MEWPs help artist KaplaBen break world record

The Kapla tower during construction. (PHOTO: Nationwide Platforms)

UK-based Nationwide Platforms has help break a Guinness World Record, having recently supplied four machines to help construct a 27-metre-tall tower made out of wooden toy blocks.

The company supplied two HL27 hybrid scissor lifts and HR28 hybrid boom lifts to artist KaplaBen, who is known for creating intricate, free-standing wooden structures.

The MEWPs were delivered to be used on his latest art installation at the Olympia London Exhibition and Events venue in London.

Its two HL27 hybrid scissors were used to help KaplaBen, and his team of 14 builders, construction the lower level of the tower, which was built using ‘KAPLA’ natural pine blocks. 

Nationwide’s HR28 hybrid boom lifts, with their working height of 28m and an outreach of 6m, were used for the later, more difficult later stages of the build.

Nationwide Platforms machines were said to be crucial to the world record attempt. (PHOTO: Nationwide Platforms)

Sam Dawes, Business Development Manager for Nationwide Platforms, said “It was a great opportunity for us to bring our expertise to a particularly dexterous task, and what an incredible achievement.

“As the UK’s market leader in powered access, with the largest UK fleet, we have the operational capacity, experience and expertise to fully satisfy the requirements of challenging projects such as this one.

“We’re delighted to have been able to support KaplaBen in this world-record-breaking attempt and can’t wait to see what he turns his hand to next.”

The completed tower, which was also designed to collapse in a domino sequence, took four days to build. Its final measurement came in at 27.46m high - smashing the original 18.76m world record and beating KaplaBen’s previous record of 25.46m, which was set just days before.

The team celebrating their world record. (PHOTO: Nationwide Platforms)

Richard Juszt, Managing Director at Juszt Capital, who pulled the project together, said, “In need of specialist equipment for this very unusual and unique project, we found ourselves in communications with Samantha Dawes of Nationwide Platforms.

“With her experience, ‘can-do’ approach, unflappable attitude, and ongoing advice throughout the duration of the project, we honed-in, tweaked, and settled on the lifts needed.

“We were so pleased to have found a company that we could rely on to find ‘real-time’ solutions to the obstacles that came our way. Thank you, Nationwide Platforms for being part of this adventure.”

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