Hiring a platform that doesn’t quite meet the needs of your business risks slowing down your team. While boom lifts and scissor lifts seem similar, the differences matter.
An elevated work platform (EWP) should offer safe and practical assistance in a way that helps improve performance. When it comes to equipment hire in Perth, the UCS team offer expert input to ensure the right fit.
Scissor lifts
The name of this elevated platform comes from the cross metal design that moves in a scissor-like motion. Scissor lifts prioritise vertical reach rather than side to side manoeuvrability.
The base holds the most weight, a design element that assists with keeping the platform reliable. The structure minimises incidental motion, allowing your team a steady environment in which to work.
Why choose a scissor lift?
Scissor lifts are famous for offering vertical height, stability, safety, and increased efficiency.
If the project is a team effort, you’re in luck. More than one worker can fit comfortably on this EWP. Scissor lifts also allow for equipment to be present with workers on the platform, saving time and labour.
Projects that benefit from scissor lifts
Ladder or scaffolding based projects often switch easily to scissor lift usage. Replacing ladders reduces injury risk, while removing the need for scaffolding can prove cost-effective.
A popular elevated work platform, scissor lifts are found across a number of industries and workplaces. Maintenance, industrial sites, construction, and logistics are some examples.
If a job requires the vertical raising of multiple team members so they can work in in sync with a range of tools on hand, this type of platform provides the space and the steady surface.
While primarily hired for indoor use, certain models do perform well outdoors. United Crane Services can determine which scissor lift type and model best supports your project.
When not to use scissor lifts
This option runs into problems when you need to move in any direction other than vertical. Want to work a little to the left at an angle? You’re out of luck. Scissor lifts don’t offer that kind of reach.
Firm even ground is required, so avoid engaging on slopes or soft surfaces. The superior safety of this platform type only applies if workers remain on the deck and the load stays within capacity.
Specifications
Maximum height and weight will depend on the model you select. Scissor lifts are designed for ease of use in small spaces.
Our team can help you navigate various accessories that enhance performance. Possibilities include turntables that enable the lifting and rotation of loads at height, and tilters that let the operator alter the load angle.
Boom lifts
Need more movement and flexibility than a scissor lift can offer? A boom lift might be your best bet. Along with a base and hydraulic lifting system, the boom of the name refers to the extending arm with a work platform attached.
Boom lifts fall into various categories. We offer:
- Straight booms
Also known as a telescopic or stick boom due to the single long arm, the key benefits here are reach and manoeuvrability.
- Knuckle booms
Named for the joints that allow bending, workers can be positioned up and over other items or fixtures on the site, able to move backward and forward.
- Trailer-mounted booms
These lighter booms can be easily towed, offering ease of use between multiple work sites.
What about cherry pickers?
Technically, cherry pickers have distinct characteristics. Mounted on trucks or vans and sometimes trailers, cherry pickers have what is known as a bucket or basket at the end of the arm where the worker can safely stand.
Originally utilised for fruit picking, this option is commonly employed for work on powerlines, trees, construction projects, and assorted tasks on multistorey building exteriors.
When choosing a mount, take into consideration site accessibility, terrain, working height, necessary outreach, project demands, and budget.
Why choose a boom lift?
The main sell over scissor lifts is the ability to manoeuvre, especially helpful on contracts that require reaching difficult spaces, going over or around other objects on-site.
While scissor lifts are more affordable and generally provide wider work platforms, they cannot offer the manoeuvrability a boom lift brings to the job.
Boom lifts are also better at handling difficult environments, making them popular for outdoor use.
Projects that benefit from boom lifts
- Straight booms
Often employed for work on the outside of buildings across a range of jobs, from painting to roofing. These booms are suited to areas with easy access.
- Knuckle booms
Chosen for maintenance and construction work where more flexible movement is required, the boom navigates the platform around objects or aspects of the structure that block simple access.
- Trailer-mounted booms
Especially helpful for repairs and installations, including signage. Designed for mobility, this option is utilised across a number of industries.
When not to use boom lifts
If a job requires a team and an assortment of tools that need to be lifted vertically only to a point of easy access, a boom lift may not be necessary. Scissor lifts are more about vertical movement.
Boom lifts focus on horizontal reach and flexible movement as much as height. They generally have a lower weight capacity overall and a smaller work platform than scissor lifts.
Operators
How your platform is powered and operated depends on type and model. We verify the operating requirements and necessary licences for each hire.
An accredited operator has the training to address all safety protocols across hazard identification, pre-operation checks, operation, shutdown, and parking.
If your team doesn’t have someone with the required qualifications, consider hiring one of our experienced operators for your project
Check with us
While you want an EWP that meets the demands of the job, you also want to avoid paying for reach you don’t need, and a weight capacity you won’t use.
Decades of experience providing platform and crane hire in Perth means we recognise the point where budget meets performance. Have questions about our high-quality equipment? Talk to us.
