An American trailer dealer is marketing a new concept in crane technology, the Jake-SX 500/1000.
The boom reaches just 6m and lifts up to 450kg, but the machine is self-propelled and small enough to fit through a doorway. The inventors believe there is a market for lifting in inaccessible places previously reserved for manual rigging devices or simple manpower. Without outriggers, it is just 860mm wide and 2.5m high.
“The key is in the special segmented boom technology that allows the boom to roll up like a tape measure,” says Mike Davidson, of Highway King, the trailer dealer promoting the machine.
The Jake-SX was invented by John Jacobson who has spent 18 years, on and off, on the project, and it is built by Jake Meyer Inc.
Simple operations allow one man to be the operator and hooktender. Controls on the handle at the rear consist of four controls: forward, reverse, and high and low RPM, plus an engine cut-off. Crane operations are from a tethered control box.
Options to become available include a self-levelling fork attachment and a 4m roll-up jib, the manufacturer promises.
