Other than the large cranes that are used in the construction sector, many of the types of lifting equipment that are used in industry are not commonly known about by the general public. And yet, there are many different types of lifting systems that manufacturers, fabricators and service industries use on an almost daily basis. What are the common ones that Australian businesses have at their disposal these days?

Hoists

These devices have been utilised for hundreds of years and were once widely used in the European mining industry. Most hoists work with a wire or a rope that is passed through a pulley in order to gain a mechanical advantage when shifting heavy loads upwards. Small motorised hoists are used by roofers in order to raise up tiles and other items to their scaffolding platforms rather than carrying them by hand. Others are operated by winches that are manually turned. In Australia, hoist operators need to gain qualifications if they are to work on building sites.

Telehandlers

Like forklift trucks, telehandlers are used in warehouses and in heavy lifting industries to move items around as well as to raise them up. With a boom lift and a pair of forks, telehandlers are very flexible in the jobs they can be put to. However, they are limited in their reach. Most cannot stretch more than a few metres, depending on the model. Where greater heights must be reached, it is usual to opt for a mobile crane instead.

Auto Lifts

When you need to raise a car off the ground, an auto lift tends to be the preferred option in garages these days. Mechanics can operate them without specialist training. Most are cantilevered, which allows them to pick up quite astonishing weights without toppling over. They use precise gearing and electrical motors to raise and lower their loads.

Scissor Lifts

These devices are highly mobile and, once their outriggers are deployed, provide a very stable base which can be raised and lowered to provide access and to shift items. Used extensively in warehouses, scissor lifts are also commonplace in agricultural settings to pick fruit from trees, for example. They are also often used to provide access when maintenance operatives need to go up the outside of a building, such as window cleaners. These lifts work by applying a sideways movement that pushes a pair of supports towards one another. As they do so, they approach more of a vertical position which raises the operating platform that sits on top.