What are Boom Lifts? Know More About Them Today!

Boom lifts are an incredible addition to any project site that requires aerial mobility in order to safely and efficiently carry out construction, maintenance, and manufacturing work. However, not all professionals in these respective industries know what a boom lift is used for—let alone what a boom lift is. In this article, we go over everything you need to know about boom lifts. From what they are, what are their uses, and the different boom lift sizes, read on and get to know more about this powerhouse tool that combines safety, productivity, and mobility in a single convenient package.

If you are a professional in construction, engineering, and maintenance services that is considering a boom lift rental or purchase for your project, then this is the perfect article for you. Read on and learn more about boom lifts and why they are a worthy candidate for heavy equipment rental in the Philippines.

What are Boom Lifts?

Before we jump into the nitty gritty details of this piece of heavy equipment, it is important that you have a basic understanding of boom lift machinery and what it is used for.

A boom lift is a heavy equipment unit that belongs under the category of aerial lifts or aerial work platforms. Meant to improve both vertical and horizontal mobility in your work site, they are versatile additions to both indoor and outdoor industrial, construction, retail, and manufacturing projects.

Similar to scissor lifts which are another example of an aerial work platform, boom lifts use an articulating boom arm to maneuver a small work platform to the height and position that their task requires. However, unlike scissor lifts, they provide more options in terms of navigating small and narrow spaces with both vertical and horizontal ranges of motion.

What are Boom Lifts Used For?

Primarily used as an aerial work platform, boom lifts provide a means to conduct critical construction, maintenance, and electrical tasks at heights that would usually be a danger to the professionals carrying out the job. Each boom lift is equipped with an intuitive operation panel and a sturdy, stable, and even work platform that can safely ferry workers and their tools to great heights.

Below are some of the common tasks that require the use of a boom lift for safer and more efficient operations.

Industrial Scale Fruit and Crop Harvesting

Many farms, plantations, and vineyards around the world may require the precision and aerial navigation of boom lift use in order to avoid damaging precious vegetable crops and fruits. Because of this, the use of a boom lift can protect these crops from being crushed while also allowing workers to get a closer look at their harvest to check if they are ready for picking or not.

Detailed Wall and Ceiling Work

At the ground level, wall and ceiling jobs can be done with simple tools and a singular ladder. This can change in high-ceiling residential, commercial, and corporate spaces. Carrying out a fine degree of paint work, or installing decorative molding and paneling to walls and ceilings can prove to be a delicate and dangerous task without the proper work platform at hand. Using a boom lift makes this easier, safer, and more efficient.

Electrical Construction & Maintenance Work

More often than not, electrical wiring is coursed through our ceilings. As if carrying out critical electrical work were not difficult enough, not having an aerial work platform of the appropriate height can make this task significantly more dangerous. Use the right boom lift size to get the wiring ironed out safely and correctly.

Light Fixture Installation

Light fixtures such as drop lights and chandeliers can be large and heavy, but more importantly—expensive. Save yourself and your crew the stress and expenses that accidentally breaking a luminous conversation piece during installation by using a boom lift. This will give you the chance to safely transport the fixture to your desired height while also getting a close enough look at the placement for correct wiring and even affixing.

Window Cleaning or Replacement

Carrying out window and balcony maintenance on the side of a high-rise building can feel a bit like Mission Impossible. However, employing the use of a boom lift for this task can give you the confidence and precision you need to fully clean dirty windows or replace cracked glass panes and railings from the building’s exterior.

Aisle Restocking

In wholesale grocery or hardware stores, aisles are sometimes stacked to the ceiling. At times, this can make shopping and restocking a spine-chilling experience if attempted without the appropriate scaffolding or work platforms. Boom lifts are a great option to have on hand for retail stores that conduct this practice because it promotes worker safety while also making it possible for them to provide a greater degree of customer service should customers ask for available stocks that might not be on ground-level shelves.

Now that you know about the many uses of boom lifts, let us dive into the two factors you should consider when selecting the best one for your job site: the size and type of your boom lifts.

What are the Available Boom Lift Sizes?

Depending on the brand, boom lift sizes can range from 11 to 43 meters, with corresponding differences in their work platform and boom arm dimensions depending on the size you choose for the task at hand.

What are the Types of Boom Lifts?

There are two primary boom lift types to choose from when deciding to rent one for your work site. Below are the two types and their differences.

Telescopic Boom Lifts

Equipped with a telescopic or straight-armed boom lift with a single hinge, telescopic boom lifts are a good option for job sites with plenty of open space or a straight-forward rectangular layout. While they do not have the same degree of mobility in tight, narrow spaces, their extendable arm can offer significant horizontal reach if needed. Telescopic boom lifts are also known as straight boom lifts or stick boom lifts by other professionals in the industry.

Articulating Boom Lifts

Designed to provide a wider range of motion even in the narrowest of interior spaces, articulating or knuckle boom lifts are multi-hinged boom lifts with segmenting arms. These boom lifts are fit for use in complex interior and exterior structures so workers can safely and accurately carry out their tasks even in deceptively cramped spaces.

What Kind of Boom Lift Should I Choose?

Like with any heavy equipment rental inquiry we receive, we believe that the deciding factors for the best option boils down to what you know about your project. From the dimensions and square footage of your project site, to the type of structure you know your crew will be working on– these are all details that you can supply to us as you make your inquiry.

Is your project site in a wide, open space with a rectangular or simple yet high structure? Then a telescopic boom lift is a natural choice. However, if your project site will hold narrow spaces with detailed work required, then an articulating boom lift is the safer option. While the information we shared with you above can hopefully guide your choice, you can still count on us to make a recommendation based on the details you choose to share about your project.

At Hastings Motor Corporation, we carry a wide variety of both Genie Boom Lifts and Sinoboom Boom Lifts in our inventory. Get in touch with us today so we can provide the most suitable boom lift option for your project wherever and whenever you need it!