Mark Elton, director of product management, LGMG North America talks about telematics, electrification, AI integration and more.
RER: What are the most important developments in mobile elevating work platforms in the past year - especially technology that would be of interest to rental companies?
Elton: From our perspective at LGMG NA, one of the most meaningful developments has been the continued evolution of onboard diagnostics and telematics. More machines now provide real-time fault codes and performance data without requiring special tools. Rental companies increasingly use telematics not just for basic location tracking but also for preventive maintenance, helping them identify issues before customers call in. LGMG NA, like others, is building out our telematics solutions for our customers.
Another trend is the steady growth in electrification and hybrid machines across categories. Rental companies are seeking quieter, more efficient equipment that meets jobsite emission restrictions, particularly in urban projects and indoor environments.
What’s new in your company’s MEWP offering over the past year or so?
Elton: In the past year, LGMG NA has expanded our portfolio with several notable machines:
- SS2632E micro scissor lift: A 26-foot micro scissor designed with lighter floor loads, perfect for data centers and commercial projects where low ground pressure is critical.
- M2530SE vertical mast lift: A 25-foot vertical mast lift providing a compact and efficient solution, providing access in tight spaces while keeping weight and floor loading low.
- A43JE narrow electric articulating boom lift - Our 43-foot narrow electric articulating boom lift standout product offering greater height than comparable narrow booms while still fitting through standard doorways. Many customers describe it as a “Swiss Army knife” machine because it covers applications that typically require two different lifts.
What are some of the most interesting applications for MEWPs that you’ve seen currently or over the past year or so?
Elton: We see strong demand for MEWPs in data centers and battery plants, two fast-growing sectors driven by AI, electrification, and energy storage. These projects require compact, low-floor-load machines such as micro scissors and vertical mast lifts, along with narrow electric booms like our A43JE boom lift.
Customers are particularly enthusiastic about how these machines support productivity in facilities with tight access requirements and strict safety or emissions standards. While not flashy applications, they represent real, expanding opportunities for rental companies.
Rental companies can all read the manufacturers instruction or IPAF “how to use” documents, and pass that documentation on to the customers, but what are some of the most important tips or suggestions for safety on aerial equipment that you would like to pass along to rental companies? What are the most common mistakes renters of aerial equipment make?
Elton: At LGMG NA, we emphasize four key points for rental companies:
- Preventive maintenance: Ensuring equipment is regularly inspected and serviced before it goes on rent helps reduce risk.
- Right machine for the job: Machine incidents can stem from customers using the wrong type or size of equipment and pushing machines beyond their limits. Rental companies help play a key role in guiding proper selection.
- Operator’s manuals: ANSI standards require that the operator manuals remain with machines. LGMG NA encourages rental houses to verify that they are not missing or damaged in the field.
- We also support training initiatives through our regional service managers, who conduct customer-specific training sessions to help ensure safer operation and better fleet care.
Looking ahead, what are the next new development or developments in aerial equipment technology? What are some developments you would like to see? What’s on the horizon?
Elton: We believe the next phase of development will be driven by:
· Advances in battery technology, including longer life, faster charging, and potentially swappable packs like forklifts.
· AI integration: Enabling smarter preventive maintenance, usage analytics, and fleet optimization. For example, AI could analyze machine history, site conditions, and environmental exposure to predict service needs.
· Enhanced accessories and options features like integrated step decks, perimeter lighting, and backup cameras are becoming standard, mirroring the auto industry’s evolution.
· More electric and hybrid machines across all categories.
At LGMG NA, we see these advancements not as futuristic concepts but as the natural next steps in making MEWPs safer, more efficient, and more profitable for rental companies.
About the Author
Michael Roth
Editor
Michael Roth has covered the equipment rental industry full time for RER since 1989 and has served as the magazine’s editor in chief since 1994. He has nearly 30 years experience as a professional journalist. Roth has visited hundreds of rental centers and industry manufacturers, written hundreds of feature stories for RER and thousands of news stories for the magazine and its electronic newsletter RER Reports. Roth has interviewed leading executives for most of the industry’s largest rental companies and manufacturers as well as hundreds of smaller independent companies. He has visited with and reported on rental companies and manufacturers in Europe, Central America and Asia as well as Mexico, Canada and the United States. Roth was co-founder of RER Reports, the industry’s first weekly newsletter, which began as a fax newsletter in 1996, and later became an online newsletter. Roth has spoken at conventions sponsored by the American Rental Association, Associated Equipment Distributors, California Rental Association and other industry events and has spoken before industry groups in several countries. He lives and works in Los Angeles when he’s not traveling to cover industry events.