Cherry Picker Buyer's Guide
Whether you call it a cherry picker, an aerial lift or an aerial work platform; it is wise to have a good understanding of the various types of cherry picker on the market, their applications and the features that you may or may not require. Depending on your intended use, there are a number of different options available. However, there is no one size fits all option, as cherry pickers are generally rather specialised bits of kit. Initially then, let’s discuss the three main designs and some of their most common applications:
Vertical Personnel Lifts
As their name suggests, personnel lifts are intended to lift workers (rather than workers plus lots of heavy equipment) vertically. These lifts are usually smaller and more portable than either scissor or boom type lifts, with the larger models having a maximum height of about 12.5m. Vertical Personnel Lifts are typically used for light commercial applications, often indoors; such as stock picking, inventory management, light repair work and general maintenance. Personnel lifts come in either self-propelled or push-around varieties, the latter, on average, being significantly cheaper.
Scissor Lifts
Unlike personnel lifts, which lift a basket by means of an extendable mast; scissor lifts lift a platform using a folding mechanism of supports in a criss-cross pattern, much like a comedy spring-loaded boxing glove. This design benefits from a much higher load-bearing capacity than single mast-type designs and as such, is more suitable to heavy duty applications, especially where weight is a consideration. Although the worlds’ largest scissor lift has a maximum operational height of 32m, it’s rare to find lifts capable of half that. However, even the smaller models are usually capable of lifting several tonnes of personnel and equipment, so it’s not uncommon for them to be used in lieu of cumbersome scaffolding. Similarly to personnel lifts, they can be “self-propelled” or “push-around” but the larger models are normally trailer or truck mounted.
Boom Lifts
Although boom lifts do not have the same load-bearing capacity as scissor lifts, they are probably the most versatile and are certainly come closest to the generic image of a cherry picker; as the term was initially used to describe the articulated boom lifts used in orchards. Unlike the other types of aerial lift discussed so far; boom Lifts have a series of articulated joints which allow the user to move in a number of planes, not just vertically. This offers a far greater degree of lifting flexibility, as workers can move from one point to another without needing to move the base unit. In dangerous or specialist situations, such as fire fighting or maintenance to power lines, this precision and the ability to be lifted up and over obstacles is vitally important.
Cherry Picker Features >>
