The Alimak Safety Device Exchange System

As part of our commitment to promoting safety in the vertical access industry, we developed the Alimak Safety Device Exchange System. It’s a customer-focused programme that’s designed to ensure all Alimak vertical access equipment continues to operate with maximum protection and compliance.

What is an Alimak Safety Device?

The overspeed safety device is a critical part of every Alimak construction hoist, industrial elevator, transport platform, and mast climbing work platform. It acts as an independent mechanical safeguard to prevent uncontrolled descent. Because construction and industrial vertical access equipment ensures high loads over years of operation, regular inspection and certified replacement are vital to maintaining site safety and equipment compliance.

How does the Alimak Safety Device work?

Normal Operation: It’s driven mechanically by the rack on the mast, via a pinion. At normal operating speed, centrifugal weights inside the device remain retracted, which allow the pinion to rotate freely without braking.

Overspeed detection: If the construction hoist or industrial elevator exceeds its rated speed, the increase in rotation speed will cause the centrifugal weights to move outward.

Brake engagement: When the centrifugal weights deploy, they mechanically connect the pinion to a brake cone. This is screwed into the brake drum, creating controlled friction.

Controlled stop: This action brings the hoist or elevator car to a smooth, controlled halt, not a sudden stop. At the same time, power to the drive unit is cut off, ensuring the hoist or elevator cannot continue moving.

Why is it important to exchange your Alimak Safety Device?

To maintain compliance with industry safety frameworks and ensure optimum protection, your Alimak Safety Device should be exchanged before it expires. The expiry date will depend on the product – you will find this information in the instruction manual or on the safety device itself. This helps to keep your equipment operating at the highest level of safety and reliability.

What is the Alimak Safety Device Exchange System?

To put it simply, it’s a faster, more convenient way to stay compliant.

The Alimak Safety Device Exchange System is engineered to help customers minimise downtime while ensuring equipment continues to meet factory standards.

• Simple return and replacement: customers return their existing safety device, which is evaluated and replaced with a certified reconditioned or brand-new device

• Factory testing and certification: All returned devices undergo rigorous load assessments and calibration checks by trained Alimak technicians.

• Fast turnaround to support site productivity: Designed to support project productivity without compromising safety.

• Sustainable, cost-effective, and compliant: Approved reconditioning reduces waste while supporting long-term cost management.

With thousands of Alimak units in operation globally, the Safety Device Exchange System provides a transparent and reliable pathway to maintaining fully compliant vertical access equipment.

Need to exchange your safety device? Speak to your local representative today: Get in touch