Scissor or industrial lift tables are useful in many industries where they assist workers in dealing with the vertical realities of handling heavy materials. From welding and woodworking to a factory or testing environment, these mechanical or hydraulic lift tables are critical to optimizing processes for efficient product handling and making the business competitive with other fast-paced production environments.

When workers need to be trained on the use or installation of these resources, managers and business leaders can find a lot of helpful lift tables education and training resources online, including items like the following:

1. Training materials or services on using lift tables from sites that routinely deal with educating users on this type of equipment.

2. More from instructive authored articles or how-to sites on the web.

3. Tips on use of static or portable lift tables from public web forums around specific industries.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find training resources for lift tables from companies online

Some of the firms that deal in arranging supply of manual or advanced lift tables and similar gear to operators will offer formal training services or advanced materials for informing buyers on how to use lifting tables and other models for helping ease the burden on workers' backs and provide for a modernized, efficient workplace.

I recommend: Get operator and system training for lift tables and other gear from Bastian, a supplier and service agent for this type of machine. Find more on training and articles on safety at Scissor Lift Rentals online, where the page outlines some resources for using this type of gear.

Get more on lift tables from web tutorials and info pages

Other sources include authored articles on lift tables, including the benefits of portable hydraulic lift table options or other models. Tutorials and options on accessories are available, as well as information on various industrial lift table models. Browse these sites to get up-to-date info about how lift tables accent a working environment in a more than decorative capacity.

I recommend: Find safety features for lift tables at Indoff. Get trained on applying ergonomics to heavy lifting in the workplace with DVDs from Coastal and publications from The Safety Library.

Locate first-hand lift tables info on public web forums

Another way to get informed about the use or engineering of lift tables is through public trade forums where industry leaders post about their tips on this kind of equipment.

I recommend: Find building tips for lift tables at Efunda "Engineering Fundamentals" site. More specific posts on use of lift tables can be found at various forum sites like this one at the American Association of Woodworkers.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When learning about static or mobile lift tables, arrange for this training to 'trickle down' to the people who will be using this gear every day. Safety tips and best use recommendations are great, but if not in the right hands, they won't mean anything at all.

Lift tables move materials, pick orders, load trucks, feed machinery and perform many other tasks involved in both production and shipment in the industrial sector. The surface area of the platform differentiates lift tables from other kinds of lifts. Also, they are often mobile.

Some lifting tables operate pneumatically, hydraulically or by electric motor; but other types operate by mechanical means, like a foot pump or a ratcheting mechanism. Some lift table suppliers custom make lifting tables to suit specific needs. Turntables, wheels and counterweights are all common features. As for the lifting mechanisms themselves, here are common examples:

1. Scissor lifts are extremely common.

2. Some lift tables operate by rack and pinion.

3. Some lifting tables operate by screw.

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Buy lift tables from suppliers that cater to your needs

There are hundreds of uses for industrial lift tables, so find the manufacturer or supplier that fits your specific application.

I recommend: For smaller or mobile lift tables and some heavier-duty lifts, go to L.K. Goodwin Company. They carry a nice line of portable lift tables and high risers as well. For the lifts that do the most tricks, as well as for custom products, Lift Products, Inc. is a good choice.

Keep your workers safe with the appropriate lift tables

A lift table can prevent any number of injuries over the course of its life. They are durable, low maintenance back savers. Take a good look at your procedures and incorporate an industrial lift table wherever appropriate. However, you must choose lift tables suited to the task. This means you should consider the size of the load, such that the entire load fits easily within the special limits of the table. It also means paying close attention to the weight limit for each lift table.

I recommend: Inc.com provides a nice update on how important it is for a business to keep a clean safety record. Pentalift does a nice job of providing plenty of information along with their products, including an FAQ, so it may be another source of inspiration.

Fix your lifting tables

Industrial lift tables are, overall, quite durable. If you purchase your lift table from a quality manufacturer, you will likely get years of low-maintenance use. However, lift tables work hard and can break.

I recommend: One option is to buy from Northern. They provide coverage plans that include on-site service for their products. On the other hand, Advance Lifts will provide a list of repair shops in your area. Keep in mind, though, that lift tables are relatively uncomplicated; general industrial repair companies can usually repair them.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Use portable lift tables as mobile work stations that adjust to custom fit each worker.

A lift table is an important component of a material handling system. It’s an ergonomic device that is useful for raising, lowering, stacking or moving industrial goods between two or more elevations. A lift table has hydraulic, pneumatic or electric drive for its movement.

While buying or renting lift tables, you will come across various technical terms which indicate types or specifications of lift tables. This guide intends to familiarize you with key terms, such as lift capacity, dock lifts, floor height lifts and scissor lifts.

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Floor height lifts

These are low profile lift tables, which you can use to lower or raise products from floor or near floor levels.

I recommend: To learn about these types of lift tables, browse through information about floor height lifts at Southworth Products Corp, a manufacturer of ergonomic material handling equipment.

Dock lifts

As the name indicates, these lift tables are useful for loading and unloading operations at docks or at ground levels in different industries. Generally, these lift tables have a lift travel of less than 5 feet.

I recommend: Cherry's Industrial Equipment Corp., a reputable supplier of material handling products, offers a glossary of technical terms related to material handling equipment.

Scissor lifts

This is another table lift category that is widely used in many industries for material handling. In a scissor lift, a criss-crossed mechanism is employed for lowering or raising the load. These lifts operate on hydraulic, diesel or electric power, as required for their applications.

I recommend: ScissorLiftRentals.net is an informative website for prospective renters and customers of scissor lifts. In addition, GlobalSpec offers detailed explanation about scissor lifts and their applications.

Lift capacity

This is the most important specification of a lift table. Lift capacity is the maximum load or force supported by the lift table. Before buying or renting a lift table, you must assess your requirements and calculate the lift capacity.

I recommend: Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA) publishes a glossary of technical terms, including lift tables and lift capacity.

Metric dimensions

Metric dimensions are the dimensions of industrial products according to Systeme Internationale (SI) standards. For lift tables, load capacity is measured in kilograms and length dimensions are measured in centimeters, according to the SI standards.

I recommend: For basic information on metric dimensions, read through the glossary of technical terms at Woodruff Block Company.

Imperial dimensions

Unlike metric dimensions, the imperial measurement system specifies lifting capacity of a lift table in pounds.

I recommend: Technology Services (PDF), a part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, provides an informative document that explains the relation between the different measurement units.