23 October 2013, 00:00
Power capacity for mobile networks continues to grow relentlessly. In response to this ever-growing demand, all the major telecommunication providers (Vodafone, Telekom and O2) began developing the "LTE" network in Germany in 2010. This is not occuring arbitrarily, but in a well-planned manner. Urban areas and cities, such as Oberhausen, are first in line to receive this new service. In the Rothebusch district, Gerken GmbH - the prominent aerial work platform rental company - is supporting the modification/expansion work with its new STEIGER ® T 720.
Most mobile phone owners are familiar with the popular and standardized “UMTS” system. This system, which has been providing Germany with "mobile Internet" for over 10 years, is slowly reaching the limits of its capacity. As the use of mobile internet increases even more in the coming years, telecommunication companies have to act now in order to prepare for the future. The new and not yet widespread "LTE" (Longer Term Evolution) will eventually replace the "UMTS" system. To accomplish this, all radio masts must be upgraded accordingly.
The radio mast is about 48 m tall and is located in the middle of a residential area. In order to rebuild the mobile phone tower, a STEIGER ® model is needed because the heavy steel parts cannot be carried up by climbers. Some areas of the mast are not accessible using the climbing ladder. In addition, the mast has a railway track on one side and a house on the other. "An extremely high degree of versatility is required for this assignment”, says Andreas Schmitz of Gerken, “The RUTHMANN STEIGER ® T 720 is the only work platform that is able to provide this kind of versatility. The highly-efficient 3-section telescoping upper boom and 180° swiveling range of the jib (RÜSSEL ®) make it possible to reach all sides of the radio mast without any degree of difficulty.”
"Here in Oberhausen, we are doing conversion work for Telekom”, explains one of the service technicians. "We have allowed 3 days for the entire conversion. First, the old UMTS antennas must be removed and replaced with new ones. Then, a new lightning rod and new LTE antennas will have to be installed. "
The large and heavy steel parts for the antenna and mounts for the lightning rod are lifted up in the working cage. With a 600kg cage load capacity, this is not a problem for the RUTHMANN STEIGER ® T 720. The interior of the working cage is a spacious 3.7 m² (fully telescoped) – room enough for the two service technicians, the operator, and all necessary tools and equipment.
Andreas Schmitz – driver/operator of the STEIGER ® T 720 and employee of Gerken GmbH – confidently navigates the working cage to the radio mast. "There is a great deal of sensitivity required. The mast is out of service for modifications, but the technicians must still be brought as close as possible to the desired location. In assignments such as these, it is important that the controls of the work platform are easy to use and precise. The STEIGER ® T 720 is perfect for this job.”
“Large machines by other manufacturers are not nearly as versatile”, says Mr. Gerken when talking about this 72 m truck-mounted aerial work platform. “The jib (RÜSSEL ®) and the innovative boom system make the real difference here”. We have now been using the HEIGHT performance-STEIGER ® T 720 since May, 2013. The amazing agility of this work platform can be seen time and again in a great variety of assignments including wind turbine maintenance, large stage construction for special events, and building maintenance. The RUTHMANN STEIGER ® T 720 has even been deployed at the Reichstag in Berlin. Our customers are more than satisfied.”
Gerken GmbH is one of the largest rental companies for truck-mounted aerial work platforms in Germany. The company operates across Europe and will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in the autumn of 2013. The rental fleet consists of more than 4,200 machines and includes a broad range of special and large-scale 60 m work platforms. The company is actually world leader for machines of this magnitude. Visit www.gerken-arbeitsbuehnen.de to learn more about Gerken.
The STEIGER ® T 720, T 460 and T 540 are models in RUTHMANN's highly-successful HEIGHT performance-series. RUTHMANN has already sold more than 70 HEIGHT performance-models to its customers around the world, even though the series has only been on the market since the spring of 2012. In the summer of 2013, RUTHMANN added an additional model – the T 380 – to this successful product line. The fifth machine in this series – the T 630 – is scheduled to make its debut in the autumn of 2013.
Source: Ruthmann GmbH & Co. KG