MHI Solutions Improving Supply Chain Performance
A scissor lift and AGV working together to optimize assembly processes.
The Next Gen scissors lift: company members of MHI’s Lift Manufacturers Product Group (LIFT) are revolutionizing scissors lift equipment with integration, automation and customization.
LIFT company members are the industry’s leading suppliers of industrial scissors lift equipment designed to safely move personnel, equipment and product. Scissor lift equipment types include dock lifts, tilters, turntables, work platforms and pallet stackers. They are used in manufacturing, distribution and other industrial facilities for a variety of material handling applications.
The product group’s company members are bringing innovation and advanced technologies to the marketplace for high‑volume and complex manufacturing processes, said LIFT vice chair Julie Rice, marketing manager for MHI member Autoquip Corp.
“The modern‑day scissors lift is being designed to integrate with new technologies and systems that include various customizations for automation, automated guided vehicles and robotic integration,” Rice said. “We are working to provide smarter, safer and more efficient solutions for the modern factory.”
Many companies are requesting custom scissor lift solutions tailored to their specific assembly line requirements, she said. This customization can include anything from compact footprints for space‑constrained facilities to low‑tolerance lifting heights, varying operating speeds with varying load capacities that adapt to complex workflows.
“Automation has become a significant focus, and the lift industry group is leading the charge by outfitting scissor lifts with smart controls, IoT sensors and programmable logic controllers,” Rice said. “These advancements enable scissor lifts to interact with other automated systems, making them capable of self‑adjusting in response to production line flow, improving efficiency and reducing downtime.”
One of the primary benefits of integrating scissor lifts into automation assembly lines is the improvement in ergonomics and safety for workers, said Randy Dickinson, chief operating officer of MHI member Southworth International Group (SIGI). In traditional assembly setups, employees may be required to manually lift heavy components or products to specific heights, leading to strain and potential injuries.
“One of the main requirements of automation is having certainty that your product and your machine are in the proper position to perform the task,” Dickinson said. “Thus, when integrating a scissors lift into an automated production flow, one of the common customizations is to provide precision positioning and feedback to ensure the scissors lift is in the correct position.”
There are many ways to achieve precision positioning depending on the specific application need, he said. For example, a scissor lift could be outfitted with a line‑transducer and a programmable logic controller for infinite position control, or simply with an adjustable limit switch.
Another key requirement for integrating scissor lifts into an automation system is determining the control methodology, Dickinson said. Scissor lift table controls can be customized to meet any need. The scissor lift can be designed to handle all the controls internal to the system using a programmable logic controller, where the automation system communicates to it.