Column lifter with grid shaft: Freight lift for 2 levels
A hydraulic column lift with full-height enclosure – designed for safe material flow and efficient warehouse logistics (e.g. in food production).
Initial situation: A customer (a chocolate factory) needed additional storage space on the upper floor due to growth. To prevent employees from having to manually transport heavy goods up and down stairs, it quickly became clear that a technical solution was needed to overcome the height difference – without the need for a structural excavation.
problem
No pit/depression possible – yet safe transport between 2 levels.
Solution
Hydraulic column lift with grid shaft (enclosure) over the full lifting height.
Result
Significantly less manual effort, faster flow of goods, clean integration into inventory.
Solution and technical details
Following joint planning, a tailor-made solution was developed: a hydraulic column lift with a 500 kg lifting capacity, a platform measuring 1400 × 1000 mm and a lifting height of up to 3000 mm.
- Load capacity: 500 kg
- Platform: 1400 × 1000 mm
- Hub: up to 3000 mm
- Protection: Metal shaft made of mesh material extending over the entire height
Lower stop – without a pit, with a ramp
It was not possible to excavate a pit at the lower stop, as the hall had already been in existence for a long time. Therefore, the column lift was placed directly on the concrete floor and bolted down.
- Level: approximately 100 mm from ground level to platform level
- Solution: Loading and unloading ramp
- Security: Access to the upper level is only permitted when the gates are closed (forced contact/monitoring).
Upper stop – gate logic & platform doors
There is also a monitored gate at the top. It can only be opened when the platform is in the correct position. The procedure is as follows: open the outer gate, then the railing gate on the platform – then close the gates and send the lift back down.
- Release: Gate opening only with correct platform position
- Protection: Platform doors prevent slipping/wedging in the shaft.
Grating shaft (enclosure) over the entire lifting area
Systems without enclosures are possible – however, we recommend protection over the entire conveying height. This protects both goods and employees, and allows operation from both stops.
- Improved ease of use: Call/transmit control instead of pure dead man operation
- Additional protection: One side is fully covered with sheet metal (technical protection/shielding)
Project images
Design: Column lift as a freight elevator with enclosure and gate monitoring.
Brief overview: why the column lifter was ideal here
In existing buildings, a pit is often not feasible. In such cases, a column lift can be a robust, space-saving alternative – especially with an enclosure (grating shaft) and a sensible gate/safety system.
- Suitable for existing stock: Installation on the existing hall floor (no pit required)
- Security: Enclosure spanning the entire conveying height protects people and goods.
- Process logic: Driving is only permitted when gates are correctly closed/monitored.
- Ergonomics & Time: Less manual carrying, faster flow of goods between levels
- Instructions: With an enclosure, call/transmit control is possible (more convenient than deadman operation)