PALFINGER Launches New PBO 5548 IM Bucket Truck With 60-Foot Working Height, 800-Pound Lift Capacity

    Posted On: August 6, 2021

    PALFINGER says it designed the new PBO 5548 IM to be easy to service and smooth in operation, with a low cost of ownership and increased safety and performance. (Photo courtesy of PALFINGER.)

    PALFINGER describes its new PBO 5548 IM bucket truck as a 55-foot (16.8-meter) over-center insulated material handler. It can lift its 24- x 48-inch (61- x 1,22-centimeter) basket up to a 60-ft (18.3-m) vertical working height.

    The manufacturer says it incorporated customer feedback into the PBO 5548 IM’s design, making it easy to service and smooth in operation. PALFINGER also says the new bucket truck offers a low cost of ownership along with increased safety and performance. The company manufactures the lift in the U.S.

    Specifications

    The PBO 5548 IM has a bucket capacity of up to 800 pounds (363 kilograms). An optional elevator can increase the basket’s working height to 62 ft (18.9 m), but it incurs a penalty in lift capacity, which decreases to a still-respectable 600 lbs (363 kg).

    PALFINGER says the PBO 5548 IM can hoist up to 2,000 lbs (907 kg) when the boom is at a 60-degree angle. A 5-ft (1.52-m), hydraulically extending jib can hold up to 900 lbs (408 kg) of materials in its working position.

    The PBO 5548 IM can provide up to 48.6 ft (14.8 m) of over-center side reach, or up to 44.1 ft (13.4 m) of non-over-center side reach. The lift offers 360 degrees of continuous rotation.

    The new bucket truck’s variable-displacement, piston pump hydraulic system is rated for 22 gallons per minute (83.3 liters per minute) of flow and 3,000 psi (207 bar) of pressure. A high-pressure oil filter protects the system’s valves by removing more contaminants and particulates from the oil. The hydraulic system is designed to minimize heat production and power loss during idling.

    PALFINGER says the PBO 5548 IM is easy to adapt to suitable truck chassis. It has a stowed height of 11.75 ft (3.58 m) assuming a 40-in. (1,016-millimeter) vehicle frame height. A winch supplies up to 2,000 lbs of tractive power.

    Features

    PALFINGER built the PBO 5548 IM with productivity and operator comfort in mind. It smoothed out the lift’s variable control functions and ride quality, and it increased the boom’s function speeds. The rigid boom exhibits minimal deflection, the company says. Two sets of outriggers with a boom interlock provide stabilization during work on power lines, lighting, bridges, and other applications.


    The PBO 5548 IM offers a 60-foot vertical working height and up to 48.6 ft of horizontal reach. (Photo courtesy of PALFINGER.)

    The PBO 5548 IM’s bucket can rotate 90 degrees. The aerial’s upper controls include a dual hydraulic tool circuit for working at height. The manufacturer made the lift’s protective covers out of military-grade plastic to ward off tree branches and obstructions overhead.

    PALFINGER used corrosion-resistant pins and bosses in each pivot point of the PBO 5548 IM’s boom. Composite bushings, pins with trademarked coatings, and other proprietary components prevent rust and reduce maintenance requirements. All pin bushings in the lift are replaceable.

    Safety First

    For safety, PALFINGER designed the pin between the PBO 5548 IM’s bucket and boom with triple-redundant fastening. Also, the boom tip is made of steel with fiberglass bonded to it to avoid metal-to-metal contact with power lines.

    An overstow protection feature automatically reduces the boom speed as it folds down into its cradle for transport. PALFINGER improved the boom’s hose containment system and devised easier access to both upper and lower boom hoses for inspections and maintenance purposes. The PBO 5548 IM provides more working and storage space, the manufacturer says, because its hydraulic tank has been relocated outside of the load area.

    Besides the 24-in. (61-cm) elevator, PALFINGER offers a few other options for the PBO 5548 IM. They include a 69-kilovolt, Category B insulation rating; a pilot-operated hydraulic system; an automatic engine throttle feature; and an engine start/stop switch in the basket.

    Source: PALFINGER

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