Scissor lifts: the latest launches
20 February 2023
New scissors must be long lasting and offer access to all areas, within reason. AI rounds up some of the latest offerings.
Dingli’s oil-free large wheel compact. Compact and electric continues to be the name of the game in the scissor lift arena, with continued work to develop their lithium batteries and battery management systems.
Genie has introduced a new Lithium-Ion battery option for its GS E-Drive slab scissor lifts. Genie’s Lithium-Ion batteries have been specifically designed for MEWPs and are certified by the independent certification organisation Underwriters Laboratory (UL) against fire, electric shock and explosion.
The zero-maintenance battery’s fully sealed IP67 housing protects it from water and dust contamination. Based on extensive testing, it has an expected lifespan of roughly 10 years.
Christian Dube, Genie product manager, said, “Today’s electrified equipment doesn’t just reduce emissions. In many cases, it also performs better and requires less maintenance.
“That said, battery maintenance and replacement is still one of the biggest ongoing expenses for scissor lift owners. Genie Lithium-Ion reduces those costs by eliminating battery maintenance and replacement.”
Introduced in 2020, Genie E-Drive scissor lifts are already designed as low maintenance machines with brushless, fully sealed AC drive motors and 70% fewer hydraulic hoses and fittings.
They reduce maintenance costs by an additional 11% compared to flooded lead acid (FLA) batteries because the Lithium-Ion batteries do not need to be watered or replaced.
Low level scissor lifts
Snorkel’s S3013E was developed to address specific needs in the low level scissor lift market that it says were previously unmet.
This scissor offers the versatility of a compact scissor with the features of the manufacturer’s larger electric lifts.
The model was also designed to be environmentally friendly with an electric drive for zero emissions and reduced noise. The electric drive also eliminates external hoses, and therefore potential leaks.
The S3013E fits between the lightweight 5m working height S3010E micro scissor and the S3215E slab scissor.
The S3013E offers the compact dimensions of the S3010E while adding an extending deck, which is common on all larger models.
The S3013E also shares the fixed control box design with all Snorkel scissors, which is designed to reduce damage costs and save downtime on the jobsite.
The component layout is designed for ease of maintenance, reducing service time to a minimum.
Compared to its closest Snorkel counterpart, the S3215E, the S3013E also features larger wheels and better drive motors to make it even more robust.
Other new features include a battery disconnect, tamper-proof latches on the trays, and tie-downs.
Additionally, the platform box was moved to the outside to provide more working room, and the stack edges have been mitered for a smooth edge.
Electric scissor lifts
The concentration on electric and robust equipment was evident on Italian manufacturer Airo’s stand at Bauma.
The manufacturer chose to only show electric units on its stand, although it does offer non-electric products to the market.
The company was not launching new products but was offering a new option on its RT scissor lifts, namely the addition of stabiliser pads, which can easily travel with the machine using two slots on the side of the spider where the pads can be placed.
Airo was showing its latest RT scissor lift on the stand, its 20m working height XL20, which comes in an RTH hybrid version and an RTE full electric version.
The 700kg capacity model can carry up to five people and has a doble extension deck of 1.5m. With 4WD and 2-wheel steer, the XL20 id driveable at full height and has automatic stabilisation.
The Chinese manufacturers continue to grow their ranges as they also aim to expand their market share in the traditional markets of Europe and North America.
There is also considerable attention to the lithium batteries and battery management systems to offer greater flexibility and also increase the longevity of the machine.
Scissor platforms for rental companies
JCB’s line of fully electric scissor lifts comprising eight models from the S1530E to the S4550E. The range is part of JCB E-TECH.
Developed to meet the needs of rental companies and contractors, the platforms are easy to operate, with operational controls that make it easy to extend and retract even at high altitudes.
In addition, the design of the driver base and the winch point at the front of the machines facilitate the entire process of manoeuvring and loading during use.
All models feature devices that improve performance and increase the life of the machines, such as: engine protection plates, wear plates between shear joints, warning light protection, exclusive batteries and extremely efficient structural designs.
The lifting platforms have ergonomic access, proportional controls, speed mode for precise movements and a protection system against unevenness, which only allows elevation if the equipment is completely stable.
Scissor lift safety
Zoomlion’s first outdoor scissor lift, the 11.8m working height ZS1012AC-Li is equipped with lithium power battery system, with a low temperature regeneration current technology that eliminates thermal runaway risk of Li-ion batteries.
It can greatly extend the life of the lithium battery in low temperature environments, as well as maximising safety.
The model can also be operated outdoors at full height with a full load of 350kg, making with the aim of making it cost effective.
More in the area of greater strength, the scissor stacks are manufactured and welded by robot with a strengthened weld in the joint, which the manufacturer allows it to surpass 100,000 operations without fatigue.
In addition, it is painted by electrophoretic powder spraying technology with stronger anti-corrosion performance.
Energy efficient lifts
At Bauma Sinoboom was also going compact and purely electric, with lightweight, energy efficient scissor lifts, including new and upgraded models with greater working heights and front-wheel drive, slab scissor lifts from 8m to 13m platform heights, including models with lithium batteries and AC power, and units from Sinoboom’s new European manufacturing base in Poland.
Also at the show were rough terrain scissor lifts with one-click levelling and up to 680kg lifting capacity.
All the equipment on Sinoboom’s stand was electric powered, as the manufacturer has vowed not to make any diesel-powered equipment available in Europe.
Mini scissors
With a shared interest in the environment, Dingli is expanding its Oil Free series further, with a series of mini scissor lifts, featuring large wheels.
The new large-wheeled JCPT0607PAH and JCPT0708PAH add to Dingli’s mini scissor series, incorporating nine models with working heights ranging from 5m - 10m, with their advantages including low energy consumption, safer use, easy maintenance, greater comfort and environmentally friendliness, says the manufacturer.
The larger wheel options provide greater ability to drive over obstacles.
The battery-powered direct electric drive oil-free range, which the mini scissors are a part of, covers MEWPs from 5m-16m working height and maximum loads of 230kg-450kg.
There is no hydraulic system, using electric actuators for lifting, lowering and steering, instead of traditional hydraulic oil cylinders.
The series offers low energy consumption, says Dingli, with a 30% saving compared with the traditional hydraulic system. The large-wheeled units can also still enter and exit standard elevators.
Dingli is now accelerating the launch of its full series of oil-free & all-electric scissors, with the introduction of the large wheel version of its mini scissors representing the next step.
New addition to Irelands access equipment market
Just getting started in Europe is Chinese manufacturer LiuGong, which has launched its scissor lifts into the Republic of Ireland, through is distributor in the country FJS.
Based in Co. Kildare, FJS, specialises in the sale, repair and spare parts of plant, agricultural and ground care machinery.
The company is also Ireland’s main dealer for LiuGong machinery and has supplied the manufacturer’s excavators and wheel loaders since 2016.
Its recent launch of LiuGong’s latest slab scissor lifts into the country expands the company’s offering into access equipment.
Larger electrics
On a larger scale Holland Lift has been active, again in the electric arena, with the new Tulip series of scissor lifts.
The two 24m RT scissors are offered as an electric or diesel version. Some of the features include a maintenance-free pin system, 90 degree steering, rather than four wheel steering, which, as Chris Kochheim, managing director of Holland Lift, told AI, is opposed to four-wheel steering, which he says is not sage on rough terrain.
Another important element is the introduction of diagnostics and an in-house developed control system.
While these digital developments are a common theme at Bauma and beyond, they tell an important story about the requirement for remote diagnostics, when it comes to telematics information and saving valuable time in service callouts, particularly as skilled labour is becoming hard to source.
The control panel includes a full display.
Another important safety feature of the Tulip is the lighting that illuminates when in transport and when lifting.
In the near future, there will be a shorter 21m version with more than 1,000kg capacity. As a result of these launches, Holland Lift now offers a full range of electric scissors from 16m to 24m.
Compact in design
Early this year, Australia received its first deliveries of Haulotte’s updated Compact range.
The upgraded range was first previewed in the country at the HIRE22 exhibition in May last year, just after it was launched, allowing hire companies a preview of model before it hit the market there.
Featuring five working heights, from 8m to 14m, with load capacities from 250kg to 450kg, the new machines are designed to add flexibility and higher utilisation potential to rental fleets.
The machines include AC drive, which is designed to provide smooth operation, and allows easy maintenance and accessibility to components.
National sales manager for Haulotte Australia, Paul Sultana, said, “Having the preview model at HIRE22 was a great way to show the market what the new range would look like and some of the key features in the updates.
“Hire companies were impressed with its design and technology updates including the addition of the battery management system.”
The first few Compacts, which includes the battery Activ Energy Management system, began arriving last October and were delivered to New South Wales and Victorian distributors.
More than 98 units have been delivered to the country and more are set to arrive in the country early this year.
Imer’s new compact IM 5080 mini scissor model was launched at another recent show, bauma, in Germany, and is one of two models in the new series of self-propelled electric mini scissor lifts.
The two models, IM 4080 and IM 5080, are available with various versions, depending on the type of use – indoor or indoor, weight and capacity. The IM 4080 has a working height of 6m indoor, while the IM 5080 can reach 7m indoors.
The model on display at Bauma has a capacity of 230kg, with one operator and a total weight of 810kg.
It is equipped with a manual platform extension of 6 cm, which guarantees a capacity of 130kg. Its dimensions are particularly small.
When the machine is closed it is 1490mm x 780mm x 1900mm. Another important feature is the optional foldable railings, which closes the machine to just 1500mm.
Davinci in Brazil
Brazil-based Solutions Rental (SR) has added JLG’s all-electric DaVinci scissor lift model to its equipment rental fleet.
As specialist in the rental and sale of aerial platforms, SR is located in the city of Paulínia and serves customers across the entire São Paulo region.
It added the DaVinci AE1932 model, which is powered by a single 24V lithium-ion battery and has a maximum working height of 5.8m (9ft) as well as a basket capacity of 275kg, for its lack of hydraulic components, which means there is no possibility of oil leakages.
Yuri Caldeira, commercial director at SR, said, “With the DaVinci, we are the first rental company in Brazil to provide a Scissor Lift with zero oil leakage, something up until recently [that was] unimaginable for segments such as hospitals, pharmaceutical plants, museums, data centres, the food industry, which require absolute care when it comes to cleanliness, hygiene and bringing the risk of contamination to a minimum.”
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