Lift Systems
Special Lifts & Elevators
Every lift in this section is driven by Rigid Chain Technology — a chain whose links interlock under forward pressure to form a rigid, self-supporting column, then fold flat again and coil into a compact magazine on the return stroke. The load is pushed from below into the foundations. There is no traction machine at the shaft head, no hydraulic ram borehole, and no machine room to find space for.
The range at a glance
| Lift type | Standard capacity | Typical compliance route |
| Truck lifts | 10,000 – 60,000 kg | Lift Directive 2014/33/EU or Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC |
| Goods / freight lifts | 1,500 – 25,000 kg | Lift Directive 2014/33/EU, EN 81-20 or EN 81-31 |
| Car lifts | 2,500 – 5,000 kg | Lift Directive 2014/33/EU or Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC |
| Special capacity people’s lifts | 450 – 1,250 kg | EN 81-20 / EN 81-50; EN 81-41 for platform duty |
| Cycle lifts | Application-specific | Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC or EN 81-31 |
| Bespoke specials | No practical upper limit | Certification agreed with a Notified Body |
What Rigid Chain Technology changes for the building
Simple construction
No machine room and no borehole. The drive equipment sits in a shallow pit, so the space normally lost to lift plant stays lettable. Because the load resolves downwards into the foundations rather than hanging from the shaft head, and because there are no locking pawls imposing point loads at high level, the shaft walls can often be specified significantly lighter than a traction or hydraulic equivalent.
Precise operation
The chain column is continuously locked along its length, so an eccentric or changing load produces no differential movement. Positioning at each landing is repeatable first time, with no dwell for pressurisation, no pawl operation and no micro-levelling. There is no limit on starts per hour.
Robust
The drive is purely mechanical and modular, assembled from standard industrial components with large safety factors and designed-in redundancy. The same technology has been installed thousands of times since 1972 in environments where failure is not an option.
Measurably greener
No hydraulic fluid, therefore no contamination risk and no oil disposal stream. Minimal heat rejection means no shaft cooling plant even at high duty. Paired with regenerative drives, energy consumption falls; components are recyclable; and the reduction in structural material is itself an embodied-carbon saving.
Choosing your compliance route
Most projects in this section resolve to one of two routes, and the choice is usually driven by whether people ride the lift, how fast it needs to travel, and how much pit and headroom the building can give up.
| Lift Directive 2014/33/EU | Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC | |
| Typical use | Passengers, or goods with passengers | Goods only, goods attended, or platform duty |
| Speed | Unrestricted by the directive | Commonly limited to 0.15 m/s when attended |
| Pit and headroom | Deeper — EN 81-20 clearances apply | Shallower — often the deciding factor on tight sites |
| Enclosure | Fully enclosed car | Fully or semi-enclosed, or open platform |
Standards
SERAPID Lift Systems are built from high-end components and comply with :
EN 81-20
EN 81-21
EN 81-31
EN 81-41
EN 81-50
Frequently asked questions
No. All drive equipment is accommodated within a shallow pit, which removes the machine room from the brief entirely and returns that area to usable floor space.
Yes. The compact, purely mechanical drive is well suited to modernisation, and can be retrofitted into an existing shaft as a direct replacement with very little impact on the surrounding structure.
Learn more about Rigid Chain Technology
The interlocked chain column resists eccentric loading without differential movement, so the compensation and re-levelling systems that other technologies need in order to correct for it are not required.
Standard truck lifts reach 60,000 kg. Beyond that, the technology scales — bespoke systems are engineered to the application rather than to a catalogue limit.
Yes. There is no limit to starts and stops per hour, and no heat-removal plant is required even at sustained high duty.
Partner with SERAPID
Successful lift projects begin with clearly defined responsibilities and the right level of engineering support. Whether you need a standalone Drive Train, a complete Lift Package, or a fully installed Turnkey Lift, SERAPID provides the expertise, technology, and flexibility required to deliver exceptional results.
Our engineering specialists work closely with architects, consultants, contractors, OEMs, and building owners to determine the optimal scope of supply before design and construction begin. By defining the right project boundary early, you can reduce risk, improve coordination, and ensure a smoother path to successful project completion.
Whatever your application, SERAPID offers a lift solution that fits your project — and a scope of supply that fits your team.
Contact SERAPID to define your scope of supply
Discuss your lift project with our engineers and choose the right level of support, from Drive Train to fully commissioned Turnkey Lift.