Contessa: Australia's Most Sought After Lift

The Contessa public building and residential lift is now available in Australia. It is designed in Europe, where the Contessa is favoured by architects, designers and public access consultants.

Smart technology and compact design make this a low cost option with premium design values. The lift comes in its own space saving aluminium shaft, allowing for easy installation into a new building. Its special design also makes for simple retrofitting into existing buildings. A pit is not essential; it has low overhead requirements, and does not need a separate machine room. The low resonance Eco Screw Drive is located within the shaft. With fewer moving parts than most other lifts, the Contessa’s maintenance costs are proving to be very low.

VVVF controls give a soft start and a soft stop. This refinement is usually only found in more expensive lifts. Most importantly, the Contessa runs automatically. The user does not have to hold their finger on the button for the whole trip as with some lift models. Travelling up to 7 metres with up to 5 stops, the low noise Contessa runs on 240 volts single phase power only, and has an emergency battery (UPS) which lowers the car in the event of building power failure.

The Contessa has the highest safety levels, being described by European lift engineers as having “the world’s safest lift drive system.” It has the only lift drive system that cannot accidentally fall. The only way it can descend is when it is driven down.

The Contessa complies with the Australian Lift Code, Building Code and Disabled Access requirements. Features include a concertina-type folding door that opens and closes automatically with concealed hydraulics, an electro-mechanical interlocking device on each landing that prevents the door from being opened when the lift is in operation, stainless steel handrails and two stainless steel control panels in accessible positions.

The passenger car comes in standard finish off white melamine, but it can be customised with timber laminates, stainless steel or other materials. The standard doors are timber but glass doors are an option.