While the industrial access has been using large truck-mounted aerial platforms for wind turbines and such for a long time, the fire and rescue aerials have been limited to the heights of about 100-135ft.

North America fire services commonly use aerial ladders, that tend to have lower heights than the articulated aerial platforms with a solid steel boom as the main structure. Another limiting factor has perhaps been the size of larger, over 200-foot aerials, that can be bulky and difficult to navigate through ordinary city streets.

Bronto Skylift 230-foot articulated aerial platform, the Bronto F230RPX, is set to shakeup the aerial access market. The 230ft-working height is equivalent to 20 floors, and the aerial is compactly mounted on a Mack chassis. The previous maximum height of North American aerials, 135ft, corresponds to about 11 floors. In other words, the F230RPX enables nine floors more vertical reach for fire departments all over North America.

While there is a big increase to the operational rescue height, the reach can be seen in many different ways. Also the horizontal reach and so called up-and-over are much improved from what has traditionally been offered. Maximum horizontal reach is 105ft, while most of previous models offer less than 90ft. The capability to reach up and over for example the parapet walls and lower roofs is 34ft. Reach below grade from river banks and bridges is about 20ft.

The first unit was developed, designed, built and delivered in collaboration with 1200 Degrees, an experienced Bronto Skylift partner in Canada. 1200 Degrees will be the local service provider making sure the unit remains safe and ready to serve during the years to come