Most jobs don’t need the biggest machine on the fleet. A 20m unit handles the majority of residential work. The PTH351 at 35m covers a lot of commercial and industrial ground. On some jobs, those machines don’t have the working height to reach the work face. That’s when it’s time to turn to ‘the penthouse’.
PTH541 & PTH542 are Performance Tower Hire’s biggest truck-mounted EWPs. They are both Socage TJJ54, offering 54m of workable height, 40m maximum radius and 600kg basket capacity on an IVECO Astra 8×8 480HP truck. PTH542 also comes with a 1500kg winch attachment.
If your job demands stability at towering heights, this machine is the right call. Let’s take a look at when that would be the case.
There’s More To It Than Height
Working height is a reasonable starting point, but there are other specs to consider on a job. Horizontal reach is an important stat that also determines whether a machine can do a job.
Both PTH541 & PTH542 have a working height of 54m and a horizontal reach of 40m. That’s an important combination – if your truck has to sit 30 metres back from a job because there’s an obstacle in the way, this machine will still be able to get you there over the obstacle.
Before you decide on a machine, take into account where the truck can physically park and how far the boom needs to reach horizontally to get your team to the job. That’s as important as working height.
Jobs That Use a 54m EWP
Here are some of the Brisbane industries getting in touch with Performance Tower Hire to book PTH541 & PTH542.
High-voltage powerline and transmission infrastructure
Transmission towers and high-voltage distribution infrastructure sit well above what most EWPs can safely reach. Add the clearance distances required under the Electrical Safety Act and AS 2550 when working near energised lines, and the effective working height climbs further still.
PTH541 & PTH542’s reach envelope handles structures and access scenarios that smaller units can’t touch. Operators on this machine hold current M31A qualifications, and Performance Tower Hire can provide approved spotter services where the work requires it.
High-rise facade and building maintenance
Facade painters, sealant applicators, window cleaners, and building inspectors working on Brisbane’s taller commercial and residential buildings regularly need more than 35m. On a 12 to 15 storey structure, you need height plus the ability to position along the full face without constant truck repositioning.
The Socage TJJ54’s 700° turret rotation significantly reduces the number of moves required, which on a tight CBD site helps with efficiency.
Telecommunications
Taller telco structures, particularly in suburban and semi-rural areas where towers are designed to clear surrounding tree canopy, regularly push access requirements into the 40 to 50 metre range. The challenge is getting the boom over obstacles to reach antenna arrays or equipment mounts at the top of the structure.
PTH541 & PTH541’s double jib system and horizontal reach handle jobs like this well.
Industrial plant and stack maintenance
Refineries, processing facilities, and industrial plant often have tall structures surrounded by existing equipment, pipework, and other obstacles that make access complicated.
PTH541 & PTH542’s 600kg platform capacity means you can put a crew and their gear in the basket without making multiple trips. The platform extends hydraulically to 3,600mm, giving the team room to work properly rather than shuffling for position.
Features of the TJJ54
We nickname the Socage 54TJJ the Penthouse not just because it can tower so high in the sky. It’s also about the list of features operators have access to. These include, but aren’t limited to:
- The standard basket is 2,300 x 900mm and extends hydraulically to 3,600mm.
- Capacity is 600kg, which covers six operators plus materials.
- The platform control station runs a 7″ LCD screen showing real-time data: 2D work area, stabiliser status, limiter status.
- The operator can start and stop the motor from the basket.
- Turret rotation is 700°, allowing the boom to service a wide arc from a single truck position.
- Multi-zone stabilisation gives the setup crew flexibility on sites where full outrigger deployment isn’t possible in every direction.
Wet hire only
Both PTH541 & PTH542 are available on a wet hire basis only. That means the machine comes with a qualified and experienced Performance Tower Hire operator. No dry hire option is available. Here’s why.
At 54m, the WHS obligations around operating a boom over 11m under the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld) apply. The complexity of positioning and operating a machine of this size in live commercial and industrial environments also requires an experienced hand. With dry hire, you don’t get that safety buffer.
Our operators hold current M31A High Risk Work Licences and know this machine. They’ve worked it across Brisbane and SEQ on the kinds of jobs we spoke about above. Your work is in safe hands with them.
Do You Need 54m of Working Height?
If your job sits below 35m in working height and within 25 to 30m horizontally, the PTH351 will likely cover it and mobilise faster. If you’re working up to 20m in a tighter access situation, other units in our fleet would be worth looking at first,
If you’re dealing with a tall structure or a large distance between where you can park the truck and the job itself, PTH51 or PTH542 could be the answer. If you also need heavy gear at height, it can accommodate that.
Get in touch with the Performance Tower Hire team to confirm the right machine for your job. We’ll provide you with a free quote for wet hire across Brisbane and South East Queensland.
