Guide · 5 min
Scissor or articulating? How to choose your aerial lift
The classic mistake with aerial work is thinking only about height. Both SIMAQ platforms reach almost equally high — the SQ140X PRO scissor at 13.8 m working height and the SQTHZ 170 PRO boom at 13.7 m. The real difference is ANOTHER question: is the work point directly above where you can park the machine?
SQ140X PRO scissor working height
scissor rated load (2-3 people + tools)
SQTHZ 170 PRO boom height
Question 1: is the work straight up?
If you can park the machine directly under the work point — ceilings, roofs, electrical runs, warehouse racking — the scissor wins: a big deck (2.27 × 1.14 m plus extension), 320 kg capacity and room for two or three techs with tools and material.
If you must reach over an obstacle — a beam, ductwork, a set-back façade, installed machinery — you need the articulating boom: the SQTHZ 170 reaches up and around, which a scissor simply can't.
Question 2: finished floor or yard?
Both are electric, emission-free and run non-marking tires — fit for warehouses and finished floors. The scissor drives elevated at walking pace (0–3.5 km/h) and fits 1.15 m aisles: built for demanding interiors.
Question 3: how many people, how much material?
- SQ140X scissor: 320 kg rated — crew + tools + install material.
- SQTHZ 170 boom: 200–230 kg — 1-2 techs with hand tools; the boom buys reach, not payload.
- Yard rule: repetitive volume work → scissor; scattered hard-to-reach points → boom.
Safety: non-negotiables
Harness tied off in the boom always (booms can 'catapult'), full guardrails and gate closed on both, and a trained operator. Both PRO units have negative brakes: with no power, the brake stays applied.
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.
Frequently asked
Can I use these lifts outdoors?
They're electric units meant for firm, even ground; the scissor handles limited slopes (25% gradeability, level work). For rough terrain, ask us for the right model before quoting.
What maintenance do electric units need?
Mostly batteries (the scissor runs a 24 V · 300 Ah bank): distilled water, full charge daily and clean terminals. No engine oil, no air filters.
