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We do not publish a fixed price, because the shaft, the drive and the finish change it too much for a phone estimate to mean anything.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.
Where hydraulic wins
Low rise, up to about four or five stops. Heavy loads for the size of building. Sites with restricted headroom above the top landing, because a hydraulic lift needs much less overhead than traction. Retrofits where the structure cannot easily take a traction machine at the shaft head, since most of the hydraulic load goes into the pit instead.
Where it loses
Running cost. Every upward trip is work done by the pump motor and there is no counterweight helping. On a building with constant traffic the electricity difference against gearless traction adds up over ten years. Speed is limited too, so journey times on a tall rise become noticeable.
Oil temperature in the Kerala climate
With frequent use and a poorly ventilated machine space, hydraulic oil heats up. Hot oil thins, performance drifts, and the controller can trip on thermal protection. Ventilate the power pack space properly. On higher duty installations, specify an oil cooler. This is the most common complaint on hydraulic lifts installed without thought for the room they sit in.
Hydraulic configuration
| Stops | Best suited to 2 to 5 |
|---|---|
| Capacity | Wide range, suits heavy loads at low rise |
| Speed | Typically up to 0.6 m/s |
| Headroom | Lower requirement than traction |
| Pit | Required, depth depends on ram arrangement |
| Machine space | Power pack location is flexible, ventilation is not optional |
Frequently asked questions
- Is hydraulic cheaper than traction?
- Often cheaper to buy at two or three stops and more expensive to run. Compare over ten years including electricity.
- How many floors can a hydraulic lift serve?
- Practically up to about four or five stops. Above that, speed and running cost make traction the better choice.
- Does it need a machine room?
- It needs a ventilated space for the power pack. The location is more flexible than a traction machine room.
- Does the oil need changing?
- Oil condition and level are checked at each maintenance visit, along with the seals and ram. This is routine on a maintained lift and a failure point on an unmaintained one.
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.