JLG Industries, Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation company [NYSE:OSK] and a leading global manufacturer of mobile elevating work platforms and telehandlers, is set to transform the world of working at height for generations to come with the global launch today of LiftPod: a first-to-market elevation device that pioneers the Quick Fold Lift – a brand new category within low-level access.
LiftPod is not simply an evolution of the ladder or podium. It’s different to anything that has gone before, offering a safer, smarter, more efficient alternative that is fast and discreet for use in public and indoor spaces.
A new essential for owners and facility managers of hotels, retail areas, offices, hospitals, public buildings and more, LiftPod is the culmination of many years of research by the experts at JLG and the award-winning specialist design consultancy DCA.
JLG developed LiftPod for the modern business environment, as a response to the increased focus on employee health and wellbeing, and a growing awareness of the risks many indoor workers face when operating at height.
The resulting device promises to be transformative, bringing tangible benefits for operators and business owners in six key ways:
- Safety: first and foremost, a powerful new device designed to help manage and reduce the risk of falls, strains and injury when working at height, and to promote staff wellbeing, via an ingenious ergonomic design backed by science and robust research;
- Performance: uniquely foldable and featuring a patented self-powered lifting mechanism, LiftPod is intuitive to use but powerful and effective for working at height with minimum fuss and disruption. Built on 55 years of trusted expertise and the highest standards of engineering quality from JLG;
- Convenience: designed for comfort and real-world usability, based on listening to and understanding what people need in their day to day roles. Versatile, adjustable, helping all individuals carry out everyday tasks at height with confidence. Designed to be rolled in and out of spaces with minimum effort for ‘first time fixes’;
- Sustainability: patented, durable technology that is sustainable and compliant with the environmental standards and regulations of modern businesses. Accessible 24 hours a day with no charging or power requirements, and designed with no scheduled maintenance, apart from pre-operating checks and other requirements as explained in the operating and safety manual;
- Style: quietly elegant with good design at the core, LiftPod’s aesthetic fits into a wide variety of modern spaces. Sleek, sturdy and compact, easy to store, lightweight and manoeuvrable, it allows users in soft facilities maintenance to operate in busy customer-facing environments with minimal disruption;
- Savings: supporting the bottom line through enhanced performance and productivity, minimal downtime and operational disruption, and the potential to help reduce staff absences.
A revolutionary new design
LiftPod’s design is simple yet revolutionary and draws on JLG’s world-renowned expertise in creating solutions for accessing work at height. It is available in 1.2 and 1.5 versions, with a 1.8 model set to launch in 2026.
- LiftPod 1.2: maximum platform height 1.2m, maximum working height 3.2m, closed height 1.6m (on castors), weight 180kg
- LiftPod 1.5: maximum platform height 1.5m, maximum working height 3.5m, closed height 1.9m (on castors), weight 205kg
All models feature a patented, self-powered lifting mechanism and fully adjustable platform that carries up to 150kg and is accessible for a wide range of personnel. With a footprint of less than 1m square when in use, LiftPod takes up a minimal amount of space, helping reduce potential trip hazards and allowing for maintenance work to be carried out safely and discretely when public buildings and spaces are in use. An additional tool tray adds to its utility.
Central to LiftPod’s design is its unique folding system and lightweight construction, which allows for quick and easy manoeuvring, from storage to required task location and back again.
Improving health & safety, reducing risk
For the user, LiftPod is designed to help reduce the risk of injury and strain. They engaged expert Dr Frank Emrich, a digital ergonomics and occupational biomechanics specialist, to deploy the very latest assessment methods to quantify the impact of a wide range of factors contributing to spinal stress when performing day to day tasks in the facilities management field. As a result, LiftPod helps to address potential issues during transport, setup and elevated tasks to minimise trunk flexion and disc compression, avoiding manual lifting and awkward postures and helping to reduce repetitive mechanical strain.
LiftPod has been designed and built in the UK by JLG Industries, the world-leading manufacturer of access equipment. Commenting on the launch, Richard Puglia, JLG Sales and Business Development Director EMEAI said:
‘JLG has broad global experience and expertise in engineering and manufacturing products for working at height. We are also a customer-focused business, listening attentively to understand the challenges faced by the people who use our products, to understand what they need to do their jobs safely, efficiently and with confidence. LiftPod was born from that process.
‘This is a device that is so ground-breaking that it needed its own newly named category – the Quick Fold Lift. It is setting a new standard for commercial application, offering an alternative to traditional aluminium equipment, with a modern, sophisticated solution, helping to address trip and fall hazards, uncomfortable climbs and unsafe processes.
‘After spending decades supporting operators in industrial and outdoor environments to work safely and effectively at height, we are extremely proud to bring a customised product to indoor spaces such as commercial shops, offices, hospitals and hotels where people are a priority. We believe that the positive changes LiftPod will help bring to staff wellbeing, safety and efficiency within these sectors will be transformative for many businesses.’
LiftPod will be unveiled at Preventica Bordeaux (Stand C02), 14th – 16th October, Bordeaux, France, an annual event showcasing the latest innovations in health, safety and quality of life at work.
The launch of LiftPod will also be supported by a Europe-wide marketing campaign, inviting businesses to ‘Re-think UP’, with activity taking place across digital, advertising and PR channels.
