Project Details
Introduction
As part of the same building retrofit, the new owner commissioned Hin Chong to replace the property's passenger lift entirely with a brand new installation. Where the cargo lift received a full modernisation, the passenger lift warranted a complete replacement - a different scope, driven by different priorities.
This case study covers the passenger lift replacement. The concurrent cargo lift modernisation at the same property is documented separately.
The Challenge
Problem
The passenger lift had been in service for over 25 years and, like the cargo lift, was burdened by ageing components and increasing obsolescence. But the passenger lift carried a different set of expectations.
The new owner hosts clients and customers on site regularly, so the lift is one of the first things visitors see. The old lift's dated appearance and travel speed did not match the professional image the owner wanted to project. The building is also being tenanted across two levels, and a worn-out passenger lift would undercut the rental yield the owner was positioning for.
Three priorities shaped the decision to replace rather than modernise:
- Aesthetics: A brand new lift car and interior to present a positive image to visiting clients
- Rental value: A modern passenger lift that supports higher rental yield across the two tenanted levels
- Obsolescence: A full replacement removes every legacy component issue from the outset
Solution
We carried out a complete passenger lift replacement. This goes beyond modernisation: not only the control and driving systems, but the entire lift car, guide rails, counterweight, and shaft components were replaced with new.
The replacement scope:
Lift Control System (Electrical & Electronic)
- New microprocessor-based controller and drive
- Replacement car operating panel (COP) and hall operating panel (EBOPS)
- Modern display indicators
- Complete rewiring
Driving System (Mechanical)
- New main motor
- All new main wire ropes
- Modern overspeed governor
Lift Car and Shaft
- Brand new lift car body and interior
- New guide rails and counterweight assemblies
The replacement was sequenced alongside the broader building retrofit. The passenger lift work ran from early January to mid-February 2026.
Key Results and Outcomes
The new passenger lift delivers on each of the owner's objectives:
- Professional appearance: A clean, modern interior that makes the right impression on visiting clients and customers
- Stronger rental positioning: A new passenger lift supports the rental yield the owner is targeting for the two tenanted levels
- Obsolescence removed: Current-technology components throughout, with spares readily available
- Improved ride experience: Smoother, faster travel replacing the ageing system's performance
The owner was particularly satisfied with the finished lift's appearance, which aligned with the corporate image they wanted the building to project.
Conclusion
A passenger lift replacement is a larger commitment than a modernisation, but for a building where the lift is visible to clients and tied to rental value, it is often the right one. Hin Chong's decade-long maintenance relationship with this property meant we could plan and execute both the cargo lift modernisation and the passenger lift replacement in parallel with confidence, delivering two renewed lift systems as part of a single coordinated building upgrade.
