Guide · 7 min
Scissor lift or boom lift? How to choose the right aerial platform
Also called: aerial work platform, scissor lift, boom lift, cherry picker
By the SIMAQ technical team · Grupo ConstruMarket ·
Short answer
If the work is straight above where you can park the machine, choose the SQ140X PRO scissor: 13.8 m working height, 320 kg capacity and a 2.27 × 1.14 m deck for two or three techs with material. If you have to reach over an obstacle (beam, duct, set-back façade), choose the SQTHZ 170 PRO boom: 13.7 m lift height and 200–230 kg; the boom gives you reach, not payload.
SQ140X PRO scissor working height
scissor rated load
SQTHZ 170 PRO boom lift height
The two platforms, side by side
The classic mistake with aerial work is thinking only about height. Both SIMAQ platforms reach almost equally high; what changes is how they get there and how much they carry. Careful when comparing: for the scissor, the spec sheet gives working height (13.8 m, with the deck at 11.8 m); for the boom, lift height (13.7 m).
| Spec | SQ140X PRO scissor | SQTHZ 170 PRO boom |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 13.8 m working · 11.8 m deck | 13.7 m lift |
| Load | 320 kg (113 kg on the extension) | 200–230 kg |
| Deck | 2.27 × 1.14 m, 0.9 m extension | Basket at the end of the boom |
| Power | 24 V · 300 Ah batteries | Electric, battery with built-in charger |
| Movement | Lifts vertically; 0–3.5 km/h travel | Boom that rises and reaches around obstacles |
| Other specs | 1.15 m overall width, 3,040 kg, full guardrail, proportional joystick control | Negative brakes + lift brake, non-marking tires |
Question 1: is the work straight up?
If you can park the machine directly under the work point —drop ceilings, roofs, electrical runs, warehouse racking—, the scissor wins: a big deck, 320 kg capacity and room for two or three techs with tools and material.
If you have to reach over something —a beam, ductwork, a set-back façade, installed machinery—, you need the articulating boom: the SQTHZ 170 PRO reaches up and around, which a scissor simply can't.
Question 2: how many people, how much material?
- SQ140X PRO scissor: 320 kg rated → crew + tools + install material.
- On the scissor's extension, only 113 kg: don't load heavy material at the tip.
- SQTHZ 170 PRO boom: 200–230 kg → 1 or 2 techs with hand tools.
- Repetitive volume work → scissor; scattered hard-to-reach points → boom.
Question 3: where will it work?
Both are electric: no emissions and low noise, fit for warehouses, malls and indoor work. The boom has non-marking tires, made for finished floors. The scissor is 1.15 m wide overall, so it fits through doors and aisles wider than that.
They're machines for firm, even ground. Before raising, check there are no holes, ramps or access covers under the wheels, and no power lines in the path of the boom or deck.
Safety: the non-negotiables
In the boom, always tie off a harness: the boom can whip and throw a person out of the basket. On both, full guardrails and gate closed, load within the limit and a trained operator. The boom has negative brakes and a lift brake: with no power, the brake stays applied.
Common mistakes
- Choosing by height alone without asking about obstacles.
- Loading heavy material on the scissor's extension (only 113 kg).
- Going up in the boom without a tied-off harness.
- Raising over floors with holes, ramps or access covers.
- Ending the shift without charging the batteries.
Takeaway
Nearly equal height, different jobs: scissor for volume work straight up with full payload; boom to clear obstacles and reach where the scissor can't. If your site has both cases, the answer is usually one of each. Request a quote here with the height and type of work, and an advisor will contact you during business hours.
Keep going
Frequently asked
What's the difference between a scissor lift and a boom lift?
The scissor lifts straight up with more load and a big deck; the boom has an arm that reaches over and around obstacles, with less load.
How many people fit on the SQ140X PRO scissor?
Two or three techs with tools, as long as the total stays under 320 kg (113 kg on the extension).
Can I use these lifts outdoors?
They're electric units meant for firm, even ground. For uneven or rough terrain, ask about the right model before quoting.
What maintenance do electric units need?
Mostly batteries (the scissor runs a 24 V · 300 Ah bank): full charge every shift, distilled water and clean terminals. No engine oil, no air filters.
Do you need a harness on a scissor lift?
The main protection is the full guardrail with the gate closed. In the boom, a tied-off harness is always mandatory. Follow your site's safety plan.
