Basket lifts for construction work – when and in what situations is it worth using them?

Basket lifts are an everyday occurrence on construction sites, in warehouses and renovation companies. Large, massive telescopic boom lifts with basket booms reach the highest floors of newly constructed buildings, articulated lifts efficiently maneuver in areas inaccessible to other platforms, and scissor lifts stably lift several people and their equipment. The differences between them mean that they perform extremely diffelease tasks, although they have one thing in common - a basket that lifts people and loads up. What work can they do on the construction site? We invite you to a short review of construction lifts.

Types of basket lifts

Depending on their construction, they reach diffelease heights and can move on unpaved and unstable construction sites or forest roads. They work inside buildings (electric construction lifts with special, non-marking tires) and outdoors (elevators with an internal combustion engine, larger tires, additional supports stabilizing the boom). Here are the most popular types of lifts:

• Articulated boom lifts – the foldable lift arm allows for a large scope of maneuver and allows the basket to reach hard-to-reach places.
• Telehandlers – a straight arm, extended to a specific height using hydraulic cylinders, provides the greatest horizontal deflection and the highest reach of all types of boom lifts.
• Scissor lifts – crossed arms lift up the basket placed above them. The construction scissor lift works in an up-down direction. This type of lift has the highest lifting capacity and can be lifted by several people at the same time, along with the equipment needed for work.
• Mast lifts – vertical lift with compact dimensions. They can have a rotating turret and side extension. Works in places inaccessible to other lifts (corridors, narrow passages, spaces between shelves, etc.)

Read also: Basket lifts – everything you need to know about them

Articulated basket lift in hard-to-reach places

The bending arm of such a lift allows work in inaccessible places - above production lines, power cables or between buildings. Thanks to its design, it efficiently avoids obstacles. Used on construction sites for painting, cleaning and renovation of facades, during roof sheet metal work, for installation of installations (electrical, ventilation), as well as for external insulation of the building. An articulated arm requires less space than a telescopic boom lift, so it is useful in compact urban areas and difficult working conditions between buildings.

Working at high heights with a telescopic boom lift

Telescopic boom lifts equipped with a basket ensure the transport of people and the necessary tools/materials to a considerable height on every construction site. Equipped with an appropriate (up to 6 m) working platform, they can be lifted by several people. A lift with a lifting hook or a winch can successfully replace a crane on a construction site. Telescopic basket lifts can perform many diffelease construction works: lifting people, feeding building materials to high floors of buildings, helping with repairs and renovations at high heights (telescopic basket lifts have a working height of 20 m, 40 m and even 90 m).

Scissor basket lift – work even for several people

The advantage of scissor basket lifts is the ability to lift larger loads up to several meters high. The only inconvenience here is the need to drive and place the device exactly at the target location. With scissor lifts, the work platform can be lifted by several workers along with the necessary tools and construction materials. This type of lift effectively replaces scaffolding, and the ability to extend the working platform in some models means that up to 6 people can work at the same time. It is useful for all repair and assembly works, for plastering, painting or cleaning facades, for window installation, and even for roofing works carried out within the reach of the lift.

Basket lift leaseal

Short-term leaseal of lifts it is most often intended for one-off or occasional work. Long-term contracts are chosen by companies that, for various reasons, do not decide to purchase the device. The advantage of long-term leaseal is the lack of any costs related to technical maintenance of the lift. The leaseing party is only obliged to purchase fuel for daily work. In the event of a breakdown, the tenant also receives a replacement construction lift. Renting is a convenient way to use the device without having to provide full equipment lift service.

Is buying a construction boom profitable?

Yes, in the case of companies where the device will be used intensively. Construction companies, loading ramps, the shipbuilding industry and the logistics industry can certainly consider purchasing basket lifts for everyday work. The high cost of purchasing the device and the need for its servicing and repairs is compensated by the lack of leaseal costs in daily, long-hour work and the ability to choose any device available on the market. The price of a basket lift can be slightly reduced by purchasing a used device. In other cases, including occasional situations, a reasonable alternative is short- or long-term leaseal.

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GIZO – sale and leaseal of construction basket lifts