Industrial lifts have traditionally been used in manufacturing and production environments to help lift and lower materials, employees, and goods. The scissor lift, also called a table lift, is an industrial lift which has been modified for wholesale and retail environments.
Most customers who have been shopping in a store late at night have almost certainly seen a scissor lift, even if they do not realize they have. Basically, the scissor lift is a platform with wheels which performs similar to a forklift. In a non-industrial environment, the scissor lift is perfect for performing jobs which require the speed or mobility and transporting of individuals and supplies above ground level.
The scissor lift is a unique machine in that it does not utilize a straight support in order to hoist workers into the air. Instead, the scissor lift platform rises when the linked and folding supports beneath it draw together, making the machinery stretch upward. Once 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.
The rough terrain scissor lifts can either be powered by hydraulics or by an electric motor, although, it can be a bumpy ride for the worker inside the lift going to the top. The scissor lift design keeps it from traveling with a constant velocity, rather than traveling faster during the middle of its journey or traveling slower with more extension.
An extremely popular class of scissor lift is the RT or Rough Terrain class. Typical features of the RT units comprise increased power because of the internal combustion or IC engine. The variations come in gas, petrol, combinations or diesel. This is considered necessary to deal with the increased weights and steeper grades of 18 to 22 degrees which are often connected with this particular class of scissor lift.