Last edited 11 Oct 2020

Cherry picker

1 Introduction
2 Uses
3 Find out more
- 3.1 Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki

[edit] Introduction

Cherry pickers are pieces of machinery easily identified by their long, extendible arm (or boom) with a cradle attached on the end. They are also known as telehandlers, telescopic handlers, and boom lifts.

Cherry pickers can be moved, and are versatile, with a boom able to extend forwards and upwards. Several different attachments can be fitted to the end of the boom, such as a cradle, bucket, pallet forks, muck grab, winch, and so on.

[edit] Uses

They are multi-purpose and flexible, ideal for any job that requires the user to work at height, in particular, in awkward locations.

[edit] Fruit picking

The name 'cherry picker' is derived from their original purpose - to help people pick cherries. It is still possible to find them being used in fruit orchards, helping to get the hard to reach fruit at the tops of trees and in difficult to reach locations.

These machines revolutionised how people could pick fruit and ensured the best fruit could always be picked in safe manner – with no danger of falling. They have also made the process of picking fruit more efficient through time savings and the reduced risk of losing fruit to falls.

Other uses of cherry pickers include:

[edit] Construction

Cherry pickers can be used to gain access to upper floors of construction works without needing to erect scaffolding or use cranes. Their mobility and flexibility means that they can give rapid access to a number of different locations.

[edit] Telegraph poles

Cherry pickers allow engineers to reach the top of telegraph poles to either inspect or repair cabling. This highly-skilled job has been made much less dangerous and complex by the use of cherry pickers. Previously, engineers had to ascend the poles a ladder, or by climbing them. Now they can reach the top in the relative safety of the cherry picker’s cradle with space for their tools and for multiple engineers.

[edit] Cleaning

Maintenance of building facades is very important, but can be difficult due to height, difficult shapes and poor access. Cherry pickers have made the process of cleaning and maintaining the more difficult-to-reach, lower parts properties easier and safer. Workers no longer need to use ladders or scaffolding whilst carrying tools, buckets and other equipment.

[edit] Fire and Rescue Service

The fire and rescue service can use cherry pickers to fight fires and save lives. They allow them to reach the higher floors of buildings and create a safe platform to step onto to reach safety.

[edit] Filming

Cherry pickers can be used for shots that require an elevated angle above a scene. Cameras can be mounted directly onto a cherry picker and remotely controlled to give sweeping aerial shots.