A vertical reciprocating conveyor (VRC) is a powered material lift that raises and lowers freight between building levels on a guided carriage. Governed by ASME B20.1, not the elevator code, a VRC moves material and not people, which makes it faster to permit and far less costly than a freight elevator for the same lift.

Quick facts

•   Moves pallets, carts, totes, and equipment between floors, mezzanines, and pits

•   Built to ASME B20.1, the conveyor safety standard, and exempt from the elevator code

•   Configurations: straddle (2-post), cantilever (2-post), and 4-post heavy duty

•   Capacities from a few hundred pounds to 30,000 lbs, travel from 12 ft to 30 ft and beyond

•   Mechanical or hydraulic drive, with drop locks or velocity fuses for fall protection

•   C, Z, and 90 degree loading patterns to match your traffic flow

What is a vertical reciprocating conveyor?

A vertical reciprocating conveyor moves material straight up or down between levels on a carriage that travels along fixed guide columns. A drive system raises and lowers the carriage, interlocked gates enclose each landing, and the load rides alone with no operator on the platform. VRCs connect mezzanines, balconies, basements, and multi-floor process lines where stairs, ramps, or forklift travel would otherwise slow the operation.

The defining fact is regulatory. A VRC is built to ASME B20.1, the conveyor safety standard, and is specifically exempt from the national elevator code because it carries material, not people. That exemption is why a VRC permits faster and costs a fraction of a freight elevator rated for the same load. Riding the carriage is prohibited, and that single design boundary is what keeps a VRC in the conveyor category.

VRC configurations and capacities

Specifications below reflect verified manufacturer ranges across the industry. HOJ specs the exact configuration to your load, travel, and opening. Final ratings come from the selected manufacturer model sheet.

How does a VRC differ from a freight elevator?

A VRC and a freight elevator both move loads between floors, but they fall under different codes and serve different purposes. A freight elevator is built to the ASME A17.1 elevator code, may carry an operator, and requires the inspection, permitting, and cost that come with people-rated equipment. A vertical reciprocating conveyor is built to ASME B20.1, carries material only, and prohibits riders. For moving freight between levels, the VRC delivers the same lift at lower cost and a simpler permit path.

Where are vertical reciprocating conveyors used?

•   Raising palletized loads to and from storage mezzanines

•   Connecting multi-level pick, pack, and SLAM process lines

•   Moving carts, totes, and equipment between production floors

•   Serving basements, balconies, and pits where ramps waste space

•   Feeding loads into and out of automated conveyor at a second level

What safety features does a VRC need?

A VRC carries fall protection sized to its drive type: mechanical units use drop locks that catch the carriage if a chain fails, and hydraulic units use velocity fuses that lock the cylinder if the carriage descends too fast. Interlocked gates keep every landing closed until the carriage is present, and overload protection, emergency stops, and maintenance safety props round out a B20.1-compliant installation. Riding the carriage is never permitted.

Plan a VRC installation

HOJ engineers and installs vertical reciprocating conveyors as an independent integrator, matching straddle, cantilever, or 4-post designs and mechanical or hydraulic drives to your load, travel, and building. Talk to a specialist.