Lift Engineering and Construction Industry

Ricky Lim asked:


For any one who is confined to the wheelchair, a vertical platform lift is the best way of moving around. However, for those who are able to move around on their feet, this is a great dilemma. They cannot decide between a wheelchair vertical platform lift and a stair lift.

According to them, both have similar functions that of moving up and down, so how are they different? Well, since they perform the same functions, they are basically the same but it depends on your purse and your household needs which one you want.

Comparison and study

These aids perform similar functions but as with the different objects, there is always a space for comparison. However, to compare any two things we need to have a better understanding of the things individually.

Only then can a true unbiased comparison be made. So let us study these two models of lifts thoroughly before getting into, who is better and why. The stair lift has been more common than the wheel chair vertical platform lift and therefore more people will know what exactly a stair lift is.

A vertical platform lift is a self contained, elevator type lift which has found wide usage in commercial buildings. The benefit of using these lifts in public buildings is generally the cost factor.

These are very cheap and the installation is also easy. Further, any new type of construction is not required for the installation. You just have a bit of modification to accommodate the lift and that’s it.

The best part of this lift is that not only can it lift the person concerned but also their nurse, the scooter they use and any other thing that they may require. But the problem is, such a weight will not go above twelve feet.

If you want it to go higher then you will have to make sure that it is properly secured to your stairs and to the ground as well. You will not want unwanted disasters when you are only trying to make life more comfortable for the disabled.

In the stair lift, there is no such problem. The lift is positioned in a horizontal manner and with steel tracks that are attached with the staircase of your house. It will use a chair or one small platform for the movement of the person and no more.

In fact finding a stair lift will be much easier than finding a wheelchair vertical platform lift. But it is entirely up to you what you want. But if the vertical lift seems pricey to you, you should go for the stair lift. But there will be not room enough for anything more than the person.



platform lifts

anthonyrobbins asked:


Wheelchair lifts, as the name suggests, are devices to lift people in wheelchair up a flight of steps or even a single step. In the latter case the wheelchair ramp is the less expensive and more feasible solution. Also called platform lifts, wheelchair lifts are also used in wheelchair accessible vans and other vehicles. Here again the wheelchair ramp would suffice. The benefits of wheelchair lifts enable them to be adapted for varied purposes for the disabled, including climbing truck cabs to operate heavy equipment.

The benefits of wheelchair lifts are clear in that they eliminate the need to lift the wheelchair and place it into a vehicle or onto a higher or lower plane. The cumbersome procedure can be eliminated with the wheelchair lift with the individual just having to pull up his wheelchair to the platform of the lift and be lifted up or down. Then he just needs to pull away! Individuals with disability can’t possibly think of anything more convenient. It’s a big shot of confidence for them, provided the places they wish to go and the vehicles they travel in are equipped with the wheelchair lift.      

Here’s another of the benefits of wheelchair lifts. There is just about a wheelchair lift for every purpose. Platform wheelchair lifts are of the solid and folding platform kind and also come in automatic and semi-automatic versions. In an automatic lift a switch takes care of the lift’s folding, unfolding, lowering and raising, while in a semi-automatic wheelchair platform lift one needs to manually fold and unfold the platform. Electric wheelchair lifts are easier to maintain than hydraulic ones. The former can be custom-fitted with telephone jacks and automatic door openers. The benefits of wheelchair lifts can be best felt with the electric ones that include home stair lifts, automobile lifts and van ramps.   

The advantage of home stair lifts is that they can be installed inside or outside the house, and aren’t cumbersome at all. They don’t take much space and are quite and comfortable. They can generally rise 23 feet and carry up to 350 pounds though they can be designed to carry more weight. The benefits of wheelchair lifts are that they come as automobile lifts as well, as said before. These can be fitted to vans and cars. Van ramps aren’t actually lifts but are spring-loaded and can be folded and stored.

As more and more disabled Americans are getting increasingly mobile thanks to the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) of 1990, the benefits of wheelchair lifts will be felt more and more.



platform lifts

anthonyrobbins asked:


Wheelchair stair lifts are mainly designed to provide safe and reliable accessibility solutions for physically disabled and aged people who find it difficult to climb stairs. Wheel chair stair lifts are conceptualized for easier disabled access. They are also helpful for people with back problems to move easily to standing position. They are highly cost-effective and are available in a variety of sizes and designs.

Different models of wheelchair stair lifts are available in the market, each having unique features. With the help of vertical lifts you can overcome physical barriers in both commercial and non commercial settings. Depending on your requirement you can choose your desired color as well.  Wheelchair stair lifts can be used in multi-storey buildings for emergency evacuation. You can install these stair chair lifts along the side of the stairway and there are models catering to both straight and curved staircases. They can also be customized to solve any particular challenge that you face in your home or office. This easy to use device is equipped with a number of safety features for immediate use. One of the main features is the highly sensitive sensor, which helps to prevent damages caused by obstacles in the lift’s path.

Basic features:

•    Emergency stop button and alarm

•    Optional remote controls

•    3 non-skid platform sizes: 36″x 48″, 36″x56″, 36″x60″

•    3 Drive systems: A/C powered belt driven ballscrew, Battery powered belt driven ballscrew, Battery powered hydraulic

•    Key lock to prevent unauthorized access

•    Wheelchair stair lifts have the capacity to carry 750lbs (340 kg)

Vertical platform lifts also offer many entry/exit configurations. The door will not open until it has reached the appropriate landing. They are flexible and can be easily installed inside or outside your home or office. These stair chair lifts are designed to carry your manual wheelchair, power wheelchair, or mobility scooter.

Most manufacturers provide free maintenance services. They are staffed with well experienced and trained designers and technicians, who provide installation and maintenance services at affordable cost. They offer professional and committed services for a wide range of clients including builders, architects, developers and home owners. Before purchasing a wheelchair stair lift, you should make sure that the lift fulfills ADA requirements and is one that suits your budget and requirements.



platform lifts

Camille Howe asked:


Electrohydraulic scissor lifts are some of the most powerful, heavy duty material handling tools used by major factories, power plants, government facilities, and service centers. These products are needed for loads that weigh anywhere from 15,000 LB up to 120,000 LB. Like all scissor lifts, electric hydraulic units are built to keep heavy materials at a stable, consistent elevation for safe access and efficient operations to be performed. They are routinely employed by telephone companies, lumber companies, and air craft engine companies to elevate materials for manipulation, moving, or service work.

Often as well, electric hydraulic scissor lifts will be buried in the ground in order to secure and stabilize tractor trailers during loading and unloading procedures. Two hydraulic scissor lifts will be buried apart from each other at the exact same distance as the front and rear wheels of a truck. The lift will be flush to the ground when it is the elevated position. When the truck needs to be loaded or unloaded, it will be “parked” with both sets of wheels centered on either electrohydraulic lift. The lift tables will then be lowered, locking the truck in place and making the trailer bed flush to the ground.

This allows work crews to drive forklifts directly into the trailer at ground level, and it prevents the truck from wobbling from side to side. It also allows workers to move barrels and containers filled with sensitive materials and flammable liquids safely into the trailer with minimal risk of spillage or injury. Nuclear power plants often use electro-hydraulic scissor lifts to secure trucks that are used to transport containers of nuclear waste.

Of course, heavy duty electric scissor lifts are not always buried like this. In many cases, they are used to elevate heavy engines in tractor companies to work platforms where technicians and welders can work from a standing position rather than having to work from a ladder, or actually climb on top of the engine and risk a fall. The larger the lift; the more weight it will safely elevate, and the higher it can be raised.

Because these machines are engineered for maximum heavy duty performance and reliable strength and stability, they have a design safety factor of 3 to 1. Each electrohydraulic lift is operated by an externally powered motor ranging from 5 to 15 hp, depending on the lift model and size. Motors are controlled from an up/down push button control on the end of a 20 ft cord. Every motor includes an adjustable upper travel limit switch that automatically shuts off the motor and pump at the desired pre-set height. Two secondary, mechanical upper travel back-up stops provide an additional safeguard against over extension.

When necessary, workers can also stand on hydraulic scissor lifts safety. The platforms are supported by rectangular structural tube scissor legs and torque tubes that stabilize horizontal and longitudinal centers of gravity and minimize deflection when the unit is supporting huge loads and workers are moving around on the platform. Toe guards along the edges of the platform add a standard, yet very important, safety buffer against accidental slips and falls.

Heavy duty scissor lifts are made with a number of additional safety and mechanical features that are intended to ensure stability, safe operation, and durability under extreme stress for long periods of time, and reliable performance of all unit components for the duration of the unit’s lifespan. Talk to a material handling specialist for more details.



platform lifts