Workers, their tools, and supplies are transported off the ground by boom lifts. Boom lifts can be classified into two categories. The telescopic boom lift, also known as the straight boom lift or stick boom, has a single arm that can reach a long distance. A wide open area is the best place to use them, and they are stable enough to handle a variety of terrains. The articulating boom lift, also known as a knuckle lift, is another type of boom lift. The segmented arms of this lift enable it to fit around obstacles and work in tight spaces. As a result, they can work on more complex structures and in crowded areas, such as downtown.
The power source of boom lifts can be diesel, gas, electric, or even hybrid. All terrains can be handled by two- or four-wheel drive vehicles. Additionally, they can be equipped with different types of tires or treads based on the conditions. A variety of sizes are available, starting from 30-footers that can fit through doorways. If you need to reach 19 stories, you can use a 180-foot boom lift. It is possible to use boom lifts for a wide range of purposes, and there are several distinct makes and models to choose from.
- Articulating Boom Lifts – This lift employs a bucket on a swiveling turntable at the end of an articulating arm. The one-of-a-kind design allows for vertical and horizontal flexibility. An articulating boom has a maximum vertical reach of 125 feet and a horizontal extension of 75% of its height. Workers may also navigate up and over barriers by extending the boom in parts. Articulating booms can be utilized for both indoor and outdoor applications. Indoor variants are powered by electricity and are often smaller than their outdoor counterparts. Outdoor knuckle booms are often driven by diesel or may be transported to a jobsite. The boom lift has several applications, both indoors and outside.
- Telescopic Boom Lifts – Telescopic boom lifts are one of the most useful forms of boom lifts. Telescopic boom lifts have more vertical height than other types of boom lifts. Telescopic boom lifts, like knuckle lifts, feature a bucket on the end of a telescopic arm, but the arm can only extend in a straight line. During usage, the arm extends horizontally and then moves up and down as needed. Telescopic booms are frequently referred to as “stick” booms since the arm can only move in one direction. Telescopic booms are suited for work in large buildings and other elevated work settings, with platform heights ranging from 40 to 80 feet. However, the largest telescopic boom lifts may reach up to 185 feet in vertical height, making them perfect for a wide range of industrial tasks. Telescoping booms feature larger bases than articulating lifts to help in working securely at heights. Rough-terrain telescoping booms with stability require a work surface of 10 feet or more. Telescoping booms, on the other hand, are easier to operate than articulating booms since they feature a single boom.
Choosing the Best Boom Lift
It is critical to ask as many questions as possible while evaluating the various types of boom lifts and determining which is best for your needs. Is the worksite indoors or outside? Is the land level or slanted? How easy is it to get to the jobsite? Will workers work directly in front of you, beneath you, or above you? Consider mobility as well: will operators need to move horizontally or vertically, or will they just go up and down?
Work needs should also be considered while deciding which sort of boom lift is best for the job. Consider how many workers will need to be on the platform and what tools they will require to fulfill their tasks. This also has an impact on weight concerns. Consider how much weight the lift will need to transport as well as the task site’s limits. Only until you’ve addressed each of these considerations can you genuinely begin to choose the best lift for the task.
