Aug 27, 2026Success Stories
8.7-Meter Custom Platform for a Korean Factory – A 15-Year Success Story
Custom 8.7m length platform (600mm wide, 3 sections, 200mm extensions) for Korean factory in 2011. 6 revisions, 30‑day delivery, Still flawless after 15+ years.
The Challenge
In August 2011, a major Korean manufacturer approached us with an unusual request. Their factory floor was packed with robotic arms and automated production lines. Maintenance crews needed to reach overhead equipment spanning a long continuous area, but any access platform had to fit between the robots without interfering with their movement.
They needed a mobile elevating work platform with:
- Platform height: 4.5 m
- Platform length: 8,700 mm (extraordinary for this type of machine)
- Platform width: 600 mm (to slip between robotic stations)
- Three separate platform sections, each with a 200 mm side extension
- Rated load: 200 kg
- Power: AC 220V/60Hz, 1.5 kW motor
- Stowed size: 9,720 × 600 × 2,000 mm
- Weight: ~800 kg
This was not a standard product. It had to be custom‑engineered from scratch.
The Approach
We partnered with our local Korean dealer and formed a joint team of engineers. The design phase alone took three months (August – November 2011) , during which we went through six complete design revisions. Each version addressed new constraints – platform length, stability, guardrail height, extension mechanism, and transportability.
Because the 8.7‑meter platform was too long for a standard shipping container, we designed it in three sectional modules. Each section’s length was carefully calculated to fit container dimensions while also matching the robot‑free zones on the factory floor.
Once the final design (Version 6) was approved in November, the client needed the equipment urgently. Our production team delivered in less than 30 days – from raw materials to finished assembly, quality checks, and crating.
The Outcome
The platform arrived in Korea on schedule. However, the client flagged a minor cosmetic issue with the paint finish – not functional, but important to their quality standards.
We chose to solve the problem locally. We arranged and paid for surface re‑treatment in Korea, turning a potential dispute into a demonstration of our commitment. Our dealer coordinated the work, and the platform was refinished to the client’s full satisfaction.
On‑site assembly followed. Our team worked with the client’s maintenance staff to install and align the three sections, test all extensions, and verify safe operation in the crowded factory environment.
The result: The platform performed flawlessly from day one – and it has continued to work without any issues for over 15 years.
Key Lessons
- Custom solutions take time and iterations. Six versions weren’t failures – they were steps toward the right answer.
- Shipping constraints must be designed in early. Sectional design saved the project.
- Collaboration across borders is essential. Our Chinese team and Korean dealer worked as one.
- Handle problems with ownership. The paint issue became a trust‑building moment.
- Quality engineering endures. Fifteen years of trouble‑free operation is the best proof.
This project remains one of the most memorable of my career – not because it was easy, but because it tested everything we had. And it still stands as a testament to what happens when you listen, iterate, and never compromise.
Need a custom access solution for a tight or complex site? We’ve been solving challenges like this for nearly two decades. Let’s talk.