New Generation of Lift Buffers

Latest product development for German-based company

by Andreas Kieffer

ACLA is a Germany-based company producing high performance polyurethane (PU) elastomers. The company was founded in 1930 to produce technical leather products such as leather drive belts and leather scrapers. Unfortunately, leather suffered under the high wear and tear to which it was exposed. Because of the outstanding properties, PU elastomers were used more and more often as a replacement for leather, and ACLA became one of the first companies producing high- performance PU elastomers. Today, ACLA produces more than 10,000 different products for more than 15 different industries. All products are made from cast elastomers, thermoplastic elastomers (TPU) or cell elastomers. Most of them are tailor- made for customers. The distribution channels are worldwide through partners and subsidiaries in the U.S., Spain and France.

Since 1963, the elevator industry has been one of the main industries to which ACLA offers products. Buffers, guide shoes, rail lubricators (oilers), roller guides, rope suspension springs and pulleys are included in ACLA’s product portfolio for the elevator industry.

The latest product development for ACLA is its new generation of lift buffers: AUTAN® XL. Having smaller expansion and deflection under load, AUTAN XL impresses with significantly improved load ranges compared to previous buffer series. With only three buffer sizes (six versions), ACLA covers almost the entire market demand. With this development, ACLA sets a benchmark in the worldwide market for lift buffers in the field of energy-storing lift buffers with non-linear- characteristic curve according to RL EU/2014/33; EN 81-20/50: 2020 and BS 81-20/50: 2014 (U.K.) and many more.

Advantages at a glance:

• A smaller series Ø 80 x 80 mm to Ø 125 x 80 mm with large application ranges from 180 kg min. Weight to 4.500 kg max.
• Replacement and surpassing of the Ø 100 x 80 mm buffer size of the AUTAN HE series by the smaller Ø 80 x 80 buffer of the new AUTAN XL series.
• Replacement and surpassing of the Ø 125 x 80 mm, Ø 140 x 80 mm and Ø 165 x 80 mm buffer size of the AUTAN HE series by the smaller Ø 100 x 80 mm buffer of the new AUTAN XL series. Buffers with 140/165 diameter are thus no longer necessary.
• Worldwide certification: The lift buffers of AUTAN XL are certified for the world’s most important sales markets including the Eurasian economic area: CE, UKCA and EAC.