RUTHMANN T 235 a Deployed at Wind Energy Facilities

Press Release

RUTHMANN “T 235 A” deployed at wind energy facilities

Onshore wind turbines – located in the countryside – are constantly exposed to every type of weather condition imaginable. Maintenance and repair work must therefore be carried out from time to time. This is especially true for the thousands of “first generation” turbines in operation across around the world. These wind turbines have a hub height to 229 ft. With the new RUTHMANN T 235 A, wind energy operators now have a very powerful work platform to service their older turbines with utmost efficiency.

In 2013, there were a total of 45,1251wind turbines operating in the United States. The turbines produced 602 megawatts of energy – or 3.5 % of the nation’s total energy consumption. Only China (53,764 wind turbines) has an even greater number of installations. Wind power generates 3.3% of worldwide electricity usage.

Wind turbine efficiency has increased significantly over the years. The hub height is now 377 ft on average. Most of the older turbines built between 1990 and 2005 have hub heights ranging between 99 ft and 229 ft. According to industry experts3, there are approx. 7,000 of these older wind turbines operating across the United States. Because of their age, they have had maximum exposure to adverse weather conditions. As a result, repair and maintenance work has increased considerably. A high performance aerial work platform with a 235 ft working height, mounted on a standard truck chassis, is needed to carry out the necessary assignments with the greatest degree of safety and efficiency. The RUTHMANN T 235 A is the perfect work platform for this challenging task.

The German rental company, Gerken GmbH, documented the safety and operational efficiency of the RUTHMANN T 235 A while working on a wind turbine with a hub height of 229 ft m in Germany.

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1Source: Status of onshore wind energy development in Germany – Deutsche WindGuard Editior: GmbH RUTHMANN GmbH & Co. KG 2 Source: 2012 Annual Report - IEA Wind Von-Braun-Straße 4 3Fraunhofer IWES - Wind Energy Research Association 48712 Gescher-Hochmoor Germany Fon: +49 (0) 28 63 / 204-249 Fax: +49 (0) 28 63 / 204-5231 http://www.ruthmann-steiger.com eMail:[email protected]

Contact person marketing: Uwe Strotmann

RUTHMANN media service: COEmarketing GmbH Neustr. 8 48653 Coesfeld Germany Fon: +49 (0) 25 41 / 800 68-0 Fax: +49 (0) 25 41 / 800 68-29 eMail:[email protected] Printing allowed – voucher requested

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Caption: This wind turbine near Lüneburg, Germany has a hub height of 229 ft m. Because of its compact dimensions and marginal overall weight, the RUTHMANN T 235 A – mounted on a standard 70.500 lbs 4-axle chassis – can be positioned directly beside the wind turbine. The hub height of 229 ft can easily be reached to carry out repair work, inspections and maintenance assignments.

"Maximum performance capabilities, stability and agility are necessary when working on wind turbines”, says Andreas Schmitz. Mr. Schmitz – an employee of Gerken GmbH – uses the RUTHMANN T 235 A on a daily basis. “The RUTHMANN T 235 A is perfect for this kind of assignment. The amazing performance capabilities allow us to reach all sides of the wind turbine without any degree of difficulty.”

The top model in RUTHMANN’s / TIME’s popular HEIGHT performance series, with its innovative boom technology, satisfies all customer needs and requirements. High-strength, fine-grained steel and multi-bevelled fabrication techniques reduce weight and maximize stability. The innovative boom system Editior: on this model provides maximum agility. It features a 5-section telescoping RUTHMANN GmbH & Co. KG lower boom, a 3-section telescoping upper boom and a 180° swivelling jib Von-Braun-Straße 4 ® 48712 Gescher-Hochmoor (RÜSSEL ). Germany Fon: +49 (0) 28 63 / 204-249 Fax: +49 (0) 28 63 / 204-5231 The RUTHMANN T 235 A features a work cage with a 1,323 lbs load capacity http://www.ruthmann-steiger.com for extra tools and material. The inside area of the work cage is almost 40 sq. eMail:[email protected] ft. in size - room enough for the service technician, work platform operator, Contact person marketing: and all of the necessary tools and equipment. These are decisive advantages, Uwe Strotmann of course. Climbers are only able to take along a very limited amount of tools RUTHMANN media service: COEmarketing GmbH and material at a time. Erecting a scaffold, on the other hand, is an expensive Neustr. 8 and time-consuming procedure. 48653 Coesfeld Germany Fon: +49 (0) 25 41 / 800 68-0 Fax: +49 (0) 25 41 / 800 68-29 eMail:[email protected] Printing allowed – voucher requested

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Caption: The three-section telescoping upper boom and 180° swiveling jib (RÜSSEL®) guarantee high versatility when working on high up objects.

Caption: Currently the top model in RUTHMANN’s / TIME’s popular HEIGHT performance-series: the RUTHMANN T 235 A with its 235 ft working height and maximum lateral reach of 124 ft.

Editior: RUTHMANN GmbH & Co. KG Von-Braun-Straße 4 48712 Gescher-Hochmoor Germany Fon: +49 (0) 28 63 / 204-249 Fax: +49 (0) 28 63 / 204-5231 http://www.ruthmann-steiger.com eMail:[email protected]

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Caption: The largest work cage in the industry (8' to 12'-6" ft in width) – provides a comfortable work environment for craftsmen or service technicians when working up high. Even heavy loads can be lifted to the desired location with ease. The impressive 1,323 lbs cage load capacity makes it all possible.

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“When working on wind turbines, a great deal of sensitivity is required. The wind turbine is out of service during these modifications, but the technician must still be brought as close as possible to the desired location.

For assignments such as these, it is important that the controls of the work platform are easy to use and very precise. Even on windy days like today, the RUTHMANN T 235 A is absolutely perfect for this job”, Mr. Schmitz explains.

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Caption: Sensitivity and precision: The controls of the T 235 A are designed for assignments in difficult conditions. Because the work cage is able to rotate by 180°, the service technician is able to fully utilize the space in the cage at all times. Caption: Combined solutions are often the best alternative. During surface renovations (pictured here), the work on the lower part of the wind turbines can be carried out using a scaffold. The RUTHMANN T 235 A is used for upper part of the turbine because the circumference of the mast continuously decreases at higher elevations. Erecting a scaffold all the way to the top would be a difficult and expensive procedure. Editior: RUTHMANN GmbH & Co. KG Von-Braun-Straße 4 48712 Gescher-Hochmoor Germany Fon: +49 (0) 28 63 / 204-249 Fax: +49 (0) 28 63 / 204-5231 http://www.ruthmann-steiger.com eMail:[email protected]

RUTHMANN media service: COEmarketing GmbH “Large-scale machinery made by other manufacturers is not nearly as Neustr. 8 48653 Coesfeld versatile”, says Mr. Gerken. The light overall weight of the T 235 A and the Germany innovative boom system make the real difference”. We have now been using Fon: +49 (0) 25 41 / 800 68-0 Fax: +49 (0) 25 41 / 800 68-29 the RUTHMANN HEIGHT performance-model T 235 A since May, 2013. The eMail:[email protected] Printing allowed – voucher requested

6 Press Release amazing agility of this work platform can be seen time and again in a great variety of assignments including installation work at mobile communication towers, stage assembly/disassembly for special events, and maintenance work on tall buildings. The RUTHMANN T 235 A has even been deployed at the Reichstag in Berlin (the capital of Germany). Our customers are more than satisfied.”

Gerken GmbH is one of the leading rental companies for truck-mounted aerial work platforms in Europe. The rental fleet consists of more than 4,200 machines and includes a broad range of special and large-scale 196 ft m work platforms – 16 of which are RUTHMANN HEIGHT performance-models. To learn more about Gerken, visit www.gerken-arbeitsbuehnen.de

------The T 235 A is a truck-mounted aerial work platform in the internationally acclaimed HEIGHT performance-series designed by RUTHMANN GmbH & Co. KG, the well-known German aerial work platform manufacturer. In addition to the T 235 A RUTHMANN's / TIME’s highly successful HEIGHT performance-series include the models T 125 A, T 150 A, T 175 A and T 205 A. The series was developed in cooperation with the TIME Manufacturing Company of Waco Texas on the basis of customers needs.

RUTHMANN has now sold more than 100 HEIGHT performance models to customers around the world even though the series has only been on the market since the spring of 2012.

TIME Manufacturing Company of Waco Texas is – together with it´s strong network – the distribution and after-sales-service partner for RUTHMANN products in Northern America. RUTHMANN HEIGHT performance-models are available for demonstration. Contact information: Time Manufacturing North & South America

7601 Imperial Drive P.O. Box 20368 Editior: Waco, Texas 76702-0368 RUTHMANN GmbH & Co. KG Von-Braun-Straße 4 48712 Gescher-Hochmoor Phone: 254-399-2100 Germany Fon: +49 (0) 28 63 / 204-249 Toll Free: 800-825-1085 Fax: +49 (0) 28 63 / 204-5231 http://www.ruthmann-steiger.com eMail:[email protected]