Skyjack has long been known for its “Simply Reliable” philosophy, building aerial work platforms that prioritize ease of repair, simple diagnostics, and straightforward maintenance. But as the construction and rental industries evolve, the company is making a strategic pivot toward advanced technology without abandoning its core values. In an exclusive interview, Skyjack President Brad Boehler outlined a vision that includes autonomous equipment, remote operation, and a fundamentally reimagined relationship between human workers and machinery. This shift responds to a growing demand for Understanding 6 Types of Construction Technology You Will need in the coming years, as rental fleets and construction firms alike prepare for a more automated future.
The Market Landscape and the Case for Technological Investment
The aerial equipment market continues to show positive momentum. Rental customers report strong visibility into work volumes extending 12 to 18 months ahead, and the American Rental Association projects continued industry growth along with increasing rental penetration. While the rate of expansion has moderated compared to previous years, the outlook remains healthy.
Economic Pressures Driving Innovation
Several macroeconomic factors are shaping the equipment manufacturing landscape. Tariffs and trade disputes have increased material costs across the supply chain, regardless of where manufacturing takes place. Steel prices, duties, and supply-demand imbalances at mills around the world have created cost pressures that ripple through the entire chain of commerce.
For manufacturers and rental companies, this creates a delicate balancing act. Equipment buyers resist price increases, and end-users expect stable rental rates. However, sustained inflation in materials costs eventually reaches the consumer. Boehler acknowledges this tension, pointing out that while nobody wants to pay more, the mathematics of raw material costs make some adjustment inevitable.
Technology as a Competitive Differentiator
Despite these headwinds, the industry remains optimistic. Global economic indicators show expansion, ongoing construction activity, and positive signals across multiple regions. The key differentiator in this environment will be how manufacturers leverage technology to deliver greater value. Skyjack is betting that the companies who invest in smart, practical automation will gain market share as customers look for equipment that does more with less human intervention.
The Two Streams of Equipment Automation
Skyjack has set an ambitious target: achieving autonomous task capability by 2023. Rather than pursuing a single approach, the company is developing two parallel streams of automation, each targeting different use cases and customer needs.
Stream One: Enhanced Conventional Machines
The first stream focuses on equipment that looks similar to today’s machines but gains autonomous capabilities for specific tasks. These enhancements target the most dangerous and repetitive operations:
- Self-loading onto and off trucks, eliminating one of the leading causes of employee injury in the rental and construction industries
- Autonomous staging within rental yards, allowing machines to reposition themselves without driver intervention
- Remote monitoring and control via telematics, giving fleet managers real-time visibility into equipment location, status, and utilization
These capabilities do not require a complete redesign of existing equipment. They build on familiar platforms, adding sensors, control systems, and connectivity that augment rather than replace the operator. This approach aligns with Skyjack’s tradition of practical innovation, delivering measurable safety and productivity gains without disrupting the workflows that rental customers and contractors depend on.
Stream Two: Purpose-Built Robotic Machines
The second stream represents a more radical departure. These machines will bear little resemblance to today’s aerial work platforms. They will have no onboard operator and will be designed from the ground up as robotic tools for specific tasks at height.
Boehler describes a scenario where an electrician stands on the ground wearing virtual reality or augmented reality headgear, controlling a robot that performs work at height. The operator controls the machine remotely, seeing through its cameras and manipulating tools with precision, while remaining safely on solid ground. This concept leverages mixed reality technologies that fuse digital information with the physical work environment.
Once the operator is removed from the platform, the machine’s design changes fundamentally. It no longer needs a basket, guardrails, or the structural reinforcement required to support a human at elevation. It becomes lighter, more maneuverable, and able to access tighter spaces. These purpose-built robotic machines could handle tasks such as:
- Installing piping and conduit at height
- Performing overhead welding and fastening
- Inspecting structural elements in hard-to-reach locations
- Applying coatings, sealants, and insulation to elevated surfaces
Workforce Transformation and the New Generation of Technicians
A major driver of Skyjack’s technology push is the changing profile of the workforce. The industry already struggles with a shortage of qualified technicians. At the same time, a new generation of workers is entering the field, and their skills and expectations differ significantly from those of their predecessors.
Bridging the Skills Gap
Younger technicians have grown up with iPads, smartphones, and instant access to information. They may not have the same deep mechanical intuition that older generations developed through hands-on experience, but they bring strong digital literacy and a natural comfort with software-driven systems. Skyjack sees this as an opportunity rather than a problem.
By equipping machines with telematics, diagnostic software, and remote troubleshooting capabilities, manufacturers can align the equipment with the way these new technicians think and work. A technician who might struggle to diagnose a hydraulic valve problem could quickly interpret error codes, review system logs, and follow guided repair workflows on a tablet. This shifts the burden from mechanical intuition to systematic troubleshooting, turning a potential weakness into a strength.
Evolution, Not Elimination
Boehler draws an instructive historical parallel. When the cotton gin automated cotton processing, it displaced many workers in that specific task, but the workforce adapted and moved into new roles. The same pattern applies to aerial equipment automation. The goal is not to eliminate workers but to change what they do, shifting them from dangerous, repetitive tasks to higher-value roles that require judgment, oversight, and technical skill.
The comparison with other industries is instructive. Consider how Detailed Analysis of Elon Musks Loops Technology Transforming transportation illustrates the way automation can reshape an entire sector without eliminating the human role. Similarly, How the Pandemic Reshaped Smart Home Technology and buyer expectations shows that technology adoption often accelerates when it addresses real user needs.
Pragmatic Innovation: Adding Real Value
For a company that deliberately positioned itself as the least technologically sophisticated supplier, Skyjack’s current trajectory represents a significant strategic shift. But Boehler emphasizes that the company is not pursuing technology for its own sake. Every innovation must pass a simple test: does it add genuine value for the customer and the end user?
From Simply Reliable to Smartly Reliable
Skyjack built its reputation on equipment that was easy to repair, easy to diagnose, and easy to keep running. That commitment to reliability is not going away. Instead, the company is expanding the definition to include digital reliability. Telematics systems that report machine health proactively, diagnostic tools that guide technicians through repairs, and remote-control capabilities that keep operators out of harm’s way these are all extensions of the same philosophy, enabled by modern technology.
| Capability | Traditional Approach | Technology-Enhanced Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance | Reactive repair after breakdown | Predictive alerts via telematics |
| Diagnostics | Manual troubleshooting by experienced mechanic | Guided diagnostics with software tools |
| Operation | Operator physically on the platform | Remote control from ground level |
| Fleet Management | Manual yard checks and logs | Real-time digital fleet dashboard |
| Training | Apprenticeship with senior techs | AR-guided workflows and digital manuals |
The Safety Imperative
Safety remains the strongest argument for automation in aerial equipment. Loading machines onto trucks, working at height, and operating in tight spaces around heavy machinery are among the most dangerous activities in construction and rental. Autonomous self-loading alone could prevent thousands of injuries annually. Remote operation eliminates the risk of falls from height altogether, because there is no operator on the platform.
The parallel with other equipment sectors reinforces this point. For example, Smart Compaction Technology and Electric Rollers Bomags Vision for future construction equipment demonstrates how automation and electrification are converging to improve both safety and productivity across the construction industry.
Meeting Customer Expectations
The ultimate driver of Skyjack’s technology investment is customer expectation. Today’s rental customers expect telematics data as standard. Tomorrow they will expect autonomous features, remote diagnostics, and integration with their fleet management software. The next generation of technicians will expect to maintain equipment using tablets and diagnostic software, not wrenches and intuition alone.
Boehler sums up the philosophy succinctly: “We have to make sure we are adding value as opposed to just making super cool things.” This pragmatic approach ensures that Skyjack’s technology roadmap remains grounded in real-world customer needs rather than speculative innovation. By focusing on applications that improve safety, reduce downtime, and simplify maintenance, the company aims to make its equipment not just smarter, but genuinely more valuable for the people who use it every day.
The construction and rental industries stand at an inflection point. Technology that seemed futuristic just a few years ago is becoming standard expectations. Manufacturers like Skyjack that embrace this shift while maintaining their focus on reliability and value will be best positioned to lead the industry forward. The future of aerial work equipment is not just about what machines can do, but about how they help people work safer, smarter, and more effectively.