The new HA20 RTJ has been completely redesigned to meet today’s requirements on worksites. Incorporating Haulotte’s latest innovations, it guarantees optimal safety when working at height. Its innovative design and intelligent concept meet all the challenges of working at heights of up to 20 meters. Olivier Richard, Project Manager, and Cédric Faure, Product Manager at Haulotte, reveal the genesis of this project to modernize the HA20 RTJ, Haulotte’s iconic rough-terrain diesel articulating boom.
Latest news on the Haulotte all-terrain articulating boom front:
the HA20 RTJ has been updated and innovated with the Dual Reach option, enabling it to work on sloping ground.
This technological innovation increases the load in the basket from 250 kg to 350 kg and enables work on slopes of up to 6°.
Olivier Richard and Cédric Faure tell us more about the main advantages of the HA20 RTJ, and the challenges they had to overcome throughout the project.
An in-depth upgrade
The genesis of this project stemmed from several customer needs: to meet new environmental requirements by offering a less polluting articulating boom, and to reduce maintenance and downtime costs by eliminating the particle filter.
« To get rid of the particle filter, we needed a smaller engine. The challenge was to maintain similar performance in terms of cross-country driving. We really focused on the all-terrain performance of our machine on complex soils and environments, despite the smaller engine », explains Olivier Richard on the origin of this project.
As Product Manager, Cédric Faure has been closely monitoring the improvements implemented on the HA20 RTJ and tells us more about them: “Today we’re presenting a 20-meter articulating boom with differential-locked axle technology. On the previous machine, there was a geared motor in each wheel. On this machine, we’re replacing them with a single motor with a single drive shaft that will steer all four wheels. This new technology will give us the performance we’ve come to expect from this type of motorization”.
Cédric Faure also points out that the introduction of a sub-19 kW motor offers several advantages:
- Elimination of the particle filter, enabling our customers to reduce machine downtime and associated maintenance costs,
- Reduced energy consumption and CO2
And he insists that « the new articulating boom’s performance is top-notch, thanks to the new hydraulic architecture and bridge technology ».
Another improvement to the HA20 RTJ is the elimination of several hydraulic hoses. As Olivier Richard points out, « we know that, historically, hydraulic hoses have sometimes caused leaks and wear, and therefore caused problems for customers. We have reduced the number of hoses and consequently improved the machine’s Total Cost of Ownership« .
Dual Reach: the HA20 RTJ machine’s remarkable innovation
Haulotte Dual Reach offers real added value on worksites. This innovation makes it possible to carry a greater load capacity in the basket, and to work on complex floors with lateral or longitudinal slopes. The load capacity of the basket is increased from 250 kg to 350 kg, while at the same time making it possible to work on slopes of up to 6°.
Cédric Faure illustrates what this tilt means in concrete terms:
« The greater tilt means you can work with a tilt of almost 9 cm, equivalent to a sidewalk. We have more tilt and an automatic limitation of the working envelope, i.e. the zone in which we can work. Safety is thus assured, but productivity is not compromised, as Olivier Richard proves: « in terms of productivity, with the extra 100 kg on-board load, the user will be able to carry more equipment in one go, without having to get off to reload or change his equipment. »
In short, once Dual Reach is activated on the control panel, the machine continues to rise and work smoothly, limiting the number of trips back and forth between the ground and the work area. Haulotte Dual Reach thus ensures greater safety and productivity on complex, sloping terrain.
The customer at the heart of the design process
Haulotte’s design process puts the customer first. Olivier Richard and Cédric Faure explain the various stages that guided this project, setting up iterations and always remaining attentive to the customer.
It all starts with the drawing up of marketing specifications, « via field surveys, we ask customers about their specific machine needs, their feelings about the previous machine, and what needs to be changed », says Cédric Faure. Olivier Richard takes up the torch from this specification: « From then on, their consolidated feedback forms my input for starting the project« .
This is followed by various stages, during which the customer is always heard, enabling the machine to evolve in line with his expectations. « We often work with virtual reality (3D) views of the machine in design stages, which we share with customers. Once we have a prototype, we invite customers to come and see the machine for themselves, » emphasizes Olivier Richard. During the creation of the « series » machines, selected customers can test the machines, share their feedback and make final adjustments to the driving experience to perfect the user experience.
Taking environmental considerations seriously
« The environmental aspect and climate issues are really part of Haulotte’s DNA. Haulotte has always been keen to develop machines that are in tune with the times, and that increasingly meet the needs of users, i.e. machines that are more respectful of the environment, » says Cédric Faure. To meet these environmental challenges, Haulotte has adapted the motorization of the new HA20 RTJ. Its new engine, rated at less than 19 kW, combined with optimized mechanical and hydraulic systems, delivers an optimized combination while reducing fuel consumption by between 35% and 50%.
This reduction in emissions also comes with a significant reduction in machine noise: « On sites where there are a lot of machines working in parallel, the quieter they are, the more pleasant it is, both for those working and for the neighbors, » asserts Olivier Richard.
Olivier Richard sums up the rationale of this project: « We’ve dusted off the HA20 RTJ to bring it up to date, and even better, since we’re bringing on board the Haulotte Dual Reach innovation, which will be a real added value for the customer« .
Cédric Faure adds that environmental constraints have not been overlooked: meeting both user needs and today’s environmental requirements was one of our priorities.