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A huge thank you to everyone that participated in this Genie Xtra Capacity™ & Load Sense Ask Me Anything with the Genie Team! Stay tuned to Genie Aerial Pros and our social media channels for the next Ask Me Anything Session.

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Welcome to Ask Me Anything with the Genie Team on Genie Xtra Capacity™ and Load Sense.  Watch the brief introduction below for this event:

You can view the Q & A below from this event:

Q: How do we get osha certified training on your equipment.

A: Genie offers an OSHA compliant operator training program called Lift Pro. Genie’s two-step program can be completed online and then a short hands-on with a Genie dealer for instruction and experience operating the applicable aerial work platform. Visit our website to find out a local dealer in your area

Q: Will AWPs, DPLs, IWPs and the ilk be subject to the new load sense standards on units manufactured after the MEWP standards go into effect?

A: Hi Dennis, for machines with small platforms (such as the IWP or AWP) the standard offers provisions to meet the requirements WITHOUT the addition of a load sense system.

Q: I wanted to know if Genie has any plan in truly expanding to Africa. I am interested in starting a business selling and renting Genie brand in West Africa. Africa, although a modest market, has been booming in recent years especially regarding infrastructure and construction. European and Chinese companies are solidly implemented.
What is Genie doing to promote it’s product to Africa? Why doesn’t Genie have Programs that promote it’s product on the ground in Africa. Many countries in Africa are still dependent on European dealers as intermediaries.

A: Thank you for your interest, Moustapha. If you want to receive more information about becoming a supplier to Genie out of Africa, please visit our Supplier page.

Q: What would cause the load sense to need to be re-calibrated?

A: The load sensing system would need to be re-calibrated if, for example, the load sense module gets replaced in the field. The calibration procedure can be found in the machine’s service manual. All of Genie’s service manuals can be found online at our website.

Q: How long is the calibration process, and can it be done on a job site?

A: Performing a Zero Load Cell Calibration in the field takes less than 5 minutes. Performing a Full Load Cell Calibration can take 15-30 minutes due to the extra time it takes to gather and place the necessary weight in the platform.

Q: What happens when driving the machine around and the bouncing causes the platform to appear to be overloaded to the load sense?

A: Hi John, there are many different ways to handle this situation depending on the type of load sense system that is employed. For electronic systems there are ways of filtering out the short duration or “shock” loads that may be encountered while driving around a rough jobsite. New load sense systems can be smart enough to not trigger until a continuous overload is logged.

Q: When overloading the lower capacity and the boom then defaults to stay inside the higher capacity will there be an audible or visible indication for the operator to tell them about the limited envelop?

A: Genie XC Boom Lifts have two capacity zones: the Maximum Capacity Zone with a capacity of 1,000 lbs (3 operators) and the Maximum Reach Zone which has a larger overall envelope with a capacity of 660 lbs (2 Operators). An LED indicator on the Platform Controls illuminates to notify the operator which zone is available to them, or if they are over the weight limit and functionality is stopped.

Under the new standards, if the platform of a boom lift is over-weighted, then the machine will automatically stop the engine and illuminate an LED on the control panel notifying the operator that there is too much weight in the platform. The operator must then remove the excess weight and push the red Emergency Stop button off then on again. Once the weight in the platform is under the maximum limit, full machine functionality will be returned.

Q: Will we address the smaller units for XC?

A: We have released the SX-135 XC, SX-125 XC, SX-105 XC products thus far and will continue to offer XC products in the future as demand for these higher capacity machines grow.

Q: Can current fleet booms be equipped with load sensing?

A: The new standards require that only newly manufactured equipment must have a load sensing system. Equipment that is already in fleets is “grandfathered” in and there is no requirement to retrofit load sense. For this reason, Genie does not currently offer a load sense retrofit kit for equipment manufactured in accordance to previous standards.

Q: Will the load sense on a scissorlift detect being overweight on the deck extension separately from the overall platform capacity?  Sorry, I believe that the Load Sense only applies to booms correct?

A: The new load sense requirements in the upcoming ANSI & CSA standards will be required on all Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs) including booms and scissors above a certain platform area. Smaller, one-man, push around machines with a small platform area are exempt from the load sense requirements.

The load sense system utilized on the Genie Scissor machines is designed to stop all machine movement when the maximum platform capacity has been exceeded. This would include overloading the machine with weight in the extension deck or main deck or both.

Q: What would be the proper way to perform a full load test the platform prior to rental? What kinds of weights does Genie use and how does the technician safely add that weight to the platform?

A: Thank you for your question, during pre delivery inspection it is not necessary to perform a platform overload test. Per our service manuals you will only be required to perform the overload system test on an annual basis. Using a suitable lifting device, place a test weight equal to that of the available capacity in the platform.
An example is shown on page 104 in our service manual here:http://manuals.gogenielift.com/Parts%20And%20Service%20Manuals/data/Service/Stick%20Booms/1268489.pdf
To answer your question on types of weights, we have seen several different methods from solid steel weights with a crane hook attached to 50lb plates that can be hand lifted in. Your specific site capabilities will dictate your preference on test weights.

Q: Is there going to be a clear marking for the operator on the MEWP that it is equipped with this Load Sense technology? As this technology becomes more common on newer lifts, operators using earlier models without this technology can make the mistake of thinking that the unit has this extra measure of safety installed when it does not. Especially if they are new operators and the new technology is all that they know.
On a similar note, would it be a true statement to say that this technology is not to be used as an weight indicator system but is more of a warning or alarm system?

A: That’s a good question and all manufacturers may approach this situation differently. For Genie, all boom lifts equipped with load sense will have an LED indicator on the Platform Control Panel which makes it simple to identify a unit as having a load sense system. In addition, all Genie booms and scissor lifts built to the new standard will have the “A92.20” designation on the unit’s serial plate and will have black and yellow caution tape on the platform extremities, per the new standard.

With load sense, Genie booms and scissors do not provide a visible weight readout, but rather will stop all function if the maximum platform capacity is exceeded. In this scenario, the excess weight would need to be removed from the platform before functionality is returned.

Q: If a user goes over the load capacity, what happens?

A: If the platform capacity is exceeded in a Genie boom with load sense, the engine on the machine will automatically shut down and an LED indicator on the Platform Control Panels will illuminate. The excess weight must then be removed from the platform, the red emergency stop button must be reset, and the engine must be restarted. This will return the machine to full function and is mandated by the standard.

Thank you for joining in and asking a great question!

Q: I would like to ask about re calibration/ overload testing of the new extra capacity equipment. How would this procedure be taken out by engineers? Thanks, Ian.

A: Thanks for your question Ian,  Calibration/overload testing only needs to be completed once a year at the machine’s annual inspection. In this case you will need a test weight equal to the maximum rated load, and room to cycle the machine through it’s range of motion. If however you need to calibrate in the field, Genie XC machines will allow you to perform a “zero load” calibration that gets the machine back up and running. Instructions for both of these procedures can be found in the machine’s service manual.

Q: When applying weights to the cage to overload during testing will it activate at the SWL on the machine or have you given a 10% extra before the machine will cut out?

A: The standard does allow for some percentage of overload to account for machine design accuracy. These will depend on the design of each machine, but you should not assume that the machine will give you this allowance. Your best bet for calibration and testing is to follow the specific instructions in each machine’s service manual and when in use in the field always adhere to the rated load of the machine.

Q: What articulating lift do I need for the following job. Roof repair from the outside. Top of the building is 45 ft tall. Building is symmetrical, has a 20 ft wall and distance between wall and center of building is 45 ft. Access around the building is a 12 ft aisle between buildings.

A: Hi Rudi. Although I can make some suggestions based upon your description there may be other factors that will have to be considered (such as ground surface, grade, etc.). You should contact your local Genie Dealer and have them look at the actual application and let them make suggestions for you. They will be more than happy to do so.