Hydraulic jacks are powerful and effective tools for lifting heavy loads. A hydraulic jack harnesses the power of physics to magnify the strength of a single operator, leading to more efficient lifting.
How Hydraulic Jacks Work
Hydraulic jacks rely on Pascal’s law to multiply force. When the lever of a hydraulic jack is pumped, that force is applied to the fluid inside a chamber within the jack, which generates pressure. That pressure is transmitted through the fluid and applied to the lifting mechanism.
Because the force generated by the lever is applied to a larger area of the lifting mechanism, its power is magnified. Imagine that the hydraulic fluid chamber is U-shaped. On one side of the U, one unit of force is applied to the lever and thus the hydraulic fluid inside the jack. That force travels through the fluid and is transmitted to the lifting mechanism, on the other side of the U. However, this side of the U is ten times wider than the lever’s side. As a result, that one unit of force is multiplied by ten. This is Pascal’s law.
The result is greater lifting power, allowing a single manual operator with a hydraulic jack to lift something much heavier than they could lift on their own.
Hydraulic Jack Benefits
There are many effective tools available for lifting heavy loads. Hydraulic jacks offer several key advantages over cranes, forklifts, and other solutions, in terms of practicality, efficiency, and user-friendliness.
Compact Size
Hydraulic jacks are significantly smaller than most other heavy lifting solutions, which makes them a convenient choice for tightly packed areas. Unlike a forklift or a crane, a hydraulic jack can move through and operate in confined spaces. Plus, the storage footprint of a hydraulic jack is usually just a few square feet, and they’re compact enough to go in a closet or under a shelf rack.
In spite of their compact size, hydraulic jacks are incredibly powerful; some models can lift up to 30 tons.
Lower Loading Height
The low loading height of a hydraulic jack simply can’t be beat. Some hydraulic jacks can pick up loads that are just 0.6 inches from the floor. A forklift needs significantly more space and may also need “fork pockets” for the forks.
Flexible and User-Friendly
Hydraulic jacks are extremely user-friendly. There’s no need for a special license or expensive training to operate one. Because hydraulic jacks employ Pascal’s law to magnify force, workers using a hydraulic jack can use their own energy more efficiently and thus be more productive through the day. And while some hydraulic jacks do rely on external hydraulics, many can be operated manually, which can be convenient for some situations.
Hydraulic jacks are also more flexible than cranes and forklifts. With their compact size, they can be used just about anywhere, both indoors and outdoors, and they can be used singularly and in pairs.
Explore Hydraulic Jacks from GKS
GKS is proud to manufacture top-quality hydraulic jacks, designed by German engineers. We’ve spent years optimizing our hydraulic jacks to make them as strong and effective as possible. Most hydraulic jacks are made from cast steel, but GKS hydraulic jacks are made with forged steel, which is 30% stronger. Our hydraulic jacks are also made with an adjustable toe, so you can take advantage of the full loading range at three different heights and get more value out of a single hydraulic jack.
We test every hydraulic jack we make for quality and performance, so you can trust that you’re getting an excellent product. GKS hydraulic jacks come with a five-year warranty, and our U.S.-based support team is always available to answer questions and help you address any challenges that may arise.
To learn more about GKS and our hydraulic jacks, get in touch.
