A telehandler or telescopic
handler is a versatile piece of equipment primarily used for lifting, moving,
and positioning materials. It combines the functionality of a forklift and a
crane, offering extended reach capabilities along with lifting capacities. The
telescopic arm, commonly known as the boom, can extend and retract, enabling
operators to access and move materials at various heights and distances. The
telehandler can be fitted with various attachments, such as forks, buckets, or
winches, making it capable of performing a wide range of tasks.
While telehandlers have
become indispensable pieces of equipment, offering versatility and efficiency
in various material handling tasks at construction sites; however, within this
category of access and lifting equipment, there exists a specialized variant
known as the rotating telehandler, which provides additional functionalities
and capabilities. Getting into a rotating telehandler has the benefit of being
three machines in one. Not only does it move materials with forks like a
regular telehandler, but it works equally as a crane and also as an aerial work
platform.
The rotating telescopic
telehandler is a more recent invention, and it has helped take construction to
the next level with unmatched efficiency and reach. Rotating telehandlers, as
their name suggests, are able to rotate their booms 360 degrees giving maximum
flexibility. Rotating telehandlers have a turret or turntable at the top of the
chassis that can rotate a full 360 degrees independently from the chassis
itself. The rotating turret provides a high degree of flexibility, making it
easier to handle materials in tight or confined spaces and to reach around
obstacles.
While rotating telehandlers
are suitable for work on all construction jobsites, they excel in a few areas:
more confined urban jobsites, jobsites with varying terrain and obstacles, and
jobsites where materials need to be lifted to heights that may exceed what is
possible with a traditional telescopic telehandler.