The most demanding industrial sites place high requirements on access and lifting equipment. Kymsol Oy operates three Scanclimber SC6000 mast climbers equipped with the Snake Platform configuration, providing a flexible alternative to traditional scaffolding. In many projects, work can be carried out entirely without scaffolding, reducing installation time, minimizing site congestion, and improving overall project cost-efficiency — all without compromising safety.
What is the Scanclimber Snake Platform?
The Scanclimber Snake Platform is a rotating platform assembly attached to a Scanclimber mast climber. It is designed specifically for structures that are not straight: round tanks, curved wall surfaces, and other irregular shapes where a conventional straight working platform simply does not work. The system allows a working deck up to 16 meters wide and working heights of up to 100 meters, giving workers safe access to the work area even on large and challenging structures.
Typical Applications
Primary use cases for the Scanclimber:
- District heating accumulators
- Petrochemical plants, tanks, and pressure vessels
- Power plants and the energy industry
- Industrial process equipment
Snake Platform Advantages on Site
The technical flexibility of the Snake Platform delivers measurable benefits at the work site. By improving access, ergonomics, and efficiency, it positively impacts several key factors that drive overall project performance and cost-effectiveness.
Faster Installation Work
With traditional scaffolding, building a scaffold system around a curved or round structure requires planning, materials, and installation time before the actual work can even begin. The Snake Platform’s articulating deck extensions adapt to the shape of the structure by adjusting the platform sections steplessly. This means access to the work area is achieved considerably faster. At the same time, the need for workers to constantly haul materials, tools, and supplies is reduced, improving ergonomics, reducing physical strain, and increasing efficiency throughout the project.
Safer Working at Height
The mast climber keeps workers on a fixed, railed platform throughout the entire work cycle. This is a fundamental difference compared to the use of ladders or temporary structures. The Snake Platform extends this safety advantage to irregular structures as well: the platform angle is adjusted to match the structure — not the other way around — so the working posture remains ergonomic and controlled even on curved surfaces.
Safety is not a separate value; it is directly linked to delivery reliability. An accident or near-miss stops the project. The right equipment prevents them.
Less Scaffolding
| Method | Scaffolding requirement | Transfer time | Suitability for curved structures |
| Traditional scaffold system | High | PitkäLong | Limited |
| Mast climber without Snake Platform | Moderate | Moderate | Poor |
| Mast climber + Snake Platform | Low | Short | Excellent |
More Cost-Effective Project Delivery
The benefits described above accumulate in the project’s overall costs:
- Reduced scaffolding labour hours
- Shorter site preparation time
- Lower material requirements
- Faster transition between work phases
- Reduced personnel resources required for material handling and logistics
The result is a project that is completed on schedule without compromising safety.
Equipment as Part of Quality Management
When a contractor has appropriate lifting equipment available, it directly affects:
- Schedule reliability: Work progresses without forced interruptions due to equipment repositioning or scaffolding reconstruction.
- Work quality: Work carried out from an ergonomic and stable position is more consistent than work done by climbing or from ladders.
- Personnel wellbeing: Reduced physical strain and improved ergonomics help minimize fatigue, reduce sick leave, and support safer, more productive working conditions.
Benefits for the Client
When Kymsol mobilises to site with Snake Platform-equipped mast climbers, the client gains immediate advantages:
| Benefit | Impact for the client |
| Faster work start | Shorter downtime |
| Less scaffolding | Lower overall cost |
| Better access to structures | Higher quality outcome |
| Safer working environment | Lower accident risk and liability |
| Ergonomic working position | Consistent quality throughout the project |
| Higher productivity | Less manual material handling |
Kymsol has built, over decades of experience, expertise that covers the entire project lifecycle from planning to execution. The Snake Platform configuration is one concrete demonstration that this expertise is backed by the right equipment as well.
For more information about Kymsol’s services, visit kymsol.com.
