Freight Elevator


Freight Elevator is a reliable, rugged means to carry freight and other material, along with a rider between fixed vertical levels of a building. They are governed by CSA B44 elevator code in Canada and ASME A 17.1 in USA. Freight Elevator (in lieu of a Material Lift) is recommended when:

  • Travel is greater than 7.6 meters (30 feet per minute)
  • Automatic operation is required
  • Speed greater than 0.15 meters per second (30 feet per minute) is required

Typically, for up to five (5) stops installations, Freight Elevators are energized by hole-less, hydraulic side mounted hydraulic cylinder(s). For capacity up to 1,363 Kg (3,000 lb) side mounted, cantilevered design is suitable. For capacities beyond 1,363 Kg (3,000 lb) to 9,090 Kg (20,000 lb) or above, twin cylinder design is recommended. One hydraulic cylinder is provided on each side of the levator car. Being a non-buried design, it does not seep oil thus considered as one of the most environmentally friendly systems available.


For travel greater than five (5) stops buried cylinder or roped cylinder options are available. A PVC liner is provided around the buried cylinder thus making it environmentally safe.


Features and Benefits of Freight Elevator

  • Rider is permitted to travel inside the elevator, thus adding to efficiency in material handling.
  • If maintained properly, our Elevators are designed with a life span of about 35 years or more.
  • Load carrying capacity ranging from 500 pounds to beyond 20,000 pounds.
  • Speed ranging from 0.15 meters per second (30 feet per minute) to up to 0.75 meters per second (150 feet per minute)
  • Elevator car size suitable for 1, 2 or 4 pallet sizes. Custom size to suit existing space are readily available.
  • Custom design available to suit existing headroom space and existing pit depth.
  • Different landing door options like Swing Doors, Vertical Bi-parting doors, Vertical Slide-up doors available in Stainless Steel finish with fire label (UL Label).
  • Elevator car available in painted or powder coated steel or 304 St Steel or 316 St Steel.
  • Provided with power unit to suit available building power supply. That is either single phase, 240 volts or 3 phase power supply with 208/ 460/ 575 Volt power supply.
  • Suitable of various Class of Loading:
    • Class A: design for a load of 50 pound (lb) per square feet. The elevator is typically loaded using a pump truck where a single piece of load is not more than 25% of the load carrying capacity of the elevator.
    • Class B: Automobile Loading. Designed for a load of minimum 30 pound (lb) per square feet. Used for transporting automobiles from one floor to another.
    • Class C: These elevators are designed for transportation of heavier concentrated loads and are further distinguished as follows:
      • C1 Loading: a forklift truck is used to load/ unload the elevator and the forklift truck can also travel open and down along with the goods. Thus, the total load carrying capacity elevator is the weight of the fully loaded forklift truck and the rider with any required suitable contingency. The axle load of the forklift truck is also considered while designing such an elevator.
      • C2 Loading: suitable for situations where a forklift truck is only used to load/ unload the goods but does not travel up and down with the elevator.
      • C3 Loading: suitable for heavier concentrated loads like a coil of steel, skids loaded with metal components etc. In this case weight of the single object being transported could be equal to the total load carrying capacity of the elevator.
    • Based on your requirement, please qualify the Class of loading very carefully. Feel free to contact our sales department (sales@expresselp.com) for any further clarification.
  • Travel ranging from "10 - 0" to more than "45 - 0"
  • Momentary touch push button Automatic operation with options available for wireless fob/ smart card or even an auxiliary pendant for Freight Elevator to be loaded with Forklift trucks.
  • Safeties include:
    • Infrared door curtains
    • Battery operated alarm bell and emergency lighting
    • Autodialer to call in case if any assistance is required.
    • Battery operated emergency power for lowering and/ or connectivity of the elevator with the building generator
    • Adequate Mechanical and Hydraulic factor of safeties.
    • Electrical redundancies built in in the elevator control circuit
  • Our elevators can be designed to suit any required NEMA ambient conditions. For example for wet, humid (Nema 4) conditions or to suit direct spray of liquid (NEMA 4X) and suitable for other dust, or explosion proof applications etc.

Based on the choice Elevator Enclosure (a.k.a. Hoistway Shaft), Express Elevators has further categorized these elevators in two types:

  • B Yo S (Bring your own shaft): A civil or general contractor construct a masonry or concrete shaft or metal shaft.
  • S By E: (Shaft by Express Elevators): Along with the freight elevator, we also provide a Metal Shafts to enclose the elevator car and support the elevator rails and cylinder. Shafts are made up of hollow metal tubes (HSS) with intermediate steel cross member and cladded with solid or expanded metal panels. Thus, offering a Turn-Key approach. We also provide a steel lockable enclosure for the hydraulic power unit.

Enclosure (a.k.a. Hoistway Shaft) Details.

  • Typically constructed of reinforced masonry block or cast in place concrete by others.
  • Shaft to be provided with adequate structural support, hoisting beam, checkered steel sills, frames & header, rough opening for entrances, pit light with a switch and GFCI plug, fire alarm initiating devices by others.
  • Optional steel shaft enclosure may be possible
  • Hoistway shaft to be constructed as per elevator code, building code, by others.

MACHINE AREA DETAILS

  • Machine located adjacent to the shaft at bottom level.
  • Machine Room door to swing out and be self-locking and self-closing.
  • Lockable, fused disconnect box, guarded light with a switch, GFCI Plug, by others.
  • Machine area to be constructed as per elevator code, building code, by others.

For a project specific comprehensive design proposal or for any custom requirement, please contact our sales department at: sales@expresselp.com.