Skyjack's VR843E telehandler in action in Birmingham

Aerial work platform manufacturer Skyjack has teamed up with Habitat for Humanity's branch in Birmingham, Alabama to help build a neighbourhood of houses to benefit low-income families. Skyjack donated a VR843E telehandler to help haul and lift roofing material during the Home Builders Blitz, a national event where professional builders team up with Habitat for Humanity to build, renovate and repair homes across the United States.

"Skyjack's contribution helped us work more efficiently, thus saving resources, particularly ensuring materials were available on each of the building sites," says Karen Peterlin, director of development for the Greater Birmingham Habitat for Humanity. "We really liked the machine's capabilities, it allowed us to save time and eased our operations."

The unit helped HFH to complete 13 houses during the weeklong blitz. The telehandler saved the volunteers valuable time. What typically would have taken four hours of manpower to carry shingles up a ladder for one side of a roof only required one lift with the VR843E. With 13 different work sites at once, the VR843E helped minimise the number of people needed to unload materials, freeing more volunteers to work on actual construction.

Since 2006, Habitat for Humanity's Home Builders Blitz has partnered with professional builders to build and renovate homes across the country. The Birmingham branch has taken part in the national event since its inception, and this year built an entire neighbourhood of homes. The Home Builders Blitz plans to build 250 homes in 35 states.

Skyjack donated the telehandler to Habitat for Humanity as part of its 30 for 30 Partners anniversary campaign, donating machine rentals to support 30 different charitable projects around the world, helping to give back to communities that have supported Skyjack for the past 30 years.