MRL vs MR Elevator: Which Configuration to Choose
A 12-point technical comparison of machine room and machine roomless elevators to help you specify the right configuration for your project.
The difference between MR and MRL elevators is where the drive machine sits. In a machine room (MR) elevator it is housed in a separate room above the shaft; in a machine roomless (MRL) elevator it is mounted inside the hoistway. That single decision affects shaft dimensions, building cost, energy consumption, achievable load and speed, and how the lift is maintained for the next twenty years.
MR vs MRL elevator: full comparison table
| Criterion | Machine Room (MR) | Machine Roomless (MRL) |
|---|---|---|
| Machine location | Separate room above or beside the shaft | Inside the hoistway, at the top of the shaft |
| Building space | Requires a dedicated room (approx. 5–12 m²) | No separate room — saves floor area |
| Drive type | Geared or gearless traction | Gearless permanent magnet traction |
| Rated load | 320–2500 kg and above | 320–1600 kg (typical) |
| Rated speed | 0.5–4.0 m/s and above | 0.5–2.5 m/s (typical) |
| Energy consumption | Higher with geared machines | Lower — gearless PM motors, regenerative drive option |
| Noise and vibration | Isolated from the shaft by the machine room | Requires careful isolation design in the shaft |
| Headroom required | Standard | Slightly greater overhead in some designs |
| Maintenance access | Easy — technician works in a separate room | From the car roof or a control cabinet on the top landing |
| Installation cost | Lower equipment cost, higher construction cost | Higher equipment cost, lower construction cost |
| Best suited to | High-rise, heavy load, high duty cycle, retrofit in existing shafts | New builds, residential and commercial mid-rise, space-constrained projects |
| Standards | EN 81-20 / EN 81-50 | EN 81-20 / EN 81-50 |
How does a MR elevator work?
The traction machine drives a sheave over which the suspension ropes run. One end carries the car, the other a counterweight that offsets the car weight plus roughly half the rated load. Because the machine sits in its own room, larger geared or gearless machines can be used, and noise and vibration are structurally separated from the shaft.
The controller cabinet, overspeed governor and main switch are installed in the same room, which makes inspection, adjustment and component replacement straightforward for the maintenance technician.
How does a MRL elevator work?
A compact gearless permanent magnet machine is mounted on the guide rails or on a bracket at the top of the hoistway. Because permanent magnet motors deliver high torque at low speed, no gearbox is required — which removes the largest source of energy loss, oil maintenance and noise in a traditional geared system.
The controller is housed either in a slim cabinet beside the top landing door frame or integrated into the door frame itself. Maintenance is carried out from the car roof and from that cabinet; EN 81-20 requires that all necessary operations can be performed safely without entering the shaft unnecessarily.
Which configuration should you choose?
As a rule of thumb: choose MRL for new buildings up to about 15 floors where floor area is valuable and rated load stays at or below 1600 kg. Choose MR when the building is taller, the load or duty cycle is heavier, or when you are modernising a shaft that already has a machine room.
If the project sits on the boundary, send us the shaft drawings, the number of stops and the expected traffic. Our engineering team will return a recommendation with the matching traction machine and a capacity calculation.
Why source from Nazar Elevator?
Nazar Elevator has manufactured complete elevator systems since 2002 at our facilities in Konya and Izmir, Turkey. We produce both MR and MRL configurations to order, with cabins, doors and control panels made in-house and traction machines sourced from Ziehl-Abegg, Torin Drive, SICOR, Montanari and other European and Asian manufacturers.
Every system is CE marked, manufactured in conformity with EN 81-20 and EN 81-50, and produced under an ISO 9001 quality management system. We export to more than 70 countries and supply full technical documentation in English, Russian, Arabic, French and Spanish.
Applications
- Specification and tender preparation
- Architectural shaft planning
- Building services engineering
- Elevator modernisation studies
- Developer feasibility reviews
Key Advantages
Why Choose Nazar Elevator?
As a trusted Turkish elevator manufacturer and exporter with production facilities in Konya and Izmir, Nazar Elevator delivers complete mrl vs mr elevator: which configuration to choose systems to buyers in 70+ countries. We offer flexible customization, competitive pricing, technical documentation and dedicated pre- and post-sale support for every project.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive machine location. In an MR elevator it sits in a separate room above the shaft; in an MRL elevator it is mounted inside the hoistway. This affects space, energy use, achievable load and speed, cost and maintenance.
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