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How to Select the Right Material Lift for Your Application

Every vertical reciprocating conveyor installation is unique, but all installations are designed to meet your material lifting requirements and your available space.

To help our team determine the most appropriate lift for your material handling application, consider the 8 questions below.

VRCs are for materials only; they are not designed for transporting people.

  1. HOW HIGH?
    What is the total vertical rise?
    (How many feet does the material need to be lifted?)
    What is the distance from floor to floor?
    What is the clearance above the upper level?
    How many times per hour will the VRC carry the load?
    Will it have automatic in-feed and discharge, or manual?
    How much is the maximum total load weight?
  4. HOW BIG?
    What are the dimensions of the largest and smallest loads to be lifted?
    Does the load overhang the pallet?
    Will there be multiple loads put on the carriage at one time?
  5. HOW NOW?
    How is the material currently being moved?
    Is a VRC currently in use?
    Is a forklift being used to lift materials?
    Is there a potential safety hazard?
  6. LOADING PATTERN? (See adjacent drawing)
    C – Inline
    Z  – Pass-through
    90º – Left/Right
    Will the lift be in a shaft-way?
    Will the lift penetrate a floor level?
    Will the lift service the shaft-way?
    Will the lift service the perimeter (edge) of a
    If the lift is going through a floor or existing man-shaft-way, what are the dimensions of the opening?
types of VRCs

You are encouraged to review a set of guidelines on how the vertical conveyor industry can achieve a safe application, and proper utilization of a material lift.

Included are vertical reciprocating conveyor terms and definitions, applications, types and configurations, considerations regarding specification, installation, operation and much more.

Download the Guide