Aerial Lifts – Choosing the Right Type of Lift for Your Application

Aerial Lifts Give You a Leg Up on Industrial Tasks

Ever had trouble reaching that top shelf? We’ve all been there, like at the grocery store when you almost consider scaling the shelves to snatch that very last carton on the highest shelf. The same can be said for construction, warehouse, or industrial applications. Sometimes you need the right tool to raise people or products to a level where a ladder or building scaffolding is impractical. 

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That’s when you need to call in an aerial lift. 

Aerial lifts come in a wide variety of options, so your first set of decisions must be: 

• What am I going to use it for?  
• Am I planning to lift people, material, or both?
• How high and how far do I need the lift to reach?
• Will I be using the lift indoors or out… and over what sort of terrain?
• Will I be using it enough to buy one, or should I just rent?

 The answers to those questions will help you decide if you need an electric-powered or IC vehicle, whether you need just a simple personnel lift or a more heavy-duty lift for workers and material, and what range of motion your lift needs to have. Then you can decide whether you should buy a new or used aerial lift, or just rent one for a short-term project.

 The best way to decide which aerial lift is best suited to your particular application is to review the options of lifts available. We’re sure you’ll find one that works for you. 

Portable Personal Aerial Lifts

Personal lifts can be a safer and more convenient option vs. getting on a ladder. One person can transport them in a pickup truck or van, and they are quick and easy to assemble on-site from four components. They’re powered by a lithium-ion battery, have a weight capacity of up to 350 lb., and have a working height (platform height plus 6 ft.) of up to 20 ft.

Non-powered Vertical Mast Lifts/Aerial Platforms

These aerial work platforms are easily handled by one worker and can be maneuvered around tight locations for overhead work. They’re also powered by lithium-ion batteries and have a capacity of up to 350 lb. and a working height of up to 46 ft. 

Portable Personal Lift

Vertical Mast Lift (non-powered)

Driveable Vertical Lift Masts

Now we’re in gear. These versatile lift vehicles allow an operator to drive around a facility and pick up items stored on racks and shelves at different heights. They are available in weight capacities of up to 500 lb. and offer a working height of up to 25 ft. Indoor models are perfect for order-picking in a warehouse, while more robust models are available for outdoor construction work. Available in either IC- or electric-powered models.

CLARK Material Handling Co. offers a popular little unit, the OSQ Work Platform Vehicle. The OSQ is a great replacement for rolling ladders, etc., and it makes inventory picking from low levels easy and ergonomic. It features a roomy operator’s compartment, an AC drive motor that provides high torque throughout the entire drive range, and a heavy-duty I-beam design that maintains excellent stability at height. Call our Chicago-based team for more information about the CLARK OSQ and other quality forklift and aerial vehicle products.

Scissor Lifts

Scissor lifts offer the ability to raise multiple people and products to heights that allow them to perform installation and maintenance tasks. They are also a good fit for taking inventory in warehouses and distribution centers. Models are available with electric drive for zero-emission indoor applications or engine drive for more rugged outdoor work. The unique mechanical design of scissor lifts affords weight capacities of over 2,000 lb. They’re available with working heights of up to 60 ft. 

For more information, please visit Aluminum Alloy Lift.

Telescopic Boom Lifts

Now we’re really reaching for the stars! Telescopic boom lifts are suited for a wide range of applications that require lifting personnel to very high levels. They are available in heights of up to 185 ft. with weight capacities of up to 1,000 lb. Their design also affords them a horizontal reach of up to 76 ft. and a below-ground reach of up to 9 ft. Both indoor and outdoor models are available for airports, gymnasium hangar work, or rough terrain construction jobs. They are available in both electric and internal combustion models. 

Articulated Boom Lifts

Talk about being double-jointed – articulated boom lifts offer the ultimate in flexibility. They can reach deep within structures and over and above obstacles. They’re also suited for below-grade work, such as under bridges. Available for indoor and outdoor applications in electric- and IC-powered models, they can handle delicate applications like theaters, sports arenas, or shopping malls and tough industrial applications such as refineries and construction projects. Articulated boom lifts offer a wide range of motion, including working heights of over 150 ft., horizontal reach of up to 70 ft., with platform weight capacities of up to 500 lb. They have an over-and-above clearance of over 25 ft. and a below-ground reach of up to 15 ft.

Telehandlers

Tote that barge, lift that bale! If your application calls for lifting heavy materials to a height, a telehandler is the right choice for you. These rugged diesel-powered devices are designed to raise pallets or other formats of building materials to the tops of construction sites, move landscaping products to terraces, or remove excavated material from highway digs. Telehandlers are available with lift heights of up to 56 ft. and weight capacities of 12,000 lb. capable of handling the largest jobs thrown at them. A wide variety of attachments are optional, including truss booms, pipe grapples, work platforms, trash hoppers, and material buckets.   

What’s the Next Step?

Now that you’ve gotten an overview of the range and capability of aerial lifts, your next decision is to purchase or rent. Most of the above equipment is available for rent, and a lot of it is available in the “pre-owned” department.

Apex offers a wide range of aerial lifts from SkyJack, Genie, and JLG. Your best bet is to give Apex a call at 833-226- and find out which specific model fits your application. And explore renting v. buying. Your Apex application specialist will be more than happy to help you. 

…and Stay Tuned

Our next blog will review safe operating tips for aerial lifts.