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Briggs Equipment have become the first company in Ireland to invest in Snorkel’s zero emission lithium-ion powered Speed Level lifts.

The company took delivery of two electric Snorkel Speed Levels at their Dublin depot in early November from Ahern Ireland. Introduced in November 2019, the Snorkel SL26RTE and SL30RTE have powerful four-wheel drive capabilities and are able to self-level and drive at full height on compound slopes without the need for outriggers, yet are zero emission and are significantly quieter than the diesel equivalents.

The Snorkel SL26RTE delivers a maximum platform height of 8.0m, a lift capacity of 680kg and a spacious 1.72m x 4.6m platform with the 0.91m roll-out deck extension deployed. The larger Snorkel SL30RTE can reach a maximum platform height of 9.0m, lifting a maximum platform capacity of 590kg, and has a fixed platform of 1.72m x 4.23m.

Both models come equipped as standard with 11.5kW Li-ion batteries with integrated battery management (BMS) systems. This standard two battery pack system has been proven to deliver at least an eight-hour shift on a single charge, and in some cases, up to one week between charges, subject to usage. Designed for outdoor applications, the powerful and efficient AC electric motor creates efficiencies in the hydraulic drive system with higher torque than a diesel engine, which in turn provides improved gradeability and enhanced performance on rough terrain than traditional combustion lifts.

Manufactured by Snorkel in the U.K., the SL26RTE and SL30RTE were available from Ahern Ireland’s inventory in Rathcoole for fast delivery, and Briggs Equipment were able to put the units out on hire almost immediately. The SL26RTE was deployed in its first job on a retail park being used to lift workers to clean building facades. The customer was very pleased with the performance of the unit, especially the Speed Level’s capability to be driven at full height while positioned on the pavement.

Martin Masterson, Short Term Hire Manager at Briggs Equipment in Dublin, said, “We are really impressed with the two electric Snorkel Speed Level’s. We are finding many benefits to the unique design of the Speed Level in terms of its ability to be driven at full height unlike a comparative rough terrain scissor lift, and our customers, depot team and delivery drivers are also appreciating the clean and quiet operation of these electric lifts.”

“As a leading hire company, we recognize the importance of embracing cleaner equipment in our fleet and are delighted to be the first company in Ireland to invest in the electric Speed Level and Snorkel’s lithium-ion solution. The machines have seamlessly integrated into our fleet and the feedback so far has been really positive. I would like to thank Ahern Ireland for all of their support with this order.”

David Roddy, Sales Director at Ahern Ireland, added, “It is great to see Briggs Equipment taking the first step into zero emission powered access alternatives, and we sincerely thank them for their trust in Ahern Ireland and Snorkel with this order. We are confident in the performance of our lithium-ion battery solution and we are thrilled that Briggs Equipment is already receiving positive feedback from their team and customers.”

With two locations, in Dublin and Lisburn, Briggs Equipment provides equipment sales, hire, service and training across the island of Ireland. Briggs Equipment is part of Briggs International, which is the world’s largest global distributor of Hyster material handling equipment, and is owned by parent company, Sammons Enterprises In., one of the world’s largest privately-owned companies.

For more information on Briggs Equipment please visit www.briggsequipment.ie.

Ahern Ireland is pleased to announce that it has expanded its customer support team with the addition of a new Mobile Service Engineer.

Joining the Ahern Ireland team in late March 2021, Colm O’Reilly has been appointed to the newly created role, and will work alongside Lead Engineer, Alec Boyle, in providing field service and product support across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Colm is a highly-regarded and experienced powered access engineer, having started out in the industry with a construction plant fitter apprenticeship at Aerial Platform Hire in 2001. After serving 11 years as Mobile Service Engineer, Colm moved to HSS Powered Access in Dublin as their Head Powered Access Engineer and Technical Support Specialist in 2013, where he stayed for 6 years. He has since held Powered Access Engineer roles with Loxam Access and Briggs Equipment, prior to joining Ahern Ireland this year.

In his new role, Colm will be focused on providing field support to Ahern Ireland customers with service, maintenance and warranty calls. He will also provide customer service team training, and provide telephone and e-mail troubleshooting support as required.

David Roddy, Sales Director at Ahern Ireland said, “We are committed to exceeding our customer’s expectations and are expanding our team accordingly. This is our second new role of the year so far, and we are sure that Colm will add immediate value to our customers, improving our field support response times and ability to attend in-warranty breakdowns in person to help minimize equipment downtime. I would like to take this opportunity to formally welcome Colm to the team.”

Based out of the Ahern Ireland headquarters in Rathcoole, Colm has a fully-equipped service vehicle enabling him to carry most common tools and spare parts.

Of his new role, Colm said, “I am really excited to be joining Ahern Ireland. We have a fantastic, dedicated team and a great customer base who I am looking forward to working more closely with. I hope to be able to apply my previous experience to deliver improved levels of customer support and ensure a first-time fix in most scenarios.”

Ahern Ireland is a division of Ahern International owned by Don Ahern. Focused on equipment sales, service and spare parts, Ahern Ireland is the official distributor for Snorkel™ aerial work platforms and Ruthmann Bluelift tracked spider lifts in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

At its manufacturing facility in the U.K., Snorkel Europe Limited is proud to announce that it has achieved two new ISO certifications.

The company, which has held ISO 9001 certification for Quality Management Systems for 16 years, achieved ISO 14001 Environmental Management & ISO 50001 Energy Management in 2020. Designed as frameworks which drive continuous improvement, ISO 14001 and ISO 50001 help companies to minimize their impact on the environment, conserve resources and ensure environmental regulation compliance, while ultimately improving the bottom line through the elimination of waste.

The scope of the ISO certification currently relates to all actions carried out on the Snorkel manufacturing site in Washington, Tyne and Wear, but the company plans to expand this scope to include the supply chain once all on-site improvements have been completed. An onsite employee Energy & Environment committee involving team members from all departments supported the ISO certification process, and are leading the company to meet its 2021 goal of a 5% energy usage and waste reduction at the plant.

John Gill, Chief Manufacturing Officer at Snorkel, said, “I am incredibly proud of the efforts of the team at Snorkel Europe in achieving ISO 14001 and 50001 certifications. It is a journey that we are taking together, and it is really rewarding to see the continued improvements across the business that come as a result of the many small steps we take each day in reducing waste.”

“The changes that we have made as part of this process range from large investments, such as new energy efficient lighting in the factory and the development of lithium-ion battery powered equipment, to improved waste segregation.”

For more information on sustainability at Snorkel, visit https://www.snorkellifts.com/About-Us#sustainability.

Ahern Ireland™ is very pleased to announce the delivery of a Snorkel A38E electric articulated boom lift to one of Snorkel’s long-time hydraulic cylinder suppliers, PB Machine Tech.

Based in Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow, Ireland, PB Machine Tech Limited has been manufacturing precision hydraulic cylinders and machined components since 1988. The family-owned company has grown significantly in its 33-year history, and in 2019 further expanded its state-of-the-art hydraulic cylinder manufacturing facility to meet customer demand.

PB Machine Tech has been producing hydraulic cylinders for Snorkel and its associated companies for 25 years, which is testament to the high quality and consistent reliability of the components. PB Machine Tech hydraulic cylinders are utilized in many of the Snorkel models produced at its UK manufacturing facility in Washington, Tyne & Wear, as well as at its manufacturing facilities around the world.

When PB Machine Tech needed to invest in a piece of access equipment for their manufacturing plant, they reached out to local Snorkel distributor, Ahern Ireland. Lily Holmes, Managing Director of PB Machine Tech said, “Snorkel has been a loyal and highly valued customer for many years, and our team are very familiar with the brand. So, when it was time to purchase a boom lift for our facility, we knew exactly where to go!”

“As well as knowing we can rely on Snorkel products, it was also reassuring to have excellent local support and spare parts available to us through Ahern Ireland. We received a very thorough handover on the machine from Sean and Alec, and know that we can call on them whenever we have a question or need a part.”

The Snorkel A38E electric articulated boom was chosen by PB Machine Tech for its compact dimensions, simple design and reliability, which is ideal for facilities maintenance applications performed regularly throughout the facility. Efficient and clean electric drive also delivers a long duty cycle between charges, and with non-marking, high grip tyres, the lift can be used both indoors and outdoors, providing maximum flexibility.

The lift was delivered to PB Machine Tech in January, and a full handover and product familiarization was provided to the PB team by Ahern Ireland’s Field Sales Representative, Sean Hopkins, and Lead Engineer, Alec Boyle. They also provided helpful maintenance tips and service plans.

David Roddy, Sales Director, Ahern Ireland said, “It’s a real pleasure to deliver this A38E to PB Machine Tech, and to see a completed machine working in the same factory where components for future machines are being manufactured. We are excited for the opportunity to become a great, long-term partner to one of our own great suppliers.”

For more information on PB Machine Tech, please visit www.pbmachinetech.ie.