Lift technology has moved on a long way in the last decade. Whether you manage a residential block, an office or a single home lift, these are the developments most likely to affect your next installation or upgrade.
1. Energy-efficient drives and standby modes
Modern variable-speed drives use far less energy than older systems, and regenerative drives can feed energy back into the building's supply when a lift brakes or travels with a light load. Combined with LED car lighting and automatic standby modes that switch off lighting and displays when the lift is idle, upgrades can noticeably reduce running costs. The international standard ISO 25745 now gives a common way to measure and compare lift energy performance.
2. Remote monitoring and predictive maintenance
Connected controllers can report faults, door problems and unusual behaviour in real time. Instead of waiting for a breakdown, engineers can spot warning signs early and plan repairs before the lift stops. For property managers, it also means better records of how the lift is performing.
3. Machine-room-less (MRL) lifts
Compact gearless machines can now sit inside the lift shaft, removing the need for a separate machine room. This frees up valuable space, simplifies construction and makes MRL lifts a popular choice for new residential and commercial buildings.
4. Smarter traffic management
In busier buildings, destination dispatch systems ask passengers to choose their floor before entering, then group people travelling to similar floors into the same car. This can shorten waiting and journey times without adding more lifts.
5. A stronger focus on building safety
Since the Building Safety Act 2022, there has been much closer attention on how safety-critical systems in higher-risk residential buildings are designed, maintained and documented. Lifts are part of that picture, especially firefighting and evacuation lifts, and owners are expected to keep clear, up-to-date records of maintenance and inspections.
What this means for you
You don't need to replace a working lift to benefit from these changes. Many can be added as part of a modernisation, such as a new controller and drive, LED lighting or remote monitoring. If you're planning works, we can survey your lift and recommend the upgrades that make sense for your building.