Cherry Pickers – Materials Handling Equipment Finance

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    Cherry Pickers – Materials Handling Equipment Finance for UK Warehouses, Logistics Hubs and Industrial Sites

    Cherry pickers are a widely used form of powered access equipment within the UK Materials Handling
    Equipment (MHE) sector. They provide safe, stable access to elevated areas in warehouses, logistics
    hubs, factories, and industrial facilities, enabling maintenance, inspection, installation, and
    materials handling support tasks to be carried out efficiently at height.

    Gable Business Finance has extensive experience arranging tailored finance solutions for
    cherry pickers used across UK materials handling environments. Through hire purchase,
    lease finance, business loans, and refinance, Gable enables businesses to invest in compliant,
    productive access equipment while protecting cash flow and operational flexibility.


    The Role of Cherry Pickers in the UK Materials Handling Sector

    Cherry pickers are designed to lift operators safely to height in a secure basket or platform,
    offering greater stability and reach than ladders or mobile towers. In materials handling
    environments, they are essential for accessing high-level racking, lighting systems, overhead
    services, and building infrastructure.

    Across UK warehouses and industrial sites, cherry pickers are commonly used for:

    • Maintenance and inspection of high-level racking systems
    • Replacement and servicing of warehouse lighting
    • Inspection of roof structures, cladding, and building fabric
    • Installation and maintenance of cabling, sprinklers, and safety systems
    • Supporting stock audits and compliance inspections at height

    By providing controlled access at height, cherry pickers help businesses reduce risk, improve
    efficiency, and maintain safe working practices.


    Types of Cherry Pickers Used in the UK

    UK materials handling operations use several types of cherry pickers depending on reach, environment,
    and site layout.

    Articulated Boom Cherry Pickers

    Articulated boom cherry pickers allow operators to manoeuvre around obstacles such as racking or
    machinery. They are widely used in complex warehouse layouts and industrial environments where access
    is required over and around fixed structures.

    Telescopic Boom Cherry Pickers

    Telescopic cherry pickers provide straight-line outreach and are ideal for accessing high, open
    areas within large warehouses, distribution centres, and external industrial sites.

    Electric Cherry Pickers

    Electric cherry pickers are particularly popular in indoor materials handling environments due to
    their quiet operation, zero local emissions, and suitability for enclosed spaces.

    Hybrid and Diesel Cherry Pickers

    Hybrid and diesel-powered cherry pickers are commonly used in larger industrial sites or external
    applications where extended reach and higher load capacity are required.


    Industries That Rely on Cherry Pickers

    Cherry pickers are used across a wide range of UK industries, including:

    • Warehousing and distribution
    • Third-party logistics (3PL) operators
    • E-commerce fulfilment centres
    • Manufacturing and engineering facilities
    • Retail distribution and wholesale operations
    • Facilities management and maintenance contractors

    In each of these sectors, cherry pickers play a key role in keeping facilities safe, compliant, and
    fully operational.


    Why UK Businesses Finance Cherry Pickers

    Cherry pickers represent a significant capital investment, particularly for businesses operating
    large sites or requiring multiple machines. Financing allows businesses to acquire the right access
    equipment without tying up working capital.

    UK businesses commonly choose to finance cherry pickers to:

    • Preserve cash for core operations and growth
    • Replace long-term hire equipment with owned or leased assets
    • Upgrade to safer, compliant access solutions
    • Support warehouse expansion or refurbishment projects
    • Align repayments with operational benefits

    Hire Purchase for Cherry Pickers

    Hire purchase is a popular option for cherry pickers that form part of long-term materials handling
    operations. Under a hire purchase agreement, the finance provider purchases the equipment and the
    business repays the cost over an agreed term, typically three to five years.

    The business gains full use of the cherry picker from day one, with ownership transferring once the
    final payment is made. This option is well suited to cherry pickers used regularly for maintenance
    and inspection tasks.

    Key advantages of hire purchase include:

    • Clear route to ownership
    • Fixed monthly repayments
    • Potential eligibility for capital allowances
    • No need for additional security beyond the equipment

    Lease Finance for Cherry Pickers

    Lease finance offers flexibility for businesses that do not require ownership or expect equipment
    requirements to change. Under a lease, businesses pay a regular rental to use the cherry picker for a
    fixed period.

    Leasing is particularly suitable for:

    • Facilities management contractors operating multi-site fleets
    • Businesses expecting to upgrade equipment regularly
    • Projects with defined timeframes

    Lease rentals are typically treated as an operating expense, supporting predictable budgeting and
    cash flow management.


    Business Loans for Cherry Pickers

    In some cases, a business loan may be used to fund cherry pickers, particularly where equipment is
    being purchased alongside other materials handling assets or site upgrades.

    Loans can be suitable where:

    • Multiple asset types are being acquired together
    • Used or refurbished equipment is sourced privately
    • Greater flexibility is required in repayment structure

    Gable Business Finance advises on whether an asset-specific facility or a broader loan structure is
    most appropriate.


    Refinancing Existing Cherry Pickers

    Many UK businesses already own cherry pickers outright. Asset refinance allows capital tied up in
    existing equipment to be released while the business retains full operational use.

    Refinancing can support:

    • Improved working capital
    • Investment in additional materials handling equipment
    • Warehouse expansion or automation projects
    • Overall cash flow optimisation

    Case Studies – Cherry Picker Finance in the UK

    Case Study 1: Distribution Centre Lighting Maintenance

    A national distribution operator financed electric cherry pickers through hire purchase to maintain
    warehouse lighting and sprinkler systems, replacing ongoing hire costs and improving availability.

    Case Study 2: Manufacturing Facility Infrastructure Inspection

    A manufacturing business leased articulated boom cherry pickers to access overhead services and
    production infrastructure, aligning costs with maintenance budgets.

    Case Study 3: Facilities Management Contractor Fleet Growth

    A facilities management provider used a combination of leasing and refinance to expand its cherry
    picker fleet while releasing capital from existing access equipment.


    Health, Safety, and Compliance

    Cherry pickers play a vital role in helping UK businesses comply with health and safety regulations
    governing work at height. Modern machines incorporate guardrails, emergency descent systems, overload
    protection, and stability controls, significantly reducing risk.

    Financing allows businesses to upgrade ageing or non-compliant equipment proactively, supporting
    safer working environments.


    Conclusion

    Cherry pickers are an essential access solution within the UK materials handling sector, supporting
    safe and efficient work at height across warehouses, logistics hubs, and industrial facilities.

    Gable Business Finance provides expert finance solutions for cherry pickers, including hire purchase,
    leasing, loans, and refinance, enabling UK businesses to invest with confidence while protecting cash
    flow.

    © 2026 Gable Business Finance. Specialist asset finance brokers for the UK materials handling sector.