Scissor Lifts Solve Problems

Scissor lifts (or man lifts) are versatile pieces of equipment that can be used for a wide variety of tasks. They are an alternative to boom lifts and portable aerial platforms, but of course they are specifically designed to be particularly useful in scenarios where there is only narrow access.

Now access can be a problem in two different kinds of way. Firstly, you might want to get the lift into a building which only has a narrow doorway. Of course, this is the ideal situation for a scissor lift. Secondly, you may have no problem at all with narrow doorways, but the actual workspace could be a tall shaft for example, which would restrict access for a boom lift.

Even the very largest scissor lifts will shrink to the sort of size that will pass through any standard doorway. A lot of thought has gone into the design of scissor lifts, so you will also find other features such as non-marking tires. These ensure that if the lift has to drive across an easily damaged surface no damage will be caused by the lift.

Some electrically powered scissor lifts are fitted with low sound emission electric motors. This enables the lift to be used in areas which may have people are working in a sound sensitive environment for example – a school or an office. Another great innovation is the addition of wheels with a zero turning radius. This enables the operator to make small adjustments, even when they are in the air. It also improves the general manoeuvrability of the lift in very tight spaces.

Scissor lifts can be fitted with some useful additional features. These include platform work lights, an air line supply to the platform, and even folding guard rails which fold flat to make the whole lift even smaller when unextended. Many scissor lifts also come as standard with self levelling outriggers. Outriggers are the hydraulic support legs which push down to the ground (pushing the wheels off the ground) in order to keep the platform level. The self-levelling versions automatically find the level for the user.

Some scissor lifts have a system called on board diagnostics. If the lift is in use and the platform is raised the operator can diagnose and hopefully fix the problem from the raised platform, without having to retract the lift.

If you need to work at elevated heights in confined areas, then a good scissor lift should be an essential part of your toolkit. Raise your game with a scissor lift.