Furniture lift

A Klaas HV29/5M furniture lift in action

A furniture lift or moving lift is a specialized lifting system, whether mechanical or motorized, designed to transport massive, bulky, or heavy objects between different levels of a building. Its structure is based on an extendable ladder with variable inclination, over which a platform moves, remaining horizontal regardless of the angle of inclination. This feature allows the load to remain stable throughout its entire vertical journey. ^[1]

Its usefulness becomes evident in situations where conventional means such as interior stairs, elevators or standard lifting platforms are insufficient or completely impractical, either due to the dimensions of the object, its weight or the physical limitations of access. ^[2]

Technical characteristics

Moving truck with lift in action

A furniture lift is a chassis-mounted modification of an inclined lift, in which a platform can be moved on a telescopically extendable support. The chassis can be a truck or a trailer. These are usually mounted on chassis with a permissible total weight of 7.5 t and can therefore still be driven with the driving license class 3. ^[3]

• Leveled platform : The system includes a compensation mechanism that keeps the platform horizontal at all times, even when the structure is tilted.
• Outdoor mounting: It is installed on public roads, supported by a trailer or vehicle, and extends to balconies, windows or terraces.
• Load capacity: Varies by model, from 200 kg to over 400 kg.
• Reachable height: Some models reach up to the 10th or 12th floor (30–35 meters).
• Remote or manual control: Allows you to raise and lower the platform with precision.

Applications

Transport of large furniture, appliances, pianos, and works of art, in buildings without elevators or with narrow staircases. Technical deliveries during renovations or refurbishments. Emergency interventions: some fire departments use similar systems for rescue or rapid access to facades. ^[4]

A Böcker furniture lift was used in the 2025 Louvre robbery. ^[5] In October 2025 thieves used a furniture lift to access the facade of the Galerie d'Apollon, then they left the museum descending with the furniture lift they used to enter the building. ^[6]

History

One of the first manufacturers of construction hoists was the company Klaas. The first construction hoists were manufactured there in 1947. ^[7]

Since 1974, mobile furniture lifts, derived from mobile inclined construction lifts, have been equipped with modified conveyor carriages, forming so-called "furniture platforms." When extended, these can also transport large pieces of furniture. The most important distinguishing feature between furniture lifts and construction lifts is the conveyor carriage. In furniture lifts, this carriage is a closed box with foldable side panels. This allows even large and bulky items to be transported. In construction lifts, the side panels of the conveyor carriage are fixed.

Due to the special requirements (also due to the StVO) regarding mobility, load-bearing capacity, telescopic height and dead weight, furniture lifts have been further developed into high-tech machines.

Moving lift vs. platform lift and fire ladder

Feature	furniture lift [8]	Lifting platform [9]	Fire ladder (30 m)
Main purpose	Lifting/lowering bulky items during moves or deliveries	Lifting people or loads for work at height	Quick access to upper floors for rescue or intervention
Type of load	Furniture, appliances, works of art	People, tools, construction materials	Firefighters, victims, emergency teams
Platform	Always horizontal, on an inclined structure	Horizontal, on an articulated or telescopic arm	Steps or basket, can be tilted depending on the maneuver
Structure	Inclined metal staircase with sliding platform	Vertical or articulated hydraulic arm	Truck-mounted extension ladder
Typical range	Up to 30–35 meters (10–12 floors)	Variable: from 10 to more than 40 meters	Up to 30 meters (depending on model)
Facility	Exterior, on trailer or truck	Fixed or mobile (truck, trailer, base)	Integrated into a fire vehicle
Operation	Manual or with remote control	Manual, hydraulic or electric	Hydraulic, with control from cabin or basket
Deployment speed	Fast, but requires prior assembly	Average, according to arm type and load	Very fast, designed for emergencies
Example of use	The Louvre Heist (2025), urban moves	Facade repair, pruning, urban maintenance	Fire rescue, access to high floors

Manufacturer of mobile furniture and construction lifts

• Böcker Maschinenwerke in Werne ad Lippe
• Klaas Inclined Lifts in Ascheberg (Westphalia)
• Hermann Paus Machine Factory
• Teupen Maschinenbau (production was discontinued in summer 2009)
• Emminghaus Mechanical Engineering

Disadvantages

The disadvantage of the inclined lift concept is, firstly, that the rear of the roof is inaccessible. Secondly, inclined lifts have a lower load capacity than cranes, and the loads must be transported further along the roof by hand. With a mobile crane, for example, the material can be transported directly to the site.

Security

For mobile construction and furniture lifts used commercially in Germany, an annual safety inspection is required according to the German Accident Prevention Regulation (UVV) (according to the BGV D7 guideline of the German Employers' Liability Insurance Association ^[10] ) in conjunction with the VDE regulations. Wearing protective clothing during commercial operation is a prerequisite for proper operation.

Gallery

• 
  Ansan truck-mounted furniture liftwith extendable boom.
• 
  Furniture lift in operation, lifting furniture to a high floor.
• 
  Detail of the horizontal platform system on an inclined structure.
• 
  furniture liftdeployed on urban facade, ready for heavy loads.

See also

• Hoist (device)
• Lifting platform
• Fire ladder
• Forklift
• Scaffold
• Lift

References

1. "Mudanzas con elevador: la guía definitiva". Mudanzas Beltran (in Spanish). 2023-11-09. Retrieved 2025-10-24.
2. "CARACTERÍSTICAS DE LOS ELEVADORES PARA MUDANZAS DE ALTURA". Mudanzas y Guardamuebles Lidon - (in Spanish). 2019-03-30. Retrieved 2025-10-24.
3. "Anhängerkrane, Autokrane, Möbelaufzüge, Bauaufzüge, Feuerwehr Löscharme und Bühnen, Hubarbeitsbühnen". Möbelaufzüge Klaas (in German). 2025-10-25. Retrieved 2025-10-26.
4. "Elevador de materiales mudanzas".
5. Wohlgemuth, Jens (2025-10-23). "Louvre-Diebe nutzten einen Möbelaufzug aus Werne in Nordrhein-Westfalen". FAZ.NET (in German). Retrieved 2025-10-26.
6. Adamson, Thomas (19 October 2025). "Thieves strike Louvre in brazen jewel heist as the world's most visited museum shuts". AP News. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
7. Geschichte der Firma Klaas Website der Firma Klaas. Abgerufen am 18. Juni 2012.
8. "¿Qué es la norma UNE 58923:2020?". Alba Consult. Retrieved 2025-02-17.
9. "How Does a Scissor Lift Work?". Hered. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
10. BGV D7 Umwelt Online. Abgerufen am 18. Juni 2012.

External links

• Louvre robbery: A furniture lift from Werne-Rhine Westphalia