Guidelines for the maintenance of your fleet of lifting platforms

In the field of platform lift rental, proper fleet maintenance is essential not only to ensure the safety of users, but also to optimize performance and extend the life of the equipment. In this article, we explain the general guidelines for maintaining your fleet of mobile elevating platforms (MEWPs).

Importance of Preventive Maintenance

Regular inspections and proper maintenance is essential for safety, as well as getting optimal performance from a mobile people lift (MEWP).

These inspection and maintenance tasks must be carried out by a qualified person and in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. As always, it is important to consult the machine’s owner’s manual for specific maintenance intervals and procedures.

However, the following represent good general guidelines for maintaining your MEWP fleet.

General Guidelines for Lifting Platform Maintenance

1. Make sure your tires and wheels are in good condition

Maintaining the condition of MEWP tires and wheels is essential for safe operation and good performance. Tire damage and/or excessive wear can affect the performance and stability of the machine. Component damage could also occur if problems are not detected and repaired in time.

A visual inspection can indicate whether the depth of the tire tread is sufficient, as well as if there is any damage to the sidewalls. The labels on the platform wheels and the operator’s service and parts manual can provide model-specific details. It is important to consult the specific requirements of each machine and have a qualified tire repair technician for the repair of the tires.

2. Checking and Maintaining Hydraulic Oil

Most MEWPs have a hydraulic system for the lifting functions and some models share this system with their drive systems. Carrying out checks and maintaining the hydraulic oil are essential for the good performance and service life of the machine.

On a daily basis, the MEWP operator should check for oil leaks and check the hydraulic oil levels before operating the machine. Detecting and correcting changes in oil level, or improper hydraulic oil levels, can help prevent damage to hydraulic components.

In addition to the scheduled quarterly and annual maintenance intervals, owners and maintenance personnel are responsible for checking the hydraulic oil and filters on the MEWP during scheduled hours. In some cases, checking specific levels of hydraulic oil contamination can determine if the oil needs to be changed.

3. Inspection and replacement of hydraulic filters

Finally, it is crucial to inspect and replace hydraulic filters regularly. If the filter is not inspected and replaced frequently, impurities will remain in the hydraulic system, which could lead to component damage. Inspecting and replacing filters and hydraulic fluids when necessary can improve system performance as well as the safe operation of the machine.

In addition, keeping a record of the MEWP, as specified by the manufacturer, creates a record of the date of the last annual inspection and the interval at which inspections are required. This record is the responsibility of all equipment owners and helps keep track of their maintenance needs. Performing regular maintenance checks, as well as preventative maintenance, improves uptime and ensures equipment is ready to be rented, protecting your investment and residual value.

Conclusion

In conclusion, proper maintenance of lifting platforms is essential to ensure the safety of operators and maximize the operational efficiency of the fleet. By following these general guidelines for the maintenance of lifting platforms and consulting the manufacturer’s specific recommendations, you can be sure that MEWPs will be in optimal condition for continuous use.