Traditionally, industrial lifts have been used in production and manufacturing settings to raise and lower work things, people and materials. The scissor lift, also referred to as a table lift, is an industrial lift which has been modified for retail and wholesale environments.
Most customers who have been shopping in a store late at night have probably seen a scissor lift, even if they do not realize they have. Basically, the scissor lift is a platform with wheels that acts similar to a lift truck. In a non-industrial type of setting, the scissor lift is perfect for completing tasks which require the speed or mobility and transporting of people and supplies above ground level.
The scissor lift is a unique equipment in that it does not utilize a straight support in order to hoist workers into the air. Instead, the scissor lift platform rises when the folding and linked supports underneath it draw together, making the machinery stretch upward. When 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.
Rough terrain scissor lifts are normally powered by hydraulics or electric motors. It could be a bumpy ride for workers inside the lift going to the top. The design of the scissor lift keeps it from traveling with a constant velocity, as opposed to traveling faster during the middle of its journey or traveling slower with more extension.
An extremely common class of scissor lift is the RT or Rough Terrain class. Typical features of the RT units include increased power due to the IC or internal combustion engine. The variations come in petrol, gas, combinations or diesel. This is considered necessary to handle the increased weights and steeper grades of 18 to 22 degrees that are often associated with this specific class of scissor lift.