The new flagship dealership for Audi cars in Bradford recently called in window cleaners to give all the glass a once over ahead of of a dealership inspection. With a large proportion of the building being glass it was of high importance to make sure it provided the sparkle during the inspection.

The window cleaners were requested to clean all the windows by hand so access equipment was required for safe working at height. After a site survey was completed, it was decided the hire of a Track Mounted Spider Lift platform would be best suited. Being able to boom over the top of the new showroom cars whilst having a very low point loading on the tiled showroom floor made the CTE CS170 tracked access platform ideal for this application.

Audi cars are renowned for being quality vehicles so the Audi showrooms across the UK must also match this standard.

Audi AG is a German manufacturer of automobiles marketed under the Audi brand. The company is headquartered in Ingolstadt, Germany and has been a wholly-owned (99.55%) subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group (Volkswagen AG) since 1964. Volkswagen Group re-launched the Audi brand with the 1965 introduction of the Audi 60 range. Shortly thereafter the name was acquired as part of Volkswagen's purchase of the Auto Union assets from former owner, Daimler-Benz.

The company name is based on the surname of the founder August Horch on the 16th July 1909, the name itself an English cognate with the English word "hark", meaning listen — which when translated into Latin, becomes Audi.

From one company steeped in history to another, it was easy to see why Blade Access Specialists were selected for the high level working at height solution providing both quality and confidence time and time again.

Please contact our central hire desk for an informal discussion on how we can assist your working at height requirements.

True and honest golfers worth their salt will relish a new and exciting challenge more often than not… and they don't come much more exciting than Tolladine Golf Club in Worcester. This Worcestershire course is, most likely, the hilliest golf course in all of England and there surely can't be a layout in any Shire in the land that presents a more taxing trek. That said, while it will take the best out of you physically, it still presents an enjoyable round of golf, no matter your handicap. Whilst this is great enjoyment for golfers, telecom’s maintenance riggers still needed a cherry picker solution to access this telecommunications mast in the middle of this all terrain course.

The disguised mast is located at the top of a hill for maximum signal strength, the only problem with this is gaining access to the antennas can be difficult. After we visited the golf course in Worcester and completed a detailed site survey, it was soon clear the job would require one of our Tracked Spider Lifts. With the ability to traverse across soft ground and then set up on a hill side, the Teupen Leo 23 GT was perfect for the task in hand.

One of the specific requirements for this site was not to “churn up” the grass with the chosen access platform. Thanks to its low ground bearing pressure, the 23m tracked cherry picker travelled across the golf course leaving no surface damage whatsoever.

To discuss the benefits of using a Track Mounted Spider Lift on your next hire please contact our central hire desk for further information.

The hire of a Track Mounted Platforms is becoming more popular as maintenance contractors are made aware of the benefits these Tracked Cherry Pickers can offer.

Window Cleaners at this particular site in Salford, Manchester needed safe high level access to the windows and frames situated in this atrium area. With a highly polished tiled floor it wasnt a job for just any cherry picker. A machine with very low ground pressure was required and one that could travel through the narrow door way leading in to the atrium.

Follwing a detailed site survey and calculating maximum point loadings of the tiled floor, the Teupen Leo 23 GT was selected to assist with the high level window cleaning at this Manchester based building. Complete with non-marking crawler tracks, the 23m Spider Lift has very low point loadings when traversing accross delicate floor surfaces and also when the outriggers have been deployed making it the ideal choice for this working at height task.

As an additional cost saving, the 23m Teupen Track Mounted Spider Lift Platform then went on to assist cleaning the external high level windows on the same building. Having one cherry picker that can do it all is not only making high level window cleaning safer but also more cost effective.

To discuss how the versatility of these narrow access track mounted cherry pickers can benefit your working at height tasks please contact our central hire desk. Not only can we supply these Track Mounted Spider Lifts in Manchester but also anywhere throughout the UK.

As with many old buildings, they were never designed taking into consideration contractors high level access maintenance requirements.

The Rockside Apartment Block formerly known as the Rockside Hydro in Matlock, Derby is no exception to this.

Historically, Rockside was used as a military hospital during both world wars and specifically for RAF air crews suffering from combat fatigue during the Second World War.

Isobel Barnett, destined to become a television celebrity in the 1950s and 60s, helped out here at this time. With the war over, Rockside closed and was subsequently sold to Derbyshire County Council for use as a hall of residence attached to Matlock Teachers’ Training College (latterly Matlock College of Education), which opened in 1946.

Following the closure of the college in 1988, the building - now with Grade II listed status - remained derelict before being enlarged and converted into apartments in 2004/5.

To help protect this magnificent building against damp, it is important that all guttering is kept clear.

We supplied a Spider Lift Leo 23 GT for this high level gutter cleaning task due to its low ground pressure and impressive outreach.

Track Mounted Spider Lifts are ideal for gutter maintenance work as they can provide safe high level access even in narrow confined spaces.

To hire one of our Tracked Access Platforms in Derby or anywhere throughout the UK please contact our central hire desk on 01274 745600.

After two powered access hire companies both surveyed and supplied MEWP's to this site in Sheffield it was soon realised that both companies had made mistakes when the machines arrived on site. The first supplied a MEWP that was unable to operate on the main road slope and the second company supplied a larger MEWP which penetrated the ground surface and had to be rescued by a crane.

Following a catalogue of errors by these other MEWP rental companies, the construction company realised the best solution was to call in the specialists.

We attended site and completed a detailed site survey which highlighted the basic errors previous surveyors had made. It was decided that the most suitable cherry picker for the task in hand was a 17m Track Mounted Platform. Only 800mm wide when stowed, this Spider lift platform could easily travel down the footpath at the rear of the property and provide safe roof access for contractors wishing to install the satellite receiver to be located on this Sheffield roof top.

This specialist access solution yet again demonstrates why Blade Access are the trusted partner when working at height. For more information on these specialist light weight access platforms please contact our central hire desk.

We recently supplied a 70m WumagPalfinger Truck Mounted Access Platform to a site in Scotland to assist with the future development of a new off-shore wind farms. To assist developers locating the perfect site for the new wind turbine development, temporary anemometers were fixed in to position on this existing on shore steel tower. Over the next six months the results will be analysed and hopefully provide the seal of approval for construction to begin.

The Local Council and Scottish Enterprise together have invested over £13 million in the Energy Park which now boasts 54 hectares of industrial space. A main occupant of the Park are currently working on a £50m contract to supply 30 sub-sea jackets. Each jacket weights around 500 tonnes and wind turbines are attached to the top allowing the development of wind farms in deep water.

Jim Mather, Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism said:

“We want all areas of Scotland to be able to fully harness our vast potential for cheap, clean and green electricity. Maximising that potential brings huge economic and community benefit and this massive investment will enable the Energy Park to further develop, creating hundreds of local jobs."

“With its close proximity to the offshore wind farm leasing sites in the North Sea, the park is ideally placed to serve the European offshore wind market and attract innovative cutting edge companies looking to expand in Europe."

To see how our vast range of Truck Mounted Platforms can assist your working at height work requirements please contact our central hire desk for further information.

Commercial Window Cleaners are constantly looking for the safest ways to work at height. With modern buildings now being designed with courtyards and internal recreational areas it has placed increased demand on specialist narrow access platforms in the UK.

This particular site in Leeds, West Yorkshire was no different. Blade Access were requested to provide the access solution for contractors to clean all the external windows on this office block building. With the Teupen Leo 30T only being 1980mm high when stowed, it was perfect to travel under a link bridge to access the high level windows.

Track Mounted Spider Lifts are now the MEWP of choice for restricted access areas and especially for window cleaners who are faced with many different access challenges whilst going about their daily work duties. These Narrow Access Platforms can travel through doorways, tackle uneven grounds and thanks to their rubber crawlers, they are even ideal for delicate surfaces such as tiled floors.

For many applications these crawler mounted access platforms can do both the internal and external window cleaning work as on this building. This both reduces the number of machines required on site and also the total hire costs to complete all the work.

For more information on the range of our specialist narrow access tracked platforms available for hire in Leeds and throughout the UK please view our HIRE section (Track Mounts).

The National Trust values its trees and the wildlife associated with them. The care of the trees requiring surgery must be reconciled with public safety. Older trees tend to have more wildlife, including bats, than many of the younger ones.

At the National Trust AGM in 2000, members voted that special efforts should be made to conserve veteran trees. Such trees are particularly likely to be used by bats as roost sites.

A bat survey should be undertaken on any trees to be felled or needing tree surgery if there is any possibility of bats using them as roosts. This would usually be trees with holes, deep splits or loose bark.

When six trees located within the grounds of the Embsay Reservoir in Skipton, North Yorkshire were identified to be removed, a thorough Bat inspection was necessary.

To access the trees at height, specialist expertise and experience was required. Blade Access Specialists were called to provide the solution. Blade Access completed a detailed site survey including the access route to the identified trees and a site specific Method Statement and Risk assessment was produced.

The chosen Cherry Picker for the job was a 17m Track Mounted Spiderlift MEWP. With the trees being located in such a remote location, an all terrain tracked platform was the only answer. Tracking across various terrains and gradients' the 17m Tracked Platform reached the location with ease.

The surveyors were able to complete the tree surveys in complete safety and specific reports on the most appropriate action to be taken for the trees can now be produced.

Blade Access Specialists offer a vast range of Track Mounted Platforms available for rental. View our HIRE section for further details on our Spider Lift MEWP's or alternatively contact our central hire desk for further information.

In preparation for the 1st game of the 2010 season at Bradford Bulls, Blade Access were called in to provide electrical contractors access to the light board located on the roof of the Grattan Stadium.

The Stadium at Odsal is one of the most famous Rugby League venues in the world, having even featured in the Guinness Book of Records for hosting the World Record Rugby League crowd of 102,569 (Warrington v. Halifax, RL Challenge Cup final replay, 5th May 1954). That record stood for almost 45 years until it was beaten following the opening of Stadium Australia in 1999, Sydney's major new Rugby League venue and home to the 2000 Olympic Games. However, Odsal's special place in the history of the game is unlikely to be forgotten.

To keep the large crowds which attend the Bradford Bulls home stadium up to date with game progress, the large light boards display game information including the current scores.

The 70m Truck Mount Platform with its 4m wide work cage made "light work" of the necessary bulb changing!. With a mixture of big height and outreach needed, it was no problem for our specialist access equipment.

To view our range of access equipment available please view our HIRE section.

When the clock tower on this supermarket in Harrogate started to let water into the building access was needed to diagnose and repair the problem.

The works had to be completed through daylight hours and no access could be gained from the car park. With these strict instructions the only option was to access the clock tower from the road.

To enable the 53m Truck Mount Platform to set up in the road, Blade Access arranged the lane closure and traffic management on behalf of the client enabling the platform to boom over 37m!

Works were completed with no disruption to shoppers and the lane was reopened to the general public.

To see how Blade Access can manage road/lane closures on your behalf just call our central hire desk for more information.

The Church of England is reliant on donations and charity work in order to survive.

England is divided into 42 dioceses, each of which are responsible for administering and financing ministry in their area. The word diocese comes from the Greek word for “administration” or “housekeeping”. Each Diocese contains a Registered Charity, often the Diocesan Board of Finance, which administers an annual budget approved by the Diocesan Synod, and also produces annual report and accounts.

In an effort to create a revenue stream, this particular Church in Manchester is now having Telecommunications Antennas fitted to its rooftop. We were asked to attend site to provide access for surveyors to find the most appropriate location on the roof for the new radio equipment.

Blade supplied a Truck Mounted WumagPalfinger WT530 so the surveyors could reach the centre point of the roof top with ease.

After the survey was completed, it was agreed that the Radio Antenna's could be installed securely and the installation could commence.

This installation should now provide the Church with great financial support and security as it moves forward during difficult financial times.

Empty old mill buildings are becoming a common sight across the UK with a lot of the UK's manufacturing labour being sourced overseas. To make use of these disused structures, telecomms providers are using them to mount radio antennas to improve the coverage currently offered to mobile telephone users.

This particular installation required two of our Truck Mounted Platforms to provide the rigging crews safe access to the top of the building.

The WumagPalfinger WT700 and a Bison TKA35 KS were simultaneously used for the new antenna installation works. The 70m truck mount was needed for its outreach to access one side of the building and the 35m truck mount was needed for the more accessible side. The rigging crews managed to complete the installation in 5 days including all testing.

Our free site survey service proved yet again to be invaluable. To see how we can assist your working at height requirement please call our central hire desk.

When needing to work at height within a confined working area, scissor lifts can offer many benefits to working at height safely.

A scissor lift is a type of platform which can usually only move vertically. The mechanism to achieve this is the use of linked, folding supports in a criss-cross 'X' pattern. The upward motion is achieved by the application of pressure to the outside of the lowest set of supports, elongating the crossing pattern, and propelling the work platform vertically. The Platform may also have an extending 'bridge' to allow closer access to the work area (because of the inherent limits of vertical only movement).

As with this particular job, an all terrain scissor lift was hired to assist with the installation of this artistic glazing thanks to its smooth controlled hydraulic up and down movement and comparatively small footprint dimensions.

With a large platform deck and generous safe working load, this scissor lift made the work easy and safe.

View our range of scissor lifts in the HIRE section for more information.

Blocked air vents can cause problems for building occupiers and this case was no different.

If an air vent is blocked, the vacuum formed behind the large "bolus" of waste water tries to get air elsewhere. The force can be strong enough to pull water from toilets and sink traps as it flows down towards the sewer. Because the standing water in a sink trap keeps sewer gas from entering your home, this is a serious situation!

As in this case where the vent became blocked, we were called in to allow contractors safe access to an external vent to unblock its contents.

Although the works were completed in only 5 minutes, using an access platform instead of scaffolding was a much more cost effective solution to a potentially hazardous problem.

More information on these truck Mounted Cherry Pickers is available within our HIRE section.

Blade Access have just completed an interesting job for a production company on behalf of confused.com.

We received a phone call last Friday evening asking if we could supply access equipment to bubble wrap a street! Quite an unusual request on a Friday night, but after being assured it was a genuine request, it was decided that two light truck mounted 20m platforms would be ideal for the job.

The internet based insurance comparison site www.confused.com wanted to bubble wrap the street for their new TV commercial.

The street which is based in Worcester has recently had a high number of insurance claims so their way to protect the street was to bubble wrap it!

The job itself took two days to complete with filming taking place during the afternoon of the second day. Once completed, it was all to take back down. For the purpose of the commercial, the street was aptly renamed Accident Avenue. A short video of the confused.com commercial preparation can be viewed on the video page.

Small vehicle mounted access platforms offer many benefits. Being easy to relocate and benefiting from simple to use controls, they are becoming an increasingly popular alternative to using self-propelled booms.

View our HIRE section for more information on the access platforms.

The cost of scaffolding can prove to be very costly, especially when being erected over roof tops. A much easier and cost effective access solution is to use a Blade Access Truck Mounted Platform.

The chimney on this property in Manchester became unstable following recent high winds. If this problem had been ignored, the chimney would have collapsed causing further damage to the building and anyone inside. The only way to rectify this damage was to take the chimney down.

Due to the urgency of these demolition works, a Blade Truck Mount Cherry Picker was the answer. The WumagPalfinger WT370 was dispatched to Manchester from our Head Office depot located near Leeds and work was soon under way.

With the works now complete, the chimney can now be rebuilt restoring the building to its original condition. The contractor was so impressed with the platform during demolition that they have now decided to rebuild the chimney using the same machine.

To view the impressive machine specifications of our cherry pickers available for hire just look at the HIRE section of this website or contact our Central Hiredesk on 01274 745600.

A Yorkshire based glazing contractor requested the use of one of our Truck Mounted Cherry Pickers in Leeds today.

The platform was used to gain access to leaking window seals on the corner of the building.

Other than just having a high humidity level in a building (due to humid climate), water leaks and other forms of water intrusion into a building is the most common reason a toxic black mold problem originates.

Attending to leaks as soon as possible helps to minimise the costly effects they can cause. In this case, a Truck Mounted Cherry Picker was the answer offering fast deployment to site coupled with an experienced IPAF trained operator for piece of mind.

View our Cherry Picker Hire section for further information on the range of Truck Mounts available.

Truck Mount Platforms have been a common site cleaning windows in Manchester for some years now and are becoming the preferred choice by many.

Thanks to their mobility and speed of operation, they have proved to be an extremely cost effective tool when cleaning windows at height and this particular Manchester based site was no exception.

To complete the window cleaning on this residential complex in Manchester, Blade Access supplied two Truck Mounted Cherry Pickers with extendable 4m work platforms to complete all the cleaning in just one day.

Not only did this minimise disruption on site by not having to return to site the next day but also allowed the window cleaners to save money by not having to revisit site.

To see how our versatile Truck Mounted Cherry Pickers could work for you please contact out Central Hiredesk on 01274 745600.

Window cleaners are often faced with difficult access problems and this site was no exception in Manchester.

We were asked to provide the safest most cost effective solution for window cleaners to access the windows on this residential apartment block. The only problem was they were all located over a canal.

Canals were at the heart of the development of industrial Manchester. They enabled coal and raw materials to be carried right to the heart of the city and finished goods to be transported away easily.

The waterways of the area are now chiefly used for recreation and leisure. Canals which had once been disused and neglected are being restored. The waterways of Manchester and Salford are playing a vital part in the regeneration of the area and attracting many residents.

As a result, these modern residential blocks are often located on the canal banks so the only way to access the windows is to go over the water.

With 37m outreach needed at this Manchester based site their was only one machine for the job - the WumagPalfinger WT530.

Truck Mounted Platforms can offer great outreach making light work of difficult situations.

For more information on our range of Vehicle Mounted platforms please view our HIRE section.

A warm welcome back to all clients old and new. We hope you had a fantastic Christmas and wish all a prosperous New Year.

A huge thank you to all our clients for your kind support during 2009.

Our range of Cherry Pickers available for hire in 2010 will continue to benefit from new additions so keep checking this news page for the latest updates.

Browse our HIRE section of the site to see our current range of Cherry Pickers available for hire today.

We look forward to working with you throughout 2010.

When the cold sets in so do high energy bills! A way to reduce these heating costs is to install Cavity Wall Insulation.

Cavity wall insulation is a simple solution which can reduce heat loss in your walls by up to 60%. On average, this could save you up to £200 per year on a your heating bills if your home is currently poorly insulated. The cost of installing cavity wall insulation should be recovered within 5 years from the savings in your heating bills.

One of our Bronto Skylift Truck Mounted Cherry Pickers was used to gain high level access around this block of falts in Halifax to install the Cavity Wall Insulation. This Bronto Skylift Truck Mounted Platform was chosen because it was able to reach all areas of every elevation on the block of flats thanks to its favourable outreach and stability.

Bronto Skylift Cherry Pickers can be hired for a whole range of external working at height applications in Halifax and throughout the UK from Blade Access. Please view our HIRE section for more information on our Truck Mounted Access Platforms.

Even the British snow doesnt stop our Track Mount Platforms!

After recent snow fall in Yorkshire it posed a few problems for these Leeds based window cleaners.

They contacted us to supply the answer to clean the windows on this newly built extention to a university building. However, ground conditions were not ideal, especially covered in snow.

After a detailed site assessment, the answer was the Teupen Leo 15GT. The platform tracked in to position and allowed the window cleaners safe access to all the windows on the building - even when set up on snow!

Tracked Access Spider Lifts are ideal for this type of application. The uneven snow covered rubble was no match for the Track Mount Hire Platform and continues to be a prefered option for site restricted applications.

For more information of the Track Mount Platform hire equipment we supply in Yorkshire and around the UK please browse our HIRE section.

When specialist access platforms are required we provide the specialist answer.

When this client needed high level maintenance work to be completed there was only one problem - it was inside a church!

The only solution was to use one of our Track Mounted Access Platforms. Not only did we need to make sure we didn’t damage the stone floor but we also needed a machine to climb up the church steps.

The roots of the Church of England go back to the time of the Roman Empire when a Christian church came into existence in what was then the Roman province of Britain, so as you can imagine, easy access for powered access equipment wasnt a consideration at this time.

After a detailed site survey, we supplied an Operated 16m Track Mounted Access Platform to allow contractors safe access to the areas required.

With very low ground pressure, the track mount platform was the ideal answer for this very delicate site in Wakefield.

A Blade Access Truck Mount Platform has been demonstrating it's huge outreach in Halifax today whilst replacing roof panels.

The Truck Mounted Wumag WT530 was working at 36m outreach to access the roof panels that needed replacing in the center of the factory roof.

The articulated cage boom allowed the cage platform to go over the roof apex and back down to the roof valleys.

Truck Mounted Work Platforms are particularly suited to this type of application thanks to their versatile design.

Last year a roofer who decided not to use any powered access equipment fell through the roof and unfortunately lost his life. With this in mind and with the roof on this Halifax based factory being non-walkable the only answer was to use an aerial platform.

For more information on the Truck Mounted Rental Platforms available please browse our HIRE section.

Access platform hire in Leeds is becoming a common sight and this 58m Wumag Truck Mount Platform was no exception.

With cracked leaking windows on the Hilton Hotel building in Leeds contractors were in need of some big outreach.

With the cracked windows being opposite traffic lights the only answer was big outreach from a big truck mount.

The Wumag WT580 has a massive 36m outreach so it was the ideal choice for this rental application. Parking the Truck Mount Access Platform away from the traffic lights still allowed traffic to pass meaning no road closure was necessary.

Blade Access are not only the operators of the highest access platforms in the UK, but also operate the furthest reaching access platforms available in the world.

This unique position in the UK's access platform rental market make us the preferred access partner when working at height.

View our HIRE section for further information on our specialist platform rental equipment.

Blade Access Specialists have just sponsored the under 9's Wibsey Juniors Rugby Team for next years 2010 season.

The junior section of the club was established in 1992 with many of its founder members now playing senior rugby at Wibsey. Our Bradford Cup Final winning team had 15 former Wibsey Juniors playing. A number of the current senior squad members act as part of the junior coaching set-up with the aim of developing a legacy of 'Wibsey players' playing Rugby League at the highest level.

In April 2009 Wibsey ARLFC were awarded Clubmark Gold Status. Clubmark is a cross-sport quality accreditation for clubs with junior sections. We see this as a vital attribute to aid in the development of our club. The achievement was even more fulfilling as we were the first Amateur Rugby League club to achieve the Gold status award.

The under 9's lost their previous sponsorship due to the recession so we stepped in to provide funding to keep the successful team running.

Sundays game was another success for the Wibsey Juniors. They played New Earswick from York and beat them 11-7!

We like to support the local community and keeping these under 9's focused is crucial. With Sunday's game another one in the bag the Blade Boys were yet again TRY-umphant!

Truck Mounted Skylift Access Platforms are fast becoming an everyday work tool for high level commercial window cleaning and for the city of Leeds this is no exception.

With glass currently being a preffered cladding material for new office building facades, professional window cleaners are in high demand.

We were recently required to supply a truck mount platform for window cleaners in the centre of Leeds. Window cleaners had previously accessed the high level windows using the building maintenance cradle but with high running cost's it was no longer financially viable for the cradle to remain in service. After the cradle was decommissioned the most suitable access method for the window cleaner was to hire a truck mounted cherry picker.

This ready made access solution complete with the most experienced IPAF trained operator is proving more and more to be the safest, quickest and most cost effective access method for modern day high level window cleaning.

With the most up to date advanced truck mount platforms in the business, take a look at our extensive range in the hire section.

Before roofing works could start on this factory in Brighouse near Halifax it was important that every working at height risk was eliminated.

A specialist safety netting company was instructed to safety net the underside of the factory roof to prevent a fall when the roofers were doing their work.

The Bi-fuel Genie Z45 allowed the safety netters to work over static machines on the factory floor thanks to its articulated boom configuration allowing them to install the nets safely.

Throughout 2007/08, 58 people died from falling at height whilst at work and this is simply 58 too many. We have a large range of cherry pickers available for hire which work towards reducing deaths when working at height.

View our extensive range of both articulated and telescopic self propelled booms in the HIRE section.

The Genie boom used for this safety netting job was hired from our Powered Access hire depot in Bradford, Yorkshire.

Flexibility and control is why more and more people are choosing to self operate vehicle mounted platforms.

With a total vehicle weight of under 3.5t, anybody with a valid driving licence can drive these versatile self drive aerial platforms.

As shown in the picture, these cherry pickers are very popular with signage contractors for both installs and maintenance work alike.

Having the benefit of an articulated boom means they can go up and over canopies with ease as was the case with this sign maintenance engineer.

After attending a specific IPAF training course, this engineer was good to go. His sign maintenance can now be completed safely and under a work programme to suit his self.

These self drive access platforms can be used just for the day on a short term hire or they can be taken on a long term rental basis.

For further information on our self drive truck mounted cherry pickers have a look on our hire page where the machine specifications can be found. Alternatively, contact our offices and we will be happy to deal with your enquiry.

Its not often we get requested to keep the location of our equipment top secret but with this tracked platform hire it was a must.

Birds of prey continue to be killed mercilessly, despite the fact that it is illegal and has been for decades and the Goshawk is no exception.

Goshawks are a rare and protected bird of prey as they were once persecuted to extinction in this country. Since the 1960’s they have been slowly re-colonising Britain, thanks to strict protection laws and the diligence of dedicated conservationists.

Known as the ‘phantom of the forest’ goshawks are swift, agile, silent predators able to hunt their prey while expertly weaving through the trees.

Goshawks are now given the highest level of protection as ‘Schedule 1’ birds under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981, so anyone wishing to disturb them for any reason requires a licence.

In addition to the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 regular physical inspections of the nests are necesary and its made possible thanks to Blade Access Tracked Platforms.

With the nests often located deep in the forests, Spider Lifts are the only tracked platforms to reach such remote locations.

For more information on Tracked Access Platform solutions visit the HIRE section of the site or alternatively contact us direct.

To protect the birds from further persecution we are not allowed to disclose the site location.

With the option to self operate Van Mounted Cherry Pickers, they are a perfect tool for street lighting maintenance.

Having just won a local authority street lighting maintenance contract, this contractor was in need of a Van Mount Aerial Lift to service the work.

We were asked to supply a van platform that was easy to set up, had simple operational controls and was very reliable. With our Van Mounts having these features as standard, their decision to choose Blade was easy. An added bonus for the client was our machines also having full emergency controls from the cage allowing engineers to work alone safely.

Blade Access can supply any type of Van Mounted Platform for either hire or lease. Contact our Central Head Office Hire Desk with your requirements and we will provide you with the most professional advice combined with the most competetive quotation.

Roof inspections are crucial when maintaining old buildings, especially when it is a church.

This church in Leeds had suffered developing water leaks following recent heavy rain so roofing contractors were instructed to investigate.

They called on Blade Access Hire to come up with the specialist access equipment after a Leeds based hire company was unable to offer any suitable recommendations. With grass all the way around the church, we were left with only one option - a Tracked Platform Hire.

The 18m Spider Lift was dispatched to site complete with IPAF Operator and work was soon underway. Even though the grass was still very wet, the tracks on the Spider Platform made light work of the ground conditions as expected.

Spider Lift Tracked Platform Hire lends its self to a multitude of applications which before were just inaccessible by Powered Access Equipment. With their ever growing popularity, Spider Lift Access Rental is in high demand.

Browse our HIRE section for more information on Track Mount Access Platform Hire not only in Leeds but throughout the UK.

Operated Truck Mount Platform hire is a huge advantage for window cleaners when cleaning modern buildings. With many new buildings having glass facades it is important a window cleaner can concentrate on cleaning windows and the Truck Mount operator can then make sure they are positioned right to clean the glass correctly thus speeding up job times dramatically.

A massive advantage for using Truck Mounted Access Platforms is the outreach they have. This short wheelbase BisonPalfinger TKA 35KS has 30m outreach helping to minimise the number of set up's required to clean a building.

Truck Mount Cherry Picker hire is great because the machine turns up on site, gets the work done, and leaves the same day meaning minimal disruption for your clients as on this site in Manchester.

If you need advice on which Truck Mounted Access Platform would be best suited for your hire requirements just get in touch. We would be more than pleased to arrange a free site survey on your behalf.

Our Operated Truck Mount HIRE section has more details on the type of high quality platforms we have available for hire.

We were called to provide the access solution for this site in Manchester after previous cleaning contractors tried to erect a tower scaffold in the water of this pond to give them access to the windows. As you would expect, the on site Health and Safety Advisor put an immediate stop to their attempts of using a "safe" access method and they were politely asked to leave site.

We carried out a detailed site survey and with the measurements taken we were able to advise on the most appropriate access platform to complete the works, the tracked Teupen Leo 30 T.

We supplied the Operated Tracked Platform to site which was able to set up on the delicate stone flooring without causing damage and allowed the Operator to boom over the trouble water. The Teupen Leo 30 T was the perfect choice. Weighing only 4.2tonnes and having a maximum outreach of 15.7m it was perfect for this application.

As we are a solutions provider, at no extra cost to the client we also supplied a Track Mounted Spider Lift Window Cleaner Operator. He managed to clean all the windows in the day and to the satisfaction of the client.

As this site demonstrated, Operated Track Mounted Platform hire is becoming increasingly popular where site obstructions are a problem.

Tracked Cherry Pickers offer very compact dimensions when stowed and unfold to provide impressive working heights coupled with favourable outreach.

More Tracked Cherry Pickers can be viewed within our HIRE section of this site. Take a look and see how a specialist narrow access Track Mount Spider Lift Platform can assist you when working at height.

Our specialist Truck Mounted Cherry Picker Hire desk was the answer for this team of Wind Turbine maintenance engineers. They had to get up 67m to repair a cracked blade on this wind turbine so it could return back to service.

The specialist repair was done by a German company who were chosen for their expertise in this field.

When using specialist imaging technology, engineers are able to view

the stress concentration pattern around a crack on the surface of a wind turbine blade. Cracks which have not yet developed are also visable under the Blade surface.

This advanced technology allows the operators of wind farms to quickly detect developing defects on a turbine blade and rectify the problem which inturn reduces turbine down time.

The quickest way to access the blade was to use a specialist Truck Mount Cherry Picker supplied by ourselves. These specialist truck mounts are available to hire throughout the UK and Europe and are now a vital tool in helping the wind sector engineers carry out vital maintenance.

Blade Access Specialists hold cancer charities very close to their hearts and in particular the Marie Curie Cancer Care charity.

When we were asked by Peter Downes, a local business man in Bradford to donate an access platform for the day we were only too pleased to help. Peter needed assistance to install the festive lights at height and we had just the answer - a BisonPalfinger TKA 35KS Truck Mount Platform which we provided free of charge.

For the past three years, Peter has used the festive season to raise money for the cancer charity by decorating his house with Christmas lights and this has become a local attraction. On Saturday 28th November, the lights were turned on for the first time to over 150 local supporters.

Research commissioned by Marie Curie Cancer Care shows that 64 per cent of cancer patients would choose to die at home. In reality only 25 per cent achieve this.

Every year, Marie Curie Nurses make that wish possible for thousands of cancer patients in cities, towns and villages across the UK thanks to the financial support of all donations made. More information about this charity is available at www.mariecurie.org.uk

So far, Peter Downes has raised in the region of £5000 to support this very good cause and we will continue to support his efforts each year.

Should you wish to make a donation, please post a cheque made payable to Marie Curie Cancer Care to our central offices in Bradford. We will forward all donations on to Brenda Doyle the Fund Raising Manager for the charity.

Whilst working in Bradford West Yorkshire today, one of our operators captured this image of Bradford Town Hall - from a unique viewing platform!

In the late 18th century Bradford was transformed by the industrial revolution and the textile industry in the north of England boomed.

In 1793 a Piece Hall was built were cloth could be bought and sold.

From this point on, Bradford began to rapidly expand and eventually the City Hall was built in Bradford in 1873.

Today, the City Hall remains a central focal point and now over looks city square, a popular eating and drinking area of the City.

The photo was taken early morning at 90m high from a Wumag WT1000, the worlds tallest and most compact Truck Mounted Access Platform in it's class. The machine was being used to upgrade telecommunication services for mobile phone users accross Bradford.

To view the specification of this machine or indeed to enquire about a rental reservation, please view our HIRE page where further details can be downloaded.

When this factory building in Leeds, Yorkshire was victim to high winds recently, it's roof bore the brunt of the damage.

Roofing panels were torn apart and debris was thrown from the roof on to surrounding car parks narrowly missing employees and parked cars at an adjoining building.

Fortunately not all of the debris fell from the roof but it still had to be made safe before anyone was hurt by the loose panel fragments.

We received an emergency call out relating to the dangerous situation and made it priority to assist the client.

We checked our GPS Trackers which are fitted to all our Truck Mounted Access Platforms to see which was the nearest to Leeds and available to attend site. A Wumag WT700 was on its way back to base from Hull and was re-directed in to Leeds, it was met by very welcoming roofing contractors and a thankful building landlord who quickly allowed us access to site.

Within in minutes the debris still present on the roof started to be removed and the area was made safe. The holes which were left in the roof then had a temporary cover fixed over them to prevent rain water damage to internal stock within the building.

Vehicle Mounted Aerial Platforms are fantastic in these situations as they provide a safe and speedy response when it is most needed.

View our hire section for Truck Mount Access Platforms that are available for hire today.

Following a devastating fire back in October this year at a Baptist Chapel in Wakefield which caused over £1million of damage, Blade Access were called to assist with roof repairs.

Contractors are increasingly using the benefits of Truck Mount Cherry Pickers to assist them working at height giving them comfortable working positions whilst working in the safest manor possible. Users of these platforms can save large amounts of money which would have been wasted on expensive scaffolding.

A Truck Mounted Wumag WT370 was used for these works thanks to it's telescopic cage boom and it's 4m wide work cage.

For more information on Truck Mount Cherry Picker Hire please browse our HIRE section where you will find a selection of the most advanced Truck Mounted Access Platforms in the industry.

This 19m Track Mounted Platform offered the solution this week for a cleaning company who were required to clean the gutters on this church in Hull.

After realising ladders were out of the question and scaffolding would prove to be far too expensive, Blade Access Specialists were called in to offer a cost effective solution to this working at height problem.

With only a small budget in place for the works and only a narrow access pathway to the rear of the building, a compact tracked platform was the only option

We arrived on site with a 19m track mount platform, tracked the platform in to position and within miunutes the contractors were up there getting the job done.

Benefiting from a simplistic set up process and a simple operating control system, this track mount platform made the work both simple and cost effective.

View our range of Track Mounted Access Platforms in our HIRE section or alternatively call our hiredesk for more information.

Blade Access Hire Specialists are about to unveil the worlds first two man camera cage for our Truck Mount Access Platforms. The Blade Camera Cage has been specifically developed for the Outside Broadcast Aerial Filming sector and boasts many benefits for the user.

Allowing 360 degrees panning and unrestricted filming angles, the Blade Camera Cage will set the new standard for aerial filming within the Outside Broadcast sector.

The product will be available for demonstration mid December 2009 and be available for hire from January 2010 onwards.

To book a demonstration day with your company, please contact Mark Bell on 07961 987496 or mark@bladeaccess.co.uk

When a roofing contractor requested we survey this site in Bradford to give them access to the rear gutters it seemed quite simple - until we noticed that there was no access to the rear of the building.

With this in mind, if we can't go round we have to go over!

Measurements of the site were taken and the only MEWP for the job was the WumagPalfinger WT 530. With a huge 37m outreach needed, the building rear was unreachable for most access platforms. As a specialist provider of such powered access equipment, Blade Access quickly arranged for the vehicle mounted platform to attend site.

To avoid disruption to the business using the works unit, we arranged for the access machine to attend site early on a Sunday morning.

We often provide cost effective solutions for building maintenance, to see how we can assist your business please contact our hire desk.

Water damage to internal stock was minimised and the roofing contractor was praised for his quick response.

Due to recent high winds, the aluminium window frame capping came free from its holding frame on this newly built hotel in Derbyshire. Fortunately, nobody was hurt when the panels fell to the ground.

Our night staff recieved an emergency phone call at 4am requesting a Truck Mount Access Platform attend site to allow quick access to the affected area.

The Blade Access Wumag WT530 was dispatched and works were underway at 6am. The WT530 was selected for it great working heights and outreach. With a 4m wide work cage the glazing team were able to access all areas of the damaged area with ease.

The capping was replaced with minimum disruption and the hotel returned to business as usual. The Truck Mounted Wumag Platform provided a much easier, quicker and cheaper alternative to traditional scaffolding methods.

With our 24hour a day manned offices, it allows us to respond to emergency situations efficiently day or night for all types of urgent access platform requirements.

After safety concerns were raised following falling rocks in the Sheffield Peak District National Park, essential rock netting work became essential.

The Peak District National Park is the oldest established national park in Britain and is Composed of the southernmost part of the Pennine hills making it a huge attraction to visitors and explorers alike.

A Blade Access Truck Mounted Bison Palfinger Access Platform was used to gain access to all areas of the rock face. The T35 machine was chosen thanks to its unique short wheel base combined with a maximum outreach of 30m.

The tested wire netting was installed by drilling in to the rock face and installing anchor points for the net to attach to. Work is now complete allowing visitors to explore the park without concern of falling rocks.

Visit the Operated Truck Mount Platform Hire section of the website for more information on this and other Truck Mounted Platforms.

Following years of inappropriate and insensitive repairs to stone work at the Grade 2 listed Blackburn Town Hall, Blade Access Hire Specialists based in Bradford near Leeds were called in to provide the access solution for stone restoration specialists to inspect every last metre of the buildings exterior stone work.

Although suitable for use in modern masonry construction, cement-rich mortars can cause substantial damage when used to re-point traditional masonry. The cement mortars are much harder and allow less evaporation and movement than the lime mortar remaining in the core of the wall. This pointing causes stress and resists any movement in the surface and along with other factors such as salt crystallisation and frost action which can also cause rapid decay in masonry.

The local council had decided that major restoration work must now be completed to restore the building to its original glory.

Blackburn Town Hall was opened on October 30th 1856 by William Hoole, who was then mayor. The building has corinthian columns resting upon a rusticated basement, upholding a broad entablature surmounted by a perforated parapet.

Thanks to the Wumag truck mount platform with its 4m wide working cage, the stone restoration specialist surveyors were able to inspect every last piece of stone in detail and with complete ease. We managed to minimize disruption around the site by allowing 3 surveyors to work simoultainiously from the extended cage greatly increasing the speed of work.

With the works survey report now complete, restoration work is now due to start in 2010.

Blade Access specialist platform rental were recently called in to a Manchester based chemical manufacturing plant after it was discovered chemicals were being carried in to a stream by rain water.

It was vital that long term polution damage was minimised so we dispatched a Truck Mounted Wumag WT450 with a telescopic cage boom allowing the contractors to go over the bridge and achieve negative reach to the point of contamination.

The specialist Wumag WT450 Truck Mount Access Platform allowed the contractors to access the source of the pollution with ease. Concrete repairs were soon underway and the pollution was contained leaving minimal ecological damage.

For more information on the specialist vehicle mounted MEWP's we supply take a look at our hire section where you will find the perfect truck mounted rental solution.

Blade recently supplied a Spider Lift Track Mount Access Platform on hire to give access to blocked gutters on a car showroom in Birmingham.

After recent heavy rainfall, the car showroom started to get internal leaks due to a failing water drainage systems on the car showroom roof.

Blade Access Specialist Platforms were called in to provide the solution.

After completing a detailed free site survey, the only answer was a Spider Lift Track Mount Access Platform. The tracked MEWP was delivered to site complete with an experianced IPAF trained operator who managed to skillfully operate the tracked boom between the trees and the building whilst cleaning operatives removed debris from the blocked drainage systems.

To enquire about these spiderlift booms visit our Track Mounts Hire section under the Hire Rental Page.

Blade Access provided emergency access to the roof edge on one of the tallest hotels in Leeds City Centre in the UK yesterday.

An aluminium cladding panel had fallen from the building during recent high winds but luckily landed on an adjoining building's roof top. However, numerous other panels had become loose and posed a threat to passing pedestrians below.

The hotel is located on one of the busiest pedestrian routes opposite Leeds Train Station so it was vital the panels were repaired with urgency.

Just 30 minutes after receiving the initial enquiry, Blade was in an emergency meeting with Leeds City Council, the Hotel and the adjoining Church, then produced a detailed Method Statement and Risk assessment for works to commence yesterday.

Our Wumag WT700 travelled down from Scotland and was onsite yesterday morning at 6:30am. To ensure the safety of all passing pedestrians, a safe working drop zone was created using Harris fencing, work cones and barrier tape. The panels were refixed and are now secure eliminating any further danger to the public.

Due to ground weight restrictions, the Wumag WT700 was the only machine capable of completing the work. With a building height of 66.7 metres and 21 metres outreach from the pedestrian footpath outside the hotel, the WT700 got the job done both efficiently and with minimum disruption to the commuters in Leeds.

After damage was noticed on a wind turbine blade in the South of the UK last week the natural choice was to call in Blade Access Specialist Solutions to further investigate. An inspection team was simultaneously deployed from Germany and we met them on site the very next morning with a Wumag WT700 Truck Mount Access Platform. The inspection team were 70m high in minutes and the turbine was inspected in detail.

After careful consideration the wind turbine was deemed unfit for use due to the damage sustained. A replacement blade is now being manufactured so when installed the turbine can return to normal operation.

The Wumag WT700 Truck Mount Access Platform was the perfect hire choice for the client thanks to it's 700kg SWL allowing allowing all of the inspection team to ascend at the same time.