Company Announcement - Goscor Hi-Reach is proud to introduce a first-of-its kind heavy duty, tough and versatile work-at-height machine to the Southern African agricultural and forestry sectors. Capable of generating at least twice the output of one person on a conventional ladder, the Hydralada Mobile Elevating Work Platform (MEWP) is poised to transform the local market when it comes to improved productivity and increased production.

Part of the Goscor Group of Companies and the Imperial Group, Goscor Hi-Reach has over 10 years’ experience as a leading supplier of superior quality, famous brand work-at-height equipment to Southern Africa’s agricultural, construction and allied industries. “The Hydralada is a very new concept to the local market,” says Managing Director, George Landsberg, who identified a gap in the agricultural market for a no-nonsense rugged, cost effective work-at-height machine.

Landsberg paid a visit to Hydralada Company based in Hastings, New Zealand, where approximately 2500 Hydralada machines are in operation in the direct vicinity. Seeing the Hydralada in action ticked all the feature boxes for Landsberg - superior quality, rugged, reliable, compact, minimal service requirements and operator friendly and he immediately recognised a winner. “These features deliver all the benefits of economical operational and service costs as well as increased productivity which for end users translate to increased production, low total cost of equipment ownership and quick return on investment.”

Hydralada Company has been manufacturing and supplying the finest elevating work platforms for 40 years and is one of the longest established manufacturers of this type of equipment in Australasia. The Hydralada is the biggest machine of its kind in the world. With the appointment of Goscor Hi-Reach as the exclusive distributor of the Hydralada range to southern Africa, the African continent becomes the latest export destination along with the USA, Canada, Europe and South America.

Currently four Hydralada models are available from Goscor Hi-Reach: The 540, 640 dual-caster, 640 twin-caster and 750 with platform lift heights of 7.4m, 8.4m and 9.5m respectively. The 640 is particularly suited to avocado picking while the 540’s low tail profile makes it the perfect choice for work in tight spaces. The 750 is currently the biggest unit of its kind in South Africa. “We also offer the Hydralada Twin Lift which is specially designed to carry a fruit loaded storage bin and accommodate up to four persons. With a 2.0m lift platform height, it is the future for small to medium trees,” predicts Landsberg. The machine is powered by a Kohler petrol or diesel engine which is known for its efficiency and environmental compliance.    

The versatile Hydralada machine makes light work of a wide array of fruit orchard applications including the picking of pip- and stone-fruit (avocados, citrus fruits, kiwi fruit, dates, etc.), the pruning and training of branches and the erecting of protective high shade nets. It’s equally at home on the rest of the farm for putting up sheds, etc. The compact picker’s innovative design allows for superior mobility and versatility in medium to high density orchards, providing access to areas previously off-limits to standard power ladders. Boasting the lowest tail profile in the industry, they also operate easily amongst lower hanging branches and fruit.

There is no doubt that the Hydralada machines are engineered for productivity and two outstanding design features make the units truly unique to any other comparable units currently available on the local market, positioning the picker in a category of its own. The operator controls the Hydralada by foot as opposed to by hand. Foot pedals are recessed under a rubber mat inside the robust slew cage so fruit or branches cannot wedge underneath the pedals. While the operator moves up or down his hands remain free at all times enabling him to pick or prune, erect or maintain shade netting, etc. without interruption, making him more efficient and thus more productive. The second unique feature is the positioning of the slew cage which faces the operator away from the machine. With the picker behind him, the operator has full access to the fruit trees. “These features add to the unit’s extreme operator friendliness; comfortable operators are less fatigued, work safer and are more productive,” adds Landsberg.

For even greater versatility, the units are available with twin castor or dual wheels. The twin castor’s wider wheel base delivers greater stability on steeper gradients while the narrower profile of the dual castor version can turn faster and offers better maneuverability in smaller spaces. A third tandem option is also available for extremely rough terrains which comprises a four wheel drive oscillating walking beam for traversing large rocks.

The Hydralada is supplied standard with a 54kg harvest bag as well as a hydraulically operated power pruner, the Hydraloppa with a powerful 45mm cutting capacity. Extra counter weights to increase balance on steep gradients are also available. With a weight of 1 to 2 tons, the compact Hydralada is easy to transport and can be conveniently towed behind a bakkie at a recommended speed of 30kph.

Goscor Hi-Reach supports the Hydralada range with a full after-sales service that includes parts, spares and maintenance. The company also offers fully accredited SETA, IWH and IPAF training from its facilities in Alrode, Johannesburg or on customers’ site to ensure that the machines are used to their full potential so that customers can reap the maximum benefits offered by this remarkable machine.