Both machines are self-propelled boom lifts, both are sold by working height, and both carry a platform to the same kind of work. The difference is how the platform arrives: an articulated boom folds at a knuckle and can drop the platform behind an obstacle, while a telescopic boom extends in a straight line to reach higher and further over open ground. Choosing between them is mostly a question about what sits between the machine and the work point.
What an articulated boom can do that a telescopic cannot
The articulating jib changes the shape of the machine’s envelope. Instead of a straight line from the base to the platform, the boom rises vertically, folds at the knuckle and then reaches out and down, so the platform can be positioned above and behind a racking row, over a pipe bridge or on the far side of a machine that cannot be moved. In our range the up-and-over clearance is 7.86 m on the 16 m and 18 m models and 8.54 m on the 20 m and 22 m models.
That flexibility is also why articulated booms are the usual choice for indoor and plant maintenance, where the work is close in and the obstacles are overhead rather than far away.
What a telescopic boom does better
A telescopic boom trades the knuckle for reach. The boom sections slide out in a straight line, which gives the machine a much larger working radius and up-and-over height: our telescopic models reach 16.9 m, 18.6 m and 21.7 m of horizontal radius and 16.3 m to 21.1 m of up-and-over clearance, against 12.9 m and 8.54 m on the largest articulated machine.
For steel erection, bridges, high facades and any work over open ground, that reach is what makes the machine productive. It also comes with a longer stowed length and a heavier chassis: 11,960 kg to 16,600 kg for the telescopic models against 6,850 kg to 9,000 kg for the articulated range.
The two ranges side by side
| Articulated model | Working height | Platform height | Working radius | Up-and-over | Platform capacity | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MPA16E | 16.58 m | 14.58 m | 8.45 m | 7.86 m | 256 / 350 kg | 6,850 kg |
| MPA18E | 18 m | 16 m | 10 m | 7.86 m | 256 / 350 kg | 7,850 kg |
| MPA20E | 20 m | 18 m | 11.6 m | 8.2 m | 250 kg | 8,550 kg |
| MPA22E | 22 m | 20 m | 12.9 m | 8.54 m | 250 kg | 9,000 kg |
Articulated models run from 16.58 m to 22 m working height on a 2.32 m to 2.45 m wide chassis, with a 355 degree turntable and platform rotation of 160 to 180 degrees. They are the machines that fit through a factory door and work overhead inside a building.
| Telescopic model | Working height | Platform height | Working radius | Up-and-over | Platform capacity | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MPT22E | 22.9 m | 20.9 m | 16.9 m | 16.3 m | 300 / 460 kg | 11,960 kg |
| MPT24E | 24.4 m | 22.4 m | 18.6 m | 18 m | 300 / 460 kg | 13,000 kg |
| MPT28E | 28.8 m | 26.8 m | 21.7 m | 21.1 m | 300 / 460 kg | 16,600 kg |
Telescopic models run from 22.9 m to 28.8 m working height, all on a 2.49 m wide chassis, with continuous 360 degree turntable rotation and 300 kg / 460 kg platform capacity. They are the machines for maximum height and radius where the ground is open.
The two numbers that decide it
- Up-and-over clearance. The height of the obstacle the boom can pass over with the platform still reaching behind it. If the work is on the far side of racking or pipework, this number decides whether the job is possible at all, and it is where an articulated boom earns its place.
- Working radius at height. How far out from the chassis the platform can be positioned while still raised. On a facade, a bridge or a steel frame, this number decides how often the machine has to move, so it drives productivity rather than feasibility.
Where each machine is used
- Articulated: plant and refinery maintenance above pipework, warehouse racking and sprinkler systems, factory ceiling work, building services, and any indoor task where the platform must reach over something.
- Telescopic: steel structure erection, bridge inspection and maintenance, high facades and cladding, chimneys and towers, and long-reach work over open ground.
What we see in practice
Most enquiries resolve to articulated machines, because most industrial work is closer in and full of obstacles. A recent enquiry from a customer in Brazil for an 18 m class machine was quoted on the MPA20E, whose 11.6 m working radius and 8.2 m up-and-over clearance covered both the indoor racking work and the outdoor facade work in the same project. When the same customer needed a second phase of work over open ground, the answer was the higher telescopic model rather than a taller articulated machine.
Frequently asked questions
Can an articulated boom reach as high as a telescopic boom?
In our range the articulated models stop at 22 m of working height, and the telescopic range starts at 22.9 m and goes to 28.8 m. Above about 22 m, a straight boom is the practical design because the knuckle and its extra structure no longer pay for themselves.
Which one is easier to move between sites?
The articulated machines are shorter and lighter when stowed: 8.9 m long and 9,000 kg at the top of the range, against 11.75 m and 16,600 kg for the largest telescopic model. That difference affects transport cost and the size of the trailer you need.
Do both run on battery power?
Our articulated range is available with 48 V lithium packs, and the telescopic range uses 80 V packs of 412 Ah or 560 Ah. Both can also be supplied with diesel power on the same chassis, which matters for outdoor sites without a charging point.
Next step
Tell us the height you need to reach, the height and position of the obstacle the platform has to clear, and whether the machine works indoors or outside. We will tell you which boom design fits and quote it with the real reach figures. See our articulated boom lifts for the full specification, or contact us for the telescopic range.