JLG Industries has launched a new indoor access solution designed to change how retailers manage routine maintenance, visual merchandising, and seasonal displays. The new product, LiftPod, is described by the manufacturer as the first device in a new category of elevation equipment: the Quick Fold Lift.
LiftPod is designed specifically for use in busy indoor environments, offering an alternative to traditional podiums and ladders. For store managers and retail operators, it presents a solution that supports ongoing operational activity without requiring store closures or restricting public access. The product allows teams to safely complete tasks such as fixing lighting, hanging point-of-sale materials, or updating signage – even during trading hours.
With health and safety remaining a priority across retail property portfolios, the LiftPod has been developed to align with increasingly stringent expectations around staff welfare and workplace compliance. According to manufacturer JLG Industries, the device reduces the physical risks associated with elevated tasks, helping minimise strain and potential injury.
“JLG has broad global experience and expertise in engineering and manufacturing products for working at height. We are also a customer-focused business, listening attentively to understand the challenges faced by the people who use our products, to understand what they need to do their jobs safely, efficiently and with confidence,” said Richard Puglia, Sales and Business Development Director EMEAI at JLG. “LiftPod was born from that process.”
The unit is foldable, self-powered, and takes up less than one square metre in footprint. This means it can be used safely in narrow retail aisles and confined stockroom spaces, reducing trip hazards and improving accessibility for maintenance teams. When not in use, LiftPod can be easily moved and stored by in-house staff. All models feature a self-powered lifting mechanism with a 150kg load capacity.
The product has been developed in collaboration with design consultancy DCA, incorporating ergonomic research into the needs of facilities and store personnel. JLG engaged Dr Frank Emrich, a biomechanics expert, to evaluate factors contributing to spinal stress during elevated tasks. This feedback influenced the device’s structural design to reduce trunk flexion, disc compression and other strain-inducing movements during use.
Available in two models at launch, the LiftPod 1.2 and 1.5 offer maximum working heights of 3.2m and 3.5m, respectively. A 1.8 version is scheduled for release in 2026. Each version is mounted on castors, weighs under 210kg and is fitted with an adjustable platform and a tool tray for day-to-day practical use.
“After spending decades supporting operators in industrial and outdoor environments to work safely and effectively at height, we are extremely proud to bring a customised product to indoor spaces such as commercial shops, offices, hospitals and hotels where people are a priority,” Puglia added. “We believe that the positive changes LiftPod will help bring to staff wellbeing, safety and efficiency within these sectors will be transformative for many businesses.”
In addition to improving safety, the LiftPod supports cost efficiency and operational productivity – factors of growing importance in the current retail environment. The device requires no external power or charging, has no scheduled maintenance needs beyond standard pre-use checks, and is available for immediate use at any time of day. This can help reduce reliance on outsourced maintenance services and increase the speed of in-store project delivery.
Its design also responds to the expectations of modern store layouts. With a minimalist visual profile and neutral aesthetic, LiftPod is intended to blend into customer-facing retail areas without drawing undue attention or disrupting shopper experience. This makes it suitable for use during regular opening hours, even in premium or design-led store environments.
The LiftPod will be showcased at Preventica Bordeaux, running from 14–16 October in France.
