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Lithium‑Dedicated 5‑Stop Reciprocating Lift｜16m, 5 Levels｜304 Stainless + Full Powder | AGV‑Ready

POSTED: 7/8/2026

Overview

Project Type: Chain reciprocating lift (lithium‑dedicated)
End User: Zhejiang Yongzheng Lithium (Quzhou)
Industry: Lithium battery cathode material manufacturing
Core Function: 16m ultra‑high travel, 5 stops / 5 levels, C‑shaped access, fully automatic AGV integration
Key Parameters: 1250kg capacity, 16,000mm travel, 60m/min speed, SEW drive + Siemens PLC, full 304 stainless steel + full powder coating – copper‑free & zinc‑free

Industry Context

Zhejiang Yongzheng Lithium, located in Quzhou, is a company specialising in the R&D and production of lithium battery cathode materials. The production of cathode materials involves multiple processes, and control of metallic contamination is one of the core indicators of production line quality. In lithium‑ion battery manufacturing, if metal particles become mixed into the battery, they can cause fire hazards. Metallic contaminants (copper, zinc, iron, etc.) can form dendrites during the battery formation process, piercing the separator and causing internal short circuits – in severe cases, leading to battery fires or even explosions. Among these, copper and zinc are non‑magnetic metals, making them completely ineffective against electromagnetic separation equipment.

Therefore, there is an iron rule in lithium cathode material production workshops – copper‑free & zinc‑free. All equipment surfaces that come into contact with materials must be powder‑coated or made of stainless steel; exposed copper or zinc components are strictly prohibited.

This equipment is used for vertical material transport across 5 floors in the cathode material workshop (raw material receiving, work‑in‑process transfer, finished goods dispatch), and must interface automatically with on‑site AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles) for unmanned plant‑wide logistics.

steel pallets for AGV lifting
Installation: existing elevator removed one week before shipment.

Basic Parameters

Parameter	Specification
Model	SJW1.0‑16.0
Rated load	1250 kg
Travel height	16,000 mm (5 stops / 5 levels)
Car size (L×W×H)	1600×1650×2300 mm
Access direction	C‑shaped along W1650mm side
Shaft space	2600×3460 mm
Lifting speed	60 m/min (adjustable)
Conveyor speed	20 m/min (adjustable)
Drive motor	15kW SEW geared motor
Car material	1.2mm 304 stainless steel (4 sides + roof) / 4mm 304 chequer plate (floor)
Conveyor chain	304 stainless steel double‑strand
Surface treatment	Full powder coating on all carbon steel parts
Guide rails	T90 elevator‑grade
Levelling sensors	Schmersal (Germany)
Control system	Siemens PLC + Siemens/ABB/Mitsubishi VFD
Electrical components	Schneider
Photoelectric sensors	Omron/SICK
Safety devices	Safety gear, buffer, limit switches, overload/overspeed protection
Control modes	Manual/Auto switch, AGV interface reserved
Floor doors	PVC high‑speed doors ×5 (W1800×H2200mm), stainless steel covers
External guardrails	1.8m high, powder‑coated

Solutions

Ultra‑High Travel with 5‑Stop Positioning – Elevator‑Grade Rails + Precision Levelling

T90 elevator‑grade guide rails ensure verticality across the full 16m travel
Schmersal precision levelling sensors at each stop – positioning accuracy ≤±3mm
Limit switches + buffers at top and bottom – anti‑over‑travel and fall protection
Safety gear linkage mechanism – automatic braking in case of overspeed or suspension failure

C‑Shaped Access in a Confined Shaft – Customised Layout

C‑shaped access along the W1650mm side – adapts to the limited shaft space (2600×3460mm)
Car net size L1600×W1650×H2300mm – balances load size and shaft constraints
1.8m wide doorway – equipment delivered in sections and assembled on‑site

Comprehensive “Copper‑Free & Zinc‑Free” Protection

Car: 1.2mm 304 stainless steel on four sides and roof; 4mm 304 stainless steel chequer plate floor
Conveyors: Double‑strand chains in 304 stainless steel (single‑side width ≤42mm)
Surface treatment: All carbon steel components (frame, columns, guardrails) fully powder‑coated – no exposed metal
Fastening: Bolted connections preferred – minimal welding to avoid contamination from spatter

Fully Automatic Conveyor Integration + AGV Interface

In‑car conveyor: L1560×W1010×H315mm, 304 stainless steel double‑strand chain
External conveyors: L4310×W1010×H315mm (3 sections, 3 independent motors) – 3 units
Conveyor speed 20m/min adjustable – fully interlocked with lift motion
AGV interface reserved in control system – integrates with on‑site AGV system for unmanned automatic loading/unloading
Control system: Siemens PLC + VFD (Siemens/ABB/Mitsubishi), Schneider electrical components, Omron/SICK photoelectric sensors

Safety & Operation Functions

Overload protection, overspeed protection, terminal over‑travel protection, safety gear protection, buffer protection, safety circuit protection, phase‑loss and phase‑sequence protection
Manual/auto mode switch – each floor has operation buttons for dispatching
Emergency stop buttons on each level – tri‑colour signal lights for load status indication

Urgent Delivery

Full design‑to‑shipment cycle in 45 days
Key components (SEW motors, Siemens PLC, Schmersal sensors) pre‑stocked

Workflow

Step 1: AGV calls the lift
An AGV arrives at the ground floor loading area with a load and sends a call request via the reserved communication interface. The system checks the current car position and status.

Step 2: Load enters the car
The high‑speed door on the corresponding floor opens, and the AGV places the palletised load onto the in‑car conveyor. The AGV withdraws, and the conveyor moves the load to the designated position inside the car.

Step 3: Vertical transport
The car lifts at 60 m/min to the target floor. Elevator‑grade guide rails + Schmersal levelling sensors ensure positioning accuracy ≤±3mm.

Step 4: Load exits the car
The high‑speed door on the target floor opens, and the in‑car conveyor starts, transferring the load to the external floor conveyor for AGV or manual pickup.

Step 5: Cycle repeats
The car returns to standby or accepts the next task – seamless multi‑floor material flow across all 5 levels.

Product Certificates

FAQ

Answer: This is the core design challenge. We use T90 elevator‑grade guide rails running from bottom to top, ensuring verticality across the full 16‑metre travel.

Each floor is equipped with Schmersal precision levelling sensors – the car automatically decelerates and aligns at each stop, with positioning accuracy controlled within ±3mm.

Limit switches and buffers at both top and bottom, combined with a safety gear linkage mechanism, provide instant braking in case of overspeed or chain failure.

In short: elevator‑grade rails for straightness, German sensors for accuracy, safety gears for reliability.

Answer: Lithium cathode material workshops have one iron rule – no copper or zinc in any component that contacts materials. Copper and zinc are non‑magnetic metals, so electromagnetic separation equipment cannot remove them. If they contaminate cathode materials, they can form dendrites that pierce the separator, causing short circuits, fires, or even explosions.

Our protection strategy has three layers:

Car: 1.2mm 304 stainless steel on four sides and roof; 4mm 304 stainless steel chequer plate on the floor
Conveyors: 304 stainless steel double‑strand chains, single‑side width ≤42mm
All carbon steel parts (frames, columns, guardrails): fully powder‑coated – no exposed metal

We also prioritised bolted connections and minimised welding to avoid contamination from weld spatter.

Answer: C‑shaped access means the load enters from one side of the car and exits from the adjacent side (90° direction) – rather than straight through. This design adapts to the limited shaft space (2600×3460mm).

Each of the 5 floors is equipped with PVC high‑speed doors (W1800×H2200mm, stainless steel covers), electrically interlocked with the lift: if a door is not fully closed, the platform cannot move; if the platform is not at the floor, the door cannot open. But efficiency isn’t compromised – the doors open at approximately 1.2 m/s, with a single open/close cycle taking just 3‑4 seconds. Combined with ±3mm levelling accuracy, AGV entry and exit are smooth and seamless.

In short: C‑shaped access adapts to a tight shaft – speed and precision keep the cycle time on track.

Answer: This was a major challenge, but we achieved it through three approaches:

Pre‑stocked long‑lead components: SEW geared motors (15kW), Siemens PLC, Schmersal sensors – all ordered immediately after contract signing
Modular parallel manufacturing: Car, conveyors, frame, and control cabinet were produced simultaneously and assembled at the end
Reusable standardised design: We had previously completed similar lithium‑dedicated lifts, which significantly reduced engineering and drawing time

From order on August 21 to shipment on October 5 – 45 days – covering the entire design, manufacturing, and testing cycle, delivered on time to Yongzheng Lithium in Quzhou.

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