LIFT MODERNISATION LONDON — EVERY LIFT TYPE, MECHANICAL & ELECTRICAL
TRACTION · HYDRAULIC · MRL · GOODS · PLATFORM · PASSENGER-GOODS LIFTS
A lift rarely needs a full replacement. Most passenger, goods and hydraulic lifts installed across London and Essex over the last thirty years have years of reliable service left in them, provided the right mechanical and electrical components are modernised at the right time.
That's what proper lift modernisation delivers: the reliability, ride quality and code compliance of a new lift, at a fraction of the replacement cost, with the original shaft and structure kept intact. We modernise every UK lift type and their derivatives - traction, hydraulic, machine-room-less, goods, dumbwaiters, platform lifts and service lifts - across Greater London.
A FAMILY-RUN LIFT SPECIALIST — SINCE DAY ONE
East London Elevators is a family-owned, family-run business. We've been servicing, repairing and modernising lifts in East London for over a generation. When we quote for a modernisation, a director walks the site. Our engineers are named people who answer their own phones. We don't route you through a national call centre and we don't disappear after commissioning.
That old-fashioned approach is the whole point. It's also why we source controllers, hydraulic components and drive systems from established UK suppliers wherever possible because reliability, parts availability, and honest after-sales support genuinely matter when something goes wrong at 2am.
READY TO EXTEND YOUR LIFT'S LIFE?
Free engineering survey on any lift type. Phased or full modernisation. Fixed-price proposals.
EVERY UK LIFT TYPE — MODERNISED PROPERLY
British buildings use a wider variety of lift types than most people realise. A 6-storey mansion block in Kensington often runs a traction lift with an overhead machine room, while the 2-storey retail unit next door is almost certainly hydraulic. Goods lifts in light industrial estates use different components again, and care-home evacuation lifts sit in a category of their own. We modernise all of them.
Traction Lifts - Geared
The workhorse of 1970s-2000s mid-rise residential and commercial buildings. Worn-gear machine, overhead motor-room, steel rope suspension. Prime candidates for modernisation - the mechanical structure is typically sound for another 30+ years while the controllers, drives and fixtures are usually well past their useful life.
Typical buildings: 4-12 storey residential blocks, mid-rise offices.
Traction Lifts - Gearless
High-rise traction lifts using direct-drive AC or permanent-magnet machines. Found in most London towers from the 1990s onwards. Modernisation focuses on controllers, drive electronics, door equipment and fixtures - the machine itself is often fine for life if properly maintained.
Typical buildings: 10+ storey residential, commercial towers.
Hydraulic Lifts - Direct Acting
Piston directly under the car, raising it from below. Common in 2-5 storey retail, commercial and accessible buildings. Modernisation usually covers hydraulic pump units, valve blocks, control systems and seals - often with a switch to variable-speed drive pumps for smoother ride and energy savings.
Typical buildings: Low-rise retail, shops, small commercial.
Hydraulic Lifts - Indirect
Ram lifts a pulley with a rope-suspended car, doubling travel distance. Widespread in 1980s-2000s mid-rise commercial buildings. Modernisation covers the hydraulic power pack, ram seals, ropes, control system and fixtures - usually with significant energy efficiency gains.
Typical buildings: 4-7 storey offices, mixed-use, healthcare.
Machine-Room-Less (MRL)
Compact traction lifts with the motor inside the shaft - standard in most UK installations since the late 1990s. Space-efficient and energy-efficient, but controllers and drives are harder to access. We modernise these with attention to safe access, component compatibility and maintaining the MRL advantage.
Typical buildings: Modern residential, new-build commercial.
Goods Lifts
Purpose-built for cargo - typically with larger car sizes, tougher flooring, and collapsible gates or vertical bi-parting doors. Found in warehouses, distribution centres, kitchens and stockrooms. Modernisation usually prioritises door systems, control logic, overload protection and heavy-duty fixtures.
Typical buildings: Warehouses, retail, hospitality, industrial.
Passenger-Goods Lifts
Dual-purpose lifts rated for both people and cargo under BS EN 81-20. Common in department stores, hospitals, hotels’ back-of-house and light industrial buildings. Modernisation must maintain compliance for both duties - higher safety standards than goods-only lifts, tougher fit-out than passenger lifts.
Typical buildings: Retail back-of-house, hotels, hospitals.
Platform Lifts
Shallow-travel accessibility lifts, including vertical platform lifts and through-floor lifts. Usually covered under BS 6440 or EN 81-41 rather than the main passenger lift standard. Modernisation follows a different compliance path and often focuses on controls, safety edges, gates, access and reliability.
Typical buildings: Care homes, schools, listed properties, accessible buildings.
Service Lifts & Dumbwaiters
Small goods-only lifts used for food, documents, stock and light service movement. Common in restaurants, schools, hotels, care homes and commercial kitchens. Modernisation usually focuses on controls, landing doors, interlocks, call stations and reliable day-to-day operation.
Typical buildings: Restaurants, schools, hotels, care homes, kitchens.
WHAT MODERNISATION COVERS — BY SYSTEM
Scope varies significantly between traction and hydraulic lifts. A modernisation is scoped against the current safety code (BS EN 81-20:2020 for passenger lifts, BS EN 81-41 for platforms, BS EN 81-31 for goods-only) and gaps identified under BS EN 81-80, the Safety Norms for Existing Lifts. Where a client's insurer, local authority or listed-building consent imposes additional requirements, we design the scope accordingly.
CONTROL & DRIVE SYSTEMS - ALL LIFT TYPES
Main Controller & Safety Circuits
Replacement of ageing relay or early PLC controllers with modern microprocessor control. Collective, selective-collective or destination dispatch as required. Safety chain upgraded to EN 81-20. Final limits, emergency stops, door locking and brake monitoring all brought up to current code.
Traction Drives - VVVF
Motor-generator sets and legacy AC drives replaced with modern VVVF variable voltage, variable frequency drives. Regenerative options for high-duty installations. Smoother ride, lower energy use and quieter operation.
Hydraulic Drives - Soft-Start & VSD
Direct-online and star-delta starters replaced with soft-starters or variable-speed drives. Smoother start/stop, reduced hydraulic shock, lower oil temperatures, longer pump and valve life.
HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS - HYDRAULIC LIFTS
Pump Unit, Valve Block & Motor
Complete hydraulic power unit replacement where needed - submerged pump designs for quieter operation, modern efficient motors, integrated tank heaters and coolers. Modern electronic valve blocks replace mechanical valves for smoother levelling, quieter operation and compatibility with VSD pumps.
Ram, Cylinder & Safety Gear
Ram seal renewals, cylinder inspection and re-lining, piston alignment checks, plunger renewal where pitted or scored. Rupture valves and pipe failure safety devices fitted where missing. Indirect hydraulic safety gear updated to EN 81-20.
Pipework, Oil & Tank Management
High-pressure pipework inspected and renewed where corrosion or fatigue is found. All dynamic and static seals replaced. Pressure testing on completion. Oil contamination filters, water separators and tank heaters retrofitted. Modern biodegradable hydraulic fluid where appropriate.
TRACTION MACHINE & SUSPENSION - TRACTION LIFTS
Traction Machine
Geared machines refurbished or converted to gearless PM motors where the machine room or shaft allows. Sheave renewal, bearing replacement and brake overhaul. Significant ride-quality and energy-efficiency gains.
Suspension & Counterweight
Steel wire ropes or coated steel belts renewed to EN 81-20 specification with certified terminations. Rope equaliser systems inspected and adjusted. Compensating ropes or chains renewed. Counterweight frames inspected, guide shoes/rollers renewed and guide rails re-aligned.
Governor, Safety Gear & Buffers
Overspeed governors tested and renewed where necessary. Safety gear operation verified and adjusted. Buffers inspected and oil renewed. Full safety chain commissioning to EN 81-20.
DOORS, FIXTURES, CAR INTERIOR & COMPLIANCE - ALL LIFT TYPES
Door Equipment
Mechanical door operators replaced with modern VVVF-driven units - smoother, quieter, far fewer nuisance callouts. Photocell safety edges replaced with light curtains or 3D detectors. Door interlocks monitored by modern door controller. Mechanical locks renewed.
Fixtures & Car Interior
New car operating panel with tactile buttons, Braille, audible signals, position indicator and alarm with two-way voice. Compliant with EN 81-70 accessibility where required. Landing pushes, indicators and hall lanterns renewed. Wall panels, ceilings, floor coverings, handrails, mirrors and LED lighting designed to suit the building.
Compliance & Energy Efficiency
Full BS EN 81-80 SNEL gap analysis with risk-prioritised closure plan. Auto-dialler upgrade to GSM or 4G ahead of the PSTN switch-off. Diversity control, EN 81-28 two-way voice, regenerative drives, LED lighting and standby modes - typical energy savings of 30-60%.
OUR MODERNISATION PROCESS
FREE ENGINEERING SURVEY
A senior engineer, or a director for larger schemes, visits the site. We assess the controller, drive, hydraulics or traction equipment, doors, suspension, safety gear, fixtures and compliance status. We leave with photos, measurements and a clear picture of scope.
PROPOSAL & PHASING OPTIONS
Within 7-10 working days you receive a written proposal. Where it makes sense, we'll present a phased plan - highest-priority safety and reliability items first, with cosmetic and efficiency upgrades timed for year 2 or 3. Every line is priced separately so you can decide scope, not just cost.
DESIGN & PROCUREMENT
Controller specification, hydraulic components, door equipment, fixtures and interior finishes finalised. UK suppliers prioritised. Long-lead items ordered early so site work isn't held up waiting for parts.
PHASED INSTALLATION
We work around your building, not the other way round. In single-lift blocks, intensive 2-4 week windows with clear resident communication. In multi-lift cores, one car always kept running. Hydraulic works often phased differently - oil changes and seal work can happen without full shutdown.
COMMISSIONING, TESTING & HANDOVER
Full EN 81-20 commissioning. Ride quality profiled and door times optimised. Hydraulic pressure testing, ram leak-down tests. Compliance documentation issued for your LOLER file. A director attends handover. Warranty begins from commissioning date.
| Aspect | Modernisation | Full Replacement |
|---|---|---|
| Typical cost | 30-60% of replacement | Full capital project |
| Downtime | 2-6 weeks, often phased | 12-20 weeks, single shutdown |
| Building impact | Low - shaft & structure retained | High - often structural works |
| Compliance outcome | EN 81-80 closure to EN 81-20 equivalent | Full EN 81-20 new-install |
| Right for | Most 1990s-2010s traction & hydraulic lifts | Shaft/cylinder failure, 40+ year installs |
WHO WE MODERNISE FOR
PRICING & TIMING
Every modernisation is quoted fixed-price after a free engineering survey - no estimates based on photos, no hidden variations added later. Phased packages can spread cost over 2–3 years, with the highest-impact reliability and safety items tackled first. Managing agents upgrading multiple lifts benefit from portfolio pricing and consolidated scheduling.
Most London buildings considering modernisation now are working with one of three deadlines in mind: insurer pressure on older installations, residents complaining about ride quality or reliability, or the PSTN switch-off in January 2027 forcing other lift compliance work. All three are good reasons to survey now - our lead time on surveys is typically 7–10 days; on installations, 6–12 weeks depending on scope and lift type.
BOOK A FREE ENGINEERING SURVEY
Traction, hydraulic, goods, platform - every UK lift type. A senior engineer or director on site. Written proposal within 7–10 working days. No obligation.