What is a Vertical Mezzanine Lift?
You might hear vertical mezzanine lifts called various names, including vertical reciprocating conveyor, vertical material lift, freight lift, cargo lift, dumbwaiter, and freight material elevator. Mezzanine lifts function like elevators, transporting materials and equipment on an enclosed platform up and down between levels.
However, remember that vertical reciprocating conveyors are not classified as elevators because they do not transport people. Since they do not have to meet the same safety standards as elevators, material lifts are less expensive to install and maintain. Visit our online store to see our vertical mezzanine lifts.
Often utilized in industrial facilities, vertical mezzanine lifts are an excellent investment for dealerships that need a safe way to transport bulky parts between levels in the automotive parts room. (Check out more of our automotive storage solutions here.)
Standard features of vertical mezzanine lifts include:
- Illuminated operated controls at each level
- Double-swing gates at each level
- Standard speed of 19-21 feet per minute
- All-mechanical chain-lifting system
- Quiet and efficient operation
- Full-height carriage enclosures
- Top-mounted drive
- Pit or surface mounts
What to Look for in an Automotive Vertical Mezzanine Lift
When considering what type of vertical reciprocating conveyor is right for your automotive parts room, there are several factors to consider. Several different models of material lifts are available to meet the requirements of your facility, and they can also be custom-engineered to meet your specific needs. You can learn more about the different types of vertical material lifts here.
Dimensions
When choosing a vertical mezzanine lift, consider how large the lift needs to be, considering what size loads you plan to transport. Standard dimensions for a mezzanine lift are up to 8 feet wide and 8 feet deep. However, our largest material lift option extends 30 feet wide and 30 feet deep, large enough to transport cars.
Lifting Capacity
Different mezzanine lift models offer varying lifting capacities. The standard vertical mezzanine lift has a lift capacity of up to 5,000 pounds. The largest heavy-duty material lift options can achieve a lifting capacity of up to 30,000 pounds.
Loading Configuration
When selecting a mezzanine lift for your facility, consider how you plan to load and unload materials from the lift. Not all vertical conveyors facilitate every loading configuration, so make sure you choose a material lift that will suit your preferred loading and unloading configuration.
The four most common loading configurations include:
- C: Load and unload from the same side of the lift.
- Z: Load from the front and unload from the back or opposite side.
- Pass-Through: Load and unload from either side on all levels.
- 90 Degree: Load from the front and unload from the side.
Other Considerations
In general, you should consider your facility’s features when selecting a vertical mezzanine lift. For example, if you have a multi-level mezzanine, you can opt for a mezzanine lift that can travel up multiple levels (standard mezzanine lifts can make 4-6 stops and have a travel height of up to 40 feet). Also, ensure that your mezzanine lift complies with state and local safety codes.
Most vertical mezzanine lifts offer several optional features to customize your lift further. Optional features for vertical reciprocating conveyors include:
- Increased operating speed
- Soft Start/Soft Stop operation
- Ground-level loading ramp
- Security enclosures
- Anti-slip platform surface
- Outside applications
- Different colors
- Additional gate configurations
Benefits of Automotive Vertical Mezzanine Lifts
Improve Worker Safety
Safety is one of the most significant benefits of vertical mezzanine lifts. Carrying large and bulky car parts up and down stairs puts workers at risk for trip and fall accidents, injury, and even death. Transporting materials by forklift is equally dangerous, as forklift accidents can also cause employee injuries or fatalities.
Vertical mezzanine lifts are a much safer way of transporting heavy automotive parts between floor and mezzanine levels. Employees no longer have to carry the bulky parts manually, significantly reducing the risk of injuries and protecting your dealership from workers’ compensation claims.
Prevent Material Damage
Vertical mezzanine lifts protect not only employees but also valuable parts. Transporting bulky materials like fenders, bumpers, and windshields manually or by forklift puts these parts at a higher risk of being damaged. For example, an employee might stumble, drop the part, or bump it against a stair or railing.
Mezzanine lifts transport these valuable materials smoothly and safely, keeping them in a fully enclosed carriage with little risk of jolting. A material lift protects your automotive parts from damage as you transport them between levels.
Increase Productivity
Vertical mezzanine lifts are an efficient system of transporting heavy items between floors. The material lifts can carry multiple bulky parts in a single load, allowing you to move materials much more efficiently than carrying a load of bulky fenders or heavy tires up the stairs one at a time. Mezzanine lifts save employees time and energy transporting heavy loads to and from the upper mezzanine storage level, improving the productivity and efficiency of your automotive parts room.
Cost-Effective
Vertical mezzanine lifts are a cost-effective solution that provides a high ROI. Vertical reciprocating conveyors cost less than elevators since they don’t have to meet the same safety standards, as they are only made to transport materials and not people. Mezzanine lifts are quick and easy to install; they are highly durable and require little maintenance. Comparing the material lift’s economical price tag with the benefits of increased productivity and safety it affords, it’s clear that this cost-effective solution is an excellent investment.
Customizable Design
As stated above, vertical mezzanine lifts are highly customizable. You can choose from a range of dimensions, lifting capacities, loading configurations, operating speeds, colors, gates, and more to design a material lift that meets the requirements of your facility. With this extensive design flexibility, you can reap the maximum benefits from this safe and efficient automotive solution.
Automotive Products Prices
Automotive Products PricesSee specifications and pricing for automotive racks, cabinets & shelving, uniform lockers, mobile cabinets, modular workbenches.
Automotive Racks
Bulk Racks
Industrial Shelving
Uniform Lockers
Mobile Cabinets
Tables & Workbenches
Shelving With Drawers
Sliding Bin Shelving
Storage Cabinets
Contact Us for Automotive Vertical Mezzanine Lifts
Southwest Solutions Group® provides design and installation services for vertical mezzanine lifts for automotive parts rooms. We will also provide a free consultation to determine your exact needs and specifications before the design begins. To learn more or to speak with a specialist, call us at 1-800-803-1083 or send us a message today.
Resources
Vertical Reciprocating Conveyors
-
Vertical reciprocating material lift auto parts-153495 -
Automotive mezzanine lift reciprocating conveyor-153504 -
Parts room vertical reciprocating conveyor automotive-153493 -
Freight material elevator automotive parts-153487 -
Vertical materials lift auto parts room-153494 -
Mezzanine lift parts room automotive-153491 -
Large parts mezzanine lift automotive-153488
Automotive Testimonials
“I just want to take a minute to let you know how good of a job your install crew did yesterday. They were quick, fast, courteous, and very consensus during the installation. They were awesome, to say the least. Being in the service business ourselves, we know that you can never hear the words “Good Job” often enough. Please pass this along to your crew.”
“Thanks for getting our Compact Pallet Rack system completed on time with little disruptions to our operation. Jim did a great job of listening to understand our needs and was able to design a system that works well for us. Kerry and the installation group were great. They were well organized and left the area very clean every day and at the end of the project.”
“We are coming up on a year since we installed the file system here at Bill Heard Chevrolet, and we continue to be more than happy with the outcome. The barcode tracking software system tracks the documents for us and is easy to maintain and use. There is something to be said about keeping things simple. We really like the way it interfaces with our software and populates fields for us automatically on a daily basis. Your guidance in the project was the best deal of all though. Your help in the setup and advice on what would work and what might not work saved us a lot of time and money. Again, thanks so much for your help and count on us as another satisfied customer.”
See more Automotive testimonials
