattice structure “from the inside”, choose an articulating boom lift; when there is a straight path to the work point and the distance from the parking position is what matters, choose a telescopic boom lift. The reach at a given height is checked on the machine’s chart: how to read the load and reach chart.

What should you prepare on site for a 20–43 m lift?

• Ground — 8–25 t on four wheels: firm, load-bearing ground or an industrial floor; on block paving and floor slabs you need plates that spread the load, and fresh excavations and embankments are ruled out (see how much does a lift weigh).
• Parking position and access — the machines are 8–16 m long and 2.4–2.5 m wide (the largest, such as the Genie Z-135/70 or JLG 1350SJP, even 3.8–3.9 m); they need an access road for a low-loader and room for the turret to slew.
• Wind — at 25–40 m the wind blows harder than at ground level; the wind speed limit from the manual applies at working height.
• Power lines — safe distances from cables; near high-voltage lines the work is agreed with the network operator.
• Qualifications — a certificate from the Office of Technical Inspection (UDT) and a harness with a lanyard in the platform; with machines this tall many companies choose rental with an operator.

Tell us the height and place of the work, the obstacles, the ground and the rental period, and we will choose the machine and arrange its delivery. How an order works: lift rental step by step.

Lift rental costs from PLN 80 + VAT per day: scissor lifts from PLN 80, articulating boom lifts from PLN 160, telescopic boom lifts from PLN 180 (rates for rentals of more than 14 days; shorter rentals have a higher daily rate). Machines of 20 m and above have higher rates than the cheapest classes; the full rates by working height are in the rental price list, and the general rules in the article how much does lift rental cost.

Frequently asked questions

Which lift should I use for 20 m?

At 20 m the articulating boom lifts are:

• Genie Z-60/34: 20.4 m, outreach 11 m.
• Haulotte HA20 PX: 20.65 m, outreach 13.5 m.
• JLG M600JP bi-energy (for a hall and work without exhaust fumes): 20.4 m, outreach 13.5 m.

For straight-on work with a large sideways reach, use a telescopic boom lift:

• Genie S-60: 20.3 m, outreach 15.5 m.
• JLG 660SJ: 22.3 m, outreach 17.95 m.

The platform is then at about 18 m: the façade of a 6-storey building or a hall 18–20 m high.

Which lift should I use for 25–28 m?

Articulating boom lifts suit reaching over obstacles and working “from the inside” of a structure:

• Haulotte HA260 PX: 26 m, outreach 14.6 m.
• JLG 800AJ: 26.4 m, outreach 15.8 m.
• Genie Z-80/60: 25.8 m, outreach 18.3 m.

Telescopic boom lifts give a long, straight reach to tall façades, silos and chimneys:

• Haulotte H25 TPX: 25.3 m, outreach 16.9 m.
• Genie S-85: 27.9 m, outreach 23.3 m.
• JLG 860SJ: 28.2 m.

A platform at about 23–26 m means a building of 8–9 storeys.

Which lift should I use above 30 m?

Above 30 m the articulating boom lifts are:

• Genie Z-135/70 and ZX-135/70: 43 m, horizontal outreach 21.3 m, capacity 272 kg.
• JLG 1250AJP: 40.3 m, capacity 450 kg.

The telescopic boom lifts go up to 57 m:

• Genie SX-105 XC: 34 m.
• Genie SX-125 XC: 40.1 m.
• Haulotte H43 TPX: 42.2 m.
• JLG 1350SJP: 43.3 m.
• Genie SX-180 (the highest in our fleet): 56.9 m, outreach 24.4 m, capacity 340 kg.

A height of 43 m reaches the façade of a 13–14 storey building, tall halls, grain elevators and chimneys. An articulating boom lets you get round lower buildings and canopies, while a telescopic boom gives a long, straight reach. The machines weigh 19–25 t, so they need firm, level ground and a parking space of about 13–16 m in length and 2.5–3.9 m in width.

How much does a 20–28 m lift weigh and what ground does it need?

The weight depends on the type and the height:

• Articulating boom lifts of 20 m: 7.5–11.7 t.
• Articulating boom lifts of 26 m: 14–17 t.
• Telescopic boom lifts of 20–28 m: 9.4–17.2 t.
• Machines of 40–43 m: about 20–21 t.
• Genie SX-180 (57 m): 24.9 t.

Machines this heavy are placed on firm, load-bearing ground or an industrial floor. Block paving, garage floor slabs and fresh excavations are ruled out or need plates that spread the load. Before delivery, the access route and the parking position must be checked.

A 25 m lift or a truck-mounted lift?

A self-propelled articulating or telescopic boom lift of 25–28 m works across the whole yard without repositioning outriggers and drives onto unsurfaced ground (4×4), so it suits building sites, halls under construction, silos and façades with limited access. A truck-mounted lift (a platform on a lorry) is quicker to arrive on a public road and better for spot jobs by the street, but it needs a firm place for its outriggers and cannot drive onto a building site.