screw-actuated lift

stage machinery

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Last updated

July 13, 2026

Quick Summary

A screw-actuated lift is a type of stage machinery used in theaters to move platforms, actors, or scenery above or below the stage floor. Unlike a hoist, which is supported by the structure above the stage, a lift is guided and supported by the stage floor or the floor beneath it.1

In a screw-actuated lift, an electric or hydraulic motor drives a vertical screw. A nut connected to this screw is attached to a section of the stage floor, causing the stage section to move up or down as the screw rotates. These lifts are often permanently installed and must be designed to meet specific production needs, considering factors like frequency of use and the types of events to be accommodated.1

A "stage screw" is a different item, a tapered screw with a handle resembling a corkscrew, used to fasten stage braces to the floor.2

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stagecraft
Lifts
The other type, the screw-actuated lift, is either electrically or hydraulically driven and is coupled to a vertical screw through a nut in which the upper end of the screw is connected to a portion of the stage floor.
Read More
The other type, the screw-actuated lift, is either electrically or hydraulically driven and is coupled to a vertical screw through a nut in which the upper end of the screw is connected to a portion of the stage floor.
Read More