The scissor lift has a special place in the in the heavy equipment industry as the only machine that exclusively lifts straight up. The first scissor lifting mechanism was designed in the United States in 1936. Unlike modern scissor lifts, this less-mobile grandfather of today’s scissor lift was operated entirely manually instead of by an engine. Its originator, Charles Larson, never could have imagined how his machine would revolutionize the lifting industry, when if first hit mainstream markets in the 1970’s.

There are a number of factors to consider when buying a scissor lift for your business. The first decision depends on the environment that you intend to use your new machine in. When working in a warehouse or other areas that are largely enclosed, an electrical scissor lift would be the safest option to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning to other workers in the area. When operating outside, however, an electric scissor lift could still be used. The second consideration concerns the height you need to reach. Most scissor lift for indoor use (storage area, hangars, etc) typically don't need to go beyond 3 or 4 stories, but when used for outdoor construction many lifts can reach from 50-55 feet. There is only one machine on the market that reaches higher than that. The PBS88D towers its competitors at an astounding 82 feet of maximum reach.

As with most heavy machinery, different environments often require different capabilities and requirements for a safe and effective operation. For example, when trying to get to hard-to-reach areas indoors, many businesses rely on electric scissor lifts. Instead of running off of fuel, electrical forklifts are charged between uses. This functionality is safe to use indoors because it doesn’t produce emissions. If exhaust fumes are released in confined spaces they can be very dangerous to any humans occupying the area. For this reason, electric scissor lifts tend to be the most popular options in warehouses. However, the upside to diesel scissor lifts comes in the form of strength. The way diesel is compressed allows it to be one of the most efficient fuel sources and provides a greater amount of torque compared to electric motors. While electric and diesel scissor lifts use different fuel sources, they both generally use a hydraulic system for their lifting mechanisms.

In the heavy equipment industry there are many events around North America that focus on heavy equipment and its surrounding innovations. One event that features scissor lifts is called CONEXPO-cON/aGG. On top of featuring the world’s greatest producers of scissor lifts, this conference boasts itself as the biggest of its kind in the United States. CONEXPO-cON/aGG is so big that it has been reported as “taking over the entire city of Las Vegas” for a week. The show includes 2,500,000 square feet of space for its exhibitors to walk around and experience heavy equipment such as scissor lifts. They also go the extra mile in providing educational opportunities and classes in the world of lifting and other industries. CONEXPO-cON/aGG happen every three years with the next event is scheduled to take place in Las Vegas in March of 2020.

It can often be a challenge to find a piece of heavy machinery that fits the exact requirements of the job it is needed for, scissor lifts are no exception. One of the most efficient ways to shop for your next used scissor lift is on mascus.com. Mascus is the world’s largest used heavy equipment marketplace. By easily typing your search query and selecting a few different filters you can look at the used scissor lift that you need. In the same way, if you are looking to sell your used scissor lift you can quickly register at Mascus to get your machine seen by the many worldwide Mascus users.