If you’ve considered installing a mezzanine floor or already have one, you’ll be aware that they can significantly improve the usage of your space.
Whether you’ve added floorspace for offices, production areas, or storage, you will need to consider how to optimise access to this space. While some business owners opt for staircases, they are not without issues, and many prefer the benefits a mezzanine floor lift will provide. Here, we take a look at all you need to know about these useful lifts.
What Is A Mezzanine Floor Lift?
Sometimes referred to as warehouse lifts, good lifts or pallet lifts, mezzanine floor lifts are meant to transport people and goods between mezzanine floors and other floors of your building. They are typically found in retail stores, commercial spaces, factories and warehouses.
Why Do People Opt For A Mezzanine Lift?
Depending on the type of business you operate, it may be vital for you to be able to transport goods and people between floors during the course of the working day. There are various reasons why people opt for mezzanine lifts rather than staircases, including:
- Efficiency – with a mezzanine floor lift, you will be able to reduce the amount of time spent taking items up and down stairs.
- Safety- It is vital to reduce as much as possible the manual handling your staff undertake. A mezzanine floor lift will allow the mechanism to take the strain of carrying goods between floors, reducing the risk of manual handling accidents and protecting your employees.
- Space- Whilst staircases may be useful, a floor lift takes up a lower footprint and is easy to access. Depending on where you choose to have it placed, you can enhance the operational flow of your lower floors while still allowing access to the mezzanine.
- Versatility – With a range of options on offer in terms of capacity, size and configurations, you will be able to find a lift that suits the building you are operating in and your business needs.
What Type Of Mezzanine Lifts Are There?
There are a number of different mezzanine floor lifts to choose from including goods only lifts, which are specifically designed for transporting goods only. It is likely there will be an operator on the bottom floor and on the mezzanine and only the goods will travel in the lift. These are a good choice for factories and industrial settings where heavy loads need to be transferred between levels.
In addition to this you can opt for a goods/ attendant lift. This will allow an operator as well as goods to move between floors which can help improve operational efficiency.
Service lifts are another option. They can move light loads and are often used in offices or retail settings. Alternatively, you can opt for a passenger lift to transport customers or staff between levels of your operation. These are often seen in retail stores.
What To Consider When Choosing A Mezzanine Floor
There are various considerations you will need to make choosing a lift for your facility. You will need to assess how much weight you need to move, as well as how big you need the platform to be. Speed and lifting height, as well as safety features and the power supply, are also considerations.
How Much Does A Mezzanine Lift Cost?
How much you’ll pay for your mezzanine lift will vary depending on its capacity size and installation requirements. Typically, a mezzanine floor lift comes with its own structure, which means you won’t have to take on expensive building modifications. The money saved can be used to ensure the lift you choose has the additional features you need, such as energy efficiency, extra safety features and other technological advancements.
