Custom Equipment Inc.

With the Hy-Brid HB-1430 low-level scissor lift, contractors and maintenance technicians can complete nearly any project at working heights up to 20 feet. The all-purpose lifts also allow end users to handle jobs that include multiple applications from start to finish in industries as diverse as construction, drywall, electrical, HVAC, industrial manufacturing, painting and plumbing.

HB-1430 lifts are heavy-duty, safe and lightweight, with low wheel loads that allow users to maneuver them over delicate floors and get onto green concrete sooner. They also provide an exceptional working area, with platforms that are 25 inches wide by 60 inches long and 30-inch slide out extensions for increased platform length. The lifts can accommodate two people at a time and hold up to 670 pounds, so users can place tools and materials like drywall and ductwork on the platform and reduce the number of trips up and down on a project. The extensions have a maximum capacity of 250 pounds.

Custom Equipment uses state-of-the-art technology to test its designs before building all of its lifts, including the HB-1430. This testing process allows the company to use a high-grade of steel, and because it is stronger, less material is required and the lifts weigh less than competitive machines. In addition, the process identifies stress points, allowing those areas to be reinforced without adding a lot of unnecessary weight.

The HB-1430’s dual front wheels help distribute the machine’s weight and provide lower wheel loads. Paired with its lightweight design, the units are able to work on delicate flooring, including tile, laminate, raised floors and mezzanines, with much lower potential for damage. Users also can get onto poured concrete several days sooner with the HB-1430 than with heavier competitive models. In addition, counter-rotating wheels reduce friction, which allows users to maneuver over tile or carpeting without marking or causing tears. To ensure a clean system for operating indoors in both finished and unfinished environments, the HB-1430’s hydraulic system is completely self-contained with only two connection points. This reduces the potential for hydraulic fluid leaks, which lead to floor damage and potential safety hazards.

Custom Equipment designed its lift to provide safer, easier access to the platform with an entry height of 25.3 inches, one of the lowest available. This not only reduces the fatigue and knee strain associated with climbing on and off the lift, but also nearly eliminates potential falls, which can occur when operators are loading and unloading heavy tools and supplies. The enhanced safety results in lower workers’ compensation claims and a lower negative impact on the bottom line. The HB-1430 also features an access gate that swings completely open to allow users to step up and onto the platform. The full-swing gate eliminates the need to duck under bars or chains, thereby eliminating the concern of neck or back strain injuries. Users can easily load heavy, awkward materials like drywall and lumber for framing by simply walking up and onto the platform instead of lifting the materials up and over a bar or chain.

In addition to enhanced safety as compared to other lift designs, the HB-1430 provides a safer, more efficient alternative to ladders and other manual methods commonly used to perform maintenance and industrial work in low-level access areas. The potential for falls with traditional ladders is virtually eliminated, providing a safe environment for operators to maneuver tools and materials. It also reduces the number of trips up and down to secure tools, and the larger platform enhances efficiency by reducing the number of times a user needs to reposition as a project progresses.

The Hy-Brid HB-1430’s platform is operated up and down by the unit’s hydraulics, while the electrical drive and steering system is powered by two 12-volt, deep-cycle batteries. Since the system is electrical rather than hydraulic, it draws fewer amps and requires less overall power. Electric drive and steering is standard for the HB-1430, but is not available in other manufacturers’ lifts. This, combined with lightweight construction, allows the units’ battery power to last up to two times longer, or as long as 10-16 hours.

Finally, Custom Equipment designed the lifts for easy maintenance. They feature an on board battery charger that self monitors the current and stops it once the battery is fully charged. This provides a distinct advantage over non-monitoring systems that continue to feed the current into the battery after it is fully charged. This can shorten the life of the battery and cause it to burn out. Custom Equipment also offers optional absorbent glass mat batteries that make the HB-1430 virtually maintenance free because they never require users to add water.