Vertical lifts are often known as personnel lifts too. As its name suggests, vertical lifts provide workers with vertical access to work at height. Although the same can be said for scissor lifts, the use cases and applications for vertical lifts can be quite different.
Vertical lifts are often the choice of contractors involved in building maintenance, facility management, cleaning, indoor decoration and light construction. Due to their ultra lightweight and compact design, they are often deployed at worksites that have fragile flooring with narrow and tight access points.
Vertical lifts provide a safe and efficient aerial solution for accessing delicate worksites that are difficult to reach. They offer greater safety and efficiency than traditional scaffolding and are replacements for scissor lifts in certain cases.
However, selecting the right vertical lift to rent or buy for your work may not be as easy as it seems. Many users unknowingly choose vertical lifts that are unsuitable for the specific work environment, resulting in unnecessary costs and delays. To help you make the best decision, here are some tips for choosing the right vertical lift for your projects.
Looking to rent or buy vertical lifts in Malaysia? Contact Uptop Access today!
Essential Tips for Selecting a Vertical Lift
1. Understand Your Working Height Requirements
Similarly to scissor lifts, the first step is determining your working height, which refers to the highest touchpoint your worker needs to reach to complete their tasks. It’s important to differentiate this from the platform height, which is the maximum height the vertical lift’s platform can be elevated.
So what’s the difference? As a worker will be standing on the vertical lift platform to complete their work, the effective reach height is beyond the rated platform height of the vertical lift. As a rule of thumb, the working height of a vertical lift is its platform height + 2 meters (or around 6 feet).
Most vertical lift brands will provide the working height and platform height information in their catalogues for easy reference. Below is a snippet from the Mantall AMP Series Vertical Lifts catalogue:
For example, if your worker is required to reach 12m for indoor decoration work, the Mantall AMP32 with a platform height of 10m is sufficient for your work.
2. Decide Between Push Around Or Self-Propelled Vertical Lifts
Vertical lifts come in 2 main types:
- Push Around: Very lightweight (300 to 600kg). Often comes with outriggers for added stability and even distribution of machine weight on the ground. Requires manual effort to be pushed into position. Ideal for small indoor worksites that do not travel long distances due to manual positioning.
- Self-Propelled: Heavier (700kg to over a ton). Can drive itself, making it faster to move around on-site. Ideal for frequent or large-scale tasks, especially where workers need to work across multiple locations quickly.
Considering vertical lifts are primarily used in indoor delicate flooring, a push around vertical lift is often chosen over self-propelled models as it is much more lightweight. Push around models are more affordable for rent or purchase too due to simpler mechanisms.
It is also important to point out that the majority of vertical lifts are designed to lift one worker only regardless of models.
3. Check The Vertical Lift’s Weight And Dimensions
Given the types of worksites vertical lifts are generally used, the weight and dimensions of the vertical lift are usually very crucial factors.
For non-construction worksites, vertical lifts are often transported using passenger elevators or small cargo lifts. Hence, verifying the elevators or cargo lifts can support the weight of the vertical lift intended to be used.
Additionally, confirm that the vertical lift’s dimensions can fit into your worksite’s access points, such as doors and elevators. If you’re using a push around model with outriggers, do ensure your worksite has sufficient floor surface area to deploy all four outriggers. Once on-site, verify that there is enough overhead clearance when the platform is raised.
Failure to account for these details may result in delays, additional costs or inability to complete the tasks.
In the Mantall catalogue above, you can easily refer to the full specifications of the AMP Series Vertical Lifts including crucial information on machine weight and dimensions.
4. Consider The Working Environment And Choose The Right Power Source
Vertical lifts are exclusively electric-powered only and are available in two main power sources:
- AC-powered: Requires an external power supply during operation.
- DC-powered: Comes with a built-in battery pack. Does not require external power supply during operation.
If your worksite has easy access to power points and you wish to save the hassle of recharging the battery, then you may go for an AC-powered vertical lift. However, if power supply on-site is unavailable or a power extension cord running across your worksite will cause inconvenience, then a DC-powered vertical lift should be chosen.
5. Choose The Right Vertical Lift Supplier in Malaysia
Selecting the right supplier is as crucial as choosing the right vertical lift. A trusted supplier guarantees smooth operations, reduces downtime, and provides expert guidance throughout your project. If you’re looking to rent or purchase vertical lifts in Malaysia, here’s what to consider when selecting a supplier, and why Uptop Access is the perfect choice:
Extensive Industry Experience
With over 25 years of experience in the industry, Uptop Access has built a reputation as a trusted provider of Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs) in Malaysia. This extensive experience enables us to identify the ideal machine tailored to your unique project needs.
At Uptop Access, our offerings go beyond just machinery – we deliver comprehensive solutions. Whether you’re working in confined areas with limited access, have strict worksite safety, large quantity orders or any other requirements, we have the expertise and resources to recommend the best solutions. Our team anticipates potential challenges and provides proactive advice to ensure seamless project execution.
Outstanding Industry Reputation
Our track record speaks for itself. Uptop Access is highly rated with a 4.8-star average on Google reviews, reflecting our commitment to service quality and customer satisfaction. On top of that, we’ve earned strong word-of-mouth recommendations from contractors and businesses who value our dependable service and good-condition machines.
Exceptional Service Quality
At Uptop Access, we prioritize reliability and customer support:
- Comprehensive Documentation: service reports, JKKP PMA renewals and minimum validity, all-risk insurance arrangements, and many more.
- Quick Response to Breakdowns: Our team ensures swift action to minimize downtime, keeping your project on schedule.
- Operator Training: Safety is key, so we offer familiarization training to ensure your team operates the equipment confidently and correctly.
- Spare Parts Availability: As an established supplier, we maintain a ready stock of spare parts to address any maintenance needs swiftly. We are also the sole authorized distributor of Mantall machines in Malaysia, ensuring genuine spare parts and top-notch services.
When you choose Uptop Access as your supplier, you’re not just renting or buying a machine – you’re partnering with a team dedicated to your project’s success. With our experience, reputation, and commitment to excellence, you can be confident in achieving optimal results with minimal hassle.
Contact Uptop Access today to discuss your vertical lift requirements and let us help elevate your projects to new heights!