Moving stone slabs safely through a fabrication shop, yard, or job site requires purpose-built lifting equipment. The Weha slab grab scissor lifter series — including the R400, R1500, Riba 2, and Riba 3 — gives stone fabricators and stone yard operators a range of slab-clamping lifters suited to different thickness capacities, weight ratings, and orientation requirements. This guide covers the complete Weha scissor lifter lineup, explains the differences between each model, and helps you select the right tool for your specific stone handling application.
What Are Scissor Lifters and Why Stone Shops Use Them
A scissor lifter is a mechanical clamping device that grips a stone slab by its edges using a scissor-action jaw mechanism. As the lifting load increases, the scissor mechanism tightens its grip — the heavier the load, the tighter the clamp. This self-energizing gripping action means scissor lifters do not rely on friction alone (unlike suction cups) and do not require active clamping force from the operator during a lift. The slab's own weight engages the clamp.
This design makes scissor lifters particularly valuable for situations where vacuum lifters are impractical — rough or textured stone surfaces, wet stone, stone with significant moisture or contamination on the surface, or applications where the operator needs to handle stone without power tools or compressed air nearby. Scissor lifters work mechanically with no power source, no compressor, and no vacuum pump — just the mechanical advantage of the scissor jaw and the physics of the suspended load.
Stone fabrication shops use scissor lifters in the shop for moving finished and semi-finished slabs between work areas, at the stone yard for repositioning slabs in A-frame storage, during delivery and installation for maneuvering stone in tight spaces, and on job sites where powered equipment is unavailable or impractical. The Weha scissor lifter series covers a range of capacities and configurations for these diverse applications.
Weha R400: Entry-Level Shop Scissor Lifter
The Weha R400 Slab Grab Scissor Lifter is designed for slabs in the 3/4-inch to 3-inch thickness range and has an 882 lb (400 kg) rated capacity. It is a compact, single-operator scissor lifter suited to shop use where slab weights are within its 882 lb rating and thicknesses match its jaw opening range.
The R400 is appropriate for standard 2cm (3/4 inch) and 3cm (1-1/4 inch) countertop slabs that fall within its weight capacity. For typical granite and quartzite slabs at these thicknesses, most pieces fall within the R400's capacity for repositioning within a shop or loading onto a vehicle for delivery. The compact size of the R400 makes it easy to store and deploy quickly — a practical everyday tool rather than dedicated heavy machinery.
Typical applications for the R400 include moving finished countertop pieces from the polishing area to the packaging zone, loading fabricated pieces onto delivery vehicles, repositioning smaller slabs in the storage area, and installation-day handling in spaces where a larger lifter would be impractical.
Weha R1500: Heavy Duty Full Slab Lifter
The Weha R1500 Slab Grab Scissor Lifter is rated at 3,307 lbs (1,500 kg) and handles slabs from 1 to 8 inches thick. This is the heavy-duty version of the scissor lifter concept — designed for full slab bundles, thick stone pieces, and heavy slabs that exceed the R400's capacity. The R1500's 3,307 lb rating covers the weight range of most individual natural stone slabs, including thick granite, large quartzite, and heavy exotic stone in standard commercial slab sizes.
The R1500's jaw opening of 1 to 8 inches accommodates not only 2cm and 3cm fabricated stone but also thicker material — 4cm countertop slabs, natural stone steps, thick hearth stones, and architectural pieces that are outside the range of most lighter scissor lifters. This flexibility makes the R1500 a valuable tool for stone yards and fabrication shops that handle a wide variety of stone thicknesses and applications.
The R1500 is typically operated with overhead lifting equipment — a chain hoist, gantry crane, jib crane, or forklift attachment — rather than by hand. The 3,307 lb capacity is beyond manual carrying; the lifter engages the slab while the overhead equipment provides the vertical lift. This combination is efficient for moving full slabs from horizontal storage (floor or flat storage) to a vertical A-frame or vice versa.
Weha Riba 2: Horizontal and Vertical Scissor Lifter
The Weha Riba 2 is a multi-orientation scissor lifter rated at 2,646 lbs (1,200 kg) with a jaw opening range of 0 to 6 inches. The Riba series is distinguished from the R series by its ability to operate in both horizontal and vertical lifting orientations — this means the same tool can grip a slab lying flat on a surface (horizontal) and lift it vertically, or grip a slab standing in a vertical A-frame and reposition it horizontally. This orientation flexibility is particularly valuable in stone yard operations where slabs frequently need to transition between horizontal storage and vertical transport or vertical A-frame storage and horizontal fabrication tables.
The Riba 2's 0-6 inch jaw range covers standard 2cm and 3cm fabrication slabs and extends to thicker material up to 6 inches. This wider range than the R400 (which starts at 3/4 inch minimum) allows the Riba 2 to handle very thin stone as well as thicker pieces. The 2,646 lb rating covers most individual commercial slabs comfortably.
Shops that handle both horizontal slab table work and vertical A-frame storage benefit most from the Riba 2's dual-orientation design. The ability to use a single tool for both operations simplifies your equipment investment and reduces the number of lifter types your operators need to be familiar with.
Weha Riba 3: Maximum-Capacity Dual-Orientation Lifter
The Weha Riba 3 is the premium tier in the Riba series — rated at 3,087 lbs (1,400 kg) with a jaw opening range of 0 to 11 inches. The Riba 3 extends the Riba 2's dual-orientation capability to a higher weight class and a wider jaw range. The 0 to 11 inch jaw opening is the widest in the Weha scissor lifter lineup, accommodating very thick stone pieces: large paving slabs, stone steps, thick architectural elements, and rough block stone that falls within this jaw range.
The Riba 3 is the appropriate choice for heavy stone yard work where both high weight capacity and orientation flexibility are required. It is used with overhead lifting equipment — the 3,087 lb rated load is engineered for crane and forklift attachment use, not manual lifting. Stone yards handling large format pieces and blocks, dimensional stone processors, and monument fabricators are among the operations that most benefit from the Riba 3 specification.
| Model | Capacity | Jaw Range | Orientation |
|---|---|---|---|
| R400 | 882 lb (400 kg) | 3/4" – 3" | Standard |
| R1500 | 3,307 lb (1,500 kg) | 1" – 8" | Standard |
| Riba 2 | 2,646 lb (1,200 kg) | 0" – 6" | Horizontal + Vertical |
| Riba 3 | 3,087 lb (1,400 kg) | 0" – 11" | Horizontal + Vertical |
Choosing the Right Weha Scissor Lifter for Your Operation
Selecting the right scissor lifter starts with three questions: What is the maximum weight of the stone you handle? What is the thickness range of your typical stone? Does your workflow require both horizontal and vertical lift orientations?
For fabrication shops primarily handling 2cm and 3cm countertop slabs within typical weight ranges (up to 800 lbs), the R400 is a practical everyday shop tool that covers most countertop work. For shops handling full slabs from the yard — which can weigh 800 to 1,800 lbs or more for standard commercial granite — the R1500 or Riba series is the appropriate specification.
If your operation includes A-frame slab storage and a horizontal fabrication workflow, the dual-orientation Riba 2 or Riba 3 provides efficiency that the single-orientation R series cannot. The ability to lift a slab from a horizontal position and transition it directly to vertical A-frame storage without rehooking or repositioning the lifter saves time and reduces handling touches — each handling touch is a potential damage opportunity that multi-orientation equipment eliminates.
Scissor lifters achieve their maximum effectiveness when paired with appropriate overhead lifting equipment. A chain hoist on a monorail, a jib crane, or a gantry crane provides the vertical lift while the scissor lifter provides the gripping interface with the stone. The combination creates a highly controllable slab handling system — the overhead equipment positions the lifter while the operator on the floor guides the slab into position. Dynamic Stone Tools carries Abaco crane and overhead lifting equipment that pairs well with Weha scissor lifters for complete slab handling solutions.
Safety Practices for Scissor Lifter Use
Scissor lifters are reliable tools when used correctly, but they must be respected as lifting equipment that handles heavy and fragile loads simultaneously. Always inspect the jaw surfaces of the scissor lifter before use — worn, dirty, or contaminated jaw contact surfaces reduce grip effectiveness. Clean the jaws before each use and inspect for wear that might indicate reduced clamping force.
Never swing a suspended stone load — this creates dynamic forces that exceed the static rated load of the equipment and creates risk of both equipment failure and slab breakage. Move suspended loads slowly and under control. Ensure all personnel are clear of the suspended load path before initiating any lift.
Verify that the stone surface where the jaws engage is clean, dry, and free from loose material or contamination. Slabs with significant moisture, oil, or debris at the jaw contact zone may grip less effectively than clean stone. For rough or irregular stone edges, verify that the jaw contact area is adequate to engage the stone properly before committing to a full lift.
Order Weha Scissor Lifters from Dynamic Stone Tools
The complete Weha slab grab scissor lifter series is available through Dynamic Stone Tools. The Weha R400 is available for shops needing an affordable everyday scissor lifter. The R1500, Riba 2, and Riba 3 are available for operations requiring higher capacity or dual-orientation handling. Browse our full slab handling equipment collection to find the right combination of scissor lifters, vacuum lifters, carrying clamps, and overhead lifting equipment for your stone operation.
Scissor Lifters vs. Vacuum Lifters: Knowing When to Use Each
Stone fabricators who work across shop, yard, and job site environments often have both scissor lifters and vacuum lifters in their equipment inventory, and understanding when each tool is appropriate makes slab handling faster and safer. Vacuum lifters are excellent for smooth, clean, dry stone surfaces — they provide a large contact area that distributes load gently and allows precise placement. They require compressed air or battery power and cannot grip wet, dusty, very rough, or very porous surfaces effectively. Scissor lifters complement vacuum lifters by working precisely in the conditions where vacuum lifters struggle: rough stone surfaces, wet stone, stone with significant dust or powder on the surface, and situations where no power source is available. Having both tool types available means your team always has the right tool for the conditions they encounter. On job sites where compressed air is unavailable and stone surfaces may be damp from cutting or delivery, a scissor lifter provides a reliable, power-free gripping solution that keeps the installation moving. In the shop where stone surfaces are clean and dry and power is available, vacuum lifters may be faster for high-frequency moves. The Weha scissor lifter series and the broader range of vacuum lifters and carrying clamps available at Dynamic Stone Tools give fabricators the complete toolkit for handling stone safely in any conditions they encounter.
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Dynamic Stone Tools carries Weha scissor lifters, vacuum lifters, carrying clamps, and the complete range of stone handling equipment for yards, shops, and job sites.
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