What Type Of Aerial Lift Do You Need

Every job site requires specific equipment to get the job done. Workers often need to work from high places with more security than a simple ladder can provide. Other times, setting up complex scaffolding structures could be more time-consuming than the actual task should take. This is where aerial lifts come into play.

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Aerial lifts give workers stable, flexible access to high places on the job site by means of aerial work platforms. When you&#;re on the market to buy or rent an aerial lift, you must make sure you&#;re choosing the right one for your needs that will help you complete your task in the most efficient way possible.

What Are the Different Types of Aerial Lifts?

When it comes to aerial lifts, there are three main types you should know about: scissor lifts, boom lifts, and vertical mast lifts. While they may appear similar at first glance, each of these lifts serves a unique purpose and is best suited for different jobs and environments.

1. Scissor Lift

A scissor lift&#;s base is the same size as the aerial work platform. The platform rises vertically, giving workers access to areas directly overhead of the base. Often, the aerial work platform has an extension deck to increase the horizontal distance that workers can access when performing their tasks. The height they can reach varies from 10 feet to over 20 feet, depending on the manufacturer and model.

The two main types of scissor lifts are:

• Electric slab scissor lifts: Electric scissor lifts run on electricity. This makes them ideal for indoor job sites where workers must keep emissions to a minimum.
• Rough terrain scissor lifts: Rough terrain scissor lifts can be either engine-powered or hybrid and are ideal for outdoor work where rough terrain is present. They generally can lift more workers at once and have four-wheel drive options for easier job site navigation.

2. Boom Lift

Boom lifts help workers access hard-to-reach, high places. They provide a sturdy base, raising and moving the aerial work platform via an extendable, controllable arm or boom. Boom lifts provide vertical and horizontal control, giving workers greater flexibility when approaching the area where they&#;ll be working. Boom lifts can reach areas at least 30 feet high and beyond 100 feet high.

Here are three of the main types of boom lifts:

• Telescopic boom lifts: Telescopic boom lifts raise the aerial work platform via a boom that extends in a straight line from the base, like a collapsable telescope.
• Articulating boom lifts: The boom on an articulating boom lift has several sections connected by hinges that articulate. This allows workers to access areas that are extremely difficult to reach, moving the aerial work platform over barriers and obstacles.
• Towable boom lifts: Towable boom lifts offer easy transportation for construction companies who need to access high places on their job site. They can hitch to the back of a pickup truck, removing the need for heavy machinery to transport a larger boom lift. These lifts can be electric or gas-powered.

3. Vertical Mast Lift

Vertical mast lifts raise workers on the aerial work platform via a mast or vertically articulating arm. They take up little space and are relatively lightweight, making them ideal for more crowded work sites. Both self-powered and push-around vertical mast lifts exist, although push-around vertical mast lifts require outriggers for proper stability.

Which Lift Is Best for Your Application?

Here are some questions to ask to help you choose the best aerial lift for your application:

• How high do you need to go? The height you need to reach will affect which types of aerial lifts you should consider. A telescoping boom lift can help you reach maximum heights, while scissor lifts or a vertical mast lift might be a better choice for lower applications.
• Are there obstacles in the way? Obstacles will present a challenge on some job sites, but you can get around them with the right aerial lift. A telescoping boom lift can help you reach areas with obstacles directly beneath, while an articulating boom lift can help you get over and around obstacles in flexible ways. If no obstacles are present, you may be able to approach the work area with a towable boom lift, scissor lift or vertical mast lift.
• How many workers will be in the lift at the same time? Some work tasks require several employees in the aerial lift simultaneously. In these instances, you may need a rough terrain scissor lift or a boom lift. Electric slab scissor lifts and vertical mast lifts are ideal when fewer workers need to be on the aerial lift platform at a time.
• Do you need a power source? Sometimes, the need for a power source will necessitate certain types of aerial lifts on the job site. Electric-powered lifts need a way to recharge. If no power source is present, a gas-powered aerial lift will be the right option.

Factors to Consider When Choosing an Aerial Lift

Besides asking yourself the above questions, there are some unique factors you need to consider. Understanding how the following factors affect your job site will help you choose the right aerial lift for your needs:

• Manufacturer: Research the best manufacturers of aerial lifts. This is especially important if you&#;re looking to buy a new or used aerial lift, but it&#;ll also affect your experience when renting one.
• Indoor vs. outdoor work: Indoor and outdoor job sites have very different needs, so consider where you&#;re working when choosing an aerial lift. This includes factors like available power sources, obstacles and the kind of terrain you&#;ll be working on.
• Available space and movement requirements: Analyze your job site to know how much space you&#;ll have to work with regarding the use of your chosen aerial lift. Tighter working environments may require an aerial lift that takes up minimal space with flexible movement options. If you have plenty of space to work with and need the extra weight handling and height, you may be able to use a boom lift.

Buy or Rent Aerial Lifts From Barclay

Whether you&#;re looking to buy a new aerial lift, buy a used aerial lift or rent one for your next job, Barclay is here to meet your needs. With aerial lifts from JLG, Genie, and Yale, we can help. We&#;ve become the premier equipment solution in the New Jersey and Southern New York areas and can be your trusted source for material handling equipment, helping you achieve greater, safer heights on your job site.

We invite you to contact us today if you have any more questions or want to take the next step toward getting the aerial lift you need!

Accessing overhead or hard-to-reach areas high off the ground is a challenge that many workers have to overcome on construction job sites or maintenance projects.

Mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) are specifically designed to aid workers with this type of work, but there are several different types of MEWPs, including boom lifts and scissor lifts, to choose from.

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Both boom lifts and scissor lifts can help workers reach elevated areas but have very different capabilities. 

So, how do you know which one is right for your next project? The JLG® Equipment Selector will help guide you through choosing the best machine for your job, and by comparing these two types of MEWPs, you can better understand their different uses. these two types of MEWPs, you can better understand their different uses.

Scissor lifts

A scissor lift is a type of machine that moves vertically and is used to elevate workers to high areas on a job site. Scissor lifts are good for jobs that need to elevate multiple workers, as the size of the platform tends to be much larger than with other types of aerial lifts.

The mechanism in place that enables vertical movement is a linked, folding support in a scissor-like "X" pattern, hence the name. The contraction of the scissor action can be hydraulic, pneumatic or mechanical. Depending on the machine&#;s power system, it may not require power to enter "descent" mode but rather a simple release of hydraulic or pneumatic pressure. This is the main reason that these methods of powering the lifts are preferred, as it allows a fail-safe option of returning the platform to the ground by release of a manual valve.

Boom lifts

A boom lift is a type of aerial lift that supports a hydraulic arm that is capable of maneuvering around obstacles. There are two basic types of boom lifts: Articulating and telescopic. Articulating boom lifts have arms that pivot, making it easier to move the platform around objects. Telescopic boom lifts have straight arms and usually have higher weight capacities but may be more difficult to maneuver to certain locations. 

Boom lifts can extend much higher than scissor lifts. Whereas scissor lifts typically reach heights of 20&#;50 ft, boom lifts can extend up to 185 ft. Also, because most scissor lifts only move vertically, there is no way to maneuver them up and around obstacles. 

Choosing between these two MEWPs

Boom lifts and scissor lifts both provide access to otherwise inaccessible aerial job sites. With the right equipment, you can efficiently complete the required overhead work. The key to selecting the right lift &#; boom or scissor &#; for the job is in understanding what you need to accomplish on job sites. 

To do this, you need to answer two very important questions that will help you understand the elevation, outreach, capacity, ground support/conditions and access to the work that you will need for the project. 

Let&#;s look at two of the questions:

• Access to the work: What direction(s) will you need to move? Consider the direction of movement you need to go. 
  a. If you need to elevate to up and over (as well as around), you will need a boom lift. 
  b. If you only need to go straight up, a scissor lift may be the right choice.
  
  
• Elevation: How high do you need to go? Consider the height of the aerial job site. 
  a. Larger scissor lifts in the market today can only elevate workers just over 40 ft. This might not be enough. 
  b. Boom lifts can go much higher (larger models can reach more than 3x as high as a larger scissor lift) and may be a better option if you need to reach greater heights.

When you need to go higher to do more, MEWPs can help you conquer challenging overhead and aerial project work with confidence. Choosing the right type of MEWP equipment &#; a boom lift or a scissor lift &#; to complete work at height is essential to being as productive as possible. 

JLG is a leading supplier of MEWPs, including boom lifts and scissor lifts, worldwide. From the latest access lifts to services, parts and technical support, JLG makes sure you have what you need to get the job done. For more information about JLG® aerial equipment, visit here.

Let JLG help you choose the best machine for your next job, click here.

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