Screw Jacks

A screw jack turns a rotary motion into a lifting motion – much like a car jack with a crank. A motor or a hand crank turns the input shaft. Inside the housing is a worm gear: the worm on the input shaft drives a worm wheel, reducing the speed and increasing the torque. The worm wheel moves a threaded spindle. In the stationary-spindle version, the worm wheel has an internal thread and pushes the spindle out of the housing or pulls it back – the spindle lifts the load. In the rotating-spindle version, the spindle turns with the worm wheel and a nut on the spindle travels up and down with the load. How fast the load moves depends on the input speed, the gear ratio and the spindle lead.

Our screw jacks are designed for lifting forces exceeding 100 kN. The exact lifting force depends on the frame size, the lead of the spindle, and the chosen spindle type (trapezoidal or ball screw). Reinforced versions are available for exceptionally high loads. Contact us for a project-specific engineering consultation.

The lifting speed is determined by the spindle lead and the input speed. Trapezoidal screw spindles achieve moderate lifting speeds with high positioning accuracy, while ball screws allow higher travel speeds with reduced wear. The optimal configuration depends on your requirements for speed and load capacity.

Yes, our screw jacks can be combined into multi-axis systems via mechanical connecting shafts, bevel gearboxes, or electronic synchronization. This enables uniform lifting and lowering motion at multiple points, as required for lifting platforms, presses, or stage systems.

Trapezoidal screw spindles offer the advantage of self-locking – the load remains in position without an additional brake. They are also more cost-effective and more robust against contamination. Ball screws achieve significantly higher efficiency (approx. 90% vs. 30–50% for trapezoidal thread), higher lifting speeds, and a longer service life, but generally require a holding brake.

For use in demanding environments, we offer screw jacks with various protective measures, including bellows, telescopic covers, and special seals. In addition, corrosion-resistant versions for use in wet or chemically aggressive environments are available.

Self-locking depends on the spindle type used. Screw jacks with trapezoidal screw spindles are generally self-locking and safely hold the load in position without an additional brake. Versions with ball screws, on the other hand, are not self-locking and require an external holding brake, but offer significantly higher efficiency.

We offer screw jacks in both rotating and stationary spindle configurations. In the rotating version, the spindle rotates and the lifting nut travels linearly. In the stationary version, the spindle is fixed and the nut rotates, enabling a more compact design. Both versions are documented in detail in our catalogs.