Aerial lifts is a topic not easily understood primarily because few individuals can afford to own them and most outfits rent a lift for a specific time period, returning it when the lift is no longer needed to the specific job. Consequently, too few managers or workers are familiar with all the different types of aerial lifts, and therefore might buy or rent the wrong one for the job.

The goal of this article is to help explain the different types of aerial lifts available. It’s a basic rundown yet should provide you enough details so you can make the correct decision. It should be mentioned, however, that if you would like more information and have specific questions you would like to have answered, Bahrns Equipment is one of the leading dealerships for aerial lifts and personnel lifts. With inventory from top manufactures like Genie, JLG and Skyjack (not to mention 45+ years of experience) Bahrns can help answer additional questions about your lift needs.

Articulating Boom Lifts

Articulating Boom Lifts, otherwise known as ‘knuckle booms’ are used for overcoming obstacles, literally. Knuckle booms can reach up and over machinery, equipment, and other obstacles mounted on floors and for reaching other elevated positions not easily approached by a straight (telescopic) boom lift. Articulating boom lifts give you a variety of control options, vertically and horizontally manageable, steered in virtually any direction. It’s a great option for narrow aisle ways or congested work areas.

Material Lifts

Material lifts are used for lifting heavy material to or from shelves, loading and unloading heavy materials, supporting materials and for many other practical applications. Material lifts are capable of safely lifting up to 1,000 pounds from ground to 26 feet making this type of lift one of the most versatile. They’re also compact and highly maneuverable.

Scissor Lifts

Scissor lifts provide the largest workspace yet reach the shortest heights of any aerial lift. The larger platform is capable of supporting more workers and the lifting capacity for scissor lifts is often one of the highest. Therefore, you can send up a lot of weight yet not too high up. Scissor lifts maneuver similar to boom lifts, but the platform may only be raised vertically. There is an option, however, on certain scissor lifts to extend the deck horizontally up to six feet. Scissor lifts are available in various models with maximum platform heights of up to 50 feet.

Telescopic Boom Lifts

Telescopic boom lifts are very similar to articulating boom lifts in the amount of control you have over the vertical and horizontal adjustment. The machine’s turntable may be rotated 360 degrees in either direction and specialize in the requirement of reach capability. Telescopic boom lifts are also known as ‘straight booms’.

Telescopic Handlers

Telescopic handlers are low-profile, variable-reach lifts designed for lifting and transporting materials to heights of 55 feet. Telescopic handlers are the industry’s strongest booms yet also navigate sharp corners and move down narrow aisles with impressive accuracy. Handlers also operate in mud, rock, or sand thanks to a mid-mounted engine providing better weight distribution.

Vertical Personnel Lifts

Vertical personnel lifts are one-man lifts capable of moving through standard door openings. Like the knuckle boom, vertical personnel lifts are drivable at full platform height and sometimes used as pickers for hand stock picking inside the warehouse. Compact, vertical personnel lifts serve a few specific purposes.