What Are Some Commercial Uses of Scissor Lift Tables?

Scissor lift tables are incredibly useful and versatile lifting devices that can be used in a range of situations and scenarios, especially within commercial and industrial settings. Not only is their use highly practical, but they’re highly efficient and offer better safety compared to other solutions for accessing heights with heavy loads.

In this guide, we’ll discuss scissor lift tables in more detail, looking at some of the different types available before going on to discuss some of their common uses in commercial settings.

What are Scissor Lift Tables?

A scissor lift table is a type of lifting device specifically designed to raise and lower heavy workloads with exceptional stability and precision. This could include anything from loaded and unloaded pallets, boxes of stock, and raw materials to crucial components involved in manufacturing and production processes. These robust lifting tables are indispensable in environments where ergonomic lifting, material handling, and access to varying heights are critical.

The way they work is thanks to a sophisticated hydraulic system. This system uses a combination of hydraulic fluid and pressure, which is precisely controlled to convert into linear motion. When pressure is applied, the interconnected “scissor” arms extend upwards, elevating the platform. Conversely, when this pressure is released, the platform smoothly descends.

The reliance on this hydraulic system enables scissor lift tables to effortlessly handle remarkably large loads while maintaining exceptional durability and longevity. This inherent strength and reliability are precisely why they are so heavily relied upon across various industrial and commercial sectors.

Different Types of Lift Tables

The versatility of scissor lift tables is evident in the diverse range of types available, each designed to meet specific lifting requirements and operational environments.

Mobile Scissor Lift Table

Also commonly known as lift trolleys or mobile lift tables, these highly adaptable scissor lift tables are engineered for easy manoeuvrability, allowing them to be transported precisely to wherever their lifting capabilities are required. They typically feature four robust wheels and an ergonomic handle, making relocation straightforward. Crucially, they are equipped with a reliable braking system that securely locks the wheels into place when the lift is in use, preventing any movement during operation and ensuring maximum safety.

Mobile scissor lift tables tend to be more compact than their stationary counterparts, making them ideal for tasks requiring frequent repositioning. These units can come in either a single scissor or double vertical scissor design, depending on the required lifting height and load capacity. Their compact nature and portability make them perfect for tasks such as moving inventory, positioning workpieces, or aiding in assembly lines where flexibility is key.

Manual Scissor Lift Table

For applications where power sources may be limited or where precise, incremental adjustments are needed, manual scissor lift tables offer a practical and cost-effective solution. Unlike hydraulic or electric models, these lifting platforms are operated via a hand-crank or foot pump mechanism. This manual operation allows for very fine control over the lifting and lowering process, which can be advantageous in delicate assembly tasks or when positioning fragile items.

While they may not offer the same speed or heavy lifting capacity as their powered counterparts, manual scissor lift tables are incredibly durable and require minimal maintenance. They are often found in smaller workshops, laboratories, or retail environments where occasional lifting of moderate loads is necessary. Their simplicity of design also contributes to their reliability, making them a popular choice for specific niche applications.

Single Scissor Lift Table

Arguably the most common and versatile type of scissor lift table in commercial use, the single scissor lift table features a flat, robust platform supported by a single set of interconnected scissor arms and hydraulic cylinders. These are the workhorses of many operations, offering a balanced combination of lifting height and load capacity.

Single scissor lift tables are widely adopted for a broad spectrum of applications, from general material handling and assembly work to ergonomic work positioning. Their load capacities typically range from 500kg up to a substantial 10,000kg, making them suitable for a vast array of industrial and commercial tasks. Their straightforward design ensures reliability and ease of maintenance, contributing to their popularity as a go-to lifting solution.

Double Vertical Scissor Lift Table

Designed specifically to achieve significantly greater elevation, double vertical scissor lift tables operate with two sets of scissor mechanisms, with one set positioned directly above the other. This stacked configuration allows them to reach impressive heights that a single scissor design cannot, making them ideal for accessing elevated workstations, shelving, or transferring materials between different levels.

While excelling in vertical reach, their load capacity tends to be slightly less than single or horizontal models, typically ranging from 200kg to 8,000kg. These high-reach lifting tables are crucial in environments where vertical access is paramount, such as in tall storage facilities, maintenance operations on large machinery, or multi-level assembly lines.

Double Horizontal Scissor Lift Table

Similar in principle to their vertical counterparts, double horizontal scissor lift tables also utilize a double set of scissor mechanisms. However, instead of being stacked, these sets are placed side-by-side. This unique configuration provides a significantly larger load surface area, making them ideal for handling oversized or irregularly shaped items that require a wider platform.

Beyond the expanded platform, this design also typically offers a greater weight capacity. For example, their capacity often ranges from 2,000kg to an impressive 25,000kg. This makes them perfectly suited for extremely heavy-duty applications where both a large platform and substantial lifting power are essential, such as in the automotive industry for chassis assembly, or in heavy manufacturing for moving large components.

Low Profile Scissor Lift Table

Low-profile scissor lift tables are engineered with a crucial design feature: an exceptionally low closed height. This allows them to be positioned almost flush with the ground, which is particularly beneficial for easy loading and unloading. Once loaded, they can then be raised to a comfortable and ergonomic working level.

They are most commonly used for raising unloaded or loaded pallets, which can be effortlessly loaded onto and unloaded from the lifting table using a standard pallet truck, eliminating the need for ramps or pits. This makes them invaluable in situations where direct, ground-level access is required for palletised goods, streamlining operations in warehouses, distribution centres, and production lines.

Commercial Uses of Lift Tables

The versatility and safety benefits of hydraulic lift tables make them indispensable across a wide range of commercial and industrial applications.

Warehouse Loading Bays

Scissor lift tables are an incredibly common and vital sight in warehouses, particularly for applications within the loading bay or in open yards for efficient vehicle loading and unloading operations. Specialised loading bay lifts are exceptionally versatile and can be used in conjunction with virtually any vehicle type, from small vans to double-deck HGVs, to facilitate quick, safe, and efficient material transfer.

These robust loading dock lift platforms can be precisely raised to the height of the vehicle, allowing pallets, roll-cages, and other goods to be seamlessly transferred to the lift. They are then smoothly lowered to ground level or dock height, significantly reducing manual handling and the risk of injury. Many models are robust enough to safely lift and transfer forklifts and powered pallet trucks, further enhancing their utility in high-traffic loading areas. This drastically improves safety protocols within the demanding environment of a warehouse loading bay.

Ergonomic Work Positioning

In demanding industries such as construction, manufacturing, and factory work, many tasks involve manipulating weighty raw materials or require pinpoint precision when working with components. Using a scissor lift table for ergonomic work positioning can revolutionise these processes. These lifting tables enable the precise elevation of heavy objects and materials to a level that is most comfortable and convenient for employees to work at.

Workers can easily adjust the platform to the optimum height required to carry out their tasks, adapting this as and when needed for different stages or specific operations. Crucially, this significantly reduces the need for employees to bend down, strain, or try to manually lift heavy objects themselves, thereby protecting them from potential musculoskeletal injuries, strains, and fatigue. By promoting a more comfortable and accessible working posture, scissor lift tables not only enhance worker well-being but also directly contribute to increased productivity and efficiency, maximising the output of valuable labour.

Production Line Management

In large-scale workshops and busy manufacturing facilities, scissor lift tables are incredibly useful tools for streamlining production line management and ensuring a smooth flow of materials. For instance, if there is large-scale machinery that requires materials or items to be moved into it at a specific height, scissor lift tables can precisely lift or lower these components to the correct positioning, eliminating the need for arduous manual adjustment by workers.

They can then be strategically used at the end of the production line to smoothly lower finished components or items to the ground, allowing workers to easily transport them to their next required destination, whether that’s storage, packaging, or further assembly.

Speaking of transportation, this is yet another crucial way scissor lift tables contribute to efficient production. Mobile scissor lift tables, often referred to as lift trolleys, empower workers to effortlessly transport goods and materials across the warehouse or factory floor to different stations. Items can be easily loaded onto the mobile platform, transported with stability, and then lowered and unloaded at the precise point required, significantly improving logistics and reducing bottlenecks within the production process.

Streamlining Building Construction

When constructing homes and other multi-storey buildings, scissor lift tables are incredibly convenient and effective for the safe and efficient transportation of materials and equipment between different building levels. While large-scale construction jobs often use cranes for heavy lifting, scissor lifts offer a much faster, more flexible, and easier option for slightly smaller-scale construction projects or for internal material movement.

Their relatively compact size and robust design allow them to be safely used within the building’s interior itself, making them excellent for transporting materials and equipment between levels in slightly more confined or intricate spaces where larger machinery cannot operate. This also significantly eases the burden on construction workers, as they won’t have to manually carry or transport heavy materials and equipment between levels, which is physically demanding and time-consuming. Ultimately, the strategic deployment of scissor lift tables helps to streamline the building construction process, enhancing safety, efficiency, and project timelines.

Here at Edmolift, we recognise that scissor lift tables represent a cornerstone of modern material handling and ergonomic solutions across a vast array of commercial and industrial sectors. From optimising warehouse loading bay operations and enhancing production line management to ensuring ergonomic work positioning and streamlining building construction, these versatile lifting tables offer unparalleled safety, efficiency, and adaptability.

To discover how a scissor lift table can transform your operations and to explore the ideal solution for your specific needs, contact us today for more information.