DiscoDave Posted March 6, 2006 Share Posted March 6, 2006 Hi, This is my first post, sorry if I get it wrong. Does anyone know how much wieght I can put on superlifts. I want to put some Mac 600s and some parcan bars up for the college ball, and my mates dad said that what we needed was superlifts and loads of truss. Also any ideas where I can get cheap superlifts? Thanks :) Topic moved to Staging & Rigging forum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie Posted March 6, 2006 Share Posted March 6, 2006 genie supertowers (not lifts for truss bridges) will lift 650lbs (about 295Kg) to 24' most uk lighting companies no longer hire them, too much mis-use, but HSS Lift and Shift and other general plant hire companies do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted March 6, 2006 Share Posted March 6, 2006 Hi Dave, In answer to your question, Superlifts can normally handle 295Kgs and are available from most large rental houses depending on where you are based. BUT.... Superlifts are generally only recommended for raising and lowering rather than supporting a load for any period of time. There are several safety issues and I'm guessing from the sound of your question that you probaby don't have much experience of using them: - You have to ensure that the floor is level and can cope with the four point loads.- You have to secure the truss to the forks so it can't move- You have to find a way of providing a safety (secondary suspension) or enough redundancy in your system- You have to protect the machine from people fiddling / bumping into it Superlifts are good for temporary lifts ie: lifting a ground support system in order to attach the legs but do not sound right for your application. If you give us some more details about what you want to do and where you want to do it we might be able to give you some more useful suggestions. HTH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted March 6, 2006 Share Posted March 6, 2006 Maybe ALP stand's (Ive no association) would be more what your looking for? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartinGreen Posted March 7, 2006 Share Posted March 7, 2006 You should use a stand at all times rather than a Superlift. Whilst it will support the load I remember that it is written into the instructions that it is not designed to be used for anything more than a lifting/lowering device and almost certainly not for use in the manner you are suggesting. Stands are a far better idea as they are designed for exactly that job. The phrase you need to be looking for is "fit for purpose". Stands are and Superlifts arn't as I understand it. Hope that clears things up for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seano Posted March 7, 2006 Share Posted March 7, 2006 Unless what he really wants is lots of truss, in which case a proper ground support would be the way forward. This is all assuming there's nowhere to hang trusses.For the benefit of the op: Where the nature of the building allows it, its generally much quicker, easier and cheaper* to hang trusses from a roof than stand them on the floor. It could be that what you need to go with your trusses is some motors, some rigging, and most importantly a proper rigger. Your mates dad wouldn't have been considered wrong a few years ago, it used to be very common to see a truss between two superlifts. I'm guessing he used to be a rigger or a lampy back in the day, but hasn't been in the industry for a while. hthSean * - but still much more expensive than a few stands (Manfrottos for example) to put 6 way bars and/or nodding buckets on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiscoDave Posted March 7, 2006 Author Share Posted March 7, 2006 Hi, Thanks for all that input, even if you are all a bit down on the idea. Hanging is not practical, we can't interfere with the suspended ceiling Has anyone experience of using superlifts, maybe there is a way to jam them to act as a safety lock - anyone any suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seano Posted March 7, 2006 Share Posted March 7, 2006 anyone any suggestions?Yes, read the thread again. Its not a good idea. (Unless what you're proposing to block them up with is a proper ground support system.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryson Posted March 7, 2006 Share Posted March 7, 2006 I'm curious, why, exactly, is it not recommended to leave the load on a Genie SuperTower (note, the Super Tower not the Super Lift) for any period of time? The manufacturers data seems to suggest that this is exactly what it is designed for. Not trying to start a fight, just that the arguments might hold more weight (unintended, but appropriate pun!) if accompanied by a proper reason rather than assertions that they are correct! Further to that, if they aren't designed to carry a load for a long time, shouldn't Genie adjust their publicity for these devices? Lifts and Supports Lighting Systems, Sound Systems and Stage Scenery -The Ideal Stage Hand! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seano Posted March 7, 2006 Share Posted March 7, 2006 The manufacturers data seems to suggest that this is exactly what it is designed for. Looks like you're right. I was looking at the superlift rather than the supertower. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete McCrea Posted March 8, 2006 Share Posted March 8, 2006 But the OP has mentioned SuperLifts which don't appear to be designed for sustaining a raised load. With the Super lifts (which my sister company have in hire stock), the only way to secure the load is to stop winching. There is no other locking devices on the mast or winch system. Also as mentioned above there is no way to level the Superlifts, but with the tower there appears to be leveling points on the out riggers. So use the towers for keeping a load up at height. Use the lifts to lift things to a position would be my advice. Or use 12" truss on Mobiltech type towers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Higgs Posted March 9, 2006 Share Posted March 9, 2006 As I recall, the Super Tower was specifically adapted from the Super Lift by Genie for supporting trusses. One of the things that set them apart from the Super Lift (SL) series was the 'mast brake'. The older, and cheaper SL series had no 'mast brake'. If the wire rope failed, the load dropped.Since, as mentioned, they were only designed as a materials lift, there wouldn't be anyone standing underneath it, so the mast brake was optional. I believe the mast brake was (is?) standard on Super Towers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpitkin Posted March 10, 2006 Share Posted March 10, 2006 Why not just use proper stands that were made for the job? We do ground-support truss all the time with Litec TL1's and Litec QX30. I don't know where you are located but I'm sure there are many local companies that can help you. Jeremy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trussmonkey Posted March 10, 2006 Share Posted March 10, 2006 There is a cost issue I presume. A proper ground support would costa lot more than 2 super towers. One thing to note. Super towers are great but used in correctly they can be potentially very unsafe. I would get an experienced operator to help out. I have used super towers on many shows. They are great when there is no readily avialable roof access or rigging. Why not just use proper stands that were made for the job? super towers were made for precisly this job Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robloxley Posted March 11, 2006 Share Posted March 11, 2006 Why not just use proper stands that were made for the job?From Genie's website: "the Genie Super Tower is the ideal tool for lifting and supporting lighting systems, sound systems and stage scenery".Added to which they are widely available (from HSS etc.). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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