MP Flex lift for existing buildings
MP Flex is a lift for existing buildings and narrow shafts. The machine is mounted on the rear or side wall, and we select the series according to the space available in the pit and headroom.
Build a lift car in 3DView from the car. Rendering
2Model
A lift for narrow shafts from 885 mm wide
According to the manufacturer’s table, a 2-person, 180 kg MP Flex with the machine on the rear wall needs an 885 × 1360 mm shaft. In a building that has never had a lift, whether one can be installed often depends on this width.
- 180-1000kg, 2-13 persons
- 1.0m/s
- up to 16stops
- 312-850mm pit per EN 81-21
- 2800-3800mm headroom per EN 81-21
- 2machine positions: rear or side wall
Pit and headroom can be reduced if the requirements of EN 81-21, the standard for existing buildings, are met. Without this reduction, according to the manufacturer’s 2019 catalogue, the pit is 1024-1350 mm and the headroom 3400-4325 mm. The MP website also mentions 1.6 m/s for the Flex, but the catalogues state 1.0 m/s, so we go by the lower value. The same applies to stops: 32 on the website, 16 in the catalogue, so we promise 16.
Two machine layouts for a 630 kg car
The 630 kg car can face the doors with its wide or its narrow side, depending on which wall the machine is mounted on.
Machine on the rear wall
Machine on the side wall
With the machine on the rear wall the shaft is 55 mm narrower, and with the machine on the side wall it is 50 mm shallower. In a shaft built for a different lift, these millimetres often matter.
Four MP Flex series
| Series | Pit, mm | Headroom, mm | Rated load, kg | Smallest shaft W × D, mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flex standard | 315 | 2800 | 180-630 | 885 × 1360, machine at rear |
| Flex MINI | 312 | 3000 | 320-480 | 1275 × 1285, machine at rear |
| Flex XL | 525 | 3321 | 320-480 | 1275 × 1235, machine at rear |
| Flex 1000 | 850 | 3800 | 800-1000 | 1670 × 1780, machine at rear |
Full table: cars and shafts for each series
| Series | Machine | Persons | Rated load, kg | Car (external), mm | Shaft W × D, mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | rear | 2 | 180 | 700 × 820 | 885 × 1360 |
| Standard | rear | 3 | 225 | 700 × 900 | 885 × 1440 |
| Standard | rear | 4 | 320 | 1100 × 800 | 1270 × 1380 |
| Standard | rear | 5 | 375 | 1050 × 950 | 1270 × 1580 |
| Standard | rear | 6 | 480 | 1250 × 1000 | 1425 × 1580 |
| Standard | rear | 8 | 630 | 1400 × 1100 | 1575 × 1680 |
| Standard | side | 2 | 180 | 780 × 750 | 1315 × 930 |
| Standard | side | 3 | 225 | 820 × 750 | 1355 × 930 |
| Standard | side | 4 | 320 | 800 × 1100 | 1330 × 1350 |
| Standard | side | 5 | 375 | 950 × 1050 | 1480 × 1300 |
| Standard | side | 6 | 480 | 1000 × 1300 | 1530 × 1550 |
| Standard | side | 8 | 630 | 1100 × 1400 | 1630 × 1630 |
| MINI | rear | 4 | 320 | 1100 × 800 | 1275 × 1285 |
| MINI | rear | 5 | 375 | 1050 × 950 | 1265 × 1435 |
| MINI | rear | 6 | 480 | 1250 × 1000 | 1425 × 1485 |
| MINI | side | 4 | 320 | 850 × 1100 | 1290 × 1350 |
| MINI | side | 5 | 375 | 950 × 1050 | 1390 × 1300 |
| MINI | side | 6 | 480 | 1000 × 1300 | 1440 × 1530 |
| XL | rear | 4 | 320 | 1100 × 800 | 1275 × 1235 |
| XL | rear | 5 | 375 | 1050 × 950 | 1265 × 1385 |
| XL | rear | 6 | 480 | 1250 × 1000 | 1425 × 1435 |
| XL | side | 4 | 320 | 800 × 1100 | 1190 × 1360 |
| XL | side | 5 | 375 | 950 × 1050 | 1340 × 1300 |
| XL | side | 6 | 480 | 1000 × 1300 | 1420 × 1530 |
| 1000 | rear | 10 | 800 | 1500 × 1200 | 1670 × 1780 |
| 1000 | rear | 13 | 1000 | 2100 × 1100 | 2270 × 1680 |
| 1000 | side | 10 | 800 | 1200 × 1500 | 1730 × 1720 |
| 1000 | side | 13 | 1000 | 1100 × 2100 | 1630 × 2320 |
Speed in all series is 1.0 m/s; pit and headroom are given per EN 81-21, and the car in external dimensions per the manufacturer’s table. The dimensions for your site will be determined by the drawing.
Lift in a stairwell
If there is no shaft, space for a lift can often be found in the stairwell. We check this separately for each building: we measure the flight width, inspect the floor slabs and assess how much space will remain for people on the stairs.
If there is no space inside, we build an add-on shaft on a steel frame. Our own crews do the pit, headroom, floor slab strengthening and glazing, so you do not need to look for a separate contractor.
TurnkeyNew lift in an existing shaftVersion
MP Flex 200: coated ropes
Thanks to the smaller sheave, the car becomes wider in the same shaft and takes up to two more persons. The comparison is based on manufacturer data.
- 50% smaller sheaveNew coated ropes make the machine more compact.
- Up to 2 more personsIn the most common models, compared with the standard Flex.
- Car 140 mm widerAlso in the most common models. A through car and adjacent (90°) entrances are also possible.
Same load, 180-1000 kg, 2-13 persons, speed 1.0 m/s, up to 16 stops. The lift runs without a machine room or in an existing one. The catalogue has no dimension table for the Flex 200, and the manufacturer gives pit and headroom only as minimum values, so we take the exact figures from the drawing.
MP Flex entrances and power supply
| Entrances | One, or two at 180°. Two at 90° and three entrances on request. |
|---|---|
| Machine room | Not required, but a version with one is available. |
| Power supply | Single-phase option up to 480 kg. Speed may then drop to 0.8 or 0.5 m/s. |
| Adaptation | The manufacturer can adapt the lift to smaller dimensions on request. We confirm this only after the site survey. |
MP lifts in older buildings
The lifts were made by the MP factory and installed by various companies.
In a historic castle in Poznań, gearless lifts were installed in 2012. In Dnipro, a new MP lift replaced the old one in a ten-storey residential building.
Questions about MP Flex
Will MP Flex fit the shaft of our old lift?
We can give a definite answer on whether MP Flex will fit an existing shaft only after a site survey. We measure the width, depth, pit and headroom of the shaft and compare them with the MP Flex series in the table. If a few millimetres are missing, we send the manufacturer an adaptation request.
Can the old machine room be kept?
Yes, MP makes the Flex both without and with a machine room, and the Flex 200 can operate in an existing one. If the machine room is in good condition, we will also consider MP GO Room.
What if there is no shaft at all?
If there is no shaft, there are two options: find space inside the building or build an add-on shaft on a steel frame outside. Our own crews carry out the building works; more on this on the turnkey page.
If MP Flex is not suitable
More about the MP Flex lift
43D configurator
Will the lift fit your shaft
The configurator is preset with a compact six-person car for a shaft that was built for an old lift. Enter the dimensions you know to see whether it fits. We will check the rest during the free site survey.
Build a lift car in 3D