Look at condition rather than a birthday.
Two lifts of the same age can have very different histories. Usage, environment, maintenance and previous upgrades affect their condition and reliability.
A useful assessment considers the whole installation: doors, controls, machine or hydraulic equipment, suspension where fitted, and the associated protective functions. Avoid deciding solely from the age of the controller or the appearance of the car.
Obsolete does not always mean unrepairable.
“Obsolete” can mean that the original manufacturer no longer supplies a particular item. It does not by itself establish that the whole lift must be replaced.
Options may include an appropriate supported replacement, a repair of the original component or a planned upgrade. Availability, compatibility and the ability to verify correct operation determine whether an option is suitable.
Consider electronic repairs case by case.
Forge can assess control boards and drives for in-house electronic repair. Suitability depends on the fault, damage, component availability and whether the repaired unit can be appropriately tested.
Not every board or drive can be repaired, and a component repair may not resolve an external cause such as wiring, supply or mechanical problems. The installation needs to be considered alongside the unit.
Good records make support easier.
- Lift make, identification and location.
- Controller and drive details, where already documented.
- Available drawings, manuals and previous modification records.
- Recent maintenance, breakdown and examination reports.
Send existing records or photographs taken from ordinary accessible areas. Do not open control panels to obtain information. Missing documents can affect the investigation and scope of work.
Know when to plan an upgrade.
If parts are increasingly difficult to source, faults recur or the equipment no longer meets the building’s needs, a planned upgrade may be more practical than repeated reactive work.
Forge supports nearly all lift brands, including modern and legacy equipment, with individual jobs assessed for suitability. Read about repairs, modernisation and comparing the options.