Different Types of Hydraulic Lift Tables

When purchasing a hydraulic lift table for your business, there are many factors to consider. Relevant factors include type of product and manufacturing space, weight capacity, repetitive tasks, proper ergonomic support for frontline workers, and projected frequency of use. In other words, the right hydraulic lift table is tailored to your distinct warehouse needs. With the right lift table at your disposal, arduous tasks become simplified and more manageable. Before identifying specific needs, however, it is important to understand the purpose of a lift table, and how hydraulics support this basic function.

What Is a Hydraulic Lift Table?

Lift tables consist of an adjustable platform that is supported by a rigid base. An assistive and ergonomic technology, a lift table is designed to hold materials and raise or lower them to the desired height, depending on industrial application. This creates a stable and comfortable workstation for employees to perform such jobs as sorting parts or doing repairs, to name a few. 

Although lift tables come in a variety of different forms, including manual and pneumatic, most lifts use hydraulically driven scissor legs to separate and lift the table’s platform. As hydraulic fluid is forced in and out of a cylinder, the table is forced to rise. And there you have it – a hydraulic lift table.

Which Hydraulic Lift Table Is Right for You?

In order to select the best type of hydraulic lift table for your needs, let’s take a closer look at some of the different options available in today’s market. There are four types of hydraulic lift tables that are most commonly used:

• Level Loaders Lifting Table – Along with typical hydraulic lift table features such as the ability to raise, lower, and adjust the platform position, level loaders boast a 360-degree rotatable base. What does this mean in practical terms? Greater flexibility and range of motion allows for increased comfort and productivity. When workers are completing repetitive job tasks, level loaders offer a welcome alternative to lifting, pulling, bending, and pushing. This type of hydraulic lift table is ideal for assembly line work in manufacturing facilities.
• Stainless Steel Lifting Table – As the name suggests, stainless steel lifting tables are made of stainless steel, thereby providing additional protection from rust and corrosion. For this reason, stainless steel lifting tables are a popular choice in the food, pharmaceutical, and healthcare sectors. Like other lift tables, a hydraulic mechanism is used to adjust the base to the correct height application.
• High-Level Lift Table – If you want to reach great heights without sacrificing worker safety, the high-level lift table is your best solution. These lift tables extend to maximum height capacity to go beyond human reach. Due to this unique application, high-level lift tables are often used in warehouses to load and unload merchandise, elevate workers to a higher level, and access stored items.
• Floor-Level Lift Table – Floor-level lift tables are of particular benefit to a mature and diverse working population. By offering increased accessibility, these ground level lift tables make pallet lifting easier and less time-consuming in a busy warehouse environment.

Choosing the Best Hydraulic Lift Table

While every hydraulic lift table performs a somewhat similar function, each one has something unique to offer the consumer. Once you have identified the exact type of hydraulic lift table that best suits your needs, selecting the right model comes next. But with so many available options, how do you determine which device to purchase?

According to industry experts, the following elements should be given due consideration:

• Capacity – How much weight is the table lift capable of bearing?
• Stroke – What is the maximum height that the table lift is designed to reach?
• Size – Is the size of the tabletop area sufficient for its intended use?
• Safety – What are the associated risks when it comes to safety?

The answer to these questions will soon help you to find the right hydraulic lift table for your business. It is also worth noting that many lift tables can be customized to meet your specific application. Speak to a lift table expert for more information and specific recommendations tailored to your unique needs.

With 60 years of trusted service, Blue Giant remains a global leader in the loading dock and material handling industry. Our products are designed, manufactured, and tested to stringent quality assurance standards. Contact Blue Giant today and learn about our innovative ergonomic solutions, including hydraulic lift devices.