Industrial freight elevators – Our models at a glance

Our Freight elevators for industry and commerce They enable the safe and efficient transport of goods, materials, and merchandise between multiple levels. As a specialized Manufacturers of freight elevators We develop customized solutions that are precisely tailored to your requirements.

Thanks to their modular design, our Configure freight elevators individually and integrate flexibly into existing buildings. From planning and production to assembly and commissioning, we support your project and ensure reliable and durable material transport in your company.

Whether a compact single-column lift for smaller loads or a powerful heavy-duty freight elevator for industrial applications – we offer the right solution for warehousing, production and logistics.

Produced in accordance with European Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC and DIN EN 81/31 for walk-on freight lifts.

FAQ - Freight elevator for industry, warehouses and production

Here you will find answers to frequently asked questions about Freight elevators for industry, warehouses and production.

We explain the functionality, load capacities, standards, installation and technical differences between various freight elevator systems.

Our modular freight elevators enable the safe transport of goods, pallets and materials between multiple floors – without a traditional elevator shaft.

General questions about freight elevators

  • A goods lift A freight elevator is a technical lifting system for the vertical transport of goods, materials, or machinery between multiple levels of a building. Freight elevators are primarily used in... warehouses, production facilities, logistics centers and workshops employed.

    They enable the safe transport of pallets, trolleys or heavy components and simultaneously improve the Efficiency of internal logistics.

  • The terms freight elevator, goods lift, floor lift, and goods lift are often used synonymously. They generally describe systems for transporting goods between floors. Modern industrial freight elevators usually conform to the standard. DIN EN 81-31 for walk-on freight lifts.

     

  • The maximum payload depends on the specific system. Industrial freight elevators can transport loads from a few hundred kilograms to several tons. Our freight elevators are suitable for various applications, depending on their design. Load capacities from 500 kg to 3.000 kg They are designed and can be individually adapted to your requirements.

  • The maximum delivery height of a freight elevator It depends on the building height and the technical design. Our freight elevators can be used as standard. Lifting heights up to 12 meters any height.

    This allows for multiple floors in Production halls, warehouses or industrial buildings efficiently connect them.

  • A freight elevator can serve multiple stops. Typical systems have... two to six stops, depending on the building height and use.

  • No. Freight elevators are designed exclusively for transporting goods and materials. Passenger transport is prohibited. DIN EN 81-31 and Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC not permitted.

  • Yes. Our freight elevators can be designed for outdoor use. With the appropriate protection rating and weatherproof components, they are suitable for outdoor applications.

  • Our freight elevators are particularly suitable for warehouses, production facilities, workshops, industrial halls, logistics centers, and mechanical and plant engineering. Whenever goods, materials, or heavy components need to be regularly transported between levels, a modular freight elevator can simplify processes and make internal routes safer and more efficient.

  • WEP-Weisshaupt freight elevators are designed for the vertical transport of goods, materials, pallets, trolleys, machine components, and custom-designed load carriers. The ESL Pro's standard platform is suitable for transporting pallets and trolleys. The ZSL/ZSLq and VSL models can additionally accommodate heavy or bulky special loads. Each platform is individually configurable in size.

  • Yes. The cage size is always individually configurable.

    The basket sizes can be adjusted in 100 mm increments using our modular system, allowing the system to be adapted very precisely to material flow, pallet dimensions or special transport goods.

  • The use of a freight elevator can... Significantly improve workplace safety and simultaneously reduce physical strain on employees. Heavy goods, pallets, or materials no longer need to be transported manually up or down stairs or ramps, thus reducing the risk of Workplace accidents and physical strain significantly decreases.

    Many injuries occur in warehouses, production facilities, and logistics areas due to the Manual lifting, carrying or moving heavy loadsA freight elevator handles this vertical transport safely and reliably, relieving employees of physical strain and allowing them to work more ergonomically. In the long term, this can contribute to... to reduce illness-related absences due to physical exertion.

    Another advantage over industrial trucks such as forklifts or pallet trucks The fact is that operating a freight elevator usually requires... no special driver's license or extensive training is requiredThe systems are controlled via simple operating elements and can be used quickly and safely by trained personnel.

     

    In this way, freight elevators make an important contribution to:

    • Increased workplace safety

    •more ergonomic material transport

    •reduced physical strain for employees

    •Reduction of accident and illness risks

    • More efficient workflows without forklift traffic between floors.

Planning, installation and structural requirements

  • Yes. WEP freight elevators are designed to be integrated into existing buildings with comparatively little intervention in the existing building structure.

  • No. Our freight elevators do not require a traditional elevator shaft. Instead, the travel area is equipped with Machine safety fence or enclosure secured, which makes the system particularly easy to integrate into existing buildings.

  • No, not in every case. Depending on the model, WEP-Weisshaupt offers solutions with very low drive-on heights. The ESL Pro, in its flat-floor version, has a drive-on height of only 15 mm, so neither a traditional pit nor a ramp is required. For other models, a shallow pit depth of 120 mm is often sufficient, or optionally, a drive-on ramp that is fixed to the floor.

  • The following are typically required for the installation of a freight elevator:

    •a load-bearing soil for securing the lifting columns (concrete grade C25/30)

    • a possibility to lateral attachment to wall, support or shelf

    • sufficient space for a Safety enclosure or machine guard fence

    • no pit or underpass is required

  • Our modular system makes planning relatively simple. Another advantage is that we can create the production drawings for you in a very short time. This not only saves time but also enables the quick integration of the lift system into the customer's plans. This applies to both standard and custom solutions.

  • No. WEP-Weisshaupt freight elevators do not require a separate machine room. This is a clear advantage, especially in confined spaces within existing buildings, and facilitates integration into existing production and storage areas.

  • Depending on the system and structural situation, mounting can be done on, for example, walls, columns, steel platforms, or racking systems. Our various mounting kits allow even larger gaps to be securely bridged. This creates planning flexibility for complex hall and existing building structures.

  • Once the technical drawings have been approved, the production time usually takes several weeks.

    On-site assembly usually takes place within a few days, depending on the size of the system.

    We deliver and install not only in Belgium, but also in France, the Netherlands and throughout Europe.

Products and variants

  • The systems differ mainly in their load-bearing capacity and construction:

    ESL – Single-column lift: Compact freight elevator with one lifting column for payloads up to approx. 500 kg

    ZSL / ZSLq – two-column lift: Two lifting columns for larger platforms and payloads up to approximately 1.500 kg

    VSL – Four-column lift: Four columns for heavy industrial applications with payloads up to 3.000 kg

  • At the ZSL Both lifting columns are located on one side of the conveyor cage.

    At the ZSLq The columns are positioned opposite each other, so that the conveyor cage is guided between them.

  • Yes. The cage size is always individually configurable.

    The basket sizes can be adjusted in 100 mm increments using our modular system, allowing the system to be adapted very precisely to material flow, pallet dimensions or special transport goods.

  • Yes. In our equipment range, we offer various door solutions in addition to the classic hinged doors, including sliding doors, roller doors, and high-speed roller doors. This allows the freight elevator to be adapted to the specific operation not only technically, but also logistically and architecturally.

Technology, safety and standards

  • Industrial freight elevators are built according to the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC and Standard DIN EN 81-31 for goods lifts with walkable platform built. These standards define comprehensive safety requirements for design, control and operation.

  • Our freight elevators operate with a mechanical chain driveWhile many competitors use hydraulic drives, chain drives offer several decisive advantages over hydraulic systems in industrial applications.

    A significant advantage is the quiet and smooth running of the system. Thanks to the precise guidance of the load chains and the electric drive, only a low noise level is generated during operation.

    Furthermore, chain-driven freight elevators are generally less maintenance required than hydraulic systemsNo hydraulic oils or hydraulic units are required, thus eliminating typical maintenance work such as oil changes, seal checks or possible leaks.

    Another benefit is that high efficiency and reliability of the system. The mechanical drive is robustly constructed and designed for continuous industrial use. This makes our freight elevators particularly suitable for applications with frequent operation in warehouses, production facilities, or logistics.

    Additionally, a chain drive eliminates the risk of Hydraulic oil leaks, which is an important advantage for both environmental and safety reasons.

     

    In summary, chain-driven freight elevators offer:

    • smooth and even running

    •low maintenance

    •No hydraulic oils or leakage risks

    • High reliability in continuous industrial operation

    • Durable and robust technology.

  • Yes. All our column lifts are designed for continuous operation. This is particularly important for companies with regular or high transport volumes.

  • The flat-bottom design is particularly advantageous when loading and unloading at ground level is desired without major construction work. The high-bottom design, on the other hand, typically uses a small pit (120 mm) or ramp and is suitable when the installation situation allows it or when there are specific requirements for the skip.

  • The standard lifting and lowering speed is 4,2 m / min; optional 8,4 m / min up to 16,8 m/min Possible. The freight elevators feature a soft start and soft stop, which contributes to smoother operation and gentler movement on the materials.

  • The freight elevators require a CEE socket with 400V 16A. A direct connection by the customer in the control cabinet is also possible.

  • Our freight elevators have numerous safety components, e.g.:

    •Locking device

    • Overload protection

    •Engine brake

    •Emergency limit switch

    •Safety chains

    •Chain tension sensor

    •locked floor doors

  • The floor doors prevent people from entering the travel area when the elevator cage is not at the stop.

Maintenance, operation and service

  • Yes. Integrating the lift system into an external control system is possible. This is particularly relevant for automated production processes, material flow control, or interfaces to higher-level systems.

  • Our freight elevators operate with a high-quality chain drive specifically designed for industrial use. Compared to many other drive systems, the chain drive is characterized by smooth operation, a long service life, and low maintenance requirements.

    The robust construction and precise guidance of the load chains result in minimal running noise. At the same time, the solid mechanical design ensures minimal wear on the drive components. This keeps operating costs and maintenance intervals low.

    For companies, this means reliable operation in everyday life – even with frequent use in warehousing, production or logistics – without disruptive noise or costly maintenance work.

  • Yes. WEP offers a comprehensive After-sales service for freight elevators throughout EuropeOur service includes regular maintenance, legally required inspections, and repairs to ensure your system can be operated safely and reliably in the long term.

    Our services include, among other things... scheduled maintenance, during which all safety-relevant components are tested and wear parts are checked. In addition, we carry out the legally required inspection. annual UVV inspection (accident prevention regulations) through, so that your freight elevator meets current safety requirements.

    Should a malfunction, defect, or damage occur, our service team will provide prompt assistance. Repairs and spare parts. Thanks to our Europe-wide service, we can also reliably service systems outside of Germany.

    WEP's after-sales service ensures the long-term reliability of your freight elevator. safe, economical and with minimal downtime can be operated.

  • For our freight elevators, the following applies in the B2B sector: Warranty period of 12 months from commissioning of the plant. Within this period, defects attributable to material or manufacturing errors will be remedied under the statutory warranty.

    If additionally a A maintenance contract is concluded with WEP., the warranty is extended by a further 12 months out of a total of 24 monthsRegular maintenance ensures that the freight elevator can be operated reliably and safely in the long term.

    In addition to the extended warranty, a maintenance contract offers further advantages such as scheduled maintenance intervals, early detection of wear and tear, and long-term assurance of system availability.