How to Buy a Scissor Lift
Aug. 12, 2024
How to Buy a Scissor Lift
If youre in the market to buy a scissor lift, the process can certainly be confusing, exciting, and anxious especially if youve never been involved with buying one before.
Most scissor lift operators arent directly responsible for buying industrial equipment, but some companies like to get valuable input from operators. Their assessments and recommendations are helpful for purchasing departments when deciding which scissor lift they should purchase. This input includes:
Daily operational requirements. Scissor lift operators are the best source of info on how long lifts are used each day, what type of work theyre used for, and other key factors.
Work environment. Not all scissor lifts operate in the same workspace. Some are used for construction, while others are used for maintenance. Before buying a scissor lift, its a good idea to know what type of surroundings are involved and scissor lift operators have this knowledge!
Safety concerns. A scissor lifts
safety accessories
guide rails, safety harness attachments, fall protection components, etc. are big factors to consider before buying a lift. With input from scissor lift employees, purchasing personnel will have a better understanding of which type of lift to buy.
Safety issues are important from an equipment standpoint, but its also critical for operators as well. ALCs aerial lift and scissor lift training courses are ideal for new hires, veteran scissor lift operators, and everyone else involved with your companys daily industrial equipment operations. Check out our courses to see how we can help your companys safety plan.
Since maintenance is such a big part of scissor lift safety OSHA requires regular inspections to promote safe use we thought it would be a great idea to provide some tips and recommendations for scissor lift buys. Even though scissor lift operators probably wont make the final decision when it comes time to sign the purchasing papers (or click Buy), the following suggestions can be used by your companys relevant buying team to make a more informed, safety-first scissor lift purchase.
What to Do Before You Buy a Scissor Lift
Just like buying a car, a scissor lift purchase requires a list of functions youre looking for, price considerations, and other important must-haves. Youd never walk into a dealership, look at the first car you see, and exclaim, Thats the one for me!
The same thing applies when you buy scissor lifts. With careful planning, solid research, and exceptional pre-purchase planning, your company has a better chance of buying a scissor lift that will be a dependable asset for years to come.
Here are some scissor lift purchase considerations:
Mobility requirements. Make sure your scissor lift meets and exceeds your mobility standards. Some lifts are required to navigate ever-changing workspaces, while others are more or less stationary.
Check safety accessories.
Scissor lifts
dont reach as high as aerial lifts, but that doesnt mean you should forget about issues like fall protection and other safety-related items. Check the manufacturers operating manual and carefully review all the safety features theyll probably come into play in the future!
Measure everything. Ensure any potential scissor lift purchase has enough working space for personnel and materials. Lift requirements are also important; make sure your scissor lift provides enough vertical height to perform tasks. Have a tape measure on hand during equipment inspection to double-check clearances, widths, etc.
Used or new? This is an important question when buying a scissor lift. Used models can help your company save money, but previous wear and tear should be taken into account. New scissor lifts dont carry any baggage from previous use but are much more expensive.
Get the service history. Ask for the service history if youre buying a used scissor lift
. This is helpful for maintenance personnel, and also provides a snapshot of the lifts usage. If the record includes too many red flags, or if the distributor cant provide the service history, you can probably eliminate the lift from your potential purchases.
Ask questions. Ask the dealer or distributor anything and everything. Also, ask yourself some questions about the scissor lift. How do the brakes perform? Does the engine start fine? Are the scissor lifts fluids (oil, coolant, etc.) topped off? If not, why are they low? Does the framework have any problem spots? These and other questions will help you determine if the scissor lift is right for your company.
What to Consider When Making a Scissor Lift Purchase
Whenever youre ready to buy a scissor lift, be sure to factor the following considerations into the equation:
Lift SpeedThe rate that your lift moves up and down can have a huge impact on your rate of productivity. Before you delve into scissor lift pricing specifics, first determine your minimum speed required. This will help narrow the field and make it obvious which models are right for your needs.
Dimensions
Select a scissor lift that works within your space constraints. The last thing you want is to invest in equipment that cant fit through your doorway.
Safety Features
Hoping to reduce the risk of workplace accidents? Before you buy a scissor lift, look into safety features like tilt alarms and anti-rollback.
Electric vs. Rough Terrain
Fast Heavy Industry supply professional and honest service.
Most scissor lifts fall into one of two categories: electric or rough terrain. Electric scissor lifts are frequently used indoors. Because they run off of batteries, theres no hazardous emissions to worry about. Rough terrain scissor lifts, on the other hand, tend to be fueled by gasoline or diesel. Theyre ideal for working outdoors when terrain is uneven, muddy, or rough.
Personnel Capacity and Load
Before making your scissor lift purchase, be sure to consider personnel limitations and weight capacity. These can vary greatly from one model to the next. Adding an additional worker to a platform isnt always possible, even if theyre under the total weight limit.
Size of Platform
Ideally, the platform of your new scissor lift should fit into the space available, offering both safety and efficiency. Wider platforms can provide easy access and require less repositioning.
Cost
When you buy a scissor lift, let your budget guide your search. Theres no use in investing in expensive equipment that reaches 30 feet in the air when your warehouse only features 14 foot ceilings.
Buying a Used Scissor Lift
Maintenance is a huge concern when you buy used scissor lifts. Ask for a record of inspections so you can get a feel for how frequently the equipment was maintained. Tire condition is also a factor. Be on the lookout for structural damage including flat spots, bubbles, and cracks. Lifts should not vibrate when moving.
In your search for the right scissor lift for your needs, be sure to ask about the battery. Check to see that they can charge fully, that connections are tight and secure, and that theyve been adequately maintained. While youre at it, check to see if there are any leaks causing puddling beneath the equipment. While minor leaks are typical, puddling is a red flag.
Another Smart Buy: Aerial and Scissor Lift Training
While were handing out purchasing recommendations, heres another one thats too good to pass up: aerial lift and scissor lift training from AerialLiftCertification.com. Our flexible, affordable, accessible training modules are the best way to become OSHA compliant. Once you have your aerial lift or scissor lift certification, youll have a solid understanding of safety requirements, how to avoid hazards, and much more.
We have three training classes available:
Train a Trainer interested in becoming a certified aerial lift or scissor lift safety expert? Sign up today!
Training Kit no other
online OSHA training course
provides the complete knowledge quite like our Training Kit. Its ideal for everyone from recent hires to veteran scissor lift and aerial lift operators.
Bundle Package if you cant decide between the two modules above, we have the solution: our Bundle Package includes our Train a Trainer and Training Kit courses at a special reduced rate!
If you have any questions about our OSHA aerial lift or scissor lift training programs, or if youd like to speak directly with our certification consultants, please call us at (888) 278 .
5 Things To Consider When Buying A Scissor Lift
Scissor lift table is a common machine that can be generally divided into 2 types. The first type is stationary scissor lift and another one is mobile scissor lift. Just as their names imply, a stationary scissor lift is installed in the pit or the ground floor to convey the loads to places of some elevation. Its powered by the electric and hydraulic system, with which the platform moves up and down along the track. What is really convenient is that its control panels can be installed both at the designated places on the floor and on the lift platform.
As for mobile scissor lift, its widely used for installations and maintenance in the places like construction sites, workshops, warehouse, granary, railway stations and so forth. Its more flexible because it can be moved easily by manual labor, from one site to another. Also its control panels can be installed both at the designated places on the floor and on the lift platform.
How to buy a scissor lift table?
If your business involves a large number of loading and unloading tasks, then you should buy a scissor lift table to help reduce those daunting repetitive bending and lifting movements. So that your workers will get released from tiredness and injuries, and of course, your goods can be less damaged when operated on a lift platform.
However, to buy a suitable scissor lift table is not that easy like buying a pair of shoes, for you can easily find out whether the shoes are suitable for you or not just by trying them on. It doesnt work on machines. In order to ensure the performance of a scissor lift table, you should firstly make some investigations toward your work nature and scissor lift table suppliers before paying for it.
Here 5 considerations are provided to help you make a right choice.
- Make out a comprehensive plan on your purchasing purposes regarding a scissor lift. You can list all your needs and results you expect. And taking this plan as the torch of other considerations.
- Calculate the workloads you want the scissor lift to hold. More capacity usually means more expensive. Hence if you are considering budget, please make sure the bearing limits of the scissor lift you buy.
- Check the safety designs and performance of the scissor lift. Safety is the best quality of a machine. If armed with sufficient safety devices (safety bar, lanyards, emergency button, etc.), the scissor lift will be a good assistant to decrease accidents, save time and money, and guarantee work efficiency.
- Pay attention to the task cycle of the scissor lift. If being well informed with this, you will arrange a more targeted schedule about using the machine, which will be good for the maintenance and longer use of the machine.
- Last but not least, buy from worldwide suppliers as long as the machine is good enough. There are buyers thinking that scissor lifts from reputable suppliers can absolutely meet their needs, regardless of their inflated prices. Keep a clear mind and search for what you really want.
Theories are just empty frames if not combined with practices. So please bring these 5 tips to choose your scissor lift in practices.
If you want to learn more, please visit our website Self-propelled Scissor Lifts.
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