When your crews need to access overhead work — hanging drywall, installing plumbing, or performing electrical work — a scissor lift is one of the most effective tools to help them get the job done.
That’s because this type of MEWP (mobile elevating work platform) offers workers the unique ability to move the machine into place and then ascend/descend vertically to complete a task — eliminating the need for more cumbersome tools like scaffolding and ladders.
Today's scissor lifts come in various models and sizes that match different work environments. For example, rough-terrain scissor lifts are well-suited for work on unfinished, uneven ground and projects requiring higher capacity machines and larger platform sizes. In contrast, “slab” scissor lifts are intended for operation on flat, level surfaces and are ideal for indoor work.
As a contractor, you must match the machine to the work but also consider your customers' and the operator’s needs. What does the project owner need from the equipment your crews are using? It may be different. For example, they probably don’t want oil leaks on the job site, and they might not want diapers on the products — what they want are clean machines.
You should also consider the needs of the crew members who operate scissor lifts on the job. They probably don’t care about the same things as your customers. Instead, they want a safe machine that’s easy to use.
So, how do you know which scissor lift is right for your next project?
Here are four tips for selecting a scissor lift that will allow your crews to complete overhead work efficiently.
Tip #1: Know the Work
Choosing the right scissor lift is influenced by what the machine will be doing — and where it will be doing it. Before renting one, you should be able to answer the following questions about your project:
- At what height do your crews need to work?
- How much weight do they need to carry to the work area?
- Are there any space limitations to consider, such as a door frame the machine needs to fit through?
- What type and size of material are the crews elevating? Is platform size important?
- Will the machine be working inside, outside or both?
- What surfaces and ground conditions will the machine work on?
- Will there be a power source available onsite to charge the machine?
- Are there any restrictions for indoor use of the machine?
- How long does the machine need to run based on your crews’ shift schedules?
- Are there specific tools or accessories that would help your crews complete the work?
- Are there additional environmental regulations that you need to comply with (i.e., noise or emission pollution)?
Tip #2: Understand Your Choices
Most scissor lift models allow operators to complete a specific task, but the model selected will impact how efficiently a task is accomplished. When you head into an equipment provider, you’ll quickly discover several differentiating factors among various models that will affect your rental choice. That’s why it’s imperative to do your research beforehand so you can choose wisely.
First, consider the machine’s drive system (i.e., the system that actuates movement). Choosing a machine with the right system — hydraulic or electric — for the job depends on where the machine works (inside, outside, or both) and the types of surfaces and ground conditions it will work on.
Hydraulic-drive systems take electrical energy from the batteries and convert it to hydraulic flow to power the machine’s lift, drive and steer functions. This requires hydraulic oil, hoses, fittings, manifolds and other components that must be frequently inspected and maintained. So, although these lifts can be less costly to rent, they are not always less expensive to operate over time.
Electric-drive systems have batteries connected to the drive motors to drive the wheels, which makes them more efficient overall and significantly reduces the number of leak points. This is because they are engineered with fewer components than their hydraulic drive counterparts.
Scissor lifts are often used in environmentally sensitive work areas, like clean rooms and data centers, so leak protection systems for these machines are increasingly important. That’s why many OEMs, including JLG, have introduced leak containment systems that capture leaks and drips from the power unit and the steer cylinders, replacing the need to cover the machine's underside with a diaper.
But JLG, for example, isn’t focused solely on leak containment — we’re focused on eliminating leaks altogether. Advancements in technology today make it possible to design and engineer products differently, enabling us to bring hydraulic-free products, like all-electric scissor lifts, to market. All-electric systems are highly efficient, and the power required to run them is significantly less. For example, power consumption on the JLG® all-electric DaVinci® lift is cut by nearly 70 percent.
The scissor lift’s drive system also impacts the second thing to consider: Runtime required. Understanding how long a machine needs to run to complete the work is essential to renting the right machine. For example, will the scissor lift need to run on continuous shifts, or will your crews have the opportunity to charge the machine regularly?
A typical hydraulic- or electric-drive scissor lift takes 8-10 hours to charge fully. This is a big deal for crews because the time between machine use must be carefully calculated. By contrast, all-electric scissor lifts can go much longer. For example, the JLG DaVinci lift, powered by a single, lithium-ion battery, can go from not charged to fully charged in 3.5 hours, delivering substantial productivity gains. Your crews could use this scissor lift for nearly 20 hours daily.
Additionally, lithium-ion battery technology offers opportunity charging. With as little as 20 minutes of charging, an all-electric scissor lift, like the JLG DaVinci model, could provide up to a couple of hours of power for your operators to finish their work.
Tip #3: Think About the Options
Understanding other technologies and features available on a rental scissor lift can also deliver significant job site benefits.
For example, is the scissor lift you plan to rent equipped with full drive-at-height capabilities? This functionality allows your operators to continue working at a fixed height, which comes in handy when running cables inside or outside along the length of a building or when changing light bulbs across individual lighting units in a parking lot. Without this capability, your operators must ascend and descend each time they move the lift to the next work area.
Also, did you know traditional slab scissor lifts cannot elevate when working on a side slope over 1.5 degrees? But, some manufacturers, including JLG, now have technology that gives your operators a larger working envelope. For example, JLG slab scissor lifts are equipped with variable tilt technology, which shows your crews the maximum height they can achieve, before elevating. This is based on side-to-side tilt angles and the current capacity in the platform, so it removes any guesswork that often results in descending and trying again.
To offer even more versatility, many scissor lifts can be equipped with accessories for specific applications, making it a little bit easier for your crews to get the work done. Optional accessories and application-specific packages, such as panel carriers, pipe racks, machinist vices and on-machine welders, to name a few, should be evaluated as part of your rental.
Does the rental unit have a battery monitoring system? It’s not uncommon for machine batteries to die during the workday, causing a huge efficiency problem. Knowing how much charge remains in a machine’s battery pack and what can be done with it can drastically improve its efficiency and performance on any job site.
To address this, some OEMs, including JLG, offer battery monitoring capabilities on their products. JLG’s technology, for example, is sophisticated enough to analyze the machine’s battery charge and share information, via a mobile app, on battery usage and diagnostic information on the battery and charger system.
As digital technology continuously develops, you should ask your equipment provider what other apps are available on the machine you plan to rent. For instance, the JLG Mobile Control app allows operators to use their smart devices to load and unload a stowed scissor lift from a distance, rather than being next to or inside the machine's platform. It also lets operators remotely control the lift when positioning the machine into areas with low clearances, giving them a better view of the job site while moving equipment. Advances in technology like this help improve safety conditions and reduce potential damage to the working environment.
Tip #4: Recognize the Differences
While many believe scissor lifts are a somewhat commoditized product, as you have read, they are far from that. Key features and technologies drive tangible job site benefits. Many of the scissor lifts available in rental fleets today may be similar, but they are not the same, which can make a big difference in the rental experience.
So, even though selecting the right scissor lift for a job will depend on you identifying the type of work to be done and the conditions where the work will be done, before renting, it’s best to investigate the available models. It’s important to review the specs and know what features and technologies your crews will need to accomplish the task at hand in the most efficient and productive manner possible.
Learn more about JLG’s full line of electric- and engine-powered scissor lifts at JLG.com/ScissorLifts.
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