The overall lifting capacity is the most common and most referred to rating on a lift table. The overall rating is based on an evenly distributed load and these ratings typically range from 500 lbs to 20,000 lbs. Lift tables that are used to accommodate a rolling load such as a pallet truck or rolls of paper, coils of steel etc. have 2 additional capacity ratings; single axle end load and single axle side load ratings. The end and side load capacity ratings only apply when the lift table is in any raised position during load transfer on or off the platform. The lift table is designed to accommodate a higher rolling load transferring over the ends of the platform than the same rolling load transferring over the sides of the platform, hence the 2 ratings. Transferring product over the ends of the platform assures that the load is travelling with the length of the scissor legs providing the maximum stability. On occasion it is necessary to transfer the product over the sides of the platform when the lift table is in the raised position. In this application the load is now travelling across the length of the scissor legs resulting in a lower single axle side load rating. For example a 10,000 lb capacity lift table is often rated as follows. Lifting capacity 10,000 lbs based on an evenly distributed load. The same lift table is often rated at 8,000 lbs single axle load capacity across the platform ends and 6,300 lbs single axle load capacity across the platform sides. In an application with a rolling load going on or off the lift table platform in the raised position it is very important to know the traffic flow to best determine the appropriate capacity rating.
Nov 29, 2019