SPIDERMEWP · The Spiderlift Nerd
Matt Dean.
Spider lifts (and spiderlifts) have been a big part of my working life. I help people work through difficult access requirements, and I built SPIDERMEWP to share the knowledge behind those decisions.
My story
From the hire desk to the site.
I started in powered access in 2011. Telesales taught me what customers actually ask for. Running a hire desk taught me what can go wrong between a booking and the machine turning up. Field sales gave me the chance to see those jobs from the other side of the gate.
Spider lifts became my specialism because the details make such a difference. A smaller chassis can get through a doorway, but the machine still needs room to turn and set up. A model can have the right working height on paper and come up short when the basket is loaded and the work is set back.
I use the same approach whether I’m helping someone plan a hire, shortlist a purchase or work through a technical question. First, get clear on the job. Then check which machines can do it.
How I think
Start with the job.
I want to know where the machine comes off transport, what it has to pass through and where it can set up. Then we can look at height, outreach, basket load and the right range diagram.
Career
Hire, operations and field sales.
Working across the desk, the business and the job site shapes the way I talk about access.
- Since Feb 2025
Technical field sales
Helping customers define specialist access requirements, with a focus on spider lifts and truck-mounted platforms.
- 2023–2025
Track mount coordination
Coordinated tracked MEWP hires, scheduling and fleet logistics, including jobs in rail and telecoms.
- 2021–2023
Director, Rise Platforms
Led the day-to-day operations of a specialist access hire business.
- 2017–2021
Specialist sales and business development
Managed sales in tracked access and co-founded Tracked Spider Sales.
- 2011–2017
From telesales to track mount coordination
Started in telesales, moved into team leadership and found my specialism on the track mount desk.
Industry projects
What I build and share.
Machine data, site planning and the conversations that help people make sense of both.
SPIDERMEWP
My library of spider lift and spiderlift specifications, practical guides and field notes.
02MewpHub
A separate project I co-created for planning across powered access equipment, including trucks and other MEWPs. It includes a site planning and berthing plan app.
03Writing and podcasting
I publish practical access notes on LinkedIn and record conversations about how the industry works.
Let’s connect
Tell me what you’re working on.
I’m happy to talk through a difficult access job, discuss a machine or hear what you’re building in the industry.