Portable Scissor Lifts 

What is a Portable Scissor Lift?

With the help of portable scissor lifts, tight or hard-to-reach areas that would be inaccessible to a larger, fixed platform can now benefit from the capabilities of a fully fledged industrial lifting system. These mobile systems are often used for maintenance in a variety of industries including entertainment, manufacturing, warehousing and vehicle repair.

By combining mobility, ease of placement, low weight and high lifting and load capacity in a single package, these units have an advantage over other types of mobile lifting systems.

A series of cross-braced arms that move up and down to raise and lower a load-bearing platform attached to the top of the assembly is the basic principle of the portable scissor lift. The advantage of the portable scissor lift is that it is portable and can be moved to other work areas using only its own power. In addition, most units are small and/or light enough to be moved by a single operator.

A portable vehicle scissor lift can be moved into position to safely raise a car, SUV or pick-up truck when specialists need to lift it high enough to perform wheel service or other underbody work. This gives the technician more access.

Benefits of Using a Portable Scissor Lift

(1) The scissor lift table allows users to reach heights that would otherwise be inaccessible.

(2) Reduces operator fatigue due to the ease of movement provided by its superior design.

(3) They allow users to position themselves at optimum working angles, preventing repetitive strain injuries.

(4) Because of the way the vertical scissor movement works during a lift, the load is lifted evenly.

(5) Because a scissor lift table offers a variety of alternatives for lifting objects, companies have the freedom to choose the best model for each particular application.

(6) A wide range of base widths, platform sizes and heights to which they can be extended allows companies to choose a model that meets their needs.

(7) You can purchase mobile scissor lifts that can be moved around the site, making them useful in a variety of locations.

(8) The entire scissor lift table can be rotated using a turntable. This reduces waiting time and the risk of twisting injuries.

Types of Portable Scissor Lifts

Hydraulic Scissor Lifts

Hydraulic scissor lifts can be used both indoors and outdoors and are powered by either an electric motor or compressed air. The scissor lift can be raised or lowered as required by pushing or releasing hydraulic fluid from cylinder to cylinder. These lifts are recommended for infrastructure projects, construction sites and warehouses.

Diesel Scissor Lifts

Diesel scissor lifts are noisy machines that run on regular diesel fuel. These lifts are best used in outdoor construction where there is adequate space for ventilation and where the noise will not disturb other workers as they emit fumes into the environment and are noisy. Large platforms are usually supplied with diesel units, which is an advantage when working outdoors.

Electric Scissor Lifts

Electric scissor lifts, another common type of aerial work platform, run entirely on electricity rather than fuel and have a silent electric drive system. Electric scissor lifts offer a cleaner option for indoor environments, which are often poorly ventilated, as they don't produce any noise or emissions. These machines are ideal for smaller environments as they are also less bulky than their diesel counterparts.

Pneumatic Scissor Lifts

Pneumatic scissor lifts are exceptionally clean and maintenance free as they are air powered and have no electrical or hydraulic components. They use air pressure to raise and lower the lift and are designed to handle goods and transport objects without risk of damage, making them the perfect choice for companies looking to go green and reduce their carbon footprint. Their streamlined design allows them to be integrated into a wide range of working environments, including manufacturing, processing and warehousing facilities.

Key Features to Look for When Buying a Portable Scissor Lift

A beam or bar-like struts support the platform and railing of the lift, which is often made of steel. The way the struts are connected at their hinges gives the assembly the appearance of many connected pairs of scissor blades, and when they move, they move in a motion similar to that of scissors.

Safety Considerations for Using Portable Scissor Lifts

When erecting a fixed (non-mobile) scaffolding system, workers will often use a scissor lift instead if the platform won't be used for a long time or will be used in many different locations during a single project.

Mobile scaffolding is referred to as scissor lifts. According to OSHA, a mobile scaffold is a supported scaffold that is movable, powered or unpowered, and mounted on casters or wheels.

Aerial lifts and scissor lifts are not the same. Aerial lifts have an extended boom, articulated arms and rotating platforms, whereas scissor lifts have a lifting mechanism that moves the platform straight up and down using crossed beams that act like scissors.

Workers must follow all manufacturer's instructions to operate the scissor lift safely.