Hydraulic elevator in Finland: enhanced safety and connected remote maintenance
At the Hämeentie 26 site in Finland, a “Classic Lift” (Lift B) hydraulic elevator—maintained by Cibes Amslift—underwent an upgrade to its control and signaling systems. This type of project addresses a common challenge with existing elevator stock: bringing an aging unit up to modern safety standards without replacing the entire mechanical system. The elevator serves seven floors and must comply with the requirements of the European Lifts Directive 2014/33/EU.
Installation specifications
This hydraulic elevator features a machine room located in the basement; it serves 7 floors with a travel distance of 20 meters and a rated load of 450 kg (capacity for 5 people). It operates at a nominal speed of 0.62 m/s and uses a 400 V / 50 Hz three-phase power supply. The control system operates on a “collective-down” basis, and the landing doors remain manually operated. In Scandinavia, this configuration is common in residential buildings where space is limited. The mechanical components are generally robust and reliable, which is why the modernization focused on the control cabinet, safety systems, and signaling, rather than a complete mechanical overhaul.
Customized engineering services
For projects like this one, the OCTÉ Lift electrical engineering department conducts a specific electrical study tailored to the needs of each installation. This service includes the provision of electrical schematics—including insulation testing procedures for the safety circuit—and a list of safety components (in compliance with European Directive 2014/33/EU), complete with full traceability of associated certificates and serial numbers. In addition, the TFT screen background features customized bilingual Finnish/English signage that meets the client’s expectations.
Solutions implemented for the hydraulic elevator
A control cabinet tailored to hydraulic power units
The VERSO Oléo 3 40 A cabinet is designed for hydraulic power units and sized according to the site’s specific load and speed requirements. It utilizes a safety-rated electronic board (SIL2) with an intuitive touchscreen interface, ensuring high operational reliability and ease of use.
Enhanced safety with COPTER 3
The COPTER 3 system monitors car speed and position using optronic safety technology (SIL2). It is ideally suited for managing—simply and without additional mechanical systems—the restricted pit and headroom spaces required by the EN 81-2 standard, thereby ensuring the safety of personnel during maintenance operations.
Customized signaling for the car and landings
The TOPAZ car signaling system, compliant with EN 81-70, features a 4.3-inch TFT display and gold-finish ACHILLE buttons mounted on a 2 mm brass plate engraved with the AMSLift logo. At the landings, the plates and buttons feature the same finishes used in the car.
The elevator is equipped with visual and audible signaling that meets essential accessibility requirements.
A connected elevator
VERSO Connect is an IoT solution that enables remote access to the elevator, allowing for the detection of issues and the scheduling of assistance and maintenance.
Project benefits
- Regulatory compliance ensured through adherence to EN 81-20 and EN 81-21 standards
- Enhanced safety for technicians thanks to certified components
- Improved performance through the use of advanced electronic technologies (SIL2, IoT)
- Tools and documentation that simplify future operations
- Comfort and aesthetics achieved through meticulous customization of the car and landings
Conclusion
This Finnish project illustrates the many advantages of modernizing the control and signaling systems of a hydraulic elevator. The customized engineering services and solutions presented—VERSO control cabinet, COPTER 3 detection, TOPAZ signaling, and VERSO Connect remote maintenance—offer extensive possibilities for hydraulic elevator modernization.
