Multitels tackle Bristol Planetarium cleaning

UK exterior cleaning specialist OneFifty used two Multitel MZ 250 articulated truck-mounted platforms to clean the challenging curved, reflective exterior of Bristol Planetarium in the heart of Bristol.

The building’s unusual geometry, restricted access and busy public location required machines capable of reaching difficult surfaces while minimising disruption.

A pair of Multitel MZ 250 articulated truck mounted platforms at the Bristol Planetarium. (Image: Multitel).

Using two MZ 250s simultaneously allowed OneFifty to tackle several areas of the building at the same time, significantly reducing the duration of the operation and the time the machines needed to occupy the busy public space.

Mounted on 3.5-tonne trucks with a compact three-metre wheelbase, the MZ 250 offers a 25.10m maximum working height and 14.35m horizontal outreach with 80kg in the basket. Its articulated boom and jib allow operators to position the basket accurately around obstacles and complex surfaces.

The machines also feature 400° turret rotation and a self-levelling basket with 90° + 90° rotation, providing additional flexibility when working around the Planetarium’s curved structure.

OneFifty already operates two MZ 250s and an MZ 350. The first MZ 250 joined the fleet in 2022, followed by a second in 2023 and the 35m MZ 350 in 2024.

Andy Morris, Founder and Director of OneFifty, said:

“The Bristol Planetarium was a challenging cleaning project because of its shape, mirrored surface, restricted access and busy city-centre location. Their versatility and manoeuvrability make them ideal for working in difficult locations like this, giving us the access we need while keeping disruption to a minimum.”

The project highlights the MZ 250’s combination of compact dimensions, outreach and articulated boom geometry, making it suited to cleaning and maintenance work at height in urban environments and around complex architectural structures.