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We do not publish a fixed price, because the shaft, the drive and the finish change it too much for a phone estimate to mean anything.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.
How it gets loaded
Hand loaded boxes, a pallet truck, a forklift driving fully into the car, and a trolley wheeled across the threshold are four different lifts. Forklift loading needs a reinforced car floor, a heavy duty sill and tighter levelling, because one wheel crossing the gap is a far harder point load than the weight of the goods spread across the floor.
Protect the car
Chequered plate floors, steel kick plates to about a metre, and timber or rubber bumper rails cost less than refinishing a damaged car, and much less than replacing a door panel hit by a pallet.
Doors
Vertical bi-parting doors suit wide openings and heavy traffic. Horizontal sliding doors suit cleaner environments. A manual collapsible gate costs least and will be the first thing to fail under heavy use. Match the door to the duty cycle.
Goods lift configuration
| Capacity | 250 kg up to 5000 kg and above |
|---|---|
| Loading | Hand, pallet truck, trolley, or full forklift entry |
| Car floor | Chequered plate, or reinforced for wheel loads |
| Doors | Vertical bi-parting, horizontal sliding, or collapsible gate |
| Drive | Traction or hydraulic depending on rise and duty |
| Protection | Kick plates, bumper rails, heavy duty sills |
Frequently asked questions
- What capacity do we need?
- Take the heaviest single load including its pallet and any handling equipment that enters the car, then add margin for how loading actually happens.
- Can a forklift drive into the car?
- Only if the lift is specified for it, with a reinforced floor, heavy duty sill and the forklift weight counted in the capacity. Say so before ordering, because it cannot be added later.
- Traction or hydraulic?
- Hydraulic suits low rises and very heavy loads. Traction suits taller rises and heavier usage where running cost matters.
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.