An essential part of many buildings’ convenience and accessibility are lifts. You might not be familiar with the specifics of elevator installation or construction, even though you may know how to maintain the lift on your property to guarantee the comfort and safety of guests.
In 2022, there were over 20 million elevators and escalators making the lives of individuals easier, and that number is set to continue growing.
Even though most of us never really give them much thought, installing and manufacturing them actually involves some really interesting steps.
Gaining an understanding of the fundamentals of elevator car manufacturing will help you as an owner, operator, or passenger be more knowledgeable and prepared. Let’s take a look at the process of building and installing an elevator system.
What are the different types of elevators?
A modern building’s lift is an essential feature that makes it possible for us to move between levels quickly and easily. But not every lift is made equally. The lift car is raised and lowered using a variety of lift mechanical systems, each having pros and cons of its own.
The main types of elevators include:
- Traction Elevators: These devices propel the vehicle up and down the lift shaft by means of an electric motor that drives a traction sheave. The majority of high-rise structures use them.
- Hydraulic Elevators: Elevators that employ a hydraulic system to raise and lower the vehicle are known as hydraulic elevators, and they are usually seen in low-rise buildings.
- MRL (Machine Room Less) Elevators: Electric Elevators classified as MRL (Machine Room Less) or gearless elevators employ a direct drive motor to do away with the necessity for a separate machine room.
- Vacuum Elevators: In vacuum lifts, the elevator cars are propelled by a vacuum created by air pressure. They are intended for usage in small buildings and at homes.
The choice of lift will rely on the particular needs of the building and the needs of its users. Each type of lift has a distinct set of benefits and drawbacks. Elevators come in a variety of forms, each intended for a particular use and setting. Among the most prevalent kinds are:
Passenger lifts
The most popular kind of lifts are passenger lifts, which are used to move passengers between levels of buildings. They can be utilised in commercial, industrial, and residential structures and are available in a range of sizes.
Goods lifts
Larger elevators called freight elevators are used to move materials and cargo between storeys in buildings. Usually, they are located in industrial buildings and warehouses and can be manually operated elevators.
Dumbwaiters
Small, specialised lifts known as dumbwaiter lifts are used in restaurants, hotels and other business facilities to move food and other objects between floors.
Residential lifts
Usually smaller than commercial lifts, these lifts are made for usage in residential buildings. They can be added to newly built homes or adapted into ones that already exist. Residential lifts are usually required in buildings with two or more floors.
Step by step guide to how elevators are built
Let’s take a look at typical modern elevators taking shape from start to finish.
Step 1: Car panels
To get started, someone must locate some metal sheeting. Typically, these are ordered in large quantities and kept in the factory’s warehouse until needed.
Once in hand, forklift trucks and other vehicles are used to move masses of sheet metal from the warehouse to the main manufacturing floor. The metal sheets are delivered, and after that, they are manually loaded onto a conveyor belt so that the process may begin.
After that, the metal sheets are sent into a plasma cutting machine, which burns a number of holes in them so that the lift car walls can be formed. In this method, different parts are made based on the shape and purpose of the particular wall panel.
The plasma cutting machine is also used to cut metal sheets to order for other necessary parts like brackets, plates, etc.
When finished, the panels are taken out of the machine and placed in storage in preparation for the following stage of production. The metal sheets are then bent into the necessary angles by inserting the cut panels into a specialised press machine.
Step 2: Assembling the lift car
Now that the lift car’s primary component panels are prepared, the assembly process may start. When necessary, panels are put together using a variety of welding techniques and fastened together with nuts and bolts.
In this instance, this is carried out by knowledgeable and experienced human labourers. Panels are measured and inspected frequently during the procedure to make sure they fulfil the high requirements for the construction as well as local building codes.
Any flaws are either rejected or fixed on the spot. Once the primary panels are put together, additional components such as cables, insulation, lighting, brackets, steel beams and so on are added as needed. Panels that are finished or partially finished are then manually moved to the main construction site, where the lift vehicles are put together.
A crew of many engineers is typically needed to carry, lift, and install the panels as needed. The heavier lift door is also positioned and, if necessary, attached or mounted to the main lift car once it is finished.
Step 3: Assembly continues
After that, lengths of tubular steel are measured and cut to size to form the lift car’s primary structural components. In order to be fitted on the lift cars, additional components for the main lift rails, etc., such as stronger duty brackets, are also cut and bent into the proper shape as needed.
Similar to before, components are assembled and welded together as needed in order to be installed on the main lift vehicles.
When necessary, finished pieces are hung from hooks and given a spray wash to clean the metal of any dirt or other impurities. After allowing them to dry, unique heavy-duty coatings are sprayed on them.
This coating helps keep the parts from rusting and deteriorating with time and use, extending their useful lives. The parts are prepared for installation on the main lift cars after the coating has dried.
Step 4: Installing the elevator
After every component is manufactured and ready for installation, it is shipped to the location. The elevator shaft is ready, the rails are put in place, and various components, including the lift motor equipment and cabling, are linked and fitted as required.
After that is finished, the main lift car may be linked and fitted, and the finishing touches can be applied. All internal lighting, control system, the emergency telephone and ornamental panelling have been tested and linked.
Once all that is complete, the lift is now ready to be used by the building occupants. It is then recommended that the lift undergo an elevator service or inspection every six months in line with LOLER regulations.
Looking for expert lift installation?
The building of a lift car involves some basic principles, notwithstanding the initial complexity of lift production.
Gaining a fundamental comprehension of the production process will aid in better comprehending the operations of your lift and assist in identifying any possible problems with your lift vehicle. With this knowledge, owning and running a lift in your company can be safer and easier.
Future Lift Services are experts in lift installation, maintenance, and modernisation for all types of commercial and residential facilities.
Get in touch with us today to find out more about our modern lift services or to request a free, no-obligation quote with us, based in London and Essex!
How are elevators built FAQs
How are lifts constructed?
Steel, which is renowned for its strength and durability, is the primary building material utilised for the majority of modern elevator models, though the exact construction material utilised will depend on the lift’s design. The lift framework, crosshead, and beams are made of steel, and a motorised pulley system will be built there as well.
What holds up an elevator?
A robust metal hoist cable is fastened to the top of the elevator cab that you are riding in. The cable passes over a sheave, which resembles a pulley wheel with grooves and holds the cable firmly, as it climbs the lift shaft.
What’s at the bottom of an elevator shaft?
The area at the bottom of the shaft, between the lowest landing door and the ground, is known as the lift pit. It is made up of four concrete or concrete block walls and a concrete base slab.