Goods Lift for Industry, Warehousing and Logistics

A goods lift is designed to transport goods and materials between different levels. It is particularly suitable for industrial, warehousing and logistics applications and enables the safe transport of heavy or bulky loads.

Our goods lifts are designed exclusively for transporting goods, not passengers. People may enter the platform for loading and unloading, but must not ride on it while the lift is in motion. The technical design is tailored to the specific installation conditions and transport requirements.

As the lift is designed exclusively for transporting goods, additional technical requirements associated with passenger transport do not apply.

What Are the Key Features of Our Goods Lifts?

• High load capacities: Depending on the design, load capacities of up to 10,000 kg are possible.
• Customised design: Platform size, lifting height and equipment can be tailored to the installation conditions and transport requirements.
• Robust construction: The lifts are designed for continuous use in industrial environments.
• Efficient goods transport: Goods can be transported quickly and directly between different levels.
• Space-saving access: A goods lift makes it possible to utilise additional storage and working areas and can provide a space-saving alternative to long ramps.

Thanks to the various designs and customisation options available, our goods lifts can be adapted to a wide range of requirements in industrial, warehousing and logistics applications.

Goods lifts can be designed with different drive systems and lifting mechanisms. Common types include rope and traction lifts, direct hydraulic lifts, as well as systems based on column lifts or scissor lift tables.

Our goods lifts are manufactured using column lifts and scissor lift tables. Which design is best suited to a particular project depends primarily on the lifting height, load capacity, platform size, number and arrangement of stops, as well as the structural conditions on site.

Goods Lift as a Column Lift

In a column lift, the load platform moves along lateral guide rails. The system is hydraulically driven: as a hydraulic cylinder extends and retracts, the lifting movement is transferred to the load platform via wire ropes. Unlike a direct hydraulic lift, the cylinder therefore does not act directly on the load platform.

This design allows the platform size, access points and equipment to be flexibly adapted to the specific installation conditions. Column lifts can serve up to three stops and, depending on the configuration, can be installed with a shallow pit or without a pit.

Goods Lift as a Scissor Lift Table

In a goods lift based on a scissor lift table, the lifting and lowering movement is achieved by extending and retracting the hydraulically operated scissor mechanism. Unlike a column lift, no lateral guide rails are required, as the scissor mechanism itself provides the necessary guidance.

Whether a scissor lift table is suitable for use as a goods lift depends primarily on the lifting height, platform size and required load capacity. As the lifting height increases, the structural complexity of the scissor mechanism also increases. This design is therefore particularly suitable for applications with only a few stops. A suitable pit is generally required to accommodate the scissor lift table in its fully lowered position.

The cost of a goods lift depends on the requirements of the individual project. Since our lifts are custom-designed, there is no standard price. The specific configuration and structural conditions have a significant impact on the overall cost.

What Factors Affect the Price?

The most important factors include:

• Load capacity and platform size
• Lifting height and number of stops
• Installation conditions, for example with or without an existing shaft provided on site
• Installation location, for example indoors or outdoors
• Access points and safety equipment
• Custom equipment and special requirements

Example Price for a Goods Lift

As an example, consider a goods lift for transporting Euro pallets between two levels. With a platform size of 1.5 × 1.0 m, a load capacity of 1,500 kg and a lifting height of 3 m, a lift installed within an existing shaft provided on site can, for the configuration described, be expected to cost approximately €20,000 to €30,000.

The actual price depends on the specific configuration and conditions on site. To provide a reliable cost estimate, we therefore design and calculate each goods lift individually for the respective project.

Ongoing Operating Costs

In addition to the initial purchase price, there are ongoing costs for energy, maintenance and servicing. These costs depend, among other factors, on the lift configuration and frequency of use.

For an example of the ongoing operating costs involved, see our article “How Much Does a Lift Table Cost?”, based on a hydraulic lift table.

Goods lifts are used wherever goods and materials need to be transported between different levels. Typical areas of application include industrial facilities, production environments, warehouses and logistics operations.

Depending on the transport requirements, pallets, machinery, containers, as well as heavy or bulky goods, for example, can be moved between different levels. Goods lifts can be installed both indoors and outdoors and adapted to the specific structural conditions on site.

A goods lift is particularly useful when goods need to be moved regularly between production, storage or working levels. This can shorten transport routes and, for example, eliminate the need for long ramps.

The space required for a goods lift depends primarily on the platform size, lift design and required enclosure. For initial planning, it is therefore important to determine what goods need to be transported and how much space they require on the platform.

How Large Should the Platform Be for a Euro Pallet?

A Euro pallet measures 1,200 × 800 mm. For transporting a single pallet, we recommend a platform measuring at least 1,400 × 1,000 mm. This provides additional space for positioning the pallet and accommodating overhanging loads.

If a pallet truck is also to be transported, additional space should be allowed. For a through-loading configuration, extra manoeuvring space is required so that the pallet and pallet truck can be removed from the opposite side.

The following dimensions are intended as guidelines. The actual platform size required is determined according to the specific project.

Larger platform dimensions are also possible depending on the project and can be tailored to the specific transport requirements.

How Much Additional Space Is Required Around the Platform?

The additional space required depends on the design and installation conditions of the goods lift. The following dimensions can be used as guidelines for initial space planning:

For a two-column lift, approximately 800 mm in addition to the platform width should be allowed for the two lifting columns.

With a scissor lift table, the lifting mechanism is located beneath the platform, so no additional floor space next to the platform is generally required for the lifting mechanism. Depending on the design, however, a longer platform may be appropriate.

If the goods lift is equipped with an enclosure supplied by us, approximately 100 mm per enclosed side should also be taken into account.

Example: For a goods lift designed as a two-column lift with a platform measuring 1,500 × 1,000 mm and enclosed on all four sides using our shaft system, the required footprint is approximately 1,700 × 1,800 mm.

The final overall dimensions depend on the technical design of the individual project.

How Deep Does the Pit Need to Be?

The required pit depth depends primarily on the lift design and lifting height and is determined individually for each project.

Depending on the configuration, the pit depths of goods lifts we have implemented to date have ranged from 0 to 2,000 mm.

For a goods lift based on a column lift, a pit-free installation is even possible under certain conditions. In this case, the height difference at the lowest stop can be overcome using an access ramp, for example.

Is a Separate Machine Room Required?

Our goods lifts do not require a separate machine room. We recommend installing the hydraulic power unit and control system outside the shaft. Unused areas are often suitable for this purpose, for example beneath a staircase or directly next to or behind the shaft.

The most suitable location is determined during project planning based on the conditions on site.

Our goods lifts are designed exclusively for the transport of goods without passengers. They therefore do not fall within the category of lifts for which the German Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health (Betriebssicherheitsverordnung) requires recurring inspections by an approved inspection body (ZÜS), such as TÜV or DEKRA.

However, this does not mean that a goods lift without passenger transport does not need to be inspected. If the lift is used as work equipment in a commercial environment, the operator is responsible for ensuring its safe operation. The required inspections and inspection intervals must be determined in accordance with the regulations applicable to the lift and the specific operating conditions.

Provided the relevant requirements are met, inspections may be carried out by a suitably qualified person authorised to perform inspections. The operator’s own appropriately qualified personnel may also be eligible to carry out these inspections.

If required, the necessary inspection and maintenance work can also be carried out as part of our service.

For more information on this topic, see our article “Does Every Lift Have to Be Inspected by TÜV?”.

Depending on the design and installation conditions, our goods lifts are equipped with various safety features to protect people and ensure safe operation.

Enclosure and Secured Access Points

An important safety measure is to keep people away from the hazardous area of the goods lift during normal operation. How this area is secured depends on the specific design and installation conditions. An enclosure, either provided on site or supplied by us, is often used for this purpose.

For enclosed lifts, access points at the stops are secured by doors. Electromechanical safety interlocks ensure that the doors remain locked during operation and can normally only be opened when the platform is at the corresponding stop. This prevents people from entering the shaft or, for example, falling from an upper-level access point.

Depending on the structural conditions, enclosures can be designed in various ways. For more information, see our article “The Ideal Enclosure for Goods Lifts: Materials and Designs”.

Overload Protection

An overload protection system prevents the platform from being raised if the permissible load is exceeded. For this purpose, our goods lifts are equipped with a pressure switch and a pressure relief valve.

The pressure switch monitors the system pressure, allowing the control system to detect an overload. The pressure relief valve additionally limits the maximum pressure in the hydraulic system.

Controlled Lifting and Lowering Speed

The speed of the goods lift is limited during both lifting and lowering. When lifting, the speed is determined by the flow rate of the hydraulic power unit. When lowering, appropriate valves ensure controlled movement of the platform.

Protection Against Unintentional Lowering

Pilot-operated check valves installed directly on the hydraulic cylinders prevent the platform from lowering unintentionally. For controlled lowering, these valves are deliberately released.

Additional lowering brake valves limit the lowering speed even in the event of a hose rupture during the lowering process.

Maintenance Supports

For maintenance and repair work beneath the raised platform, our goods lifts are equipped with maintenance supports. These mechanically secure the platform before anyone enters the area underneath it.

Optional: Platform Locks at the Stops

For specific loading situations, platform locks or hydraulic locking pins can be used. They lock the platform in position at the stop and absorb additional loads during loading and unloading.

This can be useful, for example, when a heavy industrial truck drives onto the platform for loading or unloading but is not transported on the platform while the lift is in motion.

Foldable elevator doors

How to combine a large access opening for a goods lift with a small anteroom? One possible solution: foldable elevator doors. The additional hinges allow the door panels to be folded together in a space-saving manner, while maintaining the large opening for loading and unloading.