FAIN Ireland has launched ION Green, an innovative new lift system designed to make lift installation significantly more accessible, affordable and sustainable for existing buildings across Ireland.
Developed to address many of the technical and financial barriers traditionally associated with lift installation and modernisation, ION Green combines ultra-low energy consumption with advanced regenerative technology, enabling it to operate from a standard single-phase 230V electrical supply without requiring an increase in contracted power in most buildings.
Significant opportunities across residential and commercial property sectors
The breakthrough is expected to unlock significant opportunities across the residential and commercial property sectors, particularly in apartment developments, office buildings, healthcare facilities, schools and older residential properties, where the cost and complexity of electrical upgrades and structural works have traditionally been major barriers to lift installation.
Unlike conventional lift systems, ION Green captures and reuses energy generated during operation, using technology comparable to the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) found in Formula One racing cars. Energy produced during braking and descent is stored and reused, dramatically reducing overall electricity consumption.
The result is a lift that consumes approximately 400 watts during operation, delivering energy savings of up to 96% compared with hydraulic lifts and more than 80% compared with conventional electric lift systems, while achieving the highest energy classification under the ISO 25745 standard.
Beyond its energy efficiency, ION Green has been designed with sustainability at every stage of its life cycle. The system uses recyclable materials, eliminates the need for hydraulic oils and significantly reduces maintenance requirements, helping building owners lower both environmental impact and long-term operating costs.
The lift also provides enhanced resilience during power outages. Integrated battery technology enables the lift to continue operating for more than 100 journeys without external electricity, maintaining service continuity and significantly reducing the risk of passengers becoming trapped.
Michael Kelly, general manager of FAIN Ireland.
Michael Kelly, general manager of FAIN Ireland, said: "Across Ireland, thousands of buildings would benefit from improved accessibility, but too often lift projects are delayed or abandoned because of electrical requirements, construction complexity or ongoing operating costs. ION Green changes that equation entirely. It has been designed to remove many of those barriers while dramatically reducing energy consumption, making modern lift technology accessible to far more buildings."
Continuous remote monitoring
Safety has also been enhanced through a range of intelligent features including automatic emergency evacuation, firefighter operating modes and continuous remote monitoring through FAIN 360°, the company's connected maintenance platform. The system enables real-time diagnostics and predictive maintenance, helping engineers identify and resolve issues before they affect lift performance.
FAIN has also introduced an innovative video assistance feature designed to improve communication during emergency situations, particularly for passengers with hearing impairments. In the event of ] lift breakdown, users can view a live video feed of the technician managing the incident, providing reassurance while maintaining full compliance with data protection regulations.
ION Green forms part of the FAIN Group’s wider ION platform, which has been designed to evolve alongside buildings over time. Systems can be upgraded as requirements change, including integration with solar photovoltaic technology through the company's ION Solar solution, allowing building owners to further reduce energy consumption as part of wider sustainability programmes.
Michael Kelly added: "Buildings are becoming smarter, more connected and more energy efficient. Lifts should be no different. Rather than viewing a lift as simply another operational cost, we believe it should be seen as an intelligent piece of infrastructure that contributes to the overall efficiency, sustainability and accessibility of the building."
As Ireland continues to retrofit existing buildings to meet accessibility requirements and climate targets, FAIN believes technologies such as ION Green will play an increasingly important role in delivering practical, cost-effective and sustainable mobility solutions.