GOING up and down flights of stairs of a landed residence may not be a problem for those in the prime of life.But spare a thought for the elderly, for whom such climbs are hugely challenging.
As a result, their living environment is restricted to only the ground floor.
Swedish home tech brand SWIFT offers a convenient and affordable solution with its futuristic home lifts that are stylish, environmentally-friendly and customisable.
SWIFT Malaysia managing director Winson Teh says unlike traditional elevators, their lifts are “single-phase plug and play” options which require only minimal installation space and building work.
“It’s an all-inclusive, self-contained system with its own shaft and power supply. There is no need for complex structural work like putting in a shaft or steel cables.
“The lift can be installed directly in a ready house in just a few days,” he adds, pointing out that they are ideal for residences with two to six floors.
Teh says the lifts’ key feature is the revolutionary 48V, 3kW battery-driven IPM-SynRM next generation motor inspired by Tesla technology.
Its dynamic EcoDrive feature recharges batteries when the lifts travel downwards. In normal use, power consumption is less than a microwave, ensuring sustainability.
People who normally feel anxious in elevators will be pleased to know that the SWIFT lifts have an avant-garde “anti-trap system” that enables it to continue operating even during power failure.
With a full charge, the batteries can still power the lift up and down for up to 20 times.
Teh says users will likely not even notice there is a power failure.
The lifts can be used by children, elderly folk and even pets, as it has safety features such as intelligent doors, safety sensors, dual brakes, child lock and floor lock.
These can be adjusted anytime via a 10-inch touch display with voice command option.
Rather than press a button, users can simply utter “living room” or “bedroom” and be automatically transported to the desired floor.
With variable speed control, the lifts can also travel softer and quieter than a dishwasher, minimising disturbance to other home occupants especially at night.
Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa and Xiaomi smart home systems are also supported. Design-wise, the lifts draw on minimalist yet trendy Nordic aesthetics.
It comes with a backlit acrylic glass art wall, and customisable ambient light and carpet colours to match each home’s interior design.
There is also remote 24/7 monitoring and support by the SWIFT service team.
Teh highlights a 2020 World Bank survey that showed over 7% of Malaysia’s population being over the age of 65 – with the figure expected to rise significantly in the coming decades.
“Most landed homes now have more than two floors and owners often worry about the mobility of elderly family members, or what would happen when they themselves get older.
“A home lift is definitely a good investment that futureproofs your residence. It allows the elderly to continue utilising every floor, creating a better living environment and improving quality of life for all in the family,” he says.
SWIFT lifts will have their global launch at the 21st International Architecture, Interior Design and Building Exhibition 2022 (ARCHIDEX) at the KL Convention Centre (June 29 to July 2).