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RACK & PINION VS. GEARED TRACTION ELEVATORS

When determining the specifications for your industrial elevator, please consider the following benefits and advantages that a rack-and-pinion drive elevator has in comparison to a traction drive elevator.

What is the difference between geared traction and rack & pinion?

Geared traction elevators work by using gears to roll steel hoist ropes or cables over a drive shaft. This drive shaft is powered by a high-speed motor, usually mounted in a separate machine room, to hoist up the passenger car. Rack-and-pinion elevators operate differently, as there are no hoist ropes or cables. The drive motor is attached to the top of the car, and the drive gear, called a pinion, is attached to the motor. This allows for a permanently mounted gear track, creating a no-slip elevator system for use in harsh industrial environments, like mining, oil & gas, and power plants.

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RACK-AND-PINION DRIVE ELEVATOR

NO STRUCTURAL COSTS

  • No machine room required
  • No hoistway required
  • No overhead loads
  • Reduces size of steel supports

LOWER INSTALLATION COSTS

  • Equipment designed for faster installation (3-4 weeks)
  • Equipment can be erected by crane
  • Installation not performed in confined area

MANUFACTURED ONLY FOR INDUSTRIAL USE

  • Designed for outdoor use
  • Can be stored outdoors after delivery
  • Unit can be located on exterior of facility; allowing more production space

FEW MECHANICAL COSTS

  • Single speed AC with VFD control; smoother ride, accurate leveling
  • Doors designed for fork lift traffic
  • Roof elevation can be served
  • Light counter weighted doors – smooth manual operation

IMPROVED CORROSION PROTECTION

  • Hot-dipped galvanized components
  • SS options
  • Solid doors or perforated
  • Sealed bearings

LOWER SERVICE COSTS

  • Owner is provided detailed service instructions to implement in to their PM Program
  • Owner is provided with detailed service training

TRACTION DRIVE ELEVATOR

STRUCTURAL COSTS

  • Machine room required
  • Enclosed hoistway required
  • Considerable overhead loads
  • Increases size of steel supports

HIGHER INSTALLATION COSTS

  • Equipment design takes longer to install (8-10 weeks)
  • Equipment cannot be erected by a crane
  • Installation performed in a confined area

MANUFACTURED PRIMARILY FOR COMMERCIAL USE

  • Designed for indoor use
  • Must be stored indoors after delivery
  • Unit usually placed inside a facility which obstructs production space
  • Machine room needs to be acclimatized

HIGH MECHANICAL COSTS

  • Two speed AC with relay logic controls
  • Doors not designed for fork lift traffic
  • Roof elevation cannot be served
  • Automatic doors are sensitive and prone to failures
  • Heavy

LESS CORROSION PROTECTION

  • Painted components
  • Hollow metal doors
  • Grease zert type bearings, allowing contaminates to infiltrate bearings causing premature wear

HIGHER SERVICE COSTS

  • Owner is not provided service instructions; must use service company
  • Owner is not provided with service training

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