Boom Lift vs. Scissor Lift : How to choose the Type of Your Aerial Working Platform?

Content

What Is A Boom lift

Pros and cons of choosing a boom lift

Types of Boom Lift

Articulated Boom Lift

Telescopic Boom Lift

Towable Boom Lift

Crawler Spider Lift

Scissor lift

Pros and cons of choosing a boom lift

Types of Scissor Lift

Electric Scissor Lift

Diesel Scissor Lift

Bi-Leveling Scissor Lift

Boom Lift vs. Scissor Lift: How to Choose a Suitable Lift

Working Height

Loading Capacity

Terrain Condition

Power Source

Budget

Conclusion

You’ll need a boost when facing various working scenarios, such as construction, building maintenance, and warehouses. According to different working scenarios, distinctive differences between boom lifts and scissor lifts should be taken into consideration.

Boom lifts can move horizontally and vertically while scissor lifts can only move up and down. Scissor lifts are equipped with larger platforms(with deck extension) with higher loading capacity while boom lifts have limitations for workers in terms of carrying equipment and materials.

In this article, we will describe some differences between boom lifts and scissor lifts to help you choose the right equipment for your next project.

What Is A Boom lift

A boom lift(also named man lift, aerial lift, or cherry picker) is a kind of lift that can lift people on its platform to different heights or cross some obstacles to have aerial works. The movement of one boom lift to cross space horizontally and vertically lies in the hydraulic system and Leverage Principle. The two cooperate to achieve flexible extension and retraction, rising and descending of the boom. However, there are several vertical segments in boom lifts that can be applied in different scenarios according to their characteristics.

Pros and cons of choosing a boom lift

Types of Boom Lift

  Boom lifts are typically divided into articulated boom lifts, telescopic boom lifts, towable boom lifts and crawler spider boom lifts. And we could also apply them to different situations according to their power: electric and diesel.

Articulated Boom Lift

An articulated boom lift is a lift with high access and flexibility.  Booms of an articulated boom lift are linked together with some pits, making it move flexibly to bend across obstacles and access crowded spaces. Embedded jib stretch and retreat, enabling its platform to reach further places to have aerial works.

The working height of Jovoo’s electric articulated boom lift ranges from 11.5m to 22.5m, which makes it qualified for both indoor and outdoor working scenarios. While diesel articulated boom lift covers 16 to 32 m, not only providing an alternative for electric articulated boom lifts of the same meters, but enabling workers to have higher aerial working when articulated is necessary. Its V09 to V14 is mainly applied for indoor operation and other types are more inclined for outdoor construction.

Here are the main working scenarios:

Building construction: exterior wall cleaning, and window installation.

Power communication: power line maintenance, communication equipment maintenance.

Facility maintenance: air conditioning, lighting equipment maintenance.

Warehousing logistics: high-bay shelf storage and retrieval, equipment maintenance.

Exhibition construction: stage, lighting, and sound installation.

Telescopic Boom Lift

Being different from the high flexibility and joints of booms, telescopic boom lifts are instead equipped with straight arms that expand or contract like a telescope. This characteristic makes up for the shortage of limited working height. For an electric telescopic boom lift, its working height starts at 18m and ends at 28.3m. As for the diesel telescopic boom lift, it achieves a vertical breakthrough in working height,changing from 30m to 56m.

Compared with articulated boom lifts being applied both indoors and outdoors, telescopic boom lifts are mainly used outdoors. Due to its excellent stretch range, higher working height, and capacity to adapt to complex terrain, the telescopic boom lift is generally chosen when there is a higher need for horizontal outreach and working height.

Here are the main working scenarios:

High-rise building structure construction

Factory construction and large venue construction

Large-span structures such as stadiums and exhibition centers;

Inspection and maintenance of ultra-high equipment;

Bridge construction and maintenance;

Shipbuilding and port terminals, and maintenance of large port equipment

Towable Boom Lift

Two of the biggest advantages of a towable boom lift lie in its suitable price and easy to be transported. The chassis is simplified to be two wheels so it can move fast from one working place to another by being linked together with a truck via a drawbar, saving a large amount of time so as to improve working efficiency. Its outriggers could fix it tightly on the ground, increasing the stability of this machine.

Taking various factors into consideration, Its working height is designed in a regular data. Its working eight ranges from 10m to about 18m, balancing both requirements about a certain height and safety. Being constrained by its chassis but beneficial to its width and price, it hews a way out of boom lift.

Here are the main working scenarios:

Events and temporary work: exhibition/concert construction

High-bay rack access: inventory sorting and equipment maintenance

Low-rise building maintenance: exterior wall painting/repair

Crawler Spider Lift

Crawler Spider boom lift is an aerial working platform particularly designed for complex terrains and constructions with limited space. Increased contact with the ground makes it more adaptable to complex terrains and less likely to leave scratches on indoor ground. Light-weighted design and tiny width enable it to compass narrow spaces. Equipped outriggers endowed a crawler spider boom lift with an excellent ability to work in a slope, which is far reached than other types of boom lifts.

To guarantee its stability and profound application in situations of different heights, its height varies from 10m to almost 20m. This is a unique machine that could be very suitable for indoor constructive activities.

Here are the main working scenarios:

Warehouse management: high-bay rack storage and retrieval, equipment maintenance.

Exhibition layout: stage construction, lighting installation.

Facility maintenance: indoor lighting, air conditioning equipment maintenance.

Landscaping: tree pruning, park maintenance.

Scissor lift

A scissor lift is a piece of aerial working equipment with a large and flat platform supported by a series of crisscrossed braces. These braces squeeze together to push the platform upward. The chassis of the scissor lift needs to sit on flat and firm ground directly to avoid slipping.

Though constrained by horizontal movement, the scissor lift could raise and descend with excellent load capacity. For some types of machines, under specific circumstances, their load capacity could reach 450KG, meaning that they could lift up three workers aloft with some instruments or descend with unloaded cargoes when doing some clearance or maintenance.

Pros and cons of choosing a boom lift

Types of Scissor Lift

Based on their intended use, scissor lifts come in a number of variations, including electric scissor lifts, diesel scissor lifts and bi-leveling scissor lifts. Due to some specific requirements, we could also change the power of the electric scissor lift to a diesel scissor lift, making up for the shortcomings of being inconvenient to charge outside.

Electric Scissor Lift

Electric scissor lift enjoys great reputation due to its high load capacity, suitable price and wide application to indoors and outdoors.  It is driven by electricity and achieves raising and descending by simply operating some buttons. Zero emission is environmentally friendly. Besides, the maintenance cost of the electric scissor lift platform is lower, for the maintenance of the electric drive system is relatively simple, and the durability of the electric system performs better.

The working height of a scissor lift can be selected according to different types and requirements, generally ranging from 7.8m to 15.8m. The choice of working height depends on the specific application scenario.

Here are the main working scenarios:

Warehousing and logistics: cargo storage and inventory management

Building and construction: high-altitude operations, such as exterior wall decoration, lighting equipment installation, etc.

Equipment maintenance and repair: high-altitude maintenance and overhaul.

Industry and production lines: factory equipment overhaul, production line maintenance and material handling.

Exhibition and event construction: installation and adjustment of the stage, lighting, sound and other equipment.

Diesel Scissor Lift

A diesel scissor lift is an aerial working platform driven by a diesel engine and is widely applied to situations in which long endurance of machine comes to priority. One distinctive feature is that it is driven by diesel, breaking down the limitation of electricity. Generally speaking, its working height varies from 12m to 18m, satisfying most of outdoors aerial workings.

When coming to its application scenario, it is widely accepted in those areas where there is a shortage of electricity or failure to be charged outdoors. Besides, it can be seen in exterior wall maintenance of construction sites, renovation of shipping companies, and heavy industrial scenes such as mining, oil and natural gas.

Bi-Leveling Scissor Lift

Bi-Leveling Scissor Lift is an aerial working platform combining a track chassis with a scissor lift structure and equipped with an automatic leveling system. This design enables it to move on rugged, muddy and other irregular terrains and endows it with high adaptability to complex ground. Its bi-leveling system could adjust the platform’s inclination to guarantee that the platform could remain level when it should be placed on a slope, providing a stable working environment.

At present, the working height of bi-leveling scissor lift covers varies from 8m to 14m, making it a good choice in many application scenarios. For example, construction, exterior wall cleaning, landscaping, high-altitude tree pruning, mining operations, high-altitude operations in narrow environments, and other complex terrain environments.

Boom Lift vs. Scissor Lift: How to Choose a Suitable Lift

To conclude above mentioned, there are obvious differences between a boom lift and a scissor lift in many aspects. They have respective advantages in different uses. A boom lift could reach to higher and wider range while being short in load capacity and higher price. Due to its flexibility, mobility and working height, most of boom lifts are applied to outdoor constructions. While as a scissor lift with a relatively limited working range, its tight design and lower price make it a preference for indoor activities. However, nothing is absolutely settled. When choosing a machine, many factors should be taken into consideration in that different scenarios and exterior conditions would influence one’s decision.  And various types of machines are designed to provide a customer with more alternatives. So we will give out some advice according to different factors based on several examples.

Working Height

The first sector you need to consider is the height you need to reach.

If you need a machine with a working height below 15m to have indoor activities without the need of passing over obstacles, an electric scissor lift can be a better choice.

If you need a machine with its working height below 15m and have to come across barriers, an articulated boom lift suits you more.

If you need a machine to be applied to outdoor constructions or large buildings, a boom lift should be chosen. When there are any barriers aloft, you should choose an articulated boom lift. For those that have a wide surface, a telescopic boom lift is better.

Loading Capacity

Sometimes loading capacity plays a significant role when you deciding which one to choose.

If you need one machine with a large loading capacity and apply it to a relatively lower and vertical scenario, then choose an electric scissor lift.

If you need to operate one machine in higher working conditions and the loading capacity should be bigger, choose a telescopic boom lift.

Terrain Condition

The telescopic boom lift is four-wheel-driven so that it is adaptable to many terrains even when the ground is not flat and firm, rough and muddy.

The crawler spider boom lift changes its chassis to track, enabling it to pass through uneven ground and be applied to indoor constructions.

Bi-leveling scissor lifts can be a good choice when one has to place their machine on a slope.

Power Source

In some areas where diesel is a common source that is cheaper than electricity or availability to electricity can be a difficult thing. This time, a diesel lift is a top choice for those people in such areas when they need one aerial working platform.

One advantage of an electric lift lies in that it is zero-emission so it is of vital benefit to be used indoors.

Budget

I think it should be a concern that would raise the resonance of most people. Not only should one choose a suitable type, budget is a crucial part before deciding to purchase one.

An electric scissor lift is cheaper than a diesel scissor lift but their working height can be the same.

If you need one articulated boom lift, a towable boom lift can be more suitable for those who are short in budget.

Conclusion

In summary , both boom lifts and scissor  lifts have their unique advantages. Choosing a suitable aerial working platform can be a good beginning to your project. By clearly defining your working height, load capacity, terrain conditions, power availability, and budget, you can make a more informed and effective decision. If you need more professional or customized advise, just contact us to get more solutions.