Lift Engineering and Construction Industry

Gen Wright asked:


The electric home stair lift is a vital equipment that is fast gaining acceptance not only as a device that assists in giving access to people between floors, but also in moving other stuff such as laundry, groceries and documents.

An electric home stair lift is an effective means of providing the elderly and physically handicapped easy and safe access between floors of their homes. For the uninitiated, these accessibility devices can be confusing because they come in many types and models and go by many names. They are variously called stair lifts, stair chair lifts, home stair lift, stair lift platform, elevator stair lift and a host of other names all referring to the same device that perform the same basic function?that of mainly providing access between floors.

And electric home stair lift is essentially a device that runs up and down a track that is fitted by bolts on the treads of stairs. The device may feature a swivel seat where the rider can sit on and safely buckle himself with a seatbelt. And, there are also models that are equipped with a platform instead of a swivel seat to accommodate a wheelchair-bound person. Still others are fitted with a much smaller platform so that a cane-using person who is unable to bend his legs or sit down can just stand on the platform and grab on to a sturdy support bar for balance while the lift is in motion.

Aside from carrying people up and down the stairs, an electric home stair lift can also be used for carrying other stuff such as groceries, laundry or luggage. If the homeowner has a home office, the electric home stair lift is handy for moving large boxes of documents between floors that would otherwise be difficult to move with a cart or a dolly.

As its name implies, an electric home stair lift is powered by electricity. The first type runs on an AC motor that can be plugged into the home mains or power outlet. The main disadvantage of this model is that it can be rendered immobile by a sudden power failure and trap its rider along the staircase. The other type of electric home stair lift runs on a battery-powered DC motor that is whisper-quiet, runs smoothly and can safely operate even during power outages. While the batteries of this type of electric home stair lift can be recharged at static charging stations located at both ends of the track, the batteries need to be replaced every year. If you are considering installing an electric home stair lift, your nearest dealer will be happy to send you one of its lift consultants who will assess your house and advice you on the best stair lift for your needs.



platform lifts

Robert asked:


Wheelchair lifts can be installed into homes and into automobiles. Having a wheelchair lift in your car or van can is an excellent way to add some mobility and independence when you travel. There are several different models and vendors of wheelchair lifts for automobiles. Before you decide to purchase and have one installed, however, there are just a few things that you should keep in mind.

Platform wheelchair lifts are a solid platform that folds for easy storage. You can find these in an automatic or semi-automatic model. The automatic lifts fold and unfold, and also raise and lower the wheelchair via a switch. The semi-automatic models require you to manually fold and unfold the platform for storing and using, but the lift itself raises and lowers by operating a switch.

The rotary wheelchair lifts are a bit more advanced. Using a rotary lift, you will roll the wheelchair onto the platform, and the platform will then swing the wheelchair outside the vehicle and lower it. When you need to re-enter the vehicle, you simply roll onto the platform, and it will raise the wheelchair to the doorway, and then swing it inside. Rotary wheelchair lifts are normally used in vans, and larger mini-vans.

Before you purchase a wheelchair lift, you need to determine which one is best suited for your needs. You should make sure that the vehicle that you are driving is compatible with the type of lift that you have in mind. For instance, if your car is very small, a wheelchair lift may not work properly, depending upon which one you are planning to purchase. Check the make, model, and the year of your vehicle to make sure that it will support a wheelchair lift installation. You should also check the various lift models to see which ones have a back up system in case the automatic system fails. An emergency manual system will ensure that you can still use the lift in cases where the electrical system of the lift may have problems. If you have a manual system in place, you will still be able to use the lift, until you can have it repaired. You will also have the security of knowing that you won’t get “trapped” on the lift if the mechanism stops working suddenly.

Wheelchair lifts for automobiles add mobility and independence to those in wheelchairs. Having one installed is a sometimes expensive task, but can be deemed well worth it when it means that you have the freedom to enter and exit a vehicle without the constant help of others.



platform lifts