A goods lift is a great tool for a business that requires the transfer of heavy objects from one place to another. But to make it fully work for you, you will need to match it to your exact needs and specifications. Whether down to manual goods handling issues or to improve work efficiency we can help you identify the type of goods lift or service lift you require. Choosing the right goods lift can seem like a difficult task, for there is a wealth of options according to types, sizes and loads, so here at MORN we’ve put together a helpful top 9 of things to consider when choosing a platform lift.
Table of Contents
1. What kind of tasks do you need the lift for?
Your goods lift or cargo lift has to be able to meet your requirements in terms of the tasks that you need to use it for. This means that your line of work will determine the exact goods lift needed on your premises. You could take a large lift if you will be transporting large and heavy loads. Smaller goods lifts are however, considered ideal for a company that will not be transporting a lot of large loads. If you buy a small goods lift and you need to transport large loads, you may end up having to carry the loads or damaging the lift as you try to squeeze in the larger loads. You could also probably damage the loads in question. The size of the lift you choose must thus match the size of your intended loads.
2. What load capacity do you need?
The weight and volume of each load (the items you put in the lift) determines the lift capacity required. You may need to move large boxes of light objects or small boxes of heavy items. These two examples may not require the same lift platform size but may need the same weight capability. It is essential to get this right as overloaded goods lifts will not function efficiently. At MORN, the load capacity of goods lift can be customized from 500kg to 30t, based on different platform size and lifting height customization. You can always find the one that meet your loading need.
3. What distance do you need to move your goods over?
This will determine the structure, size and position of your lift within your
building. And if there are more than two stops required at levels/floors, you should consider whether the lift have to go through the mezzanines (if installed in indoor space). The lifting height of MORN goods lift platform can be up to 24m, which perfectly meets a wide range of lifting requirements for goods transportation.
4. Can your building accommodate the lift’s installation and operation requirements?
Buying a lift when you do not have the right building specifications to accommodate is always a bad move. Have your building checked out by the lift company first in order to ensure that you can actually have it installed and fully functional. It’s also a good idea to learn if your building can take on the weight of a lift since weaker foundations are always a major threat to safety.
5. Should the lift be open or enclosed?
An open type hydraulic goods lift does not have a shaft whereas an enclosed platform lift has a shaft for the entire length of travel. An open style platform can only be used up to a maximum travel of 3 meters.
6. What drive system is right for you?
The main drive systems used are guided chain, hydraulic and screw drive. It is important that you discuss the type of drive system with the manufacturers so that you can fully appreciate the differences in how the drive system will affect the ride, longevity of the components and other space requirements – for example, hydraulic units will require space for the fluid tank. As an experienced goods lift manufacturer, we have both hydraulic power driven goods lift and gear reducer powered goods lift platform with high and safe speed to match diverse loading work.
7. Should I choose a pit or ramp?
Goods lifts usually require a pit of 50-150mm. This should be prepared in advance as per the manufacturer’s size recommendation to fit your lift. However, many of the manufacturers also offer a ramp at the bottom door if a pit cannot be provided to offset the distance between platform and ground. Goods can be easily transferred into the platform by these 2 ways.
8. What about automatic doors?
Automatic doors are often chosen when the lift will be used by individuals that will find pushing or pulling a door to be difficult. There are different types of closer which will react differently when the door comes into contact with an object and these should be discussed with the lift provider to ensure it meets with your requirements. Of course, you should take convenience and safety into the full consideration.
9. Does the lift need to carry people too?
For security reasons, it’s not recommended to carry a person with goods lift. Also, most people would prefer a goods lift that it is specifically for goods. So if you are an exception, please make that clear when you order a lift from the manufacturer.
Here at MORN LIFT, we can help provide answers to all of the above questions. Just leave us a message and we’ll be happy to guide you through the process of choosing your own lift.
