Why customers choose Capricorn
Gearless drives on every model
The whole range runs gearless, rope or belt driven, so the ride is quieter and uses less power than older geared equipment.
ARD with UPS as standard
Every model includes an automatic rescue device with UPS. In a power cut the car goes to the nearest landing and the doors open.
Masonry or glass shaft
Models suit a masonry shaft, a metallic shaft or a self supporting glass shaft, so a lift can go into a finished house as well as a new one.
AMC for every brand
We maintain lifts we did not install. If your current supplier has gone quiet, you do not have to replace the lift to get it serviced.
Delivery in three months
Manufacturing starts once you approve the drawing. Delivery is within three months of the order and installation takes 10 to 20 days.
Service visits every two months
After handover our team visits every two months to keep the lift running, on top of the breakdown cover in your contract.
From enquiry to handover
- Enquiry. You tell us the building, the floors and what the lift is for.
- Site visit. Our engineers measure the shaft, pit and headroom and check what is possible.
- Drawing and approval. You get a detailed drawing of the site and the lift to approve before anything is made.
- Manufacturing. The lift is built to the approved drawing.
- Pre-installation visit. A second site visit confirms the shaft is ready before delivery.
- Delivery and installation. Delivery within three months of the order, installation in 10 to 20 days.
- Testing and handover. Full quality and safety check, then handover.
- Ongoing support. Technical visits every two months, with AMC options for the longer term.
What it costs
We do not publish a fixed price, because the shaft, the drive and the finish change it too much for a phone estimate to mean anything. What we do is visit, measure the shaft, pit and headroom, and give you a written quotation against a drawing you have approved. If you are comparing us with someone else, check whether their figure includes the shaft work, the electrical supply to the controller, the rescue device and GST, because that is usually where two very different numbers come from.
Set the hatch to worktop height
The most common regret is a serving hatch at the wrong height. Set the landing sill level with the worktop so trays slide across instead of being lifted. Fix this with the kitchen layout, before the joinery is installed.
Hygiene
For food service the car should be stainless throughout, with coved internal corners and no exposed fasteners to trap residue. It will be cleaned at the end of a shift by someone in a hurry, so it has to clean quickly in place.
Noise
A dumbwaiter next to a dining room needs quiet drive and door operation specified up front. A rattling service lift twenty feet from the guests is hard to fix afterwards.
Dumbwaiter configuration
| Capacity | 50 to 300 kg |
|---|---|
| Stops | Typically 2 to 5 |
| Sill height | Set to worktop level for tray transfer |
| Car finish | Stainless steel, coved corners for food service |
| Doors | Vertical bi-parting or horizontal sliding hatch |
| Controls | Call and send at each landing, with car present indication |
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between a dumbwaiter and a goods lift?
- A dumbwaiter is small and never carries people, typically up to 300 kg with a hatch at waist height. A goods lift is walk in or drive in, built for pallets and trolleys.
- What height should the hatch be?
- Level with the worktop it serves, so trays slide instead of being lifted.
- Can it go into an existing building?
- Usually. The shaft is small and often fits a service duct, a cupboard stack or a corner of the kitchen.
Where we work
We supply, install and maintain lifts across Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, Thrissur, Kollam, Kannur, Alappuzha, Palakkad, Kottayam, Malappuram and the rest of Kerala, from our office in Vyttila, Ernakulam.