Industrial lifts have traditionally been used in manufacturing and production settings to help lift and lower supplies, workers, and merchandise. The scissor lift, also called a table lift, is an industrial lift which has been modified for wholesale and retail environments.
Nearly all consumers who have been shopping in a store late at night have almost certainly seen a scissor lift, even though they do not know they have. Basically, the scissor lift is a platform with wheels that acts similar to a forklift. In a non-industrial setting, the scissor lift is great for completing tasks that need the mobility or speed and moving of materials and people above ground level.
The scissor lift is unique, able to hoist employees straight up into the air. Instead, the scissor lift platform rises when the linked and folding supports under it draw together, making the machine stretch upward. When the machine is extended, the scissor lift reaches approximately from 6.4 to 18.8 meters or 21 to 62 feet above ground. This depends on the size of the unit and the purpose.
Rough terrain scissor lifts are normally powered by hydraulics or electric motors. It can be a bumpy ride for workers in the lift going to the top. The scissor lift design keeps it from traveling with a constant velocity, rather than traveling slower with more extension or traveling faster during the middle of its journey.
An extremely popular class of scissor lift is the RT or Rough Terrain class. Standard features of the RT models include increased power due to the internal combustion or IC engine. The variations come in petrol, gas, combinations or diesel. This is considered necessary to deal with the increased weights and steeper grades of 18 to 22 degrees that are normally associated with this particular class of scissor lift.