Traditionally, industrial lifts have been utilized in manufacturing and production environments to lower and raise work items, people and supplies. The scissor lift, also called a table lift, is an industrial lift that has been modified for wholesale and retail environments.
Most consumers who have been shopping in a store late at night have probably seen a scissor lift, even if they do not know they have. Basically, the scissor lift is a platform with wheels that performs like a forklift. In a non-industrial environment, the scissor lift is great for completing jobs which need the mobility or speed and transporting of people and supplies above ground level.
The scissor lift is unique, able to lift employees straight up into the air. Instead, the scissor lift platform rises when the folding and linked supports beneath it draw together, making the equipment stretch upward. Once the equipment is extended, the scissor lift reaches approximately from 21 to 62 feet or 6.4 to 18.8 meters above ground. This depends on the unit's size and the purpose.
The rough terrain scissor lifts could either be powered by an electric motor or by hydraulics, although, it can be a bumpy ride for the employee in the lift going to the top. The scissor lift design keeps it from traveling with a constant velocity, rather than traveling slower with more extension or traveling faster during the middle of its journey.
An extremely popular class of scissor lift is the RT or Rough Terrain class. Standard features of the RT units include increased power due to 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 associated with this particular class of scissor lift.