The reliable freight elevator that requires minimal modifications to the building structure.

Questions and answers about freight elevators

• What is a freight elevator?

  A freight elevator is an elevator that primarily transports goods of all kinds. People may either not be transported at all or only accompanied by them. Depending on the design, goods elevators can transport anything from a few kilos to many tons. There are variants with a shaft and without a shaft. They can be driven by chains, steel cables or hydraulically.

• What does a freight elevator cost?

  Freight elevators can cost anything from a few thousand to hundreds of thousands of euros, depending on their size and load capacity.

• Is an elevator shaft required for a freight elevator?

  No classic brick-built elevator shaft is required to use our goods elevator. Elevator concepts such as the Elevatec goods elevator lift the conveyor basket via chains on lifting columns and can be enclosed with the specially developed modular system of floor doors and machine safety fencing.

• What can i transport with a freight elevator?

  Materials can be transported if they are packed appropriately. The size must be such that they do not fit through the grid filling of the basket. Hazardous or explosive materials are not permitted. It is important that if goods protrude beyond the basket, they are secured accordingly. Elevatec supplies a suitable load securing set for this application.

• Is there a difference between a floor lift, freight elevator or goods elevator?

  Basically, this designation applies to comparable applications. Our concept is based on standard 81-31 "Goods elevators with accessible platform".

• Is people-transport allowed with a freight elevator?

  The transportation of persons is generally not permitted in goods-only elevators.

• What loads can a freight elevator lift?

  Goods elevators can lift anything from a few 100 kg to many tons, depending on the structure and application. Our goods elevators are designed for up to 4000 kg.

• What conditions must the building have?

  First and foremost, a load-bearing floor is required so that the lifting columns can be properly secured. It must also be possible to attach the lifting columns to the side of a wall, shelf or beam. The area in which the lift is to be installed must be located in such a way that an enclosure consisting of a machine safety fence can be erected. It must therefore not be a footpath or driveway.

• How high can you lift with a goods elevator?

  Freight elevators can lift goods up to 100m high, depending on the design. Our goods elevators are designed for lifting heights of 12m.

• Do you need a safety fence on a goods elevator?

  The travel area of the elevator must be secured in such a way that contact with the moving car or moving elevator parts is avoided. The area on the floors is also not exempt from this.

• Why are there elevator doors on a freight elevator?

  The elevator doors protect people in the elevator area against falling. Elevator doors must be mechanically secured and therefore always equipped with an electrically interlocked anti-drop device. Our door locking system is motor-driven and double-monitored (EU type-approved). The door can therefore only be opened once the lift has arrived at its position.

• How safe are freight elevators?

  The EN81-31 standard regulates the technical requirements for goods elevators with accessible platforms and therefore also the safety aspects. Safety-relevant parts must be designed accordingly and may even have to be type-tested. For example, a safety catch device must be type-tested. Load chains, for example, must be 8 times oversized in order to comply with the standard. If the elevator could be used by people for inspection trips, an overspeed detection system with corresponding triggering is also mandatory. It can therefore be said that elevators that comply with the standard are very safe.

• How big ist the conveyor basket n a freight elevator?

  Conveyor cages are built on demand and are based on the space required, the size of the goods and merchandise to be transported and the requirements of the operator. Conveyor cages can be up to 18m² in size for our shaftless elevators.

• When does a freigt elevator has to be tested repeatedly?

  Goods elevators built in accordance with the Machinery Directive must also undergo an annual accident prevention inspection.

• Who repairs the freight elevators?

  Freight elevators can be repaired and maintained either by the manufacturer or by service providers from the elevator technology sector.