Manual vs Powered Lifting Equipment Key Differences In today’s fast-paced industrial and commercial environments, lifting equipmentplays a central role in improving efficiency and safety. Whether it's shipping and receiving goods, transporting appliances, moving office equipment, or lifting heavy material to or from shelves, the choice of lifting tools can make or break your workflow. Two of the most common categories are manual and powered lifting equipment. While both serve the same core purpose—handling loads safely and effectively—they operate in drastically different ways and are suited for different applications.