Hydraulic Scissor Lift: How It Works, Its Uses, and Benefits

Hydraulic scissor lifts are one of the most trusted equipment in the construction and manufacturing industries. These machines are vertically and horizontally mobile—capable of transporting and raising objects and people on a secure platform and onto a different location.

In this blog, you’ll familiarize yourself with this type of lift and the numerous industries that find a variety of uses for them. We’ll explain what a hydraulic scissor lift is and how it works, its uses, benefits, and tips for maintaining one.

What is a Hydraulic Scissor Lift?

A hydraulic scissor lift is a machine that uses pressurized hydraulics to lift a load. This type of lift is engine-driven but operated manually through levers and buttons.

Its distinguishing characteristic is the series of legs connected through a crisscrossed pattern resembling scissors. Hydraulic fluid fuels the legs to extend or contract, which then moves the platform. Its base, which supports the entire mechanism, may have wheels to allow it to move horizontally.

Hydraulic scissor lifts can either be fixed or mobile.

Fixed installation lifts tend to be larger and capable of lifting heavier loads. These are often used to lift heavy loads between floors. In contrast, mobile hydraulic scissor lifts are smaller and more lightweight. Thus, they are often used to move heavy objects around, such as when transferring between shelves.

Hydraulic scissor lifts provide both stability and height, making them useful in various industries.

How Does a Hydraulic Scissor Lift Work?

To truly understand what is a scissor lift, it’s important to discuss how it works. The two main components that are essential to the mechanism of hydraulic scissor lifts are the scissor legs and the hydraulic cylinder.

The Scissor Legs

The hydraulic scissor lift is comprised of a set of legs attached in a scissor mechanism or pantograph. These legs extend or contract based on the hydraulic fluid’s circulation.

The scissor legs are attached to the base at the bottom, which then serves as the foundation of the entire machine. It also houses the engine, hydraulic cylinders, and control panel.

On the other end, the legs are attached to the platform which carries the load. This platform remains level at any height thanks to this scissor mechanism that supports it on all sides.

The Hydraulic Cylinder

Hydraulic scissor lifts are specifically fueled by hydraulics or liquid fluid power. Depending on its size, a scissor lift may require one to three hydraulic cylinders. In turn, a rechargeable electric motor powers the hydraulic cylinders.

The hydraulic scissor lift’s mechanism relies on the hydraulic fluid’s circulation. An operator controls the hydraulic fluid’s release and direction through a system of buttons, levers, and valves. To lift the platform, the down valve releases hydraulic fluid, pushing apart the hydraulic cylinder and the legs to extend. To lower the lift, the down valve then pushes the fluid back into the reservoir which causes the legs to contract.

With just a few moves, a trained operator can direct the platform up and down smoothly.

Uses of Hydraulic Scissor Lift

Hydraulic scissor lifts provide a safe and stable way to reach great heights. They can be used indoors or outdoors. Because of their compact nature, they can also be used in narrow aisles.

These are the industries that find useful applications for hydraulic scissor lifts:

Construction Industry

In the construction industry, hydraulic scissor lifts raise construction workers up to higher areas or floors. The scissor lifts provide a stable and level platform for workers to stand on while they work in multi-level buildings.

This machine also helps with their efficiency. It allows workers to move around the work area vertically and horizontally with minimal effort.

Furthermore, hydraulic scissor lifts can support heavy weights, so they are also used to carry or move various construction materials.

Overall, scissor lifts offer cost-efficient solutions in the construction world.

Warehousing Industry

Warehousing companies often stack items on multi-layer shelves that reach up to the ceiling for a warehouse. This allows them to save space and, thus, store as many items as possible.

However, warehouse staff needs machines to efficiently access and carry these items around. A hydraulic scissor lift is ideal for this for two reasons:

• First, it can lift items and staff to upper shelves.
• Second, since it is compact and mobile, it can move through narrow aisles and can transport items and people across the warehouse.

Cargo Industry

The cargo industry—whether they transport through air, land, or water—regularly handles heavy loads. This business involves loading and unloading heavy cargoes from vessels to stations and warehouses, wherein machines like hydraulic scissor lifts can be most effective.

One of the benefits of hydraulic scissor lifts for the cargo industry is they can make processes more efficient. These lifts move up and down even while carrying heavy loads, so workers don’t need to do it all manually.

At the same time, removing the need for cargo workers to lift heavy loads reduces the chances of injuries and damaged goods, which helps make the work environment safer for all.

Advantages of Hydraulic Scissor Lifts

Hydraulic scissor lifts have been a staple in the construction, warehousing, and cargo industries, as well as others that require lifting or moving heavy goods or people. But why do companies across a wide range of industries prefer these scissor lifts over other machinery?

Here are the advantages they offer:

Utility

Scissor lifts are useful in different industries and are often used for a variety of purposes. While they are commonly used to lift or transport cargo, people can also comfortably stand on the lift’s platform.

Its versatility is one of the main reasons a hydraulic scissor lift is a great investment for companies that need regular vertical and horizontal movement.

Stability and Safety

With the hydraulic-powered scissor mechanism, the lift’s platform is supported on all four sides, making it incredibly stable. Furthermore, the lift’s speed is controlled by the operator, which helps reduce accidents.

Models like the Sinoboom GTJZ1412 Scissor Lift also have guardrails on the platform. This feature helps prevent workers from falling when working in high-to-reach areas.

Zero Emission

Companies looking to make their operations more sustainable can also leverage using a hydraulic scissor lift. Most hydraulic scissor lifts are electrically powered with a run-time of 8 hours.

Models from the Genie Scissor Lift and Sinoboom Scissor Lift run purely from electricity so they have zero emission.

Low Noise

Hydraulic scissor lifts have minimal to zero noise during operations. So, it’s compatible with indoor sites that require minimal noise.

This is also a smart choice for companies looking to reduce noise levels in their workplaces, which is considered an occupational hazard.

Compact and Easy to Maneuver

Another one of the hydraulic scissor lift’s benefits is its compact nature, which makes it convenient to use in locations with narrow aisles.

The Genie GS-1930 Scissor Lift, for example, has zero inside turning radius so operators can easily maneuver the machine around even in small spaces.

Maintenance of Hydraulic Scissor Lifts

When you rent scissor lifts from Hastings Motor, you receive end-to-end servicing, but users should still know how to properly maintain the machines to keep them in their best condition. Here are a few points to take note of:

Hydraulic Liquid Turns Viscous

The hydraulic liquid becomes viscous in colder temperatures. When this happens, the liquid moves slower, so the scissor lift expands and contracts slower as well. However, manufacturers are aware of this, and many have addressed the issue through design improvements.

It is, however, worth noting how the model’s hydraulic liquid reacts to changes in temperature before renting or buying one.

Potential Liquid Leak

Another concern is potential liquid leaks. Most of the time, these leaks are caused by normal wear and tear, and thus, can be prevented by proper maintenance. However, in some instances, this may be caused by poor system design or the use of incorrect parts.

Buy or rent your hydraulic scissor lift from a trusted company. Hastings Motor ensures that all units receive proper care and maintenance even when deployed to clients. And, if you own the machine, ensure proper maintenance to keep the machine in good shape.

Limited Distance

Operators should be aware of the distance their scissor lift can run. Long distances may result in power and pressure loss, which could become a cause of accidents.

So, hydraulic scissor lifts should only be used within a warehouse, project, or specific zone within their distance capacity.

After all, regular maintenance of any heavy machinery serves to not only protect your revenue, but to ultimately keep your workers safe from any harm or injury.

Rent with Hastings Motor to Transform Your Operations

With all the hydraulic scissor lift’s benefits, these machines are a useful tool for various industries that require lifting and moving heavy loads. You can make your operations more efficient and safe even without buying a scissor lift.

If your need for a hydraulic scissor lift is seasonal or you’re simply not yet ready for a major investment, a cost-efficient solution is to rent from a trusted heavy machinery rental company. Hastings Motor will not only provide the equipment but also ensure that they work properly.

Contact Hastings Motor today to discuss your heavy equipment needs.