8 Construction Lifts and Manlifts | Types & Features

11 Aug.,2025

 

8 Construction Lifts and Manlifts | Types & Features

Picture this: A towering skyscraper in the making. Steel beams reach skyward, workers move with precision, and machinery hums steadily. At the heart of this dynamic scene are construction lifts, the unsung heroes making it all possible. These modern marvels have redefined how construction teams conquer challenges, ensuring efficiency, safety, and versatility.
In this blog, we’ll learn about the world of construction lifts: the types, their unique uses, and why they are indispensable for modern projects.

Fast Heavy Industry Product Page

What Are Construction Lifts?

Construction lifts are mechanical devices designed to elevate workers, tools, and materials to various heights. They’re used across many industries, including residential buildings, industrial facilities, infrastructure projects, and more, and play a vital role in simplifying complex tasks. Their versatility, combined with the ability to enhance worker safety, has made them an essential piece of heavy machinery in the construction industry.

Before we dive into the details, below are our popular models of construction lifts available at almarwan.com

Click on the model name to access detailed information and explore 360-degree images.

Type Model Tech Specs Telescopic Boom Lift Sinoboom TB58RJ Plus Power type: Diesel 
Max reach = 59.9 m
Platform capacity = 454 kg Articulated Boom Lift Sinoboom AB14EJ Power type: Electric
Max reach = 16 m
Platform capacity = 230 kg Scissor Lift Sinoboom E Power type: Electric 
Max reach = 13.9 m
Platform capacity = 320 kg Rough Terrain Scissor Lift Sinoboom RD Power type: Diesel
Max reach = 18.2 m
Platform capacity = 680 kg Forklift DanTruck Max load = Kg
Lift height = 3.6 m Material Handler Terex Fuchs MHL350 Lifting capacity = 32 to 35.5 tons 
Max reach = 16 meter

Why Do Construction Lifts Matter?

Imagine trying to carry heavy building materials up several stories without a lift. The inefficiency, increased labor costs, and safety risks would be staggering. Construction lifts bridge this gap by:

Saving Time: Faster transportation of materials and workers.

Enhancing Safety: Reducing the risk of falls and injuries.

Boosting Productivity: Allowing multiple tasks to happen simultaneously at various heights.

Reducing Fatigue: Minimizing the physical strain on workers.

The Different Types of Construction Lifts and Their Uses

1. Boom Lifts

Boom lifts are among the most versatile construction lifts, designed for projects requiring workers to reach significant heights in hard-to-reach areas. Two primary types dominate the market, each serving unique needs. 

Articulating boom lifts, called knuckle booms, feature a segmented arm that bends at multiple joints. This flexibility allows operators to navigate around obstacles, making them ideal for jobs like maintaining building facades or working around utility poles.

Telescopic boom lifts extend in a straight line, offering unparalleled reach for tasks that demand maximum height, such as installing high-rise signage or inspecting tall industrial structures. Their robust design makes them suitable for both indoor and outdoor environments.

Did you know? what makes boom lifts particularly advantageous is their ability to handle varying terrains. Many models are equipped with all-terrain wheels and outriggers for stability, ensuring they perform exceptionally well on uneven or rugged ground. Additionally, they are available in diesel variants like the Sinoboom TB58RJ Plus telescopic boom lift, the world’s largest telescopic boom lift, or electric, such as the Sinoboom AB22EJ Plus articulated boom lift, being the go-to choice for indoor projects due to their quiet operation and zero emissions.

2. Scissor Lifts

Scissor lifts are the backbone of vertical elevation in construction, prized for their stability and spacious platforms. They operate using a crisscrossing mechanism that raises and lowers the platform smoothly, enabling workers to perform tasks at moderate heights with confidence. Scissor lifts come in several types, but to keep it simple, they mainly fall into two categories: electric models and rough terrain models.

Electric scissor lifts are compact and emission-free, making them ideal for indoor applications like installing lighting systems, HVAC ducts, or shelving in warehouses. They can come with wheels or tracks, and their compact design makes it easy for them to move through narrow aisles effortlessly.

Rough terrain scissor lifts are built for the outdoors. They can run on either electricity or diesel, and with their rugged tires and high ground clearance, these machines can handle the tough conditions of uneven or muddy construction sites. They are commonly used for facade work, bricklaying, or material handling on open-air projects. 

Both types of scissor lifts offer impressive weight capacities. Take Sinoboom models, for example, they let operators lift heavy tools and materials to the needed height without sacrificing safety or efficiency.

3. Spider Lifts

Spider lifts stand out for their unique design and unparalleled adaptability. These lifts are compact, lightweight, and mounted on stabilizing legs that resemble a spider’s stance, hence their name. This configuration allows them to work efficiently on uneven surfaces, such as sloped terrains or delicate indoor flooring like tiles and parquet. Spider lifts are especially useful in environments with limited access or space constraints, such as narrow alleyways or atriums.

Their versatility is further enhanced by their ability to function both indoors and outdoors. In interior settings, spider lifts are often employed for tasks like cleaning expansive glass walls in shopping malls or maintaining chandeliers in luxury hotels. Outdoors, excel in landscaping projects, particularly for trimming tall trees or accessing hard-to-reach areas in parks. Their compact size also makes them easy to transport, ensuring they are a favorite for contractors who frequently shift between project sites.

The company is the world’s best Electric Articulated Boom Lift supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.

4. Forklifts

Forklifts are indispensable in both construction and warehousing, where the efficient movement of heavy materials is paramount. Industrial forklifts, commonly found in warehouses, are excellent for organizing pallets, loading trucks, and managing inventory. They thrive in indoor environments, navigating narrow aisles while lifting loads with remarkable stability.

When it comes to outdoor construction projects, rough terrain forklifts take the lead. With their large, rugged tires and reinforced frames, they’re designed to handle uneven surfaces like gravel, dirt, or sand easily.
Forklifts are also highly adaptable, offering features like extended masts, side shifters, and customizable fork sizes to suit different tasks. Whether it’s transporting bricks, steel beams, or timber, these machines make heavy lifting on construction sites both efficient and hassle-free.

5. Material Handlers

Material handlers are specialized machines designed to tackle the challenges of bulk material movement. Equipped with advanced attachments like grapples, claws, or buckets, they excel in environments where loose materials like gravel, sand, scrap metal, rocks, or waste need to be managed efficiently, also they are a staple in recycling facilities, ports, and large construction sites.

One of the standout features of material handlers is their reach. With long, extendable arms, they can easily load and unload cargo from ships or transfer materials from one part of a site to another without requiring additional equipment. Their versatility is further amplified by the availability of rotating attachments, which allow operators to adjust the angle of the grapple or clamshell bucket for precise handling. This makes them invaluable for tasks such as sorting recyclable materials or positioning heavy aggregates in construction zones.

6. Telescopic Handlers (Telehandlers)

Telescopic handlers, or telehandlers, are a hybrid between a forklift and a crane, combining the lifting power of the former with the reach of the latter. These lifts feature an extendable boom arm, which allows them to lift heavy loads to significant heights or place them at a distance. Standard telehandlers are often used on construction sites to transport pallets of bricks, cement, or other heavy materials to upper floors or remote areas of the site.

A more advanced variant, the rotating telehandler, adds a 360-degree rotating cab, giving operators unparalleled flexibility in positioning loads. This makes them particularly useful in urban construction, where space is limited, and precise placement is critical. 

Telehandlers are also equipped with interchangeable attachments such as buckets, pallet forks, and lifting hooks, making them versatile enough to handle tasks ranging from snow removal to laying trusses for roofing. Their ability to operate on rough terrains further cements their status as an all-around powerhouse in the world of construction lifts.

7. Bucket Trucks

Bucket trucks are the ultimate multitaskers in the construction and utility world. These vehicles are equipped with hydraulic arms and a secure bucket or platform at the end, designed to lift workers to elevated heights safely.

They are commonly seen on roadways, assisting workers in repairing power lines, trimming tall trees, or installing streetlights. However, their role in construction is equally vital. Bucket trucks are indispensable for tasks like inspecting building exteriors, painting facades, or performing maintenance on elevated structures.

The mobility of bucket trucks sets them apart. With their mounted design, they can easily travel between job sites, saving valuable time. Their versatility is further enhanced with rotating buckets, providing workers with 360-degree access to hard-to-reach areas.

8. Vertical Mast Lifts

When space is tight but elevation is crucial, vertical mast lifts step up to the challenge, as they can move vertically in a straight line.

Vertical mast lifts are particularly favored in indoor construction environments, such as warehouses or shopping malls, where they can navigate narrow aisles and tight corners effortlessly. They’re ideal for jobs like changing light fixtures, installing HVAC systems, or managing overhead piping.

Despite their small size, vertical mast lifts boast impressive weight capacities, allowing workers to carry tools and materials without compromising stability. Modern models often feature non-marking tires, making them perfect for delicate flooring in indoor settings.

To simplify things, below is a breakdown of the key differences and standout features of the eight types of construction lifts:

1- Boom lifts offer unparalleled height and horizontal reach, with some models extending up to 60 meters. They are ideal for reaching hard-to-access places like tall structures or uneven landscapes, making them perfect for tasks such as exterior building maintenance or high-level installations.

2- Although they are limited to vertical movement, scissor lifts offer great stability for operators. Most models can elevate platforms to heights ranging from 6 to 18 meters (about 6 stories!). Certain models feature large workspaces that can support more than 600 kg, accommodating multiple workers and heavy tools simultaneously, such as the new Sinoboom RD. They are ideal for both high-reach jobs on rough terrain or smooth indoor surfaces.

3- Indoor industrial forklifts typically lift up to 6 meters and handle loads of around 2.5 tons; rough terrain forklifts can handle 20 tons and more. Some outdoor models, like tele-forklifts, are capable of carrying heavier materials and can be adapted for tasks in construction sites, shipping yards, or lumber yards.

4- Vertical reach of bucket trucks generally tops out at 18-20 meters; their insulated platforms make them indispensable for electrical work. They’re a mainstay for utility companies, tree care services, and road maintenance crews, offering the added benefit of safe working conditions near power lines.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Tracked Scissor Lifts.