If you’re looking for a comprehensive list of scissor lift manufacturers, you’re in the right place.
We compiled 32 aerial lift companies from around the world to create this list.
In it, you’ll learn about each company’s history, where they’re located, and the types of scissor lifts they offer.
Let’s dive in!
North American Manufacturers
JLG
A popular name in aerial lifts, this McConnellsburg, Pennsylvania-based company was founded in 1969 as a crane manufacturer.
After company founder John L. Grove visited the Hoover Dam, he got the inspiration to begin creating mobile work platforms for workers.
Today, JLG offers an array of electric and internal combustion scissor lifts for both indoor and outdoor use, including on rough terrain.
Genie
Another familiar name in the aerial lift space, Genie was founded in 1966 and is based in Redmond, Washington.
Interestingly, the company’s name comes from their first pneumatic-powered material lift.
The machine impressed people with the ability to raise the platform from a “magic bottle” of air – just like a genie.
Genie offers “slab” scissor lifts for indoor use, along with internal combustion rough terrain scissor lifts for outdoor use.
Skyjack
Founded in 1985, Guelph, Ontario-based Skyjack has two claims to fame:
- They were the first to engineer and introduce the swing-out tray on scissor lifts, which generally houses the batteries, and allows for easier maintenance
- They were the first to create the 32-inch wide and 26-feet high scissor lift, now one of the most common models of scissor lift across the industry
Skyjack offers ten different types of electric, dual fuel (gas/LP), and diesel scissor lifts.
Models include both indoor and outdoor scissor lifts, with lift heights ranging from 13-feet to 64-feet.
Snorkel
Originally started in 1959 as a seller of aerial firefighting equipment, Snorkel eventually evolved into a manufacturer of mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPs).
Snorkel sells its scissor lifts and other aerial lift equipment in 50 different countries but is based in Henderson, Nevada.
They offer both indoor and outdoor scissor lifts, with electric and diesel power options, and working heights ranging from 12-feet to 45-feet.
MEC
Founded in Mayville, Wisconsin in 1976 as the Mayville Engineering Company, MEC has two claims to fame in the aerial lift space:
- They pioneered the use of pothole protectors on scissor lifts to prevent instability on uneven surfaces
- They created the first “crossover electric mid-size rough terrain scissor lift”
After being acquired by Equipment Parts Wholesale, MEC moved to Kerman, California in 2002.
They offer ten different “slab” scissor lifts for indoor use, along with nine different rough terrain-style scissor lifts.
Hy-Brid
Hy-Brid is the brand name for the line of compact scissor lifts offered by Custom Equipment, a West Bend, Wisconsin-based company founded in 1981.
First offering scissor lifts designed for mausoleum work, the company introduced the Hy-Brid line in 2004.
These lifts were designed to fill a gap in the market for lightweight, maneuverable scissor lifts.
Today, the company is based in Richfield, Wisconsin, and offers push-around and powered electric scissor lifts, with working heights ranging from 16-feet to 25-feet.
Ballymore
Ballymore was founded in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania after World War II.
They’re notable for inventing the rolling safety ladder, along with being a pioneer in creating hydraulic personnel lifts in the 1950s.
Today, the company offers four types of small scissor lifts: a drivable mini, the standard/classic, and the mini manual model.
Each scissor lift is electric-powered and designed for indoor use, with the company offering no rough terrain scissor lifts.
Lift-A-Loft
Founded in the 1940s, Lift-A-Lift started out as a manufacturer of truck-mounted lifts designed for servicing streetlights.
Over time, the Muncie, Indiana-based company expanded its offerings to include specialty scissor lifts for airline companies, among a few other industries.
Today, Lift-A-Loft offers four models of scissor lifts, including electric, gasoline, and diesel-powered models with platform heights between 15-feet and 31-feet.
Superlift Material Handling Inc.
Founded in 2004, this Kitchener, Ontario-based company specializes in building aerial lifts for use in food, pharmaceuticals, automotive, and other sensitive industries.
Their scissor lifts are outliers on this list, as they’re high-capacity, capable of lifting 1,000 to 2,000 lbs.
And uniquely, they manufacture stainless steel scissor lifts for use in sanitary conditions.
Haulotte
Originally named Pinguely, this Virginia Beach, Virginia company started out as a manufacturer of steam locomotives and shovels.
Eventually, they acquired Bil-Jax, a scaffolding and event staging manufacturer, in 2008.
Haulotte offers 18-feet to 38-feet (working height) electric scissor lifts designed for indoor use, along with diesel-powered scissor lifts for outdoor use.
LPI Inc.
The privately-held LPI Inc., founded in 1981 and based in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, specializes in personnel work platforms, including scissor lifts.
They offer scissor lifts in both manually-positioned and pneumatic, hydraulic, and electric/hydraulic drive power.
Their scissor lifts are useful in industrial and hazardous environments, like aircraft maintenance, painting, welding, manufacturing, auto repair, and assembly.
MCT Industries
Based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and founded in 1973, MCT Industries offers specialty scissor lift platforms for a wide array of clients in the aviation and defense industries.
All their scissor lifts are made in the USA, are available in either electric or diesel configurations, and include self-propelled along with push-around models.
Additionally, they offer unique models like split deck scissor lifts designed for servicing wide-body airplanes.
Pettibone
Founded in 1881, Pettibone is the oldest scissor lift company on this list.
Their initial claim to fame is that they “[i]invented the first forward-reaching rough terrain handler” forklift.
Besides forklifts, the Baraga, Michigan-based company offers eight types of scissor lifts.
These include indoor and outdoor models, with working heights ranging from 18-feet to 46-feet.
European Manufacturers
Palfinger
Started in 1932 as a repair shop for agriculture equipment, Palfinger transitioned to building truck-mounted cranes and eventually scissor lifts in 2016.
With headquarters based in Bergheim, Austria, the company – in partnership with Chinese-based construction equipment manufacturer SANY – offers indoor and outdoor scissor lifts.
Sany-Palinfinger scissor lifts models come in working heights between 25-feet and 44-feet.
JCB
One of the world’s largest construction equipment companies, JCB was founded in Britain in 1945 and is today based in Rocester, United Kingdom.
Originally a small manufacturer of agricultural tipping trailers, the company has greatly expanded its product line.
Today, they manufacture many kinds of construction equipment, including the world’s first backhoe.
JCB also offers several scissor lift models, including 19-feet to 39-feet electric and self-propelled types for indoor use.
Manitou
Loire Atlantique, France-based Manitou was founded in 1958 and is credited with inventing the world’s first rough terrain forklift.
After branching out into telehandlers, forklifts, and backhoes, Manitou began developing aerial work platforms in 1993.
Currently, the company offers nine different electric and internal combustion scissor lifts for indoor and outdoor use, with working heights spanning 25-feet to 46-feet.
IMER Group
The Poggibonsi, Italy-based IMER Group was founded in 1962.
The company offers a diverse range of construction equipment, including concrete mixers, pumps, and saws.
With a presence in Southlake, Texas, the company offers five models of scissor lifts, including both indoor electric and outdoor diesel/electric rough terrain variants.
KUKA
Originally started in 1898 as an acetylene gas plant, the Augsburg, Germany-based KUKA became a pioneering welding technology company in the early 1900s.
Currently, the company focuses on developing industrial robots for use in manufacturing.
But besides those activities, KUKA does offer a single scissor lift: The “KUKA Triple Lift.”
This lift features unique omnidirectional wheels that allow the lift to move in any direction, along with precision controls for accurate maneuvering.
Airo
Airo, a Luzzara, Italy-based company founded in 1980, bills itself as a “manufacturer of self-propelled aerial work platforms.”
Overall, their offerings include boom lifts, scissor lifts, and man lifts.
The company produces 31 models of scissor lifts, including small, push-around electric scissor lifts and diesel-powered rough terrain lifts.
BoSS
Part of WernerCo, BoSS was launched in 1993 as a brand of access equipment, including mobile towers (scaffolding), work platforms, and scissor lifts.
BoSS’s offerings are designed primarily for painting, maintenance, exterior work, and construction.
Currently, the company offers two models of push-around, compact scissor lifts with working heights of 15-feet to 17-feet.
Asian Manufacturers
Aichi
Founded in 1962 as a developer of oil derricks and aerial work platforms, the Saitama, Japan-based Aichi was acquired by Toyota Industries Corporation in 2003.
Aichi is now a popular brand of scissor lifts – especially in the United States – with five indoor models ranging from 25-feet to 38-feet working heights.
What makes Aichi scissor lifts unique – and especially reliable – is their use of AC drive motors.
These require no maintenance and consume less power than other models, resulting in longer working times and shorter charging cycles.
XCMG
XCMG was founded in 1943 and boasts of being in the top 10 global equipment manufacturers.
Beginning as a crane manufacturer, the Xuzhou, China-based company branched into manufacturing construction equipment like steam rollers, pavers, and wheel loaders.
Now sold in 170 countries, XCMG offers scissor lifts designed for indoor use, with cushion tires and electric power, and working heights ranging from 25-feet to 45-feet.
Zoomlion
Operating out of Hunan Province, China, Zoomlion was founded in 1992 and now offers over 600 products in 100 countries.
The company produces several different models of scissor lifts, including rough terrain and micro scissor lifts for indoor use.
Önder Lift Çelik
With products exported to 27 different companies, the Turgutlu, Turkey-based Önder Lift Çelik was founded in 1977 with a focus on hydraulic lifting mechanisms.
After several decades, the company began manufacturing lifting platforms in 1998.
Overall, Önder Lift Çelik offers diesel and electric self-propelled and manual-style scissor lifts, including models designed for rough terrain.
Visit Önder Lift Çelik’s Website
Boonai
A relatively new company, Boonai was founded in 2015 and is based in Suzhou, China.
The company offers a range of material and personnel work platforms, including scissor lifts.
Their scissor lift offerings include push-around and self-propelled electric scissor lifts for indoor use.
RY Lift Trucks
RY Lift Trucks is a material handling company that specializes in manufacturing forklifts, pallet jacks, and stackers.
Founded in 2010 and based in Jiangsu, China, the company began offering scissor lifts in 2017 and now exports to 130 different countries.
Their scissor lift line includes electric, self-propelled scissor lifts for indoor use, with working heights ranging from 21-feet to 45-feet.
Masif Machine
Unfortunately, Masif Machine’s website offers little about the history of the company.
What is known is that their only manufactured product is a line of scissor lifts.
The Konya, Turkey-based company offers electric, self-propelled scissor lifts designed for indoor applications.
Lift heights for their machines range from 19-feet to 39-feet.
NobleLift
The Zhejiang, China-based NobleLift is a material handling manufacturer specializing in pallet trucks, stackers, and sit-down forklifts.
Their products are sold in over 100 countries across the world, and they boasted revenues of $350 million in 2017 alone.
NobleLIft also offers scissor lifts, with electric indoor-use models featuring working heights between 16-feet and 52-feet.
Javaid
Beginning as a manufacturer of tractor attachments, the Punjab, Pakistan-based Javaid was founded in 2001.
Eventually branching out into material handling equipment, the company today offers several models of scissor lifts.
Their products include manual (push) scissor lifts and electrically-propelled scissor lifts designed for indoor or outdoor use, and with lift heights up to 50 feet.
Çağsan
Çağsan got its start in 1983 manufacturing ladders, scaffolding, and work platforms.
The Kocaeli Province, Turkey-based company now offers a range of electric push and self-propelled scissor lifts, with working heights of 21-feet to 68-feet.
MORN Lift
Officially called Jinan MORN Technology Co., Ltd, this Jinan, China-based company operates the Morn Lift brand of lifting equipment.
Founded in 2001 and with products present in 80 countries, Morn Lift offers six types of scissor lifts designed for indoor and outdoor use.
One unique model is their “steering” scissor lift, which features a stand-up driver’s platform for steering the scissor lift with a steering wheel.
This feature allows for easier maneuverability over the traditional joystick steering on most scissor lifts.
Alpha Lift
Another new company, Tamilnadu, India-based Alpha Lift is part of Nithin Technovations and was started in 2018.
The company targets the Indian market specifically and offers a range of material handling equipment, including reach trucks, order pickers, forklifts, tow trucks, and pallet trucks.
Alpha Lift only offers a single scissor lift chassis, which it calls a “Maintenance scissor lift.”
This model can be outfitted with manual, semi-electric, or fully electric power sources, and lifting heights between 19-feet and 39-feet.
Conclusion
There you have it: the complete list of scissor lift manufacturers.