What Is a Platform Lift and Why It Suits Home Installation
A platform lift is also known abroad as a vertical platform lift or wheelchair lift. It is a special type of lift designed to help everyone — particularly wheelchair users and people with limited mobility — travel between floors. Its key features are as follows.
- How it is used: it travels vertically, much like a conventional lift, and is normally used for short distances of about 1-3 floors — while Cibes Lift has developed its own version that can serve up to 6 floors.
- Structure: a flat platform floor, no enclosed cabin required, and usually no need for a lift pit or a lift machine room to drive it.
- Where it is installed: commonly in homes, small offices or public buildings where a traction lift is not feasible — perhaps because a traction lift requires a machine room on the top floor, or because it is simply too expensive.
- How it works: it travels at a low speed of no more than 0.15 m/s and requires the button to be held down for safety. (That said, although Cibes Lift is a platform lift, it does not require you to hold the button to travel between floors. You can use a Cibes Lift just like a conventional lift: press the button and the lift travels automatically to the floor you want.)
- Safety standards: in Europe, these lifts follow EN 81-41 (safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts – special lifts for the transport of persons and goods – vertical lifting platforms intended for use by persons with impaired mobility).
If you are considering installing a lift, it is worth learning more about safety — you can read our article 3 Home Lift Quality Certificates You Must Know Before You Buy!
The History of the Platform Lift in Thailand
A Cibes Lift platform lift installed at Phramongkutklao Hospital
The platform lift began to take hold in Thailand alongside growing awareness of disability rights and an ageing society. Once barely on anyone’s radar, it is now an essential part of designing buildings that work for everyone.
- Before B.E. 2543 Thailand relied mainly on conventional lifts in high-rise buildings. Platform lifts were not yet widespread and no regulations covered them. The Building Control Act B.E. 2522 set general building standards but did not yet address accessibility for people with disabilities.
- B.E. 2543-2552 A B.E. 2544 study by Mahidol University, FACILITIES FOR THE DISABLED IN THE COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS OF BANGKOK – ARE THEY ADEQUATE found that most public buildings had neither ramps nor lifts for people with disabilities. The Persons with Disabilities Quality of Life Promotion and Development Act B.E. 2550 made accessibility a legal right. The BTS Skytrain was criticised because not every station had a lift, while the MRT Blue Line was designed with lifts at every station.
- B.E. 2553-2562 New building laws required all new projects to provide facilities for people with disabilities. A B.E. 2558 Administrative Court ruling ordered lifts to be installed at every BTS station , yet by B.E. 2562 many stations still lacked complete accessibility. Retrofitting older buildings remained costly and complicated.
- B.E. 2563 to today As the population ages, demand for compact home lifts has climbed. Brands such as Cibes, Kalea and Ascenda have popularised screw-drive systems and designs that need no lift shaft to be built.
- Today the platform lift has become a symbol of Thailand’s progress towards inclusive design and support for an ageing society, helping older adults and people with disabilities move around more easily — at home, at the office or in public spaces.
Why Cibes Lift Builds Platform Lifts for Homes and Buildings
A V80 platform home lift in Phuket, installed in the stairwell void
With more than 79 years in the lift industry, Cibes Lift saw the problems with traditional lifts: they take up too much space, are difficult to install and do not suit homes or buildings with constraints. So we developed compact home lifts built on the platform principle — answering the need for space efficiency, easy installation and beautiful design, so everyone can reach every part of a building equally.
So, why does Cibes Lift develop platform home lifts for everyone? In short:
- The problem with older lifts Traction lifts take up a lot of space and take a long time to install, making them unsuitable for renovated homes or tight spaces.
- The Cibes Lift solution Combining the platform lift with a screw-drive system, which saves space and makes installation easy.
- Backed by experience Developing and manufacturing lifts since 1947, making us a leader in compact lifts for more than 79 years.
- What a platform lift is A platform that travels up and down inside a ready-made shaft, with passengers standing or seated in a wheelchair on the platform.
- The advantages of a Cibes platform lift are:
- No pit to excavate
- Supplied with a ready-made shaft
- Minimal footprint — the smallest model needs just 1 sq.m.
- Easy to install in a finished home, even with no shaft prepared
- Design that can be tailored beautifully to your interior
- And the goal that matters most is to let everyone reach every space equally.
If you are interested in installing a home lift, get in touch at https://configurator.cibeslift.co.id/homelift-form or, if you are wondering how much a home lift costs, read our article How Much Does a Home Lift Cost? 9 Factors That Make a Home Lift Cheaper or Pricier
Who Is a Platform Lift Right For?
- Homes of 2-6 floors that need every level genuinely connected
- Families with older adults, young children or wheelchair users
- Homes where design and natural light matter
7 Checklist Questions for Choosing the Right Platform Lift for Your Home
The V80 platform home lift needs no machine room, so no top-floor space is lost
- How many floors do you need to serve: homes of 2-6 floors
- Where in the home should it go: the stairwell void, the main hall, a corner of the house or outdoors
- How many entry and exit directions do you need per floor: some models let you position the lift door on several sides, making home installation even more flexible
- What platform size and landing space does your home have: allow room to turn or wait, especially for wheelchair users
- Which design suits your home’s theme: walls, glass, colour tones and lighting to match the character of the house
- What are the electrical system and structure like: load-bearing points, floors and beams, and cable routing — this is where a lift company should come and measure the space
What after-sales service does the lift company provide: a service team, spare parts held in country and reference cases — and what the lift maintenance cost looks like
Platform Lifts by Cibes Lift
A platform lift supplied with a glass shaft, for homes with no shaft prepared
A Cibes Lift platform lift is a home lift system that comes with a ready-made shaft — minimal site preparation and a bright, open design — with popular models such as the Cibes V80 and the KITHARA Lift to choose from. The same family also includes the Cibes Cloud Plus, Cibes Air, Cibes Uno, Cibes Classic and Cibes Extra, covering a wide range of home styles and budgets.
Recommended: Cibes V80 Platform Lift — Nordic Panoramic Design with a Smart Touchscreen Panel
Comparing the Cibes V80 platform lift with the Kithara Lift
The Cibes V80 is a new-generation platform lift from Sweden, distinguished by panoramic glass and a smart touch control panel that make it effortless to use. You can also choose entry and exit on up to 3 sides, so it fits your real floor plan more easily. On top of that, there are as many as 41 sizes to choose from, covering everything from compact homes to generous halls — and it is known for easy installation and minimal site preparation because it needs “no pit and comes with its own shaft”, suiting both new builds and renovations.
The Exceptional Luxury Design of the Cibes V80 Platform Lift
The Cibes V80 is the ultimate Scandinavian-designed home lift, bringing together luxury, technology and safety in one. It stands out with the Ecosilent 2.0 drive system, whisper-quiet at just ~40 dB for a smooth, undisturbed ride. Installation is easy with no pit and no machine room, and it saves space down to just 1 sq.m.
 Cibes V80 EleganceAn elegantly minimal model with clean lines and soft LED lighting that suits any home style, complete with smart touch controls and a quiet, comfortable ride every time. |  Cibes V80 AuroraUnderstated yet striking, with an all-round glass shaft that opens up the view, high-quality materials and safe operation — a perfect balance of beauty and performance. |  Cibes V80 Aurora+Our best-seller, freely customisable with a light-up Acrylic MoodWall — luxurious design fused with Smart Lift functionality for luxury-style homes. |  Cibes V80 GalaxyA cutting-edge home lift with RGBW LED mood lighting and the Ecosilent 2.0 drive running quietly at ~40 dB, luxurious glass design and easy installation with no pit — ideal for modern homes that want luxury and smart technology. |
The High-End KITHARA Lift — High-back Design with LiT RGBW Walls and a 27″ Control Panel
If you want your lift to be a work of art in your home, the KITHARA Lift is a High-back platform lift that catches the eye with glowing LiT RGBW walls offering up to 12 themes and music sync via Nanoleaf, creating a living play of light and shadow. It comes with a 27-inch touch control panel supporting face recognition and voice commands for high-end safety and convenience.
The Exceptional Luxury Design of the KITHARA Lift
- EcoSilent 2.0 with a PMSM motor for a smooth, quiet and efficient ride
- Safety Edge and the European EN 81-41 standard for platform lifts
A 360° safety-glass shaft plus a black ceiling with LED lighting brings a modern, luxurious look to your main hall
 KITHARA PLUSThe Kithara PLUS is a High-Back platform lift standing 2,300mm tall, offering design freedom with a distinctive luxury hexagonal wall — a genuine design innovation. Its LiT RGBW walls change colour across up to 12 themes, and it comes fully equipped with every function you need. |  KITHARA PRO MAXThe Kithara Pro Max is a High-back platform lift standing 2,300mm tall, designed to raise the bar for modernity with LiT RGBW walls and one-of-a-kind functionality. It changes colour in time with the music, completing an exceptional experience through Nano Leaf applications. |
Cibes V80 or KITHARA — Which Should You Choose?
- Want understated panoramic elegance, easy operation and flexibility in size and entry direction? Choose the Cibes V80 (41 sizes, touchscreen, entry and exit on 3 sides, no pit, shaft included) — a fit for a wide range of home styles and for both indoor and outdoor installations.
- Want the lift to be the centrepiece of your home, showcasing light, sound and high-end materials? Choose the KITHARA (High-back, LiT RGBW with 12 themes plus music mode, 27″ screen, Face ID and voice, EcoSilent 2.0, EN 81-41, 360° glass shaft) for a user experience and visual impact quite unlike anything else.
Where Is the Best Place to Install a Platform Lift?
Against a Wall or in a Corner
You can turn almost any corner into space for a Cibes home lift. Pick a spot that gives convenient access to the areas you use most — from the kitchen downstairs to the bedroom upstairs, for example — which is especially valuable for homeowners planning a lift. See corner and wall-side lift installations here
Outdoors
If there is no room inside the house, you can install a platform lift outdoors to connect every floor without eating into your living space. The structure and glass shaft are built to withstand the weather all year round, with a full protection package: a door canopy, IP-rated call buttons and an access control system of your choice — PIN code, key card, face scan or fingerprint scan — for maximum convenience and safety, to the EN81-41 standard. See outdoor lift installations here
In the Stairwell or the Stair Void
The stair void is often left unused, yet it is usually wide enough for a compact home lift — so the lift slots in seamlessly without disturbing the existing layout, while lifting the look of the house. It is even more striking with a full-height glass shaft that lets in light and views naturally. See examples of lifts installed in the stair void here
