The Different Types of Elevators Available on the Market Today

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Did you know that sales of elevators and escalators reached nearly $22 billion in 2017 in the United States alone? That’s because more and more property owners and business people need elevators for transporting people or cargo in their establishments.

But at the end of the day, how much do you know about elevators? Do you know the various types of elevators? Since they are so crucial to modern buildings, maybe it’s a good idea to shed some light on them and learn more about the various types of lifts available today.

1. Hydraulic Elevators

This is one of the simplest types of elevators. A hydraulic escalator has a piston underneath that pushes it upwards when necessary. This piston is moved by an electric motor that pushes hydraulic fluid (such as oil) into the piston. When the elevator needs to go down, the piston releases some of the oil through a valve.

Hydraulic elevators are used regularly, especially for buildings that are not very high. They have a low upfront cost, and the maintenance expenses are not that high, in comparison with other types of elevators.

2. Traction Elevators

This type of elevator is more popular with mid and high-rise buildings. They have a faster speed in comparison with hydraulic lifts, meaning that they can take you from point A to point B fin a shorter amount of time.

Traction elevators are set into motion by an electric motor that moves cables or ropes which pull the escalator upwards. A machine room sits on top of the elevator and actions the electric motor. The concept of a traction elevator is similar to a pulley system that moves cables across a geared wheel.

The cables and the gear system need to be checked regularly for wear and tear. If these components deteriorate, the elevator might not be that efficient, and it can even become dangerous at some point.

3. Machine Room Less Elevators

Also known as MRL elevators. These lifts don’t have a dedicated machine room on top of the escalator. Instead, they have a control room that sits adjacent to the elevator. These lifts have similar maintenance costs as traction elevators, but they can achieve very fast traveling speeds.

That’s why MRL elevators are increasingly popular today. They can help people travel from one floor to the other quicker and safer. They also have low energy requirements, so it’s more efficient for the building owner to use them. MRL elevators are ideal for mid-rise buildings with a height of up to 250 feet.

Now You Know More About The Various Types Of Elevators

These are the three main types of elevators and as you can see, each one of them has its own pros and cons. It’s important to pick the right elevator for your building so that your clients or employee can get to each floor quickly and safely as well as maintaining running costs to a minimum.

If you don’t know how to select the right elevator, contact us today! We specialize in MRL elevators and we are fully aware of code compliance when installing them so that your escalator is as efficient as possible.