Bil-Jax Sets Growth Goals on Success of Towables

Enlarge Image Image 1: The Bil-Jax 3632T towable boom lift is the first in a series of new trailer-mounted aerial lifts.

October 19, 2005 • Before visiting Bil-Jax's plant and headquarters in Archbold, Ohio, last month, my perception of this company was one of a small town fabrication operation. That's probably because the last time I was there, circa 1988, that's pretty much what I found. But much has changed in 17 years, as Bil-Jax has been quietly and conservatively growing for some time.

 

This medium-sized company boasts a large and modern 300,000-square-foot production facility. Known for its steel scaffolding, the company also builds push-around vertical personnel lifts, drop-bed trailers, and has imported a limited number of trailer-mounted aerial lifts. More recently, however, the company set new initiatives for growth — one of which is to become the leading North American producer of trailer-mounted aerial lifts.

 

This issue discusses the development behind the company's new 3632T telescopic boom trailer-mounted aerial lift (Image 1). In Part Two, I'll give you my hands-on impression of its operation and service features.

 

A cursory look at the 3632T at ConExpo last March left me wanting to learn more about this towable aerial lift, featuring a 36-foot platform height and 32-foot maximum horizontal reach. The unit's design and apparent overall quality piqued my interest. It was then that I decided this machine warranted closer inspection.

 

The 3632T is the first in a series of new or redesigned trailer-mounted lifts Bil-Jax plans to bring to market in the immediate future. Although Bil-Jax has grown into a substantial company, it can't afford to become the leading North American provider of towables without thorough product design and field testing. According to Jeff Ott, president of Bil-Jax, the 3632T underwent the most rigorous testing protocol of any product in the company's history. But to compress development time, engineers used a previous model • the XLB-4232, which was introduced in 1990 • as a starting point.

 

Passing the test

It makes sense that a portion of field testing for a towable lift would involve a lot of travel time. Accordingly, this unit was exposed to a full 10,000 miles of hitch time over some of the worst roads in the United States. (As you may know, several Midwestern states and metropolitan areas rank high on various lists for the country's worst roads.)

 

Enlarge Image Image 2: During testing, units were exposed nightly to -20°F temperatures before being asked to perform the next day.

Likewise, test units were exposed to severe weather conditions. To simulate cold weather environments, a freezer trailer like those used for transporting frozen goods cross-country, was used. After spending a night inside the trailer where the temperature was a cool -20°F, all functions were operated (Image 2). After repeating this test process over the course of several consecutive days, Bil-Jax engineers reported that all functions performed flawlessly, although the batteries took a hard hit due to the extremely low temperatures.

 

To prove the lifting mechanism and outrigger system, test machines were put through 2,000 working cycles. A cycle includes setting the outriggers, taking the machine to full extension and rotating the turntable, lowering the boom, and finally stowing the unit for towing.

 

Once the company had a proven prototype, it was sent to a dealer for real-world evaluations. This exercise resulted in nearly 30 suggested improvements, which the company then applied to its design.

 

First impressions

Enlarge Image Image 3: Polymer pads eliminate metal-to-metal contact when the boom is cradled for transport.

It's easy to appreciate the attention to detail given to the 3632T, which features a high-quality 3-mil powder coat finish. Other things that caught my eye: Polymer pads (Image 3) eliminate metal-to-metal contact (which leads to premature rusting) when the boom is cradled for transport; and nearly all hydraulic hoses and electrical cables are protected from exposure to damage from the sun or by chaffing (Image 4).

 

Enlarge Image Image 4: Sheathing protects all exposed hoses and cables.

Setup time is reduced by limiting the number of steps required to set the unit up for operation. All ground operation controls are located on the same side of the unit, including parking brake, boom lock down, and platform ground controls. Wide dual jockey wheels — those that support the tongue — are foam filled to prevent flats. If you've ever tried to position a trailer with either a flat tire or those skinny little hard rubber tires, you understand why this simple feature is so thoughtful. But the most

Enlarge Image Image 5: Outrigger controls allow for individual or one-button auto level capabilities.

significant setup improvement to the 3632T over its predecessor is a self-leveling outrigger system (Image 5), which allows either individual outrigger control or the ability to lower all outriggers simultaneously and level the unit with the press of a button. When the system recognizes all four outriggers are positioned and properly loaded — a process that takes about 20 seconds — an LED notification illuminates.

Enlarge Image Image 6: Standing on its tiptoes, the outrigger system allows for up to 12° of leveling.

This system allows the outriggers to be placed and leveled in a wide variety of configurations. Note in Image 6 the unit is set at the maximum outrigger stance, allowing an extra 2 feet of work height. In addition, the system allows the operator to adjust for out-of-level situations (Image 6) up to12°.

 

Next issue, look for a review of the 3632T's operation and serviceability.