Quick answer
We hire two Almac Athena tracked scissor lifts: the 850BL and the 870 BL EVO. Both reach 7.9 m working height with 250 kg and level themselves on slopes and uneven ground. The 850BL has the narrower 0.78 m basket; the 870 BL EVO has a 1.20 m basket and runs on diesel or a 15 A mains lead.
The short answer
Athena scissor lifts are tracked, bi-levelling machines made by Almac in Italy. We hire two from our Berkshire Park depot: the Athena 850BL and the Athena 870 BL EVO. Both reach 7.9 m working height with 250 kg on the platform, both level themselves on their tracks with no outriggers, and both can keep driving while levelled. Both of our units run plugged in to 15 amp mains power or on a separate Kubota diesel engine; neither has an on-board battery. Choose the 850BL when its 1.50 x 0.78 m basket is enough, and the 870 BL EVO when you need the 1.20 m wide basket.
Basket size, width and levelling limits
| Figure | Athena 850BL | Athena 870 BL EVO |
|---|---|---|
| Working height | 7.9 m | 7.9 m |
| Platform height | 5.9 m | 5.9 m |
| Platform capacity | 250 kg | 250 kg |
| Basket | 1.50 x 0.78 m | 1.50 x 1.20 m |
| Width | 1.30 m on narrow tracks | 1.30 to 1.50 m by track position |
| Height stowed | 2.28 m, 1.98 m with rails folded | 2.28 m, 1.98 m with rails folded |
| Weight | 2,520 kg | 2,460 kg |
| Levelling | On its tracks, drives while levelled | On its tracks, drives while levelled |
| Power on our unit | 15 amp mains lead or Kubota diesel, no on-board battery | 15 amp mains lead or Kubota diesel, no on-board battery |
Each machine page carries the specification sheet as a PDF for your SWMS.
How our two machines are powered
Both Athenas we hire are set up the same way. On electric power the machine runs tethered on a lead from a 15 amp outlet, so it works only while it is plugged in and within reach of that lead. Without a suitable outlet it runs on its Kubota diesel engine, and the site’s rules for diesel apply, including ventilation indoors or in an enclosed space. There is no on-board battery to charge overnight on either unit. If you have seen an Athena advertised with a battery, that is a different configuration from the machines we supply.
What bi-levelling actually does
A normal scissor lift must stand on level ground before it rises. An Athena adjusts its tracked undercarriage so the chassis sits level while the tracks follow the slope or the bumps underneath. The Almac sheet gives up to 16 degrees front, 20 degrees rear and 15 degrees side to side, with 25 degrees gradeability and 21 degrees side slope. We still check your ground against those figures before booking.
The difference from our other tracked machines is what happens next. The Zoomlion ZS0612C and LGMG SC0610EL-2 level on outriggers and stay put; an Athena can keep driving while it is levelled. That suits work that runs along a slope, such as a fence line, a long wall on a fall or gutters along a sloping block. The tracked scissor lift guide compares all four.
Jobs an Athena is booked for
- House exteriors on a sloping or uneven block: gutters, eaves, painting, render and windows
- Work along a slope where re-setting outriggers at every position would cost the day
- Dirt, gravel and light mud on building and landscaping sites
- Hard floors, on rubber tracks: tell us the floor finish and we will check it first
Tracks spread the weight, but deep mud or saturated ground is not a place to set up any access machine. Turning on the spot scrubs a surface harder than driving straight, so tell us what the ground is when you book.
850BL or 870 BL EVO?
Pick the 850BL when one person and a small amount of material fit its 0.78 m wide basket. Pick the 870 BL EVO when two people and their materials need room, since its basket is 1.20 m wide. The power choice is the same on both: a 15 amp outlet within reach of the work, or diesel where the site allows it.
Neither fits a standard personnel doorway. If narrow access is the constraint, a narrow wheeled scissor lift is the answer.
| Machine | Width | Weight | Working height | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zoomlion ZS0612C Tracked Scissor Lift | 1.15 m | 1,820 kg | 7.8 m | Electric |
| Athena 850BL Tracked Scissor Lift | 1.3 m | 2,520 kg | 7.9 m | Hybrid |
| Athena 870 BL EVO Tracked Scissor Lift | 1.3 m | 2,460 kg | 7.9 m | Hybrid |
| LGMG SC0610EL-2 Tracked Scissor Lift | 1 m | 1,600 kg | 8.8 m | Electric |
Figures are read from the manufacturer specification held on each machine record. Fleet data last updated 25 October 2026.
Getting an Athena to site
We deliver from Berkshire Park across Sydney and NSW, and the delivery is quoted with the hire. Tell us the narrowest gate or gap on the route, any step or kerb, and whether a truck can stop on firm level ground to unload. Ask us before planning a customer pickup: it depends on the machine weight, the trailer and your vehicle.
Do you need a licence?
No high risk work licence applies to scissor lifts in NSW, and the Athena is a scissor-type platform. Most sites still ask for recognised EWP training, commonly a Yellow Card, and a site induction. The employer confirms the operator is competent on the machine. See do you need a licence for a scissor lift in NSW.
Hiring for three months or more
A published long-term rate applies to our 19ft tracked scissor lifts, including both Athenas, on hires of three months or longer. The rate is shown on each machine page. Shorter hires and all delivery are quoted for the job.
Next step
Send us the suburb, your dates, the height you need to reach, whether the work stays in one spot or runs along the slope, whether there is a 15 amp outlet near the work, and the narrowest point on the way in. We will confirm which Athena fits and quote the machine and delivery together. Get a hire quote, call 0472 721 234, or compare every tracked scissor lift.