Ui Withdraws from Self-Propelled Boom Lift Market

December 21, 2005 — Ui Distribution, Fresno, Calif., has decided to formally withdraw from the self-propelled boom market as soon as it has completed and shipped the units it has on order, as reported on Vertikal.net. Ui's decision to suspend the marketing of its larger boom lift range follows an in-depth survey of the market and planned its forward strategy.

A company spokesperson said that Ui wanted to concentrate its efforts on the production of small- to medium-height lifts and alloy scaffold tower production. Ui is likely to maintain its trailer-mounted aerial lift product line and the AB38 products that have always been produced separately from the main boom lift range.

The company's boom lift product line was designed in the mid to late 1990s and includes the AB46 range of articulating booms and the AB62 with platform heights of 46 and 62 feet, respectively. It also has a straight boom range, with the SB40, SB46, SB60 and SB80. According to Vertikal.net, UpRight entered the boom market well after other companies had established second and third generation products, making it difficult for the new entrant but also allowed the company to develop a line with strong performance characteristics.

 

Ui Distribution will continue to invest in product support for the boom range, but it will end new production as soon as the current inventory is shipped.