AssetTrader Buying Guide to Platforms

Features and Options

Power choices available to platforms are often self-propelled, and these tend to use electricity, gas, diesel or propane. There are such things as dual fuel lifts which allow you to switch fuel types for indoor and outdoor use.

There are two main categories of platforms, and these are slab platforms, and rough ground platforms. Slab platforms tend to be powered by electric, and consequently are commonly implemented in indoor settings, whereas rough ground platforms tend to use more traditional fuel sources, such as diesel or gas. To encourage a better level of traction for use on uneven ground rough ground platforms often utilise pneumatic tyres.

There are three main types of platforms. These are boom platforms, scissor platforms and personnel platforms.

Boom platforms are sometimes referred to as stick or straight lifts. They are commonly used in construction tasks, and offer a long and high reach. A variation on the boom platform is the articulating boom lift which enables the user to reach around obstacles. A standard boom platform has heights which range from 20 to 110 feet. The most common lifting capacity is around 500 lbs.

In comparison, scissor platforms, despite generally offering larger platforms and lifting capacities, are only able to move vertically. Scissor platforms can offer heights from 19 feet to 50 feet, with lifting capacities from approximately 500 lbs to 2500 lbs.

Vertical personnel platforms are less expensive than the other kinds of platform, though present limitations in that they are only able to move the operator in a straight up and down direction.