• Man lifts are versatile and maneuverable, adapting to many situations.lift image by John Sandoy from Fotolia.com
  
  Man lifts come in both electric and engine-powered models and with a range of applications depending upon the industry and function. There are lifts for small spaces that rise to 36 feet and can extend horizontally 21 feet and outdoor lifts that can rise more than 140 feet and have a 69-foot horizontal reach. Electric powered man lifts are generally used indoors on concrete slabs and have slim bodies to allow access into narrow spaces. Engine-powered man lifts usually operate on gas, propane or diesel and are primarily designed for outdoor work.
  
  

Electric Man Lifts

• Electric lifts can be large or small, built for tight or open spaces, and are highly maneuverable.man lift image by jimcox40 from Fotolia.com
  
  Electric man lifts work well indoors, since they do not pollute the air and come in sizes small enough to maneuver through standard doorways and around blockages and barriers, fitting easily into tight spaces, while still reaching overhead work areas. Some electric lifts have a rotating platform that allows for exceptionally precise and targeted maneuvers. The lift controls are designed to allow for accurate maneuverability and efficiency. The electric lifts come in a variety of sizes for use in small warehouses or environments with high ceilings. The electric drives operate on rechargeable batteries that you can usually recharge overnight.
  
  

Engine-powered Lifts

• Engine-powered lifts can be designed to work in a wide variety of situations and environments.high lift workers series 2 image by Ernest Prim from Fotolia.com
  
  Engine-powered articulating lifts can be designed for all types of terrain. Some are fitted with legs that hoist the lift's body off its wheels to create a highly stable platform, while others are configured for rough, uneven ground. Most of these lifts can handle 500 pounds, and in some cases as much as a 600-pound load. In the case of the latter, it can reach more than 140 feet high and articulate 69 feet out in any direction. The booms lift a worker to the work area, where he can maneuver it to work over or under a specific area. Fire engines use a modified form of the engine-powered lift to take firefighters to and from various locations on a burning structure. You can order many of the articulating lifts from manufacturing companies with custom features for specific uses.
  
  

Man Lift Designs

• Man lift designs are as numerous as their applications.fire truck ladder image by Tammy Mobley from Fotolia.com
  
  The variety of articulating lifts is extensive. There are lifts to meet virtually every situation, circumstance and application. One manufacturer builds lifts specifically for hazardous environments such as underground tunnels, petro-chemical plants, grain-processing plants and other venue where there is a risk of explosive gasses or dust during oridinary and extraordinary operations. Some lifts are built to mount on trailers or in the back of pickup trucks or larger flatbed trucks. Some articulating booms can pivot 360 degrees while others are self-propelled, controlled by the person in the lift. Both indoor and outdoor lifts can be two-wheel or four-wheel powered, and the platforms, or in some cases, the baskets in which the worker stands, is adjustable, allowing him to level or swing the platform or basket as needed. Additionally, some platforms and baskets are wired to allow the operator to plug in tools as needed.