Frequently Asked Questions About Cherry Pickers
What is a cherry picker?
A cherry picker (also called a boom lift or elevated work platform) is a hydraulic lifting machine with a platform or bucket that raises workers to height for tasks like tree trimming, electrical work, painting, and building maintenance.
How high can a cherry picker reach?
MCM cherry pickers offer working heights ranging from 12 metres to over 20 metres depending on the model. The right height depends on your specific application and access requirements.
Do I need a licence to operate a cherry picker in South Africa?
Yes, operators of cherry pickers and elevated work platforms in South Africa must hold a valid certificate of competency as required by the Occupational Health and Safety Act. MCM recommends all operators complete accredited training before use.
In South Africa, cherry pickers (boom lifts) are commonly used for telecommunications tower maintenance, overhead power line inspection, building façade cleaning and repair, tree felling at height and stadium lighting maintenance. Their ability to position a worker precisely at any point within their outreach arc — over obstacles, across rooflines and behind parapets — makes them far more versatile than scaffolding or scissor lifts for access work on complex structures.
Boom lifts are classified as straight-boom (telescopic) or articulated. Straight-boom models extend in a straight line, achieving the greatest horizontal outreach for their size. Articulating boom lifts have a jointed arm that can go up-and-over obstacles — ideal for accessing areas beneath overhangs, through tree canopies or around building features that block a straight-boom reach.
Working height for MCM Group cherry pickers ranges from 12 to 40+ metres depending on the model. Platform capacity typically ranges from 200 to 450 kg — enough for two operators with tools and materials on most models. Outreach (the horizontal distance from the base to the platform) ranges from 6 to 20+ metres on articulating boom lifts.
All MCM Group cherry pickers meet SANS/OHS Act requirements for working-at-height equipment. Contact our branches in Cape Town, George, Gauteng or Bloemfontein for a model recommendation based on your required height, outreach and site access constraints.
