26 Years On: The Giant That Rolled into British Access Industry History

The recent delivery of the latest JLG sold and delivered by us prompted thoughts of the first one we delivered twenty-six years ago this month, when the British access industry witnessed a moment that quite literally stopped traffic. In December 1999, our MD supplied what was at the time, the largest end-user self-propelled boom platform ever to reach UK shores. The JLG 150HAX had been specially purchased for one of the most ambitious construction projects of the era, the Millennium Dome (now the O2 Arena) ahead of its official opening by the Queen on the 1st January 2000.
 

Arriving through Liverpool docks directly from the JLG factory in America, the sheer size and presence of the platform made it impossible to transport quietly. For its time its size was exceptional so the journey from port to site required a full logistics escort, drawing attention wherever it travelled.  At a time when the Dome symbolised Britain’s confidence stepping into a new millennium, this machine would play a crucial role behind the scenes enabling safe access at unprecedented heights for a self-propelled boom platform.
 

Looking back 26 years later, the delivery marked more than just a logistical achievement. It represented a defining moment in UK access equipment history, proof that the industry was evolving, pushing boundaries, and capable of supporting the biggest landmark national projects.
 

That December delivery in 1999 remains a proud milestone, a reminder of when bigger and bolder access platform engineering started making its mark on British soil.