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A scissor lift is a very useful piece of equipment and one of the must-have in every warehouse or construction site. It provides a steady rising platform with a safe enclosure. This equipment has already helped workers to accomplish lots of tasks required at high elevations, such as close inspections to cable wiring.

On the other hand, scissor lifts in construction are used to elevate either workers or necessary construction materials to high areas. Construction lifts come with different types of scissor lifts, depending on their purpose. Even if the scissor lift can only reach a shorter height and can only move up and down, this equipment can easily lift multiple people at once. This type of equipment is a more logical and affordable option, especially for construction projects where height is not a concern.

However, one should take note that before acquiring a scissor lift, they must already have well-trained and certified scissor lift operators. Otherwise, the company needs to look for an Academy for Scissor Lifts training for all of their operators and ensure that they all get the required certifications before allowing them to operate the equipment.

Moreover, scissor lifts vary in size, purpose, as well as fuel type. Below we have listed the five main types of scissor lifts currently being sold in the market.

Hydraulic scissor lifts

Hydraulic scissor lifts, as its name implies, are either operated by hand or powered by an engine-driven hydraulic system. The pressure is applied to hydraulic oil in the machine, which in turn, helps the scissor lift to move the platform either up or down. While the hydraulic scissor lift is quite easy to use and operate, it is still highly advisable that operators get certification from a certified Academy for Scissor Lifts training. It is to ensure that scissor lift is used and maintained properly, especially during low-temperature seasons. The reason is that during the cold season, the hydraulic oil in the machine becomes more viscous. It makes the machine operate much slower, thus affecting productivity. Furthermore, hydraulic scissor lifts are usable both indoors and outdoors, making them highly useful either on warehouses, construction sites or on similar infrastructure projects.

Diesel scissor lifts

Diesel scissor lifts, on the other hand, are popular and the most commonly used on construction sites. Their popular cross-braced design allows the equipment to reach a height of up to 30 feet and with some new models which can reach as high as 60 feet. However, since the equipment is diesel-powered, it emits fumes into the environment and is quite noisy during its operation. Because of those reasons, diesel scissor lifts are only used for outdoor construction sites since wide ventilation is present, which could also easily dissipate the engine’s noise. Diesel scissor lifts are also quite powerful, allowing the equipment to have a much larger aerial platform compared to other types of scissor lifts.

Electric scissor lifts

Electric scissor lifts are also popular aerial platform equipment. They can be an excellent alternative to burning fuel like diesel scissor lifts. Since electric scissor lifts are powered by electricity, it offers a silent drive mechanism. And since these machines do not emit fumes as well as noise, it offers a perfect solution for indoor spaces since they don’t have sufficient ventilation. Electric scissor lifts are also less bulky compared to their diesel counterparts, making them also highly useful in small spaces. Moreover, Electric scissor lifts use non-marking tires to prevent damaging the floor.

Rough terrain scissor lifts

Also, as its name implies, rough terrain scissor lifts are exclusively designed for outdoor terrain. These scissor lifts are usually equipped with heavy-duty tires, safety mechanisms, and high weight capacity. They are perfect when working in an area with uneven surfaces and slopes. They are also useful for work sites that take place in inclement weather. Rough terrain scissor lifts can reach up to 50 feet and widths up to 10 feet. These machines are either powered by gas, diesel, dual fuel, or liquid propane.

Pneumatic scissor lifts 

Pneumatic scissor lifts are quite different from rest. It uses air pressure to power their lifting mechanism. Compared to diesel and rough terrain lifts, Pneumatic scissor lifts do not emit hazardous fumes into the environment. And pretty much like the electric scissor lifts, it is also a perfect and more sustainable option for warehouses who wish to lessen their carbon footprint. How does the pneumatic scissor lift work? It simply vacuums and compresses atmospheric air. However, this also makes the pneumatic scissor lift less powerful than rough terrain or diesel lift. 

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