A new milestone in aerial access technology is on the horizon for Australia with the upcoming arrival of the Bronto S104HLA, the country’s first 104-metre aerial platform.
This groundbreaking equipment is also the largest road-legal aerial platform in the southern hemisphere.
Bringing the Bronto S104HLA to Australia required extensive engineering due to strict road regulations. A custom Tatra T158 16×16 chassis, developed in partnership with Offroad Trucks Australia, was integral to making it road-legal. The chassis features eight axles, five of which are permanently driven, and all equipped with extra-wide 445mm tyres. This setup allows for a load capacity of ten tonnes per axle, enhancing both road and off-road mobility.
“With exceptional dedication, engineering, and support from the project team, we are able to bring equipment like the Bronto S104HLA to Australia. This project is just the beginning of our continuous commitment to meeting industry needs,” said Lee Morley, National Sales Manager at Offroad Trucks Australia.
The unique design required significant modifications to the truck’s cab to accommodate the boom without compromising structural integrity. The specialised expertise of Tatra and close collaboration among Bronto Skylift, GFS/Bronto Skylift AUNZ, and Offroad Trucks Australia played a crucial role in the project’s success.
“The ability of TATRA trucks and their talented engineers to find solutions for custom chassis builds has resulted in this 16×16 custom chassis being possible,” Morley added.
The S104HLA will be delivered to Quantum Comms in 2026. Quantum Comms specialises in rigging, civils, communications, elevated work platforms (EWP), generator, and plant hire. The company has steadily expanded its fleet to include over 30 Bronto aerial platforms.
“We are continuing to improve and increase our fleet of Bronto aerial platforms to meet the requirements of our clients, and the S104HLA is only the beginning of our long-term strategy,” said Andrew Drenovski, CEO of Quantum Comms.