Genie’s new low-maintenance scissor lifts are designed for electrification and industry-leading performance
During the design phase of Genie’s next-generation scissor lifts, every component and element was engineered to improve quality and total cost of ownership.
The result is fewer serviceable parts and commonality across the product family.
The new future-focused line of Genie’s core slab scissor lift product line includes the next generation GS-1932, GS-2632, GS-3232, GS-2646, GS-3246 and GS-4046.
“Genie’s next-generation scissor lifts are redefining the standard for slab scissor lifts and moving this classic MEWP category into the future,” said Christian Dube, Senior Global Product Manager. “Our priority when redesigning these lifts was to drive lower cost of ownership, improve serviceability, and enhance the user experience, all while delivering the quality that our customers and the industry expect from Genie.”
Low TCO
The most noticeable change with the next-generation slab scissor lifts is the curved linkage design. This departure from industry standard reduces machine weight, allowing Genie to use right-sized components, including batteries, drive motors and other electrical components, which have a lower replacement part cost.
Genie benchmarked its new scissor lifts against several machines, including its own E-Drive scissor lift to ensure performance.
Genie also completed several other intentional design changes to improve quality and add to cost savings. The changes are the result of an extensive analysis at the beginning of Genie’s design process to identify opportunities to eliminate rust, limit the opportunity for damage and reduce wear and tear.
For example, it’s common for water to pool at the top of machine chassis, resulting in rust. As a remedy, Genie designed its new chassis to mitigate stagnant water in these areas.
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As well, extension decks can be damaged or bent during use, so Genie added reinforcement steel in targeted locations to reduce the possibility of damage.
During loading and unloading, operators occasionally miss-fork the side pockets, causing damage to the chassis and swing out trays. To reduce the possibility of damage to the chassis, Genie added steel around these side pockets.
“On their own, each individual update is an incremental improvement. But, when considered together as a system, and across the product line, the result is a family of machines that add value by reducing costs while improving performance and serviceability,” Dube said.
Modernized design
Throughout the scissor lift redesign, Genie focused on increasing service parts commonality and consistency of the component layout across the product line. Overall, there are fewer serviceable components than with previous generations; of the components that remain, at least 70 per cent have commonality across the next generation product line. Commonality simplifies machine fleet management and should increase uptime.
Fleet management is further improved by incorporating a consistent parts layout in easy-to-access locations, which Genie explained is a win for service technicians who work on multiple models.
Batteries are the most common maintenance item when managing a fleet of slab scissor lifts, which were an area of focus for Genie.
One example of how Genie is delivering on service parts commonality is through an update that uses just two battery part numbers across the entire slab scissor lift product line. Furthermore, in response to customer feedback and regional preferences, the units are available with commonly used high-quality FLA batteries as standard for customers in North America, and standard maintenance-free AGM batteries for customers in other regions around the world. Lithium-ion will be available as an option globally.
As well, Genie developed Battery Guard as an option to help protect owners’ investment recognizing that battery theft is a common problem.
Re-Imagined operation
The next generation scissor lifts feature a completely re-designed platform that improves productivity and comfort when working at height.
On the GS-1932, standard fixed guard rails allow users to drive through most common doors without the need to pause and fold guardrails down. The platform is 20 per cent larger, offering more room for two people to work comfortably indoors. Across the range, operators will also notice other subtle details that enhance comfort at height.
When talking with customers, Genie discovered a common critique of products available in the market is the “flex” that occurs when standing on an extension deck. Genie solved this issue by reinforcing the extension deck across the range, giving the extension deck more structure.
The new Smart Link platform controller is completely redesigned to be 30 per cent lighter than the previous version and incorporates a more ergonomic design. Additionally, because it is modular, parts of the controller can be replaced without requiring a total replacement, another example of reducing parts replacement cost.
The control system also has been updated to align to a new ISO standard (ISO 21455:2020).
In keeping with regional preferences, Genie Lift Tools Spill Guard hydraulic oil containment system will be standard on next-generation scissors offered in North America. Spill Guard is an option for the rest of the world.
In North America, several models of the next generation Genie GS slab scissor lifts will be previewed at The ARA Show in Las Vegas from Jan. 29 to Feb. 1.
Deliveries to North American customers are expected to begin in late 2025.
