The machine room-less elevator is a relatively new design that is becoming increasingly popular in the United States. This type of elevator offers several advantages compared to more traditional lifts.

MRL elevators use electric motors that are significantly smaller than those used in conventional elevators. These permanent magnet motors allow the manufacturers to position them in the hoistway overhead, without the need for a machine room over the hoistway.

MRLs can use as much as 70 to 80 percent less energy than hydraulic elevators. The power feeders for MRLs are significantly smaller because of their more efficient design and the counter-balancing of the traction equipment.

Many people don’t want to use hydraulic elevators in their buildings due to environmental concerns.

The prices of machine room-less elevators are competitive with those of traditional geared traction elevators. This is another reason for their growing popularity.

MRLs have been used in the United States for about 15 years. They were slow to catch on because of their initially limited applications, but they are now becoming the standard for low- and mid-rise buildings as technology advances and local code officials become more receptive to their use.