Are these hoists safe for personnel use?

Yes. Personnel configurations comply with AS1418.8, AS1735.12 and AS3000, with integrated safety and emergency communication systems.

What happens if power fails during operation?

An integrated UPS system enables controlled emergency lowering to the nearest landing and automatic door release.

What industries use this hoist?

Common applications include warehouses, self-storage facilities, automotive dealerships, commercial buildings and industrial sites.

Freestanding Goods & Personnel Hoists

Q: Do I need to build a lift shaft for this hoist?

No. The hoist is fully self-contained within a steel frame and does not require a traditional lift shaft unless fire-rating requirements apply.

Q: How long does installation take?

Once site requirements are prepared, installation is typically completed in approximately one day.

Q: What is the lifting capacity?

Standard capacity is 1500 kg, with options up to 3000 kg depending on configuration.

At a Glance: Southwell Freestanding Goods & Personnel Hoists require no traditional lift shaft, install in just one day, and fully comply with Australian Standards (AS1418.8) for safe personnel and heavy cargo transport up to 3000 kg.

If you are looking for a dependable, cost-effective alternative to a traditional lift, you are in the right place. Southwell Freestanding Goods and Goods/Personnel Hoists are designed to make your daily operations smoother whilst keeping your ongoing maintenance costs to a minimum.

Because Southwell Freestanding Hoists are fully self-contained within an internal steel frame, you won't even need to build a traditional lift shaft (provided a fire rating isn't required). Whether you need a dedicated goods hoist or a combined hoist that authorised personnel can ride, we build and rigorously test every unit in our factory. This means it arrives at your site ready to go, allowing for a rapid one-day installation.

These hoists are the ideal vertical transport solution for self-storage facilities, multi-level warehouses, automotive dealerships, and back of house retail and residential goods and bin movement.

Why Choose a Freestanding Hoist?

No Lift Shaft Needed: The fully contained enclosure gives you the flexibility to install the hoist either internally or externally, without major building alterations.

Up and Running in a Day: When the site is prepared with access and power, our pre-assembled units can be fully installed in just one day.

Smart Use of Space: The electrically operated aluminium roller shutters open vertically, giving you maximum access for loading and unloading, even in tight areas.

Simple 'Plug-and-Play' Power: The controls and power pack are fully internalised. We even offer a simple 3-phase plug connection to make electrical setup a breeze.

Intelligent Controls: The built-in PLC system includes self-diagnostic features to help keep things running smoothly.

Built to Last: Driven by a constant-velocity telescopic hydraulic cylinder, the lifting mechanism is incredibly robust and reliable.

The Southwell engineering team knows that minimising downtime and maximising space are top priorities for any business.

Keeping Your Team and Goods Safe

Safety is at the heart of everything we engineer. Our hoists strictly comply with Australian Standards and are design registered with SafeWork to give you complete peace of mind.

Failsafe Emergency Lowering: In the event of a power failure, the integrated UPS system can be used to safely lower the platform to the next lowest level and open the doors.

Fully Compliant for Personnel: If your team needs to ride the hoist, rest assured it complies fully with AS1418.8 parts 1 and 8 (Special purpose appliances), and AS3000 (Electrical Installations). Operating devices also comply AS1735.12 to maximise accessibility.

Built-in Emergency Comms: Personnel hoists feature a hands-free 4G GSM emergency contact system. We can also provide dual-SIM options if you need extra network redundancy.

Ready for Heavy Duty: Classified under AS5246.1 (class A6), our hoists are designed for the heaviest of workloads.

Seismic Load Ready: Our freestanding hoists engineered to withstand local seismic loads (AS1170 Part 4).

Tailored to Your Building

Every facility is different, so we offer a wide range of customisation options to ensure your hoist fits your architectural and operational needs perfectly.

A Finish to Suit Your Space: Choose from highly durable 2-pack polyurethane powder coating, with aluminium chequer plate (up to 1200mm high), or a bespoke interior design.

Slip-Resistant Flooring: Our standard floor is a rugged steel chequer plate finished in "Rich Blue", certified with an R12 / P5 slip-resistance rating. Alternatively, you can select aluminium checker plate or vinyl tiles for less rugged environments.

Seamless Integration: We can easily link the hoist to your existing building systems, including BMS (Building Management Systems), CCTV networks, and Access Control readers.

Flexible Door Configurations: Whilst our standard is an electric aluminium roller shutter, we can seamlessly integrate swing doors, high-speed doors, or powder-coated steel shutters.

Threshold Ramps: If digging a floor pit (minimum 130mm) isn't an option on your site, we can provide custom steel chequer plate threshold ramps for safe access at the lowest landing.

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Standard Technical Specifications

Note: The table below highlights our standard models (e.g. SFGH-1515 to SFGH-3024). If you need capacities up to 3000 kg, bespoke platform widths, or travel distances up to 10,000 mm, please get in touch, our engineering team is available to help.

Specification	Standard Parameter
Lifting Capacity	1500 kg (Higher duties up to 3000 kg available)
Maximum Vertical Travel	Up to 10,000 mm (Standard configuration)
Standard Landings	Up to 3 landings (up to 6 possible, subject to engineering review)
Lifting Speed	130 mm/s to 300 mm/s (Depending on motor size)
Power Requirements	415v, 3 phase (D curve breaker)
Pit Depth Required	Minimum 130 mm (or a 125 mm ramp if no pit is available)
Standard Headroom	3000 mm (For a 2400 mm platform height & travel up to 5800 mm)
Platform Height	2400 mm as standard

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to build a lift shaft for this hoist?

No, a traditional lift shaft is not required unless your building specifically requires a fire rating. Southwell’s freestanding hoists are fully self-contained within an internal steel frame, allowing for flexible internal or external installation without major building alterations.

How long does installation take?

Once your site is prepared with the necessary power and access, our pre-assembled units can be completely installed and ready to go in just one day.

Are these hoists safe for people to ride?

Yes. You can choose a dedicated goods hoist or a combined goods and personnel hoist. If authorised personnel will be riding, the hoist strictly complies with AS1418.8 (parts 1 and 8), BCA E3.6/AS1735.12 for operating devices, and features a built-in hands-free 4G GSM emergency contact system (dual-SIM options available).

What happens if the power goes out while the hoist is in use?

Safety is our priority. Every hoist includes an integrated UPS system for failsafe emergency lowering. In the event of a power failure, this system safely lowers the platform to the next lowest level and opens the doors.

Does the hoist require a floor pit?

A minimum floor pit of 130 mm is standard. However, if digging a pit is not an option at your site, we can supply custom steel chequer plate threshold ramps (125 mm) to provide safe access at the lowest landing.

What is the lifting capacity and how high can it go?

Standard Capacity: 1500 kg
Maximum Standard Travel: Up to 10,000 mm
Standard Landings: Up to 3 landings (Note: If you need heavier duties up to 3000 kg, or up to 6 landings, our engineering team can provide bespoke options.)

What are the power requirements?

The hoists feature internalised controls and a power pack that utilises a simple 3-phase plug connection. The specific requirement is 415v, 3 phase (D curve breaker).

Can the hoist connect to my building's current security or management systems?

Absolutely. We can seamlessly integrate the hoist with your existing Building Management Systems (BMS), CCTV networks, and Access Control readers.

What kind of doors do the hoists use?

The standard configuration includes electrically operated aluminium roller shutters that open vertically to maximise loading space in tight areas. If you need something different, we can also integrate swing doors, high-speed doors, or powder-coated steel shutters.

Are there different flooring options available?

Yes. The standard flooring is a rugged, slip-resistant steel chequer plate (finished in "Rich Blue" with an R12 / P5 rating). For less rugged environments, you can also opt for aluminium checker plate or vinyl tiles.

Do I need a separate hoist motor room?

On our smaller hoists yes, this is often the size of small cupboard, but must meet the requirements of AS3000 and local building codes. For our larger platform sizes, we can usually fit the control system and powerpack inside the enclosure, eliminating the need for the motor room.