Scissors Lift vs. Boom Lift: What is the Difference?
If you are into the construction field and need to access high spaces more often, you may need to engage a heavy equipment rental company in Singapore. But as the market is loaded with several types of lifts, you may have to stay very careful while picking the best one to ensure complete comfort on site.
Experts usually recommend scissor lifts and boom lifts for construction sites. However, both of these lifts have their unique pros and cons so one needs to do an in-depth analysis to decide which is the best fit for your unique needs.
Here we are going to have a detailed discussion on both types of lifts. By the end of this article, you will be able to pick the right lift for your needs.
What is the difference between a scissor lift and a boom lift?
First of all, let us go through the general introduction to both these lifts:
Scissor Lifts:
Scissor lifts are commonly used to help workers reach high areas. You can find these lifts commonly in industrial settings and manufacturing industries. These types of lifts are supported by crisscrossing braces; they extend in the upward direction to help the worker reach high points at the site.
Most of the scissor lifts are able to move up and down only. However, few advanced ones can be also moved in a horizontal direction. The best thing to know about scissor lifts is that they have a big platform on which several people can stand at one time. It can also carry heavy materials with ease.
Boom Lifts:
A boom lift is basically an aerial lift and it is known to provide higher flexibility as compared to the scissor lifts. The platform of these lifts is supported by a specially designed hydraulic arm that can easily maneuver in the area with more obstacles. Boom lifts are also capable enough to extend towards higher elevations.
You will find two types of boom lifts in the market. One is an articulating boom lift that has arms with bending ability; hence, they make it easier to move buckets on the site. On the other side, telescoping boom lifts are designed with straight arms but they have much higher weight carrying capacities. However, you will find them a little difficult to maneuver.
Scissor Lifts Vs Boom Lifts: Pros and Cons
Here we have highlighted a few pros and cons of both these lifts to boost your knowledge base about their capabilities and limitations:
Pros of scissor lifts:
- Scissor lifts are designed with larger platforms and they can easily carry multiple workers to the far elevated level.
- Scissor lifts are considerably less expensive as compared to the boom lifts.
Cons of scissor lifts:
- The lift height is lower; it can reach only up to 20-50 feet.
- Most of the scissor lifts can move only vertically; they are not useful when you need to move around the obstacles.
Pros of Boom Lifts:
- These lifts are rated high for their better maneuverability. You will find them a better choice when you have to maneuver around obstacles or in multiple directions.
- Booms lifts can reach up to higher levels; the achievable hight for most lifts is 130 feet.
Cons of Boom Lifts:
- Boom lifts are designed with smaller platforms; just a few workers and lesser material can be carried on these lifts.
- Boom lifts are much more expensive as compared to scissor lifts.
When should you be using a boom lift or scissor lift for your construction work?
Scissor lifts are generally recommended for jobs that require vertical movements. If you are working at a construction site where workers need to gain access to higher places, boom lifts are the best choice. The best thing to know about boom lifts is that they can even work in the area with lots of obstacles and can help workers to handle work on higher elevations.
Most of the experts recommend boom lifts instead of scissor lifts for construction work. As they are supported by the hydraulically actuated arm, they can easily move around at the site.
Market these days is loaded with many different varieties of boom lifts with different platform capacity, horizontal reach, maximum working height, and below ground reach. While hiring a lift for your construction site, you may have to check all features to ensure adequate services.
S-60X Trax Genie boom lift is recommended for higher horizontal reach; you can consider this product for industrial applications and areas with limited access to execute construction activities. Genie S-80 J telescoping boom lift is another great choice for working at higher elevations. It offers a maximum lift capacity of 300 kg so multiple workers can handle the job at a time. Genie S-40 and S-45 boom lifts are rated higher for their increased productivity due to higher drive speed and traction. They can move your workers efficiently between different work areas. These lifts can even move freely at industrial sites and construction areas with tight spaces.
Key Takeaway:
Now you have gone through a detailed discussion on scissor and boom lifts. Note that the boom lifts are generally designed for outdoor needs; whereas scissor lifts are good for indoor use such as warehouses, factories, etc.
When you are planning to hire a lift for your construction site, it is also important to check the overall budget and type of operations. Although scissor lifts are cheaper to hire, they cannot offer you extra reach to the heights. On the other side, the larger platforms of scissor lifts can help you move around with materials and equipment; but the boom lifts can accommodate just one or two workers. Boom lifts are widely recommended for construction works due to their higher reach and reliable operations in the area loaded with obstacles.
Make sure you list out all the requirements for the construction site and then make a suitable decision about hiring adequate lifts. If you are not sure which lift to choose for your construction site, drop us an email or call us. We offer the best boom lift rental service and scissor lift rental service in Singapore
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