Traction Elevator Systems
Rope-driven elevator systems manufactured in Turkey — geared and gearless traction, 320–2500 kg, speeds to 4.0 m/s, CE marked and EN 81-20 compliant.
A traction elevator raises and lowers the car with steel ropes or flat belts passing over a driven sheave, balanced by a counterweight. It is the dominant technology for buildings above three floors because it is faster, more energy efficient and has no practical travel limit. Nazar Elevator has manufactured traction systems since 2002 at our facilities in Konya and Izmir, Turkey, and exports to more than 70 countries.
How a traction elevator works
The traction machine turns a grooved sheave. Suspension ropes pass over that sheave with the car on one side and a counterweight on the other. The counterweight equals the empty car weight plus 40 to 50 percent of the rated load, so the motor only has to move the difference — this is why traction systems consume far less energy than hydraulic ones on the same duty.
Drive is delivered by friction between the ropes and the sheave grooves, not by a positive connection. Rope tension, groove profile and the angle of wrap therefore determine the available traction, and all three are calculated for each project in accordance with EN 81-50.
Geared or gearless: which do you need?
Both are traction systems; the difference is whether a gearbox sits between motor and sheave. See geared traction machine and gearless traction machine in our glossary.
| Criterion | Geared traction | Gearless traction |
|---|---|---|
| Drive arrangement | Motor drives a worm or helical gearbox, gearbox drives the sheave | Permanent-magnet motor drives the sheave directly |
| Typical rated speed | 0.5–1.75 m/s | 1.0–4.0 m/s and above |
| Typical rated load | 320–2500 kg | 320–2000 kg |
| Energy consumption | Higher — gearbox losses of 15–30% | Lower — no gearbox losses, regenerative drive option |
| Machine size | Larger and heavier | Compact — can be mounted inside the shaft (MRL) |
| Noise | Gear noise present; machine room isolates it | Very low; requires shaft isolation design in MRL |
| Maintenance | Gear oil changes required | No gearbox maintenance |
| Equipment cost | Lower | Higher, offset by running cost |
| Best suited to | Freight lifts, low- and mid-rise, budget-led projects | Mid- and high-rise, MRL installations, high duty cycle |
Specifications we manufacture
| Rated load | 320 – 2500 kg (higher on request for freight and vehicle lifts) |
| Rated speed | 0.5 – 4.0 m/s |
| Configuration | Machine room (MR) and machine roomless (MRL) |
| Roping | 1:1 and 2:1 |
| Drive | Geared and gearless, VVVF closed-loop control, regenerative option |
| Travel | Up to 150 m, no practical limit with compensation |
| Doors | Centre-opening and side-opening automatic, 700–1400 mm clear width |
| Standards | EN 81-20, EN 81-50, CE marking, ISO 9001 production |
What we build in house
Cabins, automatic doors and control panels are produced in our own facilities — our Izmir plant alone manufactures over 1,000 control panels per month. Traction machines are sourced from established manufacturers including Ziehl-Abegg, Torin Drive, SICOR, Montanari, Alberto Sassi and Wittur, with more than 500 machines held in stock for short delivery.
Every system is engineered to your shaft dimensions rather than adapted from a fixed catalogue, which is why our systems suit modernisation work and irregular building geometry as readily as new construction.
Choosing the right configuration
Traction is the drive technology; the next decision is where the machine sits. Read our detailed guides on machine room (MR) elevators and machine roomless (MRL) elevators, or the side-by-side MRL vs MR comparison.
If you are still weighing traction against hydraulic drive, our article traction vs hydraulic elevators sets out the cost, speed and energy trade-offs in detail. For terminology, see the traction elevator entry in our glossary.
Applications
- Residential and apartment buildings
- Office and commercial towers
- Hotels and hospitality projects
- Hospitals and healthcare facilities
- Shopping centres and mixed-use developments
- Modernisation of existing shafts
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 traction elevator systems 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
A traction elevator moves the car using steel ropes or belts that pass over a driven sheave, with a counterweight balancing the car. Friction between the ropes and the sheave grooves provides the drive.
Request a Traction Elevator Quotation
Contact our team for technical specifications, pricing and delivery details.