Lift platforms

For some examples of our completed projects, please click here

There are numerous uses for lift platforms, a lot of them being in the engineering and construction industry.

The standard lift platform is most often seen in cherry pickers, providing people with the means to access places that are usually out of reach. When these devices were first invented, their primary purpose was in orchards where pickers used them to pick cherries, apples, and all other kinds of fruit. Nowadays, these lift platforms are highly prized within the telecoms sector since they allow workers to service overhead cables whilst avoiding the risk of electrocution. Firemen also use these lifts to fight fires in high rise apartments as these platforms allow them to spray water from a considerable height. These lifts used to be powered by hydraulic pistons attached to an engine but now they are controlled electronically making them far more sensitive to changes in movement.

One of the simplest types of lifts is a scissor lift designed for moving up and down, facilitated by linked supports arranged in a criss-cross pattern. In order to raise the platform, pressure is applied to the lower supports and forces them inwards, which in turn forces the rest of the supports inwards. These scissor lifts are operated mechanically or hydraulically. In the latter case, this makes it easier to cause the lift to descend by simply releasing built up pressure and allowing gravity to lower the platform. For this reason, more scissor lifts are built to operate using hydraulic or pneumatic power.

Unlike the above cases, Sesame Access’ lift platforms are installed in public locations as stationary lifts, usually backing up part of a staircase. However, our cladding methods allow the lift steps to match the surroundings perfectly, rendering the lift almost invisible to the naked eye. These steps can retract within seconds, revealing a lift platform that can accommodate wheelchair users and people with walking difficulties. An optional control unit for raising the lift can be installed alongside the lift and is also revealed when the steps are retracted.

Galleries, town halls and other important buildings such as Tate, Eton College and The Institution of Civil Engineers have already installed our made-to-measure lift platforms in their locations since they can allow more disabled people to visit their sites whilst maintaining the integrity of their surroundings.

Each lift is unique to its location since we acknowledge that every customer has their own list of specifications and requirements, making the job of installing each lift as straightforward as possible and minimising the amount of maintenance work required so that the lift can continue to function smoothly. Additional features such as rising barriers or automated doors can be fitted onto the lift allowing our customers a large degree of freedom to tailor their lift platforms accordingly.

In the case of the Institution of Civil Engineers, the lifts that we installed there played a key role in the London Paralympic Games. The building was the site of the unofficial London Media Centre and our disabled access lift made it straightforward for the wheelchair-bound athletes to enter the site.