Q: Insufficient shaft width is a common problem for elevator retrofits in old buildings. Are there targeted technical solutions in the traction system field?

A: The new side-mounted gearless traction system has been mass-produced and launched in 2026. The whole traction structure arranges the traction main machine horizontally along the shaft wall, with the traction wheel extending front and rear. The car and counterweight are arranged in staggered horizontal projections without widening the civil shaft.


This traction system adopts a permanent magnet synchronous gearless structure, eliminating traditional reduction gears, with operating noise lower than 52 decibels and a maximum energy regeneration efficiency of 72%, cutting standby energy consumption by 60%.


The layout of the whole traction steel wire ropes is mechanically optimized to evenly bear the load of each wire rope, reduce rope wear and extend the maintenance cycle to 18 months. For narrow shaft scenarios of overseas multi-story residential and low-rise commercial buildings, this traction system does not require reconstruction of the original wall structure. Modular components support rapid on-site assembly and comply with mainstream global elevator safety standards EN81 and ASME A17.


Compared with the traditional top-mounted traction scheme, the side-mounted traction system reduces the required net shaft width by 120-180mm, greatly cutting civil transformation costs for overseas retrofit projects. Overseas foreign trade orders have surged by 47% year-on-year in the past six months.


Observation of the foreign trade industry on this website (zh eng. com):

The narrow shaft side mounted traction system perfectly matches the global market demand for building renewal. Its three advantages of energy saving, civil engineering saving, and easy installation meet the cost reduction demands of overseas customers. It is a key core system component for elevator export foreign trade. It is recommended that foreign trade practitioners focus on promoting this traction solution to old house renovation and small commercial building buyers.