Lift and elevator always make people confused when we have to use one of them in different countries or situation. Thus, let us clear about the lift and elevator, and to understand the principles, history ,their similarities and differences of lift and elevator.
The Principle of elevator and lift
Whatever the elevator or the lift is a vertical machine powered by an electric motor,Elevators and lifts used for carrying people or goods in buildings. It can stop at any designated floors. A Elevator equipment has a box space that runs with at least two vertical rigid rails. Also, the elevator’ size and structure is all for the entry and exit of passengers or the goods. According to the speed, the elevator is divided into low-speed elevator, high-speed elevator and super high-speed elevator. As you known, the Toshiba elevator operating at Taipei 101 Building in China is the fastest elevator listed in the Guinness World Records.
The history of elevator and lift
The earliest “elevator” or “lift” in the world was the Otis elevator. It is names as its inventor name : Mr. OTIS. The elevator is published in 1854, and 170 years ago. Of course, at that time, it is more like a elevator model. In 1887, the real elevator or lift was invented. The elevator was driven by a DC motor. By the way, before DC motor, the lifting equipment usually was control by hydraulic motors, and used in low-rises buildings. The earliest elevator in the world was installed in the De Marys Building in New York in 1889. In 1900, AC-motor elevators appeared. In 1901, the OTIS company built the first elevator in Shanghai, China. In 1902, Schindler successfully developed the world’s first button-control automatic elevator. In 1906, a beautiful triangle elevator was put in Waldorf Astoria Shanghai the bund hotel, and the elevator still work until now.
Similarities of elevator and Lift
To be honest, the elevator and the lift are similar in principles, uses, even in structures. But we cannot say they are exactly same. You can say they all need space to lift up or down. Also,they use tension in physics. Moreover, their purpose is take people or goods up or down.However, they are different in many cases. The truth is you can use both words in any places in this world. Nobody will misunderstand elevator or lift. What are their differences? Please follow me to the next paragraph. I can show you the differences between the elevator and the lift.
Differences of elevator and Lift
There are two differences between the elevator and the lift, the different calls within habits and the different meanings within purposes. So elevator and lift do have differences.
How to use elevator?
“Elevator” is commonly used in North America. For example, in US, the people will call the equipment to help people to upstairs or downstairs as elevators. However, they will call the equipment to take goods up or down as lift. For them, you can clear about the different habits to use these two words:the elevator and the lift. Of course, as what I said before, you can use both of them, because they will understand without any obstacles. They might feel the elevator for goods is not accurate, but they can take it.
Also, if you went to some countries that they are in or close to the North America, or if they are educated with America-type courses. They will say elevators, such as Canadian, and Mexican.
How to use lift?
“Lift” is mostly used in European countries, especially in UK. In their mind, the lifting equipment is all called “lift”. It is easy to say and understand. So if you want to take elevator to upstairs, don’t hesitate to say “lift”, because nobody will consider that you are the goods.
Therefore, the people in Europe, or are educated with UK-type courses, will say lifts. For example, you can see “lift” reminder notes in Louvre in Paris. When you go to HK or Singapore, they will call it as “lift”, no doubt. On the opposite, they rarely use “elevator”, because they know the word comes from US.
Elevators provide more significant solutions than lifts
Although we may not so fussy in using lift and elevator, we can learn more about them. The elevator is often more safer than the lift. Elevators always exist with metal or glass shaped boxes. These boxes are almost sealed up, and make people inside feel safe. Elevators offer more significant solutions compared to lifts. They are designed with advanced technology and safety features, making them more reliable and efficient for transporting large groups of people. Elevators are essential in high-rise buildings, hospitals, and airports, where their enhanced capabilities ensure smooth and safe movement. Additionally, their sophisticated design often adds to the aesthetic and functional value of the building.
The lift means more structures of transportation
Lifts are sometimes with metal or glass shaped boxes, and sometimes with no boxes. There is only a platform with several lift belts. Sometimes, we can see the construction labors with safe belts up and down by these simple lifts. Or the cable cars up or down to the mountain sometimes are called as lifts. So, you can feel the lift means more devices.
The expense of the lift and elevator
The different structures make lift and elevator have different cost. The simple lift might be low cost, since the pulling power engine can work for it. The elevator runs not just by motor, but by control panels. Nowadays, computer systems is related to the elevators. You can monitor the inside or outside situation of elevators, and you can enforce to stop the elevators by computer when the elevator is our of order. The more function, the higher cost. Obviously, the elevator is more expensive than the lift.
The other description for lifting device
In brief, the lift is used more widely. It covers all structures about lifting models. But, the elevator is more used for people’s lifting. By the way, in the shopping malls, there are some lifting tools with steps. People can stand on the lifting tools to the next floor. We call it as the escalator. The word “escalator” does not have confusing situation. In British English or American English, the escalator is both suitable. No other word can be instead of it. Therefore, please don’t call it the elevator.
The word transformation
The above explanation is all about elevator and lift as lifting equipment. You can see an American people will call lift in UK, and an England people try to use elevator in USA. How to pick up the right word to express depends on the occasions or countries.
Beside that, we should focus on these two words transformations. Lift is not just as an lifting equipment. Lift can also be verb. For instance, if you want to move the goods up, you can say lift them up. You can call that cranes as lifts or lifters, because their function is carrying the goods up. Or your boss improved your position in your company, you can call your boss as your “lifter”.In airplane, we call the aircraft is lifting. If somebody help you to finish your task, you can say he/she gave you a lift. Lift can be used with up. I lifted up the books to the second floor.
As you can see, lift can be used in a lot of modes. In another hand, the elevator is just an elevator. If you want to use the words as verb ,you have to change it to elevate. Even though, there are less uses for elevators. It make the elevator more professional.
Conclusion
Lifts, elevators and escalators are all the vertical transportation devices. In these days, they are not only devices, but also a part of various decoration in high buildings. Anyway, whatever it is, elevators or lifts, the safety is the most important. A trustworthy brand of elevators can bring people the realistic convenience. FUJIRISE Elevator is well-equipped to meet these demands. It serves as a dependable transportation solution for your needs. For further information on our products and services, please get in touch with us NOW.
