A Comprehensive Guide to Scissor Lifts
Scissor lifts are an essential piece of equipment for many different types of businesses and industries. If you are wondering whether to invest in a scissor lift, here is everything you need to know. They are a great piece of equipment that offers complete safety when working at a height and are a great replacement for ladders that make working at higher levels quite dangerous.
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Keep reading to learn more about scissor lifts.
What are scissor lifts?
Scissor lifts are vehicles that are characterised by a railed platform that can move up vertically using crisscrossing metal supports. Scissor lifts are mostly used for working up high on elevated areas or for moving unit loads from one level to another. You can find scissor lifts that are either powered by gas or electric but it depends on the type and model you choose. Scissor lifts are designed to reach or gain access to areas that would otherwise be out of reach. It allows you to complete work or transport tools and equipment up high - safely and efficiently. Scissor lifts are much safer than ladders and can be used in a wide range of industries.
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Scissor lifts can be found in various sizes, depending on your needs and are a very versatile addition for many businesses and industries. Scissor lifts of the smaller size are around four feet wide and these are ideal for navigating tight spaces such as the narrow aisles of a warehouse. You can also get much larger scissor lifts that can be better suited to outdoor use on telephone lines or for working inside large indoor spaces.
What are they used for?
Scissor lifts are used for a variety of tasks, including:
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-Â Â Â Â Â Â Construction: Scissor lifts are often used in construction to access high places, such as roofs and ceilings. They can also be used to lift materials and equipment to these high places.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Maintenance: Scissor lifts are also used for maintenance tasks, such as cleaning windows and gutters and repairing roofs.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Manufacturing: Scissor lifts are used in manufacturing to access machinery and equipment that is located at high levels. They can also be used to transport materials and equipment to reach these higher locations.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Warehousing: Scissor lifts are used in warehouses to access high shelves and racks. They can also be used to transport materials and equipment throughout warehouses and to different levels.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Other: Scissor lifts can be used for a variety of other tasks, such as painting, landscaping and electrical work.
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What are their benefits?
Scissor lifts can benefit many different industries and businesses. If you are considering investing in a scissor lift for your business, or just want to know if it is worth hiring one, here are the benefits to consider:
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-Â Â Â Â Â Â By using a scissor lift you can reach higher heights than with many other pieces of equipment. Your workers can reach heights of around 32 feet. Many areas are inaccessible without the use of scissor lifts so they enable you to reach the highest corners of many buildings. By investing in a scissor lift you can complete maintenance jobs that would otherwise have been impossible.
-      Scissor lifts make tasks much more efficient because they are easily operated by a single person. This means you aren’t wasting time, energy and resources on something that can be completed much faster. This helps to streamline your business and complete jobs much faster, increasing customer satisfaction and putting less strain on your resources. Your workers also don’t require very much training because scissor lifts are very simple to use.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Scissor lifts are available in a variety of sizes including very compact ones. This allows them to be used in areas with little space to perform a highly precise and efficient service. This means you are capable of giving much more attention to details so you can get close to the surface or structure you are working on.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Scissor lifts are also available in a range of options to suit your business. Each one offers different functions and features that will suit the specific requirements of different businesses. If your business requires a tilt platform, a turntable or a specific base or height size, you can find this in a scissor lift. Whatever your business needs, there is a scissor lift to suit you.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Scissor lifts take up a small amount of space - offering an exceptionally compact design and making it very easy to store when not needed. This frees up more space for other equipment and tools.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Scissor lifts can reach a variety of locations and make it very simple to easily transport around your site. Whether you need to fit in a small gap between buildings or around corners, scissor lifts make it very easy to manoeuvre.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â They are very safe pieces of equipment and one of the safest ways to work at height. They provide a very stable, steady and strong platform for standing on whilst completing tasks and are much safer than using a ladder.
What should I consider when choosing a scissor lift?
Here are some things to consider when choosing a scissor lift:
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-      Height: The height of the scissor lift will determine how high you can reach. Make sure to choose a lift that is tall enough for your needs. Scissor lifts can extend to multiple heights so it’s a good idea to get one that is slightly bigger than you expect you will need.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Capacity: The capacity of the scissor lift will determine how much weight it can safely hold. Make sure to choose a lift that has a capacity that is greater than or equal to the weight of the heaviest object you will be lifting. It is essential to not overload a scissor lift as this can be dangerous. Make sure you are checking the capacity and not loading too much onto a scissor lift at one time.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Working platform: The working platform of the scissor lift should be wide enough and long enough to accommodate the objects you will be lifting.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Stability: The scissor lift should be stable enough to support the weight of the lift itself, the working platform, and the objects you will be lifting.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Safety features: The scissor lift should have safety features such as a load indicator, a platform guardrail, and a locking mechanism.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Price: The price of the scissor lift will vary depending on the size, capacity, and features.
Different types of scissor lifts
There are different brands of scissor lifts available to complete a range of tasks, we recommend:
JLG Scissor Lifts
JLG is a brand that makes long-lasting scissor lifts for indoor maintenance or outdoor construction tasks. They make both electric scissor lifts and engine-powered scissor lifts.
Genie Scissor Lifts
Another brand of great quality scissor lifts. Genie electric slab scissor lifts provide excellent capacity and a large platform workspace
Skyjack Scissor Lifts
Skyjack is a high-quality brand of scissor lifts that make electric lifts.
Compass Access Ltd - Scissor Lifts & Scissor Lift Repairs
If you are looking for a range of quality scissor lifts, get in touch with the team at Compass Access Ltd. We offer a fantastic range of great quality scissor lifts for a variety of tasks. Take a look at our website to see the types of scissor lifts we offer. You can find Genie scissor lifts, Skyjack scissor lifts and even JLG scissor lifts. We can also provide scissor lift repairs to keep you and your business on track. Get in touch today to learn more about what we can offer your business.
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