Selecting the Right Material Lift: Expert Guide & Types

Using the wrong material handling equipment can delay a project and incur costs due to the potential for damage to materials and the risk of violating OSHA's safe lifting standards. Selecting the proper material lift will help you avoid these. 

Different lifts are designed to provide specific functions. For example, some lifts are designed to move loads vertically and position them on elevated surfaces, while others are designed to travel horizontally along smooth surfaces. Below is an overview of the various types of lifts and their uses.

Different Types of Industrial Material Lifts 

1. Forklift

Forklifts are typically used to move industrial materials to their intended locations. They utilize forks located on their front and counterweights situated in the rear to balance heavy loads at the front. The hydraulic system of a forklift allows the operator to raise, lower, and tilt the fork for loading and unloading materials.

The power source for most forklifts is either electric, diesel, gasoline, liquefied petroleum gas, or natural gas. They are engineered based on the principle of torque. The weight of a forklift does not determine its load-bearing ability. Rather, it depends on the distance between the load centre and the axle of the forklift. A 5000lbs forklift cannot load a 5000lbs of weight. 

It can only handle that weight when the load’s center of gravity stays within the rated load center. Oversized crates push the weight farther forward, increasing leverage and reducing safe lifting capacity. Most experienced drivers use inch braking technique to precisely lift and place the load. 

It is a control technique where operators lightly feather the brake pedal while easing forward, allowing slow, precise forklift movement for accurate load placement.

2. Duct Lift

A duct lift, or duct jack, is designed to lift heavy loads. It is primarily utilized in HVAC or construction settings to elevate materials to the height of a ceiling. A standard duct lift consists of a durable frame that includes a vertical tower, called a mast,that can be extended to lift duct materials up to ceilings.

The telescoping mast clearance feature of a duct lift allows it to easily pass through door frames or narrow hallways. This is achieved through the design of nested aluminum tubing sections, which allow for the mast to collapse to a smaller height for passage through standard doorways and tight hallways.

There are several types of duct lifts available. When trying to find one that will fit through a standard office-sized doorway, there are two things to look at. They are the mast height, and the base width. You will want to select a duct lift whose mast can be folded down to 6 feet to be able to get it through a 32-inch doorway and can lift a weight of up to 15 feet. Also, make sure that the widest point of the base is not more than 32 inches.

3. Lift Hand Trucks

A lift hand truck is a type of lift machine created to provide increased safety for workers while they are lifting heavy items. A lift hand truck has a hydraulic foot-pump system or comes with a manual winch. 

In addition, some hand trucks also come with stair climbing mechanisms to shift material across different floors. The XSTO SCL170AC stair climber hand truck can efficiently work on flat grounds and elevations as well. 

Professional Guide to Selecting the Right Material Lifts

To select the right material or construction lift, one must be well aware of their needs and the working conditions. For instance, 

• Working Surface: If you need to lift materials on an uneven surface consider using a lift with pneumatic tires to absorb shock. Additionally, if you are using a duct lift on a polished floor, look for a lift that has polyurethane casters to operate quietly and safely.
• Clearances: Always measure the height of the retractable mast of the lift when it is collapsed, and the base's footprint. Then compare them to the obstacles, such as ceilings, sprinkler systems, air conditioning ducts, light fixtures, etc. Also consider how much space you will have to pivot, align, and position the load without scraping against surfaces or getting stuck.

• Energy Requirements: There is no runtime of a manual lift but the operator may suffer fatigue and an eventual decline in health. Battery powered systems do have a time limitation, but they compensate for operator fatigue. Lithium batteries take approximately 2-4 hours to fully recharge but create more consistent output and provide a healthier way of working.

Conclusion

For efficient workflow and prevention of workplace injuries, it is essential to choose the appropriate type of material lift. Depending upon the specific work environment where each lift will be used, everyone may require different capacity ratings, tires types, & working mechanisms of the lifts.