Marine dumbwaiter
Oil Rig Dumbwaiter
A marine dumbwaiter solution modified for oil rig conditions and installed to help reduce manual carrying between levels.
Our Dumbwaiter Projects
Case Studies
See how dumbwaiters have been used across marine, residential, warehouse and commercial settings.
Australian Made & Manufactured
20+ Years Manufacturing
Rack & Pinion System
Residential & Commercial
Residential dumbwaiter
Residential Dumbwaiter
A 2 level, dual access dumbwaiter installed in a Mornington Peninsula home to move groceries, luggage and wine supplies from garage to pantry.
Warehouse dumbwaiter
Warehouse Dumbwaiter
A retrofit dumbwaiter installed to help move stock and office supplies to an upstairs storeroom without relying on narrow stairs.
Restaurant dumbwaiter
Melbourne Restaurant Dumbwaiter
A commercial dumbwaiter replacement supplied and fitted for a fire-damaged restaurant rebuild within a tight project timeframe.
Marine dumbwaiter
Marine Dumbwaiter Installation NSW
A dumbwaiter installed on the Fusion Cruises vessel in NSW to move meals and drinks from the galley to the upper deck.
Coffee shop dumbwaiter
Lygon Street Coffee Shop
A popular Lygon Street coffee shop installed a dumbwaiter to service its upstairs dining and function area.
School dumbwaiter
Ivanhoe Grammar School Dumbwaiter
A floor loading dumbwaiter installed during a library renovation to help staff move books safely between two levels.
Residential dumbwaiter
Beacon Hill Home Dumbwaiter
A residential dumbwaiter installed to help an elderly client stay safely in her two storey family home for longer.
Restaurant dumbwaiter
Sydney Restaurant Dumbwaiter
A Parramatta restaurant used multiple dumbwaiters to move meals, stores, dirty items and rubbish between kitchen and dining areas.
Oil Rig Dumbwaiter Installation
The Songa Mercur Oil Rig was located off shore near Singapore and was being refurbished before use in Australian waters. A dumbwaiter was required to comply with Australian Occupational Health and Safety regulations.
Background
The Songa Mercur Oil Rig required refurbishment and updating. Previously the staff had to carry items up and down steep stairs from the store room to the galley. This was a hazard due to the constant movement of the oil rig.
Approach
A 2 level 100kg dumbwaiter was installed, but it needed to be modified to allow for the marine conditions.
Challenges
The installation of the dumbwaiter had to be carefully planned to allow for the challenges of working on a moving vessel in the middle of the ocean. Two days of specialised training needed to be undertaken to allow for the flight to the rig.
Results
The dumbwaiter has become a necessary and much used tool for the staff. It has eliminated the hazardous task of transporting items up narrow stairs which were constantly moving. The dumbwaiter works quietly and effortlessly time after time.
Project gallery
Residential Dumbwaiter Installation
A typical 2 level, dual access dumbwaiter servicing garage to pantry.
Background
This luxury house on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria required a 2 level dumbwaiter. The client simply drives their car into a ground floor garage, opens their car boot and transfers their luggage, groceries and wine supplies into the dumbwaiter, then sends them directly to the kitchen/pantry.
Approach
Our recommendation was to use an AV4000PLC 2 Level Dumbwaiter, with 180 degree openings so items could be loaded on the south side and removed on the first level on the north side. Lifting capacity was rated at 100kg and the car was big enough to handle a suitcase: 800mm W × 600mm D × 1000mm H.
Challenges
Not a lot of space was available to fit a dumbwaiter that could handle the items required, especially in the kitchen/pantry area. The rack and pinion design made it possible for the dumbwaiter to work with minimal space.
Results
The dumbwaiter was required to fit in with the decor of the kitchen design. You do not notice the dumbwaiter until you need to use it.
Project gallery
Custom Fabricated Warehouse Dumbwaiter
A retrofit dumbwaiter fitted to the outside of the toilet block to access the upstairs area.
Background
World Vision moved into this warehouse with an upstairs store room and wanted to be compliant with WorkSafe. A dumbwaiter was needed to transfer stock and office supplies upstairs to avoid using the dangerous, narrow stairs.
Approach
A rack and pinion drive system was used. This only requires 90mm of space within the shaft, excludes the use of a motor pit and requires virtually no headroom above the lift car, unlike conventional hoists. The dumbwaiter is able to lift 100kg and attach a simple lift shaft on the wall face.
Challenges
Dumbwaiters Australia service lifts are supplied as a modular system, making them very easy to install when space is limited.
Results
“The lift is fantastic and very easy to use. We are all surprised at how quiet and smooth the lift runs. Thank you for a great result and being so easy to work with.”
Mr. Matt Knorr
Project gallery
Restaurant Dumbwaiter Melbourne
Iconic restaurant Limor’s International Steak House was on fire. The 30 year old dumbwaiter needed to be removed and a new unit supplied and fitted to withstand the demands of a commercial environment in 6 weeks.
Background
A Caulfield steak house was extensively damaged by fire. MFB received numerous calls to attend a blaze at Limor’s Restaurant in Kooyong Road, Caulfield North, about 7:36am.
Approach
The solution was the Premium Series DW4000-100, 2 level dumbwaiter. This unit is designed to cater for constant heavy work with a large volume stainless steel lined lift car and a 100kg capacity.
Results
The dumbwaiter has become a vital tool for the staff. It quietly and reliably performs a variety of transportation tasks.
Project gallery
Marine Dumbwaiter Installation NSW
A dumbwaiter installed on the boat Fusion Cruises in NSW.
Background
This marine vessel required a service lift/dumbwaiter to move meals and drinks to the upper deck from the galley located behind the bar. A rack and pinion drive system was ideal for this boat because space was critical, and this type of lift design maximises space better than any other unit on the market.
Approach
A rack and pinion drive system was used. This only requires 90mm of space within the shaft, excludes the need for a motor pit and requires virtually no headroom above the lift car, unlike conventional hoists. The dumbwaiter is able to lift 100kg and uses a soft start and stop to help avoid spillages.
Challenges
Another advantage of the rack and pinion system is that, when used in a marine vessel or ship, the four gears hold the lift very securely even while the vessel is in motion on open water.
Results
The dumbwaiter has become a vital tool for the staff. It quietly and reliably performs a variety of transportation tasks. It has eliminated the hazardous task of carrying heavy goods and meals upstairs to the upper deck.
Project gallery
Lygon Street Coffee Shop Dumbwaiter
A popular Lygon Street coffee shop needed assistance to serve customers in its upstairs functions and dining area.
Background
A popular Lygon Street coffee shop undertook a full renovation and installed a dumbwaiter to service the upstairs dining and function area.
Approach
The dumbwaiter had to fit with the decor specified by San Churro. It was decided that the Premium Series DW4000-100 would be the best option for their requirements.
Challenges
This commercial application required the dumbwaiter to be fitted within a 6 week time frame.
Results
The dumbwaiter has become a vital tool for the staff. It quietly and reliably transports food and drinks without spilling a drop. It has eliminated the hazardous task of carrying heavy goods and meals upstairs to the dining area.
Project gallery
Ivanhoe Grammar School Dumbwaiter
Ivanhoe Grammar School renovated their library in 2010 and needed a floor loading dumbwaiter to move books between two levels.
Background
Ivanhoe Grammar School required a floor loading dumbwaiter to move books between two levels as part of their library renovation. The unit needed to allow trolley loading, which meant the position of the dumbwaiter and the ramp design both had to be carefully considered.
Approach
This dumbwaiter uses a motor on top of the car to pull the unit to Level 2, where the library books are stored. The car is complete stainless steel construction with an inter-coupled drive platform and support platform underneath, connected with threaded rods.
Challenges
To allow the dumbwaiter to be used with a trolley, a ramp was used because the concrete slab could not be cut due to engineering concerns. Time allowance for construction and installation also had to fit within the project handover dates. As the dumbwaiter was accessible to students on Level 1, a key lock was used to prevent unauthorised use.
Results
The dumbwaiter has made the task of moving books much easier for staff. This result is also beneficial from a staff OH&S perspective.
Project gallery
Beacon Hill Home Dumbwaiter
An elderly client wanted to stay in her two storey family home for longer, and a dumbwaiter helped solve the problem of carrying items on stairs.
Background
Mavis had been living in her two storey home in Beacon Hill for 55 years. At 82, she was finding it increasingly difficult and hazardous to carry common items from floor to floor. To ease the burden of carrying heavy loads between floors, Mavis contacted Unique Integrations to see whether a dumbwaiter offered the right solution.
Approach
The recommendation was the installation of an Easy Series Dumbwaiter. This model allowed Mavis to safely transport goods from the garage to the kitchen with the press of a button. With careful planning, the dumbwaiter was designed to integrate seamlessly into the kitchen.
Challenges
The house was constructed in the 1970s and the kitchen was due for renovation. The new kitchen was to be relocated to a more spacious back room directly over the garage, allowing the dumbwaiter shaft to be constructed from the garage up into the kitchen. The opening was ideally located near the walk-in pantry and provided easy front opening access.
Results
A few years have passed and Mavis is thrilled with the results. The Easy Series Dumbwaiter has given Mavis and her beloved family home a new lease of life. She now lives without the fear of falling down stairs under the weight of groceries or laundry.
Project gallery
Sydney Restaurant Dumbwaiter
This Parramatta restaurant utilises multiple dumbwaiters: one for moving meals from the kitchen to the dining area, one for sending dirty items back to the kitchen for cleaning, and a trolley dumbwaiter for moving inward goods from ramp access on the opposite side of the kitchen.
Background
A Parramatta Chinese restaurant serving up to 500 people required a practical way to move goods, meals and dirty items between levels. The restaurant has two levels, with the kitchen on the lower level and additional dining on the second level. Access to the kitchen was restricted, with stores needing to be carried from a sub-level upstairs.
Approach
Three dumbwaiters were requested. One was used to transport meals from the lower level kitchen to the upstairs dining area. The second was used for transporting goods, and the third was used to move dirty items and rubbish back down to the kitchen.
Challenges
The stores lift was required to transport goods from the access ramp through a south-facing entry, then travel up around 1 metre so goods could be moved out on the opposite north side.
Results
These dumbwaiters have become a vital tool for the staff. They quietly and reliably perform a variety of transportation tasks. They have eliminated the hazardous task of transporting heavy goods to the kitchen and carrying meals upstairs to the dining area.
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