JLG's SkyPower Used to Light Rental Company

JLG 600S with SkyPower generator keeps rental company's service department up and running during recent power outage caused by hurricane Rita. Note yellow power chord running from AC outlet on platform to inside the shop.

November 18, 2005 — One of the businesses affected during the recent Hurricane Rita was an equipment rental location in Houston. Although the location wasn't hit by the storm, wind damage from downed trees in the area shut down power to the shop, leaving mechanics unable to perform normal service duties. Usually this would not have been a problem, since generators are among their most popular rental items. But because of the huge demand for generators prior to the hurricane's reaching landfall, the location had rented out most of its inventory.

One of the mechanics had the idea to use on-board generators in the JLG 600S boom lifts for power. The SkyPower generator produces 7,500-watts (10,500-watt peak) and is part of the Workstation in the Sky package that is incorporated as a standard feature into many JLG models.

So they started up a JLG 600S boom lift, drove it over to a service bay door, and plugged extension chords into the AC outlet mounted on the platform. The SkyPower generator produced enough electricity to power lights, shop tools, and a large fan for three days.