Choosing the Right Scissor Lift for Your Crematory

Crematory battery-powered scissor lifts raise and lower cadavers, caskets, and cremation containers without manual lifting.

Hilton Funeral Supply carries three MOBI models: the HD Cadaver Transport Scissor Lift, the Crematory Low-Profile Scissor Lift, and the Crematory Scissor Lift HD.

The three models differ in load capacity, height range, surface design, and available accessories.

The MOBI Battery-Powered HD Cadaver Transport Scissor Lift suits discreet cadaver transport and is the only one of the three with a purchasable cover option. The MOBI Crematory Battery-Powered Low-Profile Scissor Lift drops to a 13-inch base height for tight clearance under retorts and low racks. The MOBI Crematory Battery-Powered Scissor Lift HD reaches an 80-inch maximum height for the tallest table transfers. All three are 12V battery-powered, made in the USA, and built for funeral homes, crematories, morgues, medical examiners, county coroners, and pathology labs.

A crematory battery-powered scissor lift is a mobile, motorized platform that raises and lowers cadavers, caskets, or cremation containers between table heights.

A scissor mechanism driven by a 12V DC battery replaces manual lifting or a hand-pumped hydraulic pedal. The platform's top surface accepts body trays, caskets, and cremation boxes, and locking casters hold the lift in place during transfer.

Crematory battery-powered scissor lifts count among the standard funeral home equipment used across funeral homes, crematories, morgues, medical examiners, county coroners, and pathology labs.

•  Funeral homes — move cadavers to and from embalming tables in the preparation room.

•  Crematories — raise cremation containers to retort charging height.

•  Medical examiners, county coroners, and pathology labs — move remains between storage racks and autopsy or grossing tables.

The Hilton Crematory Lift Selection Standard is Hilton Funeral Supply's internal framework for comparing crematory scissor lifts on four criteria: Load Capacity, Height Range, Surface Design, and Facility Fit.

This is Hilton's own internal framework, not an industry or regulatory standard.

•  Load Capacity — the maximum weight a lift safely raises, from 800 pounds on the HD Cadaver Transport Scissor Lift to over 1,000 pounds on the Crematory Low-Profile and HD models.

•  Height Range — how low a lift's base sits and how high its platform reaches, which determines what tables and racks it can serve.

•  Surface Design — the top table's dimensions and whether it loads from the side, the end, or both, which determines compatibility with body trays, caskets, and cremation boxes.

•  Facility Fit — construction material, caster type, and control style, which determines how a lift performs in a crematory, morgue, or funeral home preparation room.

Hilton Funeral Supply carries three MOBI crematory scissor lift models, each built for a different transfer height and use case.

MOBI Battery-Powered HD Cadaver Transport Scissor Lift

The MOBI Battery-Powered HD Cadaver Transport Scissor Lift is a marine-grade aluminum and stainless-steel lift built for low-profile, bi-directional cadaver transport.

•  Height range: 19 to 78 inches

•  Load limit: 800 pounds

•  Top surface: 67" x 24"

•  Construction: marine-grade aluminum and stainless steel

•  Casters: 6" locking swivel casters with lock-straight tab

•  Cover: cover halo standard; full cover sold separately — the only one of the three models with this option

Best for: morgues, medical examiners, county coroners, and pathology labs moving cadavers discreetly between storage and exam areas.

Why it works: its low 19-inch base clears standard storage racks, and its bi-directional top loads from either side.

MOBI Crematory Battery-Powered Low-Profile Scissor Lift

The MOBI Crematory Battery-Powered Low-Profile Scissor Lift is a welded-steel lift built for tight clearance under crematory equipment.

•  Height range: 13 to 69-plus inches

•  Load limit: over 1,000 pounds

•  Top surface: 67" x 27"

•  Construction: welded steel

•  Casters: 2 rear swivel casters, 2 front swivel casters with lock-straight option

Best for: crematories loading cremation containers into low-clearance retorts and funeral homes with limited preparation room ceiling height.

Why it works: its 13-inch base is the lowest of Hilton's three crematory scissor lifts, so it reaches tables and racks the other two models cannot.

MOBI Crematory Battery-Powered Scissor Lift HD

The MOBI Crematory Battery-Powered Scissor Lift HD is a welded-steel lift built for the widest transfer range of Hilton's three models.

•  Height range: 20.5 to 80-plus inches

•  Load limit: over 1,000 pounds

•  Top surface: 62.5" x 25"

•  Construction: welded steel

•  Casters: heavy-duty casters with brakes

Best for: crematories and funeral homes transferring between tall embalming tables, church trucks, and elevated storage racks.

Why it works: its 80-inch reach is the tallest of the three, covering transfers the Low-Profile model's 69-inch reach cannot.

The table below compares all three models on the Hilton Crematory Lift Selection Standard criteria. Product names link to each Hilton product page.

•  Move cadavers discreetly between morgue storage and exam areas → HD Cadaver Transport Scissor Lift (cover option, discreet transport).

•  Crematories with low-clearance retorts and roller-bar racks, or funeral homes with limited ceiling height → Crematory Low-Profile Scissor Lift (13-inch base).

•  Transfers between the tallest tables, church trucks, and storage racks → Crematory Scissor Lift HD (80-inch reach).

All three models are available in Hilton Funeral Supply's mortuary equipment category alongside embalming tables, roller racks, and church trucks.

Battery-powered scissor lifts aren't the only body and casket lifts Hilton Funeral Supply carries.

•  One-Person Hydraulic Body and Casket Lift — a foot-pump alternative to battery power, suited to lower-volume facilities or backup equipment.

•  Related equipment: prep room equipment guide and church truck buying guide.

•  Cot options: mortuary cot selection guide.

What is the weight limit on Hilton's crematory scissor lifts?

The MOBI Crematory Low-Profile and HD Scissor Lifts carry over 1,000 pounds each, per MOBI's specifications. The HD Cadaver Transport Scissor Lift carries up to 800 pounds. Facilities handling bariatric cases regularly should size their lift around the heaviest case they expect, since the load rating is a hard limit rather than a typical-use estimate.

Which crematory scissor lift has the lowest base height?

The MOBI Crematory Battery-Powered Low-Profile Scissor Lift has the lowest base height, at 13 inches. That clearance lets it reach cremation retorts, low storage racks, and tables the HD Cadaver Transport Scissor Lift (19 inches) and the Crematory Scissor Lift HD (20.5 inches) cannot.

Can I buy a cover for a mortuary scissor lift?

Yes, but only for one model. The MOBI Battery-Powered HD Cadaver Transport Scissor Lift is the only one of Hilton's three crematory scissor lifts with a purchasable cover option. The lift ships with a cover halo as standard equipment; the cover itself is sold separately for facilities transporting cadavers through public-facing areas.

Where are battery-powered scissor lifts used?

Battery-powered scissor lifts are widely used mortuary equipment in funeral homes, crematories, hospital morgues, medical examiners, county coroners, and pathology labs. Hilton does not track state-by-state equipment rules, so facilities should confirm placement, storage, and any facility-specific requirements with their own state licensing board before installation.

What's the difference between the Crematory Scissor Lift HD and the Low-Profile model?

The Crematory Scissor Lift HD reaches a taller maximum height, at 80-plus inches versus 69-plus inches on the Low-Profile model. The Low-Profile model compensates with a lower base height, 13 inches versus 20.5 inches on the HD model. Facilities with tall roller-bar racks should choose the HD model; facilities with low-clearance roller-bar racks and retorts should choose the Low-Profile model.

Are these scissor lifts made in the USA?

Yes. MOBI states that all three lifts, the HD Cadaver Transport Scissor Lift, the Crematory Low-Profile Scissor Lift, and the Crematory Scissor Lift HD, are made in the USA and carry a one-year manufacturer's warranty, per MOBI's published specifications.

Do I need a digital scale on a mortuary scissor lift?

A digital scale is optional on all three MOBI crematory scissor lifts. It's useful for crematories that must record decedent weight before charging, and less useful for funeral homes that only transfer between tables. Add it as an option when ordering if your workflow requires an on-lift weight record.