2 June 2017, 14:49
Among the eighteen rental companies and equipment manufacturers from 12 countries that were on this year’s shortlists, Terex Aerial Work Platforms (AWP) is proud to announce that its Genie® Z™-60/37 FE hybrid articulating boom was named ‘Rental Product of the Year’ by the European Rental Association (ERA) at the European Rental Awards held on 3rd May in Amsterdam. With sustainability in mind, “This is a true four-by-four hybrid machine designed for indoor and outdoor use and with low fuel consumption,” said the judges.
“The ERA ‘Rental Product of the Year’ stamp has long been synonymous with product excellence and innovation that guides fleet owners to the best new products on the market”, says Joe George, Genie VP & Managing Director, Terex AWP EMEAR. “We are delighted to have won this award, which is a tribute to the entire global team involved in the design, engineering and manufacturing of the Genie Z-60/37 FE boom. This machine takes hybrid technology to a whole new level, and the recognition of ERA validates that Genie’s legacy of more than 50 years supporting the growth of the powered access industry by driving innovation and introducing pioneering technology is the right approach for our rental partners and their customers.”
For Adam Hailey, Director Product Management, Terex AWP, “As a result of its unique three-phase AC power system, the 20 m (65 ft 7 in) Genie Z-60/37 FE boom is the first and only true high performance hybrid unit on the market. Providing the choice of two modes of operation, this machine offers rental companies a versatile, sustainable and powerful ‘two-in-one’ solution adapted to indoor as well as outdoor applications, even where on-site electric power is not available, besides offering the economy of between 15 to 30 euros of fuel a week and running more than 8 hours with just a full bunk of battery charge overnight.” Mr. Hailey continues: “While capable of delivering the power of traditional 4WD diesel machines, thanks to its two interchangeable operating modes, the Genie Z-60/37 FE only utilizes the fuel or electricity it needs – as efficiently as possible. To extend run time it also stores energy produced during braking to recharge its batteries, further maximizing range. Even the hydraulic system has been specially designed and tuned for optimal efficiency! For rental companies, this machine needs less maintenance than diesel-only machines but the bottom line is increased rates of utilisation while remaining sustainable which is just what they are looking for to rise to the challenges of today’s increasingly competitive and environment-friendly market.“
About the Genie Z-60/37 FE hybrid articulating boom
Responding to growing worldwide demand for high performance, low emissions aerial work platforms adapted to indoor as well as outdoor tasks, the 20 m (65 ft 7 in) Genie Z-60/37 FE boom lift is a revolutionary new approach adapted to today’s evolving needs. Neither electric nor diesel powered but both at once, the Genie Z-60/37 FE marks the beginning of a new type of 100 percent hybrid machine. Putting an end to batteries that run low, for rental companies its new hybrid technology provides the opportunity to offer a ‘2-in1’ solution that reduces operating costs and that is both environment-friendly and highly versatile to adapt to an extremely wide range of applications.
With the new Genie Z-60/37 FE boom lift, operators can work productively both indoors and out. Equipped with high-efficiency three-phase AC electric drive motors, 4 motor controllers, powerful AGM batteries, an energy controller unit, hydraulic pumps, an electric clutch, an AC motor generator and a 18.5kW (24.7 hp) Kubota engine, this new hybrid technology features a combination of interconnected components that offer a totally new power source concept.
The result is an extremely powerful and productive environment-friendly unit that costs less to operate and that requires less maintenance than traditional machines. The hybrid Genie Z-60/37 FE boom lift combines the power and performance of the Genie brand’s latest 4WD diesel machines, with the quiet, clean efficiency of its electric models.
The Genie Z-60/37 FE boom lift features two modes of operation that are interchangeable at the click of a switch. In ‘All-Electric’ mode, it can provide a full shift of operation on a single battery charge. Used in ‘Hybrid’ mode, it provides more than a week of run time with a single tank of diesel to perform extremely efficiently in rough terrain conditions. In hybrid mode, the machine uses its environmentally friendly Stage IIIB/Tier 4F engine-powered generator to maintain the state of charge of the batteries.
Adding to its outdoor and indoor versatility, the Genie Z-60/37 FE boom is equipped as standard with foamed-filled rough terrain tyres, or optional foam-filled non-marking rough terrain tyres. As part of its ‘go anywhere’ capabilities, the rugged 4-wheel drive Genie Z-60/37 FE offers 45% gradeability, a ground clearance of 33 cm (13 in) and is capable of travelling 25% faster than other typical diesel-powered units. Operators will also appreciate its full-time active oscillating axle that increase wheel contact on irregular terrain, and fully protected AC motors that offer the machine the ability to operate submerged under 91 cm (3 ft) of water.
For extreme usage conditions or after heavy full-electric operation, the hybrid power system can provide a bulk charge while the machine continues to operate within approximately four hours. How? The hybrid system automatically senses if the batteries could benefit from a charge and the generator kicks-in to recharge them. The hybrid system can also provide power directly to the 4-wheel AC drive motors, allowing the system to combine the power of the diesel driven generator and the 48V DC battery pack, maximizing performance when climbing hills and taking on the most rugged terrain.
In addition to the high-precision control of its hydraulic pressure and output that make this machine so cost-efficient to operate, when braking or descending inclines, this model uses regenerative braking to recover energy that is in turn used to recharge its batteries, making the Genie Z-60/37 FE boom lift a true hybrid machine.
The true benefits of the Genie Z-60/37 FE hybrid boom lift are not only recognized in EMEAR but also worldwide. It was awarded “Best New Product - Access” by the Hire and Rental Industry Association at the Hire Industry Excellence Awards held at the recent HIRE17 Conference in Sydney, Australia.
Source: Terex Corporation