WHICH AERIAL WORK PLATFORM SHOULD YOU CHOOSE

The nature of performing operations at heights might vary based on industry as each industry has distinct requirements such as construction industry needs to work on rough terrain, a facility management industry needs to work indoor, aviation industry need more flexibility in terms of height and reach and so on. That is why Manlift offers a range of aerial work platforms that are suitable to perform tasks at various heights safely.

Selecting the Right Aerial Work Platform

As mentioned earlier there is a range of aerial work platforms available to perform different types of jobs at heights so one has to select the right machine based on requirements. To make is simple one must consider the below elements before hiring an aerial work platform.

• How high you have to reach to perform the operation?
• What are the surroundings of the locations? Is it a rough terrain or an even surface?
• Do you have to reach vertically up or you need more flexibility to reach a narrow space or need to move in up and over direction?
• How much weight the aerial lift needs to carry?
• What are the dimensions of the machine? (As it might need to fit in a narrow space).
• Do you need to work at height indoor or outdoor?

All these important questions play a vital role in the selection of the most suited aerial work platform.

So, to make it simple we have compiled a guide to choosing the right aerial work platform which provides insight into various types of access platforms.

SCISSOR LIFT

Scissor lift is one of the most frequently used work platforms. It is a vertical lift which goes straight up in one direction. The size of the scissor lift normally aligns with its base and it can carry personnel and equipment as required. There are different types of scissor lifts available based on working height and maneuverability.

There are two major types of scissor lifts, Electric Scissor Lifts and Rough Terrain Scissor Lifts.

Electric Scissor Lifts

An electric scissor lift is highly recommended for indoor operations as it provides a great deal of flexibility in terms of reach at narrow spaces. An electric scissor lift can provide a working height up to 18 meters. Most people hire electric scissor lift for indoor operations as it supports zero-emission policy and comes with non-marking tires. The zero-emission policy protects the environment whereas non-marking tires protect the floor.

Rough Terrain Scissor Lifts

A rough terrain scissor lift is used to carry out outdoor operations on uneven surfaces and is commonly used by the construction industry. The rough terrain scissor lift is diesel powered scissor lift often comes with four-wheel drive feature which allows it to move easily over rough terrains construction sites. Some of the rough terrain scissor lifts provide support to operate on slopes so if you are looking to hire a rough terrain scissor lift do analyze your requirements and select the best-suited scissor lift. A rough terrain scissor lift offers a large aerial work platform as compare to scissor lift which means it can easily accommodate more personnel and equipment.

BOOM LIFT

Boom lift is one of the most flexible aerial lift due to its maneuverable arm. Unlike scissor lift, boom lift can be moved to different directions based on requirements. The most important factors to consider while choosing a boom lift are the type, workspace (bucket) and the power source.

The most popular types of boom lifts are articulating boom lift and telescopic boom lift. A boom lift can be differentiated based on the several factors such as straight boom, angled boom, weight capacity and the power source. A boom lift can be electric, battery operated or diesel powered based on the requirements.

An electric boom lift is often used in compact spaces where one has to move parallel in limited moving space, it is highly recommended for indoor operations as it is environment-friendly. An electric boom lift can provide a working height up to 20 meters.