Foshan Dalong Chain
Equipments Sales Co., Ltd.
Equipments Sales Co., Ltd.
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Purpose-engineered vertical cargo transport systems designed for seamless integration into existing aged structures
A global infrastructure challenge — and a smarter vertical transport answer
Globally, hundreds of millions of square metres of commercial, industrial, and residential floor space exist within buildings constructed before 1990. Many of these structures were built without adequate vertical transport infrastructure — or with elevator systems now obsolete, energy-inefficient, and non-compliant with modern safety codes. As urbanisation intensifies and ground-level expansion becomes increasingly cost-prohibitive, retrofitting old buildings with goods hoist lifts has emerged as one of the most pragmatic and economically sound strategies for extending asset life and improving operational efficiency.
The global elevator and escalator modernisation market is projected to surpass USD 25 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of over 6%. Goods hoist lifts represent a significant and accelerating share of this growth — particularly in Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North America where ageing building stock, tightening safety regulations, and the e-commerce-driven surge in warehouse logistics demand are converging to create unprecedented retrofitting activity. Facility managers, real estate developers, and industrial operators are increasingly turning to goods hoist solutions as a cost-effective alternative to full elevator replacement.
Six forces reshaping how the world retrofits vertical cargo transport in older buildings
Sustainability regulations across the EU, UK, and major APAC markets now require building operators to demonstrate measurable reductions in energy consumption. Modern goods hoist lifts consume up to 40% less energy than the aging freight elevators they replace, and regenerative drive systems can feed surplus energy back into the building grid — making them a compelling ESG asset.
The explosive growth of e-commerce has placed enormous strain on urban warehousing and fulfilment operations, many of which occupy older multi-storey buildings. Retrofitting these facilities with high-capacity goods hoist lifts is now a critical operational priority, enabling faster pick-and-pack workflows, reduced manual handling injuries, and improved throughput per square metre.
Industry 4.0 is driving demand for goods hoist systems that can interface directly with automated guided vehicles (AGVs), warehouse management systems (WMS), and IoT sensor networks. New-generation hoist controllers support open API integration, enabling seamless data exchange with SCADA platforms and enabling predictive maintenance regimes that minimise unplanned downtime.
In densely populated cities from Shanghai to London, the prohibitive cost of new construction is pushing property owners to maximise the utility of existing building stock. Goods hoist lifts with compact machine-room-less (MRL) designs can be installed within existing shaft envelopes — often in as little as 3–5 days — with minimal structural intervention, making them uniquely suited to urban retrofit projects.
Regulatory bodies worldwide are progressively mandating safety upgrades for freight elevators in commercial and industrial buildings. EN 81-20/50 in Europe, ASME A17.1 in North America, and GB7588 in China all impose stricter requirements on load management, door interlocking, and emergency systems — requirements that legacy equipment frequently cannot meet without complete replacement or a modern goods hoist retrofit.
Leading goods hoist manufacturers are embedding digital-twin capabilities into their retrofit packages — creating virtual replicas of the installed hoist that can simulate wear patterns, forecast component failure, and optimise service intervals. For building operators managing multiple assets, this translates into dramatically lower lifecycle maintenance costs and significantly extended equipment service life.
From heritage commercial buildings to legacy industrial complexes — real-world retrofit use cases
Older department stores, wholesale markets, and commercial centres often rely on outdated dumbwaiters or manual freight elevators that are increasingly unreliable and energy-intensive. Installing a modern goods hoist lift in these environments eliminates bottlenecks in stock replenishment, reduces staff injury risk from manual carrying, and supports the operational tempo demanded by today's retail environment — all without requiring significant structural alteration to the existing building fabric.
Factories built in the 1970s–1990s frequently feature multi-level production layouts with freight elevator systems that no longer meet modern load, speed, or safety requirements. Goods hoist retrofitting in these environments enables the vertical movement of raw materials, work-in-progress, and finished goods between production floors — supporting lean manufacturing principles by eliminating unnecessary horizontal transport and reducing inter-floor cycle times by up to 60%.
Older hospital buildings present unique retrofitting challenges: strict hygiene requirements, 24/7 operational continuity, and the need to transport sensitive medical supplies, laundry, waste, and catering between floors without disrupting patient care. Goods hoist lifts designed for healthcare environments feature stainless steel interiors, HEPA-filtered ventilation, and whisper-quiet drives — and can be installed during off-peak hours with minimal disruption to clinical operations.
Historic hotels and hospitality venues face the dual challenge of preserving architectural integrity while meeting the operational demands of a modern hospitality business. Compact goods hoist systems can be integrated into existing service corridors or concealed within refurbished utility shafts, providing discreet, efficient vertical transport for linen, F&B supplies, and housekeeping equipment — without compromising the building's aesthetic character or requiring invasive structural works.
Railway stations, airports, and port facilities built several decades ago frequently require significant vertical transport upgrades to handle the volume and weight of modern logistics operations. Goods hoist lifts installed in these environments must meet stringent public safety standards and deliver exceptional reliability under high-cycle duty conditions. Dalong's components — trusted by MTR Singapore and other major transit operators — are specifically engineered for these demanding applications.
University libraries, research institutes, and government buildings constructed in the mid-20th century often lack adequate freight transport infrastructure for the volume of materials — books, laboratory equipment, archival records — that must be moved between floors. A goods hoist retrofit provides a cost-effective, low-disruption solution that can be sized and configured precisely to match the building's specific load and frequency requirements, with energy-efficient drives reducing operating costs over the long term.
Engineering innovation that makes retrofitting smarter, faster, and more cost-effective
Eliminating the need for a dedicated machine room dramatically reduces installation complexity in older buildings where creating additional mechanical space is impractical. MRL goods hoist systems house all drive components within the shaft envelope, reducing civil works costs by up to 35% compared to traditional retrofit approaches.
Modern VFD controllers with regenerative braking capability recover kinetic energy during descent cycles and return it to the building's electrical grid. In high-frequency goods hoist applications, this can reduce net energy consumption by 30–45% compared to legacy hydraulic or AC two-speed systems, delivering a compelling ROI case for building owners.
Contemporary goods hoist systems incorporate redundant safety systems including load-sensing overload protection, bi-directional speed governors, electromagnetic door interlocks, and UPS-backed emergency lowering — all fully compliant with EN 81-20/50, ASME A17.1, and GB7588 standards. These features are critical for achieving regulatory approval in retrofit projects within older building stock.
Over three decades of elevator component excellence — your trusted partner for goods hoist retrofit projects worldwide
Foshan Dalong Chain Equipments Sales Co., Ltd. was established in January 2007 (formerly known as Nanhai Yanbu Seelee Elevator Parts Factory, founded in 1990). Throughout its operational history, the company has steadfastly upheld the principles encapsulated in its service motto, "Customer First, Quality First," earning widespread acclaim across its diverse client base.
This commendable reputation has facilitated partnerships with numerous prestigious clients spanning Europe, America, Southeast Asia, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and Taiwan. Among these esteemed clients are industry leaders such as Otis, Schindler, Hitachi, Kone, Mitsubishi, Fuji, and MTR Singapore, all of whom have recognised the company's commitment to excellence and reliability. It is worth noting that Dalong is KONE's global parts strategic cooperative supplier.
Our company operates extensive production facilities totalling over 4,500 square metres located in Suzhou, complemented by additional factories in Shanghai and Nantong. These sites are outfitted with advanced manufacturing equipment and staffed by teams of seasoned professionals committed to efficient production and the delivery of high-quality products. With a wealth of import and export experience, our products are currently exported to over 100 countries.
At our Foshan office, the warehouse is well-stocked with a substantial inventory of commonly utilised spare parts to guarantee ample availability. Our delivery sector is supported by an effective logistics system, ensuring the swift and punctual distribution of spare parts to our clientele.
Simultaneously, we boast a seasoned sales team and a cadre of expert elevator engineers, both fully equipped to furnish our customers with rapid and precise solutions alongside comprehensive after-sales services — critical capabilities for time-sensitive goods hoist retrofit projects where downtime must be minimised.
Foshan Dalong has upheld a development policy characterised by pragmatism, self-reliance, and innovation. Specialising in the sales of major brand elevator components, we offer an integrated approach encompassing sales, manufacturing (custom manufacturing of parts for elevators and escalators that are non-standard, discontinued, or of older models), and engineering technical consulting — making us the ideal partner for complex goods hoist retrofit challenges.
World-class manufacturing infrastructure supporting goods hoist lift component production
Comprehensive component and system solutions for every old building elevator retrofitting scenario
Our expert engineering team is ready to assess your building's specific requirements and deliver a tailored goods hoist lift retrofitting solution — from initial consultation through to commissioning and after-sales support.
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