The Manufacturing Process of an Elevator Car
Elevators are an integral component of many buildings’ accessibility and convenience. Although you may know how to maintain your property’s elevator to ensure visitors’ comfort and safety, you may not know precisely how elevators are constructed.
Understanding the basics of how an elevator car is manufactured can make you a more informed and better-equipped elevator owner, operator, and passenger. Keep reading to learn more about the elevator manufacturing process.
Elevator Car Construction
Although the shaft of an elevator is constructed at the installation site to fit a building’s specifications, elevator cars are built at elevator manufacturing plants. All elevator cars follow the same basic manufacturing process.
Elevator cars are most typically constructed with a steel framework. However, glass elevators are becoming more common. This outline of the manufacturing process of an elevator car will focus on the use of steel, as this remains the most common material used.
Elevator cars have a crosshead made of steel beams positioned at the top of the car. These steel beams span from one side of the shaft to the other, holding the elevator’s pulley system. Starting at the crosshead and extending down the side of the elevator car to the platform are additional steel structures known as the “sling.”
Elevator Cabin Construction
The elevator cabin itself is constructed from steel sheets lined with decorative paneling on the interior for enhanced aesthetics and comfort. The car’s platform is constructed from steel and lined with either carpet, tile, or other flooring material. This lining also contributes to the overall look and feel of the elevator’s interior.
The handrails and trim in the interior of the elevator cabin can also be constructed from steel. However, other materials may also be utilized depending on the elevator owner’s desired design, durability, and longevity of these details.
Construction of Additional Components
Below the actual top of the elevator car—typically constructed from steel—is a suspended ceiling. This ceiling can be made of other more aesthetically pleasing materials. Additionally, it houses lighting mechanisms used to light the interior of the elevator cabin.
The elevator controls, including the buttons used to select the elevator’s destination and the emergency call buttons, are located behind the panels in the front of the elevator car.
Finally, a wedge designed to assist in the elevator’s emergency brake system is also built onto elevator cars.
Explore Elevator Installation with Champion Elevator
Although elevator manufacturing may seem complicated at the outset, there are simple fundamentals that go into the construction of the elevator car. Having a basic understanding of the manufacturing process can help you understand your elevator’s functions more thoroughly and help you diagnose any potential issues in your elevator car. This understanding can make owning and operating an elevator in your business both simpler and safer.
To work with experienced elevator technicians who can help you further understand your elevator’s design, construction, and operation, and who can help with any elevator maintenance and modernization needs, contact Champion Elevator today!