How to Choose the Right Hydraulic Cylinder & Pump

Hydraulic cylinders and pumps can be used to lift a variety of materials. With so many different products on the market, it can be hard to know which hydraulic jack, pump or cylinder is right for the task at hand. To help you make the right decision, we're going to show you the pros and cons of our most popular hydraulic cylinders and pumps. Let's dive in!

Pad Jacks

Pad jacks are ideal if you're looking for something small and compact. They can easily be manoeuvred under a suitable lifting point and are capable of lifting items weighing up to 150 tonnes. The only downside of pad jacks is that they only offer a small lift height, so aren't suitable for all jobs. Shop our full range of pad jacks below.

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Low Profile Cylinders

If you're looking for something larger than a pad jack but smaller than a standard cylinder, our low profile cylinders are ideal. Like pad jacks, they can be used in scenarios where you have restricted loading space. However, they have a low lift height, so aren't suitable for every job. You can browse all of our low profile cylinders below.

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Standard Cylinders

Standard cylinders can be used when there is plenty of loading space available. Unlike pad jacks and low profile cylinders, they're more versatile, offering larger lifting heights up to 400mm. This makes them ideal for a variety of lifting solutions! The disadvantage of these cylinders is that they're not as stable as lower profile models. Shop our full range of standard cylinders below.

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Hollow Cylinder Jacks

If you're looking for a hydraulic cylinder that can push AND pull, you need our hollow cylinder jacks. To use them, all you need is a suitable centre rod or cable. These hollow cylinder jacks can move materials weighing anywhere from 20 to 100 tonnes - so they really are a valuable piece of kit to add to your arsenal. Shop all hollow cylinder jacks below.

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Telescopic Cylinders

Telescopic cylinders are another great option if you're looking for a flexible lifting solution. At face value, they look very similar to the pad jacks we mentioned earlier, but the key difference is their telescopic function. These cylinders can be used in low-level spaces, but their unique design means they offer a longer lift height. Shop all telescopic cylinders below.

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Lock Nut Cylinders

While lock nut cylinders might look and work in a similar way to our standard cylinders, there is one key difference: the ram is threaded with a locking collar, which means you can lock the load in place once it's been lifted. This is ideal if you need the flexibility to be able to leave the load in a fixed position for a period of time. Shop our full range of nut lock cylinders below.

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Hydraulic Pumps for Cylinders & Rams

Last but not least, let's explore the hydraulic pumps you can use with our cylinders and rams. There are two different types of hydraulic pumps for you to choose from: manual or electric.

Manual Hydraulic Pumps

Manual hydraulic pumps can be used with any of the above mentioned cylinders - as long as the pump has enough oil and capacity to allow the cylinder to operate at its maximum height. Manual pumps are a universal favourite, but they work slower than electric pumps and can cause user fatigue if used for a long time.

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Electric Hydraulic Pumps

Electric cylinders are ideal if you want a hydraulic pump that requires little to no effort. They tend to provide a faster lift and will prevent user fatigue.

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So there you have it: a complete guide to the wide range of hydraulic cylinders and pumps that we offer here at SafetyLiftinGear. We hope this helps you choose the right equipment for the job - as always, if you have any questions, feel free to contact SafetyLiftinGear and we'll talk you through our hydraulic equipment in more detail.