Hydraulic Lift vs Traction Lift – What’s the Difference?

Deciding Between Lift Systems – Is Traction or Hydraulic Right for You

If you’re planning a lift installation for your building, deciding between a traction or hydraulic system is will help to shape both your building’s functionality and financial outlay. And it’s not just about technical details – it’s about matching your chosen lift to your property’s specific needs for years to come. So hydraulic lift vs. traction lift – what’s the difference? Simply put, hydraulic lifts are ‘pushed’ up by a ram, often ideal for lower buildings. Traction lifts are ‘pulled’ by cables, generally suited for higher travel.

For many years, the team at Tower Lifts has designed and installed bespoke lift solutions, using both hydraulic and traction technologies. This dual expertise means we fully understand what each system offers for your specific installation. In this blog, we’ll explore the key differences, with the aim of helping you to select the ideal lift for your building and its unique requirements.

Traction Lift Systems – Smooth Performance and Modern Efficiency

If you have a tall, busy building and you’re looking for a lift that epitomises smooth journeys and modern efficiency, the traction lift may be the solution you need. Their design – featuring steel ropes, a motor-driven sheave, and an essential counterweight – allows for impressive speeds and a consistently comfortable ride.

Modern traction lifts, especially ‘gearless’ types use advanced motor technology, which means superior energy efficiency, sometimes even regenerating power. This focus on performance and reduced energy use makes them a sustainable and future-friendly choice for your property.

Traction Lift Systems - Smooth Performance and Modern Efficiency

Hydraulic Lifts – Power and Practicality for Low-Rise Buildings

Hydraulic Lifts - Power and Practicality for Low-Rise Buildings

Low-rise buildings – five to seven storeys – can be very well served by a hydraulic lift system. Hydraulic lift operation is both elegant and straightforward – an electric pump pushes hydraulic fluid into a cylinder, which drives a piston (or ram) upwards, smoothly lifting the car.

This simple and direct application of force makes them excellent for carrying heavy loads. While they may not match the speed or height capabilities of traction lifts, their mechanical design often translates to lower initial installation costs and durable performance where heavy daily use of a lift system isn’t a key requirement in your building.

Hydraulic Lift vs Traction Lift – Matching the Benefits to Your Building’s Needs

When choosing between traction or hydraulic lift systems, it helps to understand the distinct advantages of each lift type. It’s not just about the technology, but also about how that technology’s application serves your specific building.

Traction Lift Benefits – Excels for Height and High Traffic

  • Greater Speed & Efficiency for Taller Buildings – Traction lifts are faster and more energy-efficient over longer distances. This makes them the preferable choice for mid-rise and high-rise buildings where quick, frequent vertical transport is essential.
    • Examples – Office towers, large hotels, major hospitals, and taller residential apartment buildings.
  • Smoother Ride Quality – The counterweight system and advanced control systems in modern traction lifts provide a smooth, more comfortable ride, which would be considered a distinct advantage for luxury apartments or premium office spaces.
    • Examples – High-end residential buildings, corporate headquarters, prestigious university buildings.
  • No Practical Height Limitation – Traction lifts can serve buildings of virtually any height, making them the only viable option for skyscrapers and very tall structures.
    • Examples – Iconic skyscrapers, large-scale mixed-use developments with significant vertical spread.

Hydraulic Lift Benefits – Ideal for Low-Rise and Heavy Loads

  • Lower Initial Installation Costs – When installing a lift in buildings with fewer floors – 5-7 storeys – hydraulic lifts are considered the cost-effective option when compared to traction systems.
    • Example – Small office buildings, retail units, schools with 2-3 floors, budget hotel buildings.
  • Robust Heavy Lifting Capability – The direct power of the hydraulic ram makes these lifts really good at handling heavy loads, which is a significant advantage for specific applications.
    • Examples – Goods lifts in warehouses or manufacturing facilities, car lifts in residential buildings, service lifts in restaurants or small hotels.
  • Flexible Machine Room Location – The machine room for a hydraulic lift doesn’t always need to be directly adjacent to or above the lift shaft, offering more flexibility in the design of lifts for smaller buildings where space is at a premium.
    • Examples – Smaller, architecturally constrained buildings, historic building refurbishments, small apartment blocks.

Trust Tower Lifts Experience and Expertise for Your Ideal Lift System

Making the final decision on a traction or hydraulic lift system requires expertise, and that’s exactly what the Tower Lifts team delivers. We have a long-standing reputation for thoroughly assessing each building’s unique profile – from its day-to-day uses and essential capacity requirements to its architectural style and functional demands. We ensure your lift is not just compliant, but also the very best choice for your design.

Our approach is supported by our credentials: we bring with us our key accreditations including ISO9001:2015 for quality management, ISO 45001 for occupational health and safety, Constructionline, and UKAS LiftCert. As proud members of LEIA, the Lift and Escalator Industry Association, you can be assured that our work consistently adheres to the foremost industry standards.

Find your building’s ideal lift solution with proven experts – Contact Tower Lifts today on 1525 601099

Look what else Tower Lifts can offer:

Bespoke Platform Lifts • Food Lifts • Passenger Lifts • Dumbwaiter Lifts • Step Lifts • Goods Lifts • Scenic Lifts  • Car Lifts  •  Low Pit Lifts  •  Service Lifts