1. Start with the load, not the tonnage
Record the heaviest single load, the largest physical size, and how it arrives at the lift — hand trolley, hydraulic pallet truck, drum dolly or forklift. A 1 Ton lift loaded by pallet truck must carry the truck and operator handling weight too, and the platform must be long enough for the truck to be withdrawn safely.
Also note whether loads are centred or concentrated at one edge. Point loading from stone slabs or machine parts changes the platform design even when the total weight is modest.
2. Fix the platform or cabin size before the capacity
In most warehouses the platform size is set by pallet footprint plus clearance, not by weight. Standard Indian pallets, roll cages and drum sets all imply different minimum platform dimensions, and the shaft must then be sized around the platform.
Decide early whether you need through-loading (doors on two sides) — it saves considerable handling time but requires a wider structural opening.
3. Count landings and measure travel honestly
Measure floor-to-floor heights, total travel, available headroom above the top landing and possible pit depth below the bottom landing. These four figures determine whether a hydraulic or electric drive is feasible.
If a pit cannot be excavated, a ramped or shallow-pit design can often be used, but the loading method must then be reviewed.
4. Match the drive to the duty
For two to three landings, moderate travel and occasional cycles, a hydraulic goods lift is usually the most economical and the easiest to fit into a low-headroom building. For taller buildings, more landings or frequent cycling through the shift, an electric drive is generally better suited.
Our comparison of the two options is set out in the hydraulic versus electric guide.
5. Plan safety and civil work together
Interlocked landing doors, overload protection, limit switches, emergency stops and anti-fall devices should be specified at the enquiry stage, not added later. So should the shaft enclosure, floor opening edge protection and power supply point.
Final configuration in every case is subject to site conditions and engineering assessment. Share your building drawings with us and we will mark up what is practical.
Read more about our commercial & warehouse goods lift service, or view coverage in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha.