Compact Hydraulic Power Unit for Lifting Tables & Scissor Lifts — How to Select the Right HPU

1. Why lifting table and scissor lift OEMs are moving to compact HPUs

For a lifting table or scissor lift, the hydraulic power unit (HPU) is the heart of the system. It dictates:

How fast the platform raises and lowers
How stable it feels under maximum load
How long the system can work without overheating or leaking

Taizhou Tianlang Hydraulic Machinery Co., Ltd. (SIRIUS) is a manufacturer specializing in ultra-micro hydraulic systems and high-end PTFE sealing products. The company’s portfolio includes a compact hydraulic power unit for lifting applications, custom hydraulic lift and base assemblies, and DC integrated hydraulic mechanisms for specialized equipment.

This article is written from the point of view of a website editor for SIRIUS, to help buyers and engineers choose the right compact hydraulic power unit for lifting tables and scissor lifts, and to show what kind of support and OEM/ODM options you can expect.

2. What is a compact hydraulic power unit for lifting applications?

A compact hydraulic power unit (HPU) for lifting tables and scissor lifts is a small, integrated hydraulic station typically consisting of:

Electric motor (AC or DC)
Hydraulic pump (usually gear pump)
Hydraulic manifold with valves (check valves, relief valves, solenoid valves)
Oil reservoir
Connection ports for one or more hydraulic cylinders

On lifting tables and scissor lifts, the HPU is usually mounted on or near the base frame and connected to the lifting cylinders via hoses or hard pipes. SIRIUS focuses on ultra-micro / compact HPU designs, which means:

Smaller footprint, easier to integrate into tight machine frames
Lower oil volume but optimized flow paths
Reduced noise and vibration compared with older, bulky power packs

These HPUs are suitable for:

Industrial lifting tables
Warehouse and workshop scissor lifts
Assembly line height-adjustable workstations
Special equipment requiring compact lifting modules

3. Step 1 – Define load and pressure: how heavy is your real working load?

Before choosing any hydraulic power unit, you must clearly define load and pressure.

3.1 Working load vs. maximum load

You should consider:

Rated working load – the typical load during daily operation
Maximum load – peak load including overload scenarios and safety factor
Static vs. dynamic conditions (starting, stopping, shock loads)

From these values and the cylinder bore and quantity, we can estimate the required working pressure. A compact HPU for lifting tables and scissor lifts is commonly designed for medium pressure ranges, optimized for stability and service life rather than extreme high-pressure peaks.

When sending a request, it helps to provide:

Platform size and maximum lifting load
Number and size of hydraulic cylinders
Safety factor requirements (e.g. 1.25×, 1.5×, 2×)

With this data, SIRIUS engineers can select a pump and relief valve setting that covers all load cases while protecting the system from overload.

4. Step 2 – Set speed and flow: how fast should the platform move?

Lifting speed is a key comfort and productivity parameter. The HPU flow rate (L/min) and cylinder size determine how fast the lifting table or scissor lift moves.

Typical questions to answer:

Desired lifting time from bottom to top (e.g. 10–20 seconds)
Acceptable lowering speed (normally similar or slightly faster than lifting)
Whether you need speed control under varying loads

For a compact hydraulic power unit, we match:

Pump displacement (cc/rev)
Motor speed (r/min)
System pressure

to produce the required flow for your lifting cycle. If your application needs soft start / soft stop or different speeds for lifting and lowering, the valve manifold can be configured with:

Throttle / flow control valves
Proportional control options (for advanced systems)

By combining compact HPU design with SIRIUS’ experience in micro hydraulic systems, you get a power pack that delivers predictable, repeatable lifting speeds with stable performance over time.

5. Step 3 – Choose power supply: AC vs. DC and duty cycle

For lifting tables and scissor lifts, power supply and duty cycle determine motor selection and thermal design.

5.1 Power supply

Common options include:

AC motors (e.g. 220–240 V, 380–415 V) for workshop and industrial lifting tables
DC motors (e.g. 12 V / 24 V) for mobile or battery-powered scissor lifts

SIRIUS also designs DC hydraulic power units for vehicle and mobile applications, so the same know-how can be used for your lifting system when DC power is required.

5.2 Duty cycle and motor heating

To choose the right motor size and duty cycle, consider:

Number of full lifting cycles per hour
Typical ON time during each cycle
Required cooling time between cycles
Ambient temperature and ventilation conditions

A compact HPU might work in:

Intermittent duty – typical for manual lifting tables and small scissor lifts
Higher duty – automated lines with frequent lifting cycles

When you provide your cycle data, SIRIUS can adjust motor power, cooling design and even suggest micro hydraulic power unit configurations suitable for your duty profile.

6. Step 4 – Select tank volume and installation layout

For a compact hydraulic power unit, oil reservoir volume must be carefully balanced:

Enough volume to avoid excessive temperature rise
Enough volume to prevent pump cavitation and foaming
As small as possible to keep the unit compact and reduce oil cost

Key points:

At maximum platform height, a significant volume of oil is inside the cylinder(s), not in the tank. The tank must still keep the pump inlet covered and prevent air ingestion.
At minimum platform height, all oil returns to the tank; the tank must handle this volume without overflow.

SIRIUS can provide guidance on tank sizing based on:

Cylinder volume and stroke
Number of cylinders
Lifting speed and cycle frequency

The company also offers custom hydraulic lift and base assemblies and custom DC integrated hydraulic lifting mechanisms, which means the HPU can be configured together with your base structure for an optimized layout.

7. Step 5 – Circuit options and safety requirements

For lifting tables and scissor lifts, safety is critical. The compact hydraulic power unit is usually configured with one or more of the following:

Check valves to hold the platform in position when the pump is stopped
Pressure relief valve to protect against overload
Solenoid valve for controlled lowering
Emergency lowering function in case of power failure
Optional over-center valves for special load conditions or vertical cylinders

Depending on your application, SIRIUS can design:

Single-acting or double-acting cylinder circuits
Multi-cylinder systems with equal lifting
Valve blocks integrated directly into the compact HPU to minimize leakage points

Combined with SIRIUS’s experience in high-end PTFE sealing products, these HPUs are aimed at providing low-leakage, long-life performance in industrial environments.

8. Step 6 – Mechanical integration: mounting, noise and maintenance

For OEMs, integration is often the most time-consuming part of a lifting system project. SIRIUS’ compact hydraulic power unit for lifting applications is designed with mechanical integration in mind:

8.1 Mounting options

Vertical or horizontal tank orientation
Brackets and hole patterns adapted to your frame
Hose routing and port positions designed to avoid interference with scissor arms and moving parts

8.2 Noise and vibration

Compact, well-balanced assemblies reduce vibration
Properly selected pump and motor combinations for lower noise
Option to add rubber mounts or vibration isolation elements in custom versions

8.3 Service and maintenance

Easy access to filler/breather, level indicator and filters
Clear recommendations for oil change intervals
Optional diagnostic ports for commissioning and troubleshooting

With an integrated approach, the HPU becomes a plug-and-play module inside your lifting table or scissor lift, instead of a difficult “foreign component”.

9. OEM/ODM cooperation with SIRIUS

SIRIUS positions itself as a manufacturer of ultra-micro hydraulic systems and sealing solutions, working closely with equipment OEMs.

For lifting tables and scissor lifts, the company can offer:

Custom compact HPU design
- Flow, pressure and power tailored to your platform
- Integrated valve blocks for your safety and control logic
Custom hydraulic lift and base assemblies
- HPU + cylinder + base frame delivered as a set for fast installation
Custom DC integrated hydraulic lifting mechanisms
- For battery-powered or vehicle-based scissor lifts and special equipment
PTFE sealing technology integrated into cylinders and valve manifolds
- Long service life, low leakage and good performance at varying temperatures

OEM services include drawing confirmation, sampling, testing support, and documentation for your internal quality system.

10. What information to send for a precise quotation

To help you quickly get the right compact hydraulic power unit for your lifting table or scissor lift project, prepare the following data:

Application background
- Type of equipment (industrial lifting table, warehouse scissor lift, assembly line workstation, etc.)
- Indoor or outdoor use
Mechanical data
- Maximum platform load and platform size
- Cylinder quantity, bore and stroke (if already defined)
- Required minimum and maximum height
Performance requirements
- Lifting and lowering time
- Number of cycles per hour/day
- Expected lifetime or warranty target
Power and environment
- AC or DC power supply (voltage and frequency)
- Ambient temperature range
- Noise or IP rating requirements
Preferred HPU layout
- Space available for the compact HPU
- Preferred port positions or mounting style

With this information, SIRIUS can recommend a compact hydraulic power unit configuration or propose a custom micro HPU design built for your lifting application.

11. FAQ – questions from lifting table & scissor lift buyers

Q1. Can the same compact HPU be used for different lifting table sizes?
In many cases, yes. One basic compact HPU platform can be configured with different pressure and flow settings, and combined with cylinders of different sizes. For best performance, we recommend confirming each model’s load and speed requirements.

Q2. Do you support AC and DC options for the same lifting equipment platform?
Yes. Based on your project needs, SIRIUS can design both AC-driven and DC-driven versions using the same hydraulic architecture, which helps you serve different markets (fixed installation vs. mobile, battery-powered use) with minimal mechanical changes.

Q3. Can you deliver a full lifting module instead of only the HPU?
Yes. With experience in custom hydraulic lift and base assemblies and integrated DC hydraulic lifting mechanisms, SIRIUS can supply the HPU together with cylinders and a prepared base frame or mechanism for faster integration into your machine.

Q4. How do you ensure low leakage and long service life?
SIRIUS specializes in ultra-micro hydraulic systems and high-end PTFE sealing solutions. The combination of optimized machining, sealing design and testing allows the compact HPU to run for long service periods with minimal leakage and stable performance, if used within the specified parameters.

If you are designing or upgrading a lifting table or scissor lift range, choosing the right compact hydraulic power unit is the key to safe, smooth and efficient lifting.

Share your technical data and project plan with SIRIUS, and the engineering team can help you turn your requirements into a reliable, compact micro hydraulic solution ready for mass production.