What Are the Top 10 Types of Traction Lifts?

The figures are typical planning ranges rather than universal limits. Final specifications depend on applicable codes, building height, traffic analysis, duty cycle, shaft dimensions, and local engineering requirements.
No.	Traction Lift Type	Primary Classification Criterion	Drive and Rope Arrangement	Typical Rated Load	Typical Speed	Typical Application	Machine-Room Requirement	Main Advantages and Limitations
1	Geared Traction Passenger Lift	Classified by the use of a speed-reducing gearbox between the motor and traction sheave.	An electric motor drives a worm or helical gearbox, which turns the traction sheave and moves the ropes, car, and counterweight.	450–1,600 kg	0.63–2.50 m/s	Low- to medium-rise residential, commercial, and institutional buildings.	Usually required.	Generally cost-effective and suitable for moderate traffic. The gearbox introduces mechanical losses, noise, and additional maintenance compared with gearless systems.
2	Gearless Traction Passenger Lift	Classified by direct connection of the motor to the traction sheave without a reduction gearbox.	A large, low-speed motor directly rotates the traction sheave. Counterweighted ropes provide balanced lifting.	630–2,500 kg	2.50–10.00 m/s	Medium- and high-rise buildings with demanding traffic and long travel distances.	Usually required, although some modern designs are machine-room-less.	High efficiency, smooth ride quality, and suitability for high speeds. The equipment and installation normally require greater capital cost and engineering precision.
3	Machine-Room-Less Geared Traction Lift	Classified by locating the compact geared machine inside the hoistway rather than in a separate machine room.	A compact geared traction machine is mounted in the shaft, commonly near the top, with a conventional car-and-counterweight arrangement.	450–1,600 kg	0.63–1.75 m/s	Low- to medium-rise offices, apartments, hotels, and retail buildings.	Not normally required; a controller space or dedicated access area is still needed.	Reduces building space and structural work. Access for maintenance can be more constrained, and speed and heat dissipation may limit application.
4	Machine-Room-Less Gearless Traction Lift	Classified by combining a compact gearless machine with an in-shaft installation.	A permanent-magnet or other compact gearless motor drives the traction sheave within the hoistway; the car is balanced by a counterweight.	630–2,000 kg	1.00–4.00 m/s	Residential and commercial buildings where usable floor area is limited.	Not normally required.	Efficient, quiet, and space-saving. Higher-speed or heavy-duty designs may require more complex heat management and maintenance access provisions.
5	Single-Wrap Traction Lift	Classified by the number of times the ropes pass around the traction sheave.	Each hoisting rope passes around the traction sheave once. The arrangement is relatively simple and is commonly used with standard passenger lifts.	450–2,000 kg	0.50–2.50 m/s	General passenger, residential, and commercial service.	Depends on the machine layout; both machine-room and machine-room-less versions exist.	Simple rope path and easier inspection. It may require a larger traction sheave or greater motor torque than comparable double-wrap arrangements.
6	Double-Wrap Traction Lift	Classified by a rope path that makes approximately two contacts or wraps around the traction sheave.	The increased contact angle improves rope-to-sheave traction, often allowing higher traction performance without relying solely on greater rope tension.	1,000–5,000 kg	0.50–2.50 m/s	Heavy passenger, service, industrial, and freight applications.	Commonly required, particularly for heavy-duty equipment.	Useful for high loads and difficult traction conditions. The additional rope path increases complexity, space requirements, and inspection considerations.
7	High-Speed Traction Lift	Classified primarily by rated speed, acceleration, ride comfort, and long travel capability.	Normally uses a gearless machine, counterweight, advanced motor control, aerodynamic car design, and carefully tuned guide systems.	1,000–2,500 kg	2.50–10.00 m/s	High-rise offices, towers, hotels, and other buildings with substantial vertical travel.	Usually required, although specialized machine-room-less designs are possible.	Shortens travel time and supports high traffic volumes. It demands accurate installation, advanced controls, stronger guide systems, and careful management of vibration and air pressure.
8	Service Traction Lift	Classified by operational duty, robust finishes, and the need to transport goods, equipment, and personnel.	Usually a geared or gearless traction system with reinforced doors, durable car finishes, and impact-resistant interior protection.	1,000–3,000 kg	0.50–1.75 m/s	Hotels, hospitals, offices, retail buildings, warehouses, and public facilities.	Either machine-room or machine-room-less designs are available.	Durable and suitable for frequent loading. It typically has lower speed and greater structural requirements than a standard passenger lift.
9	Freight Traction Lift	Classified by load handling, vehicle or pallet access, and heavy-duty duty-cycle requirements.	Often uses geared or double-wrap traction with reinforced ropes, doors, guide rails, car floors, and landing equipment.	2,000–5,000 kg	0.20–1.00 m/s	Factories, logistics facilities, warehouses, distribution centers, and industrial buildings.	Usually required for larger capacities and intensive service.	Handles heavy and concentrated loads effectively. It needs a larger shaft, stronger structure, protective finishes, and more deliberate loading procedures.
10	Hospital or Stretcher Traction Lift	Classified by car dimensions, smooth leveling, accessibility, and compatibility with beds and stretchers.	Typically uses a geared or gearless traction machine with a large car, wide doors, accurate leveling, and smooth acceleration and deceleration.	1,600–2,500 kg	1.00–2.00 m/s	Hospitals, clinics, medical centers, and buildings requiring stretcher or bed transport.	Either machine-room or machine-room-less designs are available.	Provides reliable patient and equipment movement with controlled ride quality. The larger car and higher duty cycle require more shaft space and robust maintenance planning.