Scissor lifts, cherry pickers and other aerial lifts can be a cost-effective alternative to scaffolding, but there isn’t a single, universal lift you can use for any task. The type of aerial lift you need depends on the job location, number of workers, height and other factors.

You can find more information on our web, so please take a look.

Choosing the wrong lift can cause delays, increases costs and the potential for an accident. This article explains the most common types of aerial lifts, the pros and cons of each and how to choose the right aerial lift equipment for your job.

To narrow down which aerial lift is the right choice for your application, there are three main questions to answer:

• How much weight do you need to lift (aka lift capacity)?
• How high or how far do you need to reach?
• Will the equipment be used indoors or outdoors?

What Lift Capacity Do You Need?
Choose an aerial lift with enough capacity to lift the worker(s), their tools and any materials.

– Man lifts, also known as vertical mast lifts or stock pickers, are the least expensive option. But, they have the lowest capacities, 300-500 pounds.
– Articulating and telescopic boom lifts can generally handle 500-1000 pounds
– If your job requires more than one team member, a scissor lift is likely the best choice. Scissor lifts are designed to lift more than one person and have an unrestricted weight capacity of up to 1,000 pounds

How High or How Far Do You Need to Reach?
Man lifts are a good choice for indoor, direct-access overhead work up to about 30 feet. If you have multiple workers or a heavy load, a scissor lift is a stable, portable choice for jobs up to about 40 feet.

If you need a lift that can put workers 40 feet or higher, or reach over or under an obstacle, an articulating or telescopic boom lift is the best choice. Articulating boom lifts utilize a hydraulic arm to position workers up and over (or over and under) obstacles up to 185 feet. Telescopic boom lifts offer less maneuverability, but greater horizontal reach.

Indoors or Outdoors
Indoors: vertical mast lifts (aka man lifts) have non-marking tires and are designed for indoor work. Electric scissor lifts are exhaust-free, won’t damage floors and some are made to fit through standard doorways.

Outdoors: rough terrain scissor lifts are made for outdoor use with rugged tires and 25% gradeability. Boom lifts, whether articulating or telescopic, are designed to work outdoors, but only on a relatively level surface.

Scissor Lift Pros and Cons
PROS: Scissor lifts have the greatest lift capacity – up to 1,000 pounds or more. These portable, vertical platforms are commonly used in parking garages, warehouses, and for facility maintenance or ventilation projects. Basically, anywhere you might use scaffolding (up to 40 feet), you could use a scissor lift.

CONS: Because scissor lifts can only go one way (up), they must be positioned directly beneath the work area. For hard-to-reach areas, articulating and telescoping booms are a better choice.

Further Reading: How to Choose the Right Scissor Lift 

Boom Lifts, Cherry Pickers and Bucket Trucks
Boom lifts have many names because there are many types. This type of lift can reach higher and farther than other types of aerial lifts. On the downside, boom lifts have limited capacity (500-600 lbs unrestricted).

For the most part, boom lifts are differentiated by:
Arm type (knuckle or telescoping)
Power source (electric/battery-operated or diesel)
Attachments (bucket, lifting hook, etc)

The type of boom lift you want to use depends on what you need to access and what might be in the way. An articulated knuckle boom can help workers access hard to reach places, but a telescopic vertical boom can lift them higher.

Man Lift Pros and Cons
Man lifts, also known as vertical mast lifts or stock pickers are compact and portable, but have the lowest load capacities (300-500 lbs).

Further Reading: JLG’s New and Improved Stock Picker 

Goto Fast Heavy Industry to know more.

Aerial Lift Training

No matter which lift you choose, OSHA requires all operators have certification and training. Learn more about aerial lift safety training in the Bay Area, Fresno, Salinas and West Sacramento, CA .

When to Buy Versus Rent an Aerial Lift

If you only need the lift for a one-time job or less than a year, renting is the most cost-effective option. When you rent a scissor lift, boom lift, etc. from TMH, repair and maintenance is included in the rental rate.

Buy or Rent an Aerial Lift in Northern and Central California
We rent Aichi and JLG scissor lifts, boom lifts and man lifts by the day, week and month. We deliver fast with rental yards in Fresno, Livermore, Sacramento and Salinas. Learn more about renting an aerial lift in California including questions to ask and how to get a great rate.

Contact us online or by phone.

San Francisco Bay Area – Livermore (510) 675-0500
Fresno (559) 834-9500
Sacramento (916) 376-0500
Salinas (831) 757-1091

Scissor Lift Alternatives

As a mobile work platform, the scissor lift has applications in construction, manufacturing, maintenance, and other industrial settings. These lifts effectively move and vertically elevate workers and equipment to assist in material handling and other tasks. Despite their usefulness, however, they do have several drawbacks.

Scissor lifts take up a lot of precious floor space, with closed base frames that typically only come standard in certain sizes. Their foot pedals are usually 10″ to 12″ above the ground, while an ergonomic design would instead have the pedal at step height, which is 8″ or less. Also, you operate the foot pedal manually, which requires time and energy from your workers. Even when pressing down hard on the pedals, the advertised platform rise height is often greater than what the equipment can effectively achieve, and the mechanism that raises and lowers the platform can loosen over time.

Scissor lifts can even pose a hazard to workers as they have pinch points that can crush or sever anything caught in the way of their moving parts. Fortunately, there are alternative options to scissor lifts that overcome these challenges. At Unidex, we offer custom capabilities for hydraulic or pneumatic lift tables and more. Read on to learn about our product offerings, and how scissor lift alternatives can benefit your operation.

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Benefits of Scissor Lift Alternatives

There are a variety of ergonomic and versatile scissor lift alternatives to meet the needs of diverse applications. They’re a flexible option, with an unobstructed area remaining between the legs and a top larger than the leg base. This enables workers to easily access racks, machinery, and other immobile components. They offer numerous advantages, such as:

• Safety. Without pinch points, scissor lift alternatives create a safer working environment. Proper ergonomics also reduce the risk of worker fatigue, strain, and injury.
• Durability. These products are constructed with quality materials and high-performance designs for years of leak-free use.
• Ergonomic design. Unidex’s foot pedals are just below 7″ from the ground for comfortable use. Ergonomic equipment reduces health risks for your employees as well as compensation claims and improves productivity by minimizing time lost to injury.
• Compact size. These space-saving alternatives have a small footprint to leave more room for other equipment and operations within your facility.
• Cost-effectiveness. As scissor lift alternatives are so customizable, you can purchase the model that meets your requirements without spending on features you don’t need. Also, they’re built to last, minimizing your maintenance and replacement costs over time.
• Customization. At Unidex, we specialize in the customization of scissor lift alternatives to ensure you get the right product for your application, no matter your specifications.

Types & Features of Scissor Lift Alternatives

Unidex doesn’t believe in one-size-fits-all equipment. That’s why our customizable options include pallet lift tables, pallet workstations, work positioners, and more. Our offerings include:

• PHQL Series “Quick Lifter” Portable Hydraulic Lift Tables.The standard models of these affordable yet high-performance tables feature a 500-lb. load capacity, 16″ lift stroke, and 24″ x 24″ table. Customizable options include stainless steel construction, rotating or ball transfer tabletops, plastic or ESD top liners, tilt options, push handles.and more.
• PH Series Mobile Hydraulic Lift & Assembly Tables. Unidex can configure these versatile 24″ square tables to have a variety of custom features, including various table sizes, frame modifications, stainless or carbon steel construction, and more. The standard models are available with a 250- or 500-lb. load capacity, 16″ lift stroke, and adjustable down-speeds. Customizable options include various table sizes and shapes, tool shelves, different lift heights, and custom colors.
• PHL Series Manual Hydraulic Lifts & Transporters.With a 24″ x 36″ footprint and cantilevered design, this series features welded steel construction, a high-performance hydraulic foot pedal system designed for years of leak-free use, a standard load capacity of 250 lbs., and a 48″ lift stroke with adjustable down-speeds. These are commonly used for component assembly, mobile staging, work positioning, and machine feeding.

We also offer TL Series Pallet Lifts for handling load capacities of 2,000 lbs., as well as PE Series Standard-Duty and Heavy-Duty Lifts with 200- and 1,000-lb. capacities, respectively.

If You Need It, Unidex Can Build It

Specializing in custom material handling equipment since 1991, Unidex serves clients all over the world with solutions for even the most unique or demanding of applications. Our scissor lift alternatives are durable, cost-effective, and safe, and they help you streamline your operations while creating a better work environment for your employees. Our ergonomic products are engineered to order, and we test them thoroughly to ensure proper functionality and reliable quality. Contact us today to learn more about our customizable products or to request a quote for your project.

For more Construction Scissor Liftinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.