Technology and Application Comparison

Electrical
Elof low lifter
Yes
​​​​​​
Counterbalance forklift
Yes
for lower loads
Air cushion
No

Overhead crane
Yes
​​​​​​​
Emission free
Elof low lifter
Yes
​​​​​​​
Counterbalance forklift
Yes
If electrical
Air cushion
Air exhaust
​​​​​​​
Overhead crane
Yes
​​​​​​​
Compact and lightweight
Elof low lifter
Yes
​​​​​​​
Counterbalance forklift
No
​​​​​​​due to counterbalance
Air cushion
Yes
​​​​​​​
Overhead crane
Yes
​​​​​​​
Flexible
Elof low lifter
Yes​​​​​​​ 
compact and lightweight
​​​​​​​
Counterbalance forklift
No
due to size
​​​​​​​
Air cushion
No
restricted by air hose and floor surface
Overhead crane
Yes
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​within work area
​​​​​​​
Floor pressure applied
Elof low lifter
Low
​​​​​​​
Counterbalance forklift
High
​​​​​​​
Air cushion
High
​​​​​​​
Overhead crane
None
​​​​​​​
Energy efficient
Elof low lifter
Yes​​​​​​​
due to low unladen weight
Counterbalance forklift
No
due to high unladen weight
Air cushion
No
expensive pressurized air
Overhead crane
Yes
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​electrical drive
Low lift
Elof low lifter
Yes
​​​​​​​
Counterbalance forklift
Yes
​​​​​​​
Air cushion
Yes
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Overhead crane
Yes
​​​​​​​
High lift 
Elof low lifter
No
​​​​​​​
Counterbalance forklift
Yes
​​​​​​​
Air cushion
No
​​​​​​​
Overhead crane
Yes
​​​​​​​
Safe
Elof low lifter
Yes​​​​​​​ 
​​​​​​​low lift and well protected driver
Counterbalance forklift
Yes
if low lift
​​​​​​​
Air cushion
Yes
​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​
Overhead crane
Issues with heavy loads
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​
Noise
Elof low lifter
Low
​​​​​​​
Counterbalance forklift
Low
if electrical
Air cushion
Noisy air
​​​​​​​
Overhead crane
Low
​​​​​​​
Indoor
Elof low lifter
Yes
​​​​​​​
Counterbalance forklift
Yes

Air cushion
Yes
​​​​​​​
Overhead crane
Yes
​​​​​​​
Outdoor
Elof low lifter
Yes​​​​​​​
On solid surfaces
Counterbalance forklift
Yes

Air cushion
No
​​​​​​​
Overhead crane
No
​​​​​​​
Facility Investments and Costs
Elof low lifter
Only normal level floor required​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Counterbalance forklift
More space required

Air cushion
Strong and almost perfect floor required
Overhead crane​​​​​​​
Fixed installation under ceiling required​​​​​​​​​​​​​​