Types of Elevators
Vertical Lift Elevators (Core function: vertical movement of the car)
1. Passenger Elevators: The most common type of elevator, primarily for transporting passengers, widely used in residential buildings, office buildings, and shopping malls. The cars are simply and attractively decorated, operate smoothly with low noise, and have a load capacity of 630kg-1600kg, suitable for passenger flow needs on different floors.
2. Sightseeing Elevators: Combining passenger and scenic functions, the cars have one or more transparent glass sides, and some are directly installed on the exterior of the building. Commonly found in shopping malls, hotels, and scenic spots, allowing passengers to enjoy the external scenery while in operation. The drive method is mostly traction type.
3. Medical Elevators: Hospital-specific elevators designed for transporting patients, stretchers, and medical equipment. The spacious car and wide doors easily accommodate stretchers and beds. They offer smooth, bump-free operation, and some are equipped with sterilization devices and mirrored interiors for easy monitoring of patients.
4. Freight Elevators: Primarily used for transporting goods, with the option to assist a small number of loading and unloading personnel. The sturdy car structure is spacious, with wide door openings for easy forklift access. They operate at slower speeds and typically have a load capacity exceeding 1000 kg, making them suitable for factories, warehouses, and logistics centers.
Automated conveyor systems (for continuous passenger transport)
1. Escalators: Inclined, circulating transport systems commonly found in high-traffic areas such as shopping malls, subway stations, and high-speed rail stations. Driven by a chain drive, they can quickly transport large numbers of passengers. They come in three types: upward, downward, and reversible bidirectional operation.
2. Moving Walkways: Horizontal or slightly inclined (inclination angle ≤ 12°) circulating transport systems suitable for airports, large supermarkets, exhibition halls, and similar locations. The flat design of the steps allows for pushing shopping carts and suitcases, making walking easier and suitable for transporting passengers over long distances.
The three key factors in elevator cost are: brand, equipment, and installation.
Brand Premium and Technology Costs
1. Foreign Brands (Otis, Kone, etc.): More technology patents, stricter quality control; prices are 30%-50% higher than domestic brands for the same configuration. Suitable for high-end office buildings and super high-rise projects.
2. Domestic Brands (Volkspace, etc.): Localized R&D + supply chain; high cost-performance ratio; prices are 20%-30% lower. Suitable for ordinary residential buildings and industrial parks.
Equipment Cost Factors
1. Core Parameters: Higher load capacity, faster speed, and more upscale car interior decoration all increase cost. An 800kg elevator is 10%-15% more expensive than a 630kg elevator; a 2.5m/s medium-speed elevator is 20%-30% more expensive than a 1.0m/s low-speed elevator.
2. Elevator Type: Machine-room-less elevators have lower overall costs; sightseeing elevators, due to their glass curtain walls and custom designs, are 30% more expensive than ordinary passenger elevators.
Installation Cost Factors:
1. Building Conditions: Installation costs for 300-meter super high-rise buildings are more than 50% higher than for multi-story buildings; the absence of a shaft necessitates the addition of a steel structure, increasing costs by 20%-50%.
2. Geology and Renovation: Reinforcing soft soil foundations increases installation costs by 30%; renovation of old buildings is 15%-20% more expensive than new construction projects.
