Hydraulic Lift Tables

Hydraulic Lift Tables

When it comes to enhancing productivity, reducing workplace injuries, and increasing efficiency, there are few tools that can compete with a hydraulic lift table. These simple devices are easy to use and can be implemented in most any work environment with minimal training or interruption to workflows. They also eliminate the need for heavy lifting or reaching over components that are often the source of workplace injuries, and they provide more precise positioning than manual methods.

Hydraulic lift tables come in many different configurations, but most incorporate four essential features: a base frame, a platform, scissor legs, and a power or lifting source. Each component has its own advantages and disadvantages, but all provide a reliable, lasting tool to lift heavy materials to a safe working height.

Base frames serve as the foundation for the lift table, and they're typically constructed from durable, heavy-duty metals. They can be embedded in pits, mounted on casters or wheels, or fixed to the floor, depending on your facility's unique needs. They include tracks designed to guide the lift table's guiding rollers, which can be fixed or moveable depending on the design of your specific system.

The platform serves as the work surface for a hydraulic lift table, and it is designed to accommodate the maximum load capacity of the system. The platform is typically made of a hard material, such as steel or fiberglass, to help resist impact damage and maintain stability under heavy loads. Most platforms have edges or side rails to help workers stay on the platform during lifting and lowering operations.

Scissor legs are the "legs" that allow a lift table to rise vertically, and they are usually attached to a platform at one end and to the base frame at the other. When the up button on the control panel is pressed, the scissor legs open and the platform raises to a specified elevation.

To lower the lift table, an electric solenoid opens a down valve that allows fluid out of the cylinder at a controlled rate. This lowers the platform to the desired position, and when the up button is pushed again, the hydraulic system shuts down.

The most common power sources for hydraulic lift tables are either AC or DC motors, and each provides its own benefits. DC motors are more efficient and require less maintenance, but they can be sensitive to temperature changes that can affect their performance. AC motors, on the other hand, can be susceptible to electrical surges and spikes that may damage the motor.

Regardless of the power source used, all hydraulic systems require a good quality pump, hoses, and cylinders. Choosing the right ones ensures that your lift table will operate reliably and efficiently. BHS hydraulic systems feature high-quality braided lines with maximum burst strength, along with hardened chrome piston rods and custom engineered cylinders. This combination of superior components helps to prevent hydraulic drifting, leak down, and loss of elevation that can occur when the hydraulic line or cylinder seals fail.

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