By Maggie MacHale

2 026

in turn, the demands placed on lifting and aerial equipment are as well. Manufacturers and service providers continue to develop new solutions targeted toward improving safety, productivity, efficiency, and equipment design.

From digital support tools and equipment components to material handlers and aerial lifts, the 2026 Leadership in Lifting Equipment and Aerial Platforms( LLEAP) Awards entries reflect the wide range of approaches tackling those needs.

These awards highlight advancements made in the past year, focusing on new equipment, support products, and services that entered the North American market between June 1, 2025 and May 31, 2026. This year’ s submissions were organized into five categories: Aftermarket Support Products & Services, Features & Components, Material Handlers, Mobile Elevating Work Platforms( MEWPs), and Vehicle-Mounted Aerial Lifts.

The 2026 LLEAP Awards judging panel consisted of nine judges from across the industry with extensive backgrounds in aerial platforms and lifting equipment. Each entry was reviewed based on product literature, photographs and videos, and technical details, then scored by innovative features / technology, perceived value, productivity, and overall benefit.

Of the 15 entries from 12 companies, Gold and Silver awards have been presented to the top-ranked products in each category, with additional entries recognized as finalists.

The following pages highlight the winning products and services, along with details on the innovations that earned them recognition. We thank our judges for their time and expertise and send congratulations to all of this year’ s winners.

The LLEAP competition consists of five categories:

Aftermarket Support Products & Services: Products and services developed and sold specifically for equipment users. Features & Components: Features developed by an OEM or supplier that are integral to an OEM’ s new or existing MEWP, vehicle-mounted lift, or material handler. Material Handlers: Rough-terrain vertical mast forklifts and telescopicboom handlers( fixed and rotating). MEWPs: Self-propelled boom lifts; manually or self-propelled scissor, mast, or other vertical lifts; compact lifts; speciality lifts. Vehicle-Mounted Aerial Lifts: Trailer- or truck-mounted elevating devices or work platforms.

Award Winners & Finalists

Aftermarket Support Products & Services

GOLD: JLG Visual Remote Assistant..................................... www. jlg. com SILVER: Genie 360 Digital Solutions........................ www. genielift. com DICA Ranger HD, Defender MD, & Titan Matting System.... dicausa. com

Features & Components

GOLD: Elliott E-Line Platform..................................... elliottequip. com

SILVER: Franklin Stabilizer Safety System.................................................................................................. www. thefranklinsafetygroupllc. com Merlo E-Worker with Lithium Ion Battery....................... www. merlo. com Genie Boom and Scissor Lift Accessories.................. www. genielift. com

Skyjack SKYPROTECT & SKYPROTECT +...................... www. skyjack. com

Material Handlers GOLD: Magni HTH 35.32........................................... www. magnith. com

MEWPs

GOLD: MEC Micro 19-XD + Slab Electric Scissor Lift................................................................................................................ www. mecawp. com

SILVER: Skyjack SJ3232 E......................................... www. skyjack. com NiftyLift SP32 4x4 Hybrid............................................ www. niftylift. com NiftyLift SP32N( MK3)................................................. www. niftylift. com

Vehicle-Mounted Aerial Lifts

GOLD: Terex Hi-Ranger TRX Series............................... www. terex. com SILVER: SOSEquipment Multitel MTE270................... sosequipment. ca

12 l November-December 2026