Mandy's Manufacturing Blog

Scissor Lifts vs. Man lifts – What Is the Difference?

In the world of industrial equipment, undeniably scissor lifts and man lifts are two of the more common machinery employed at construction sites as well as in warehousing. These types of equipment are primarily employed to help contractors access hard-to-reach places. Furthermore, the man lift variety can also be used to manoeuvre into different positions, making them quite handy. Nonetheless, if you are looking to hire or purchase this equipment for the first time to utilise for your project, you may be wondering which option will be the best suited to your requirements. The following article seeks to acquaint you with the main differences between scissor lifts and man lifts.

Difference in structure

The first difference between scissor lifts and man lifts is their structural design. Scissor lifts are easily identifiable with their metal braces that are assembled in a criss-cross formation, which bears a high similarity to a regular pair of scissors. When in operation, the metal braces will fold and unfold, and this movement is what raises and lowers the equipment's platform. Alternatively, man lifts comprise one hydraulic arm that is connected to a bucket. The hydraulic up extends upwards and downwards, which works to move the bucket.

Difference in platform

The platform of your equipment will largely impact the efficiency of your project. Thus, it is always judicious to know which platform will be best suited to your needs before you choose a scissor lift or a man lift. For scissor lifts, the platform is quite spacious. Thus, the platform can support multiple contractors at a time with ease. The platform on a man lift is much smaller, as it can only accommodate one person at a time. Hence, if your project requires numerous people working on one section simultaneously, a scissor lift will be the best option. However, if there is limited space in the area that needs work done, a man lift will be suited for this since it is much more compact.

Difference in cost-efficiency

Large-scale projects can quickly inflate your budget. Nonetheless, this by no means implies that you cannot get work done efficiently in a cost-effective manner. Although scissor lifts may not have an extensive range of motion, this type of machinery is one of the most affordable options that you can elect to invest in. Thus, if you have a restrictive budget, a scissor lift will be your best bet. Man lifts tend to be more technologically advanced, so they will be costlier, but they do accord you added manoeuvrability.