Now at Creative Caster
SANO stairclimbers and handtrucks
One person. Any staircase. Up to 800 lbs.
We sell SANO powered stairclimbers. One person can take a refrigerator, a safe, or a water heater up a flight of stairs with one of these. They're built in Austria, put together in Georgia, and we have them here in Elk Grove Village where you can try one.
- 1,000 lbsMaximum load on flat ground (LiftKar HD Pro)
- 800 lbsMaximum load up and down stairs (LiftKar HD Pro)
- 2,000Steps per charge, approx., on the LiftKar SAL Pro
- 1Operator, on a job that used to take two
Why we started carrying SANO
Stairs are the hard part of the job.
Anything that has to go up or down stairs takes two people, takes longer, and it's where backs get hurt. SANO has been making stairclimbers for over 35 years. We looked at a few brands before we picked one to carry, and this is the one we put our name on.
Two ratings, not one
Every stairclimber carries less on the stairs than it does on flat ground. SANO puts both numbers on the spec sheet. We'll tell you which one matters for what you're moving.
The motor does the lifting
Going up, the machine climbs one step at a time on its own. Coming down, the motor holds it back so the load comes down at a steady speed. You're steering it, not lifting it.
Works on spiral stairs
Straight, spiral, tight landings, any step up to 8.27” tall. There's a light for dark stairwells, and the HD Pro has a brake that catches the edge of the step on its own.
We service them here
Aluminum frame, bolted two-piece rims, and a tire swap takes about 10 seconds. We stock parts and do the service in our shop. You don't ship it anywhere.
The core line
Two stairclimbers. Pick by weight.
The SAL Pro is the lighter, faster one for delivery work. The HD Pro is for the heavy stuff that used to take a crew and a ramp.
Lithium powered. Feather light. Super fast.
This is the one most people end up with. Appliances, boxes of copier paper, cabinets, oxygen cylinders. It rolls like a regular handtruck until you get to the stairs, then it climbs up to 48 steps a minute. The base unit is about 34 lbs without the battery, and the folding models fit in a trunk.
| Capacity on stairs | 245 / 310 / 375 lbs (110 / 140 / 170 kg) |
|---|---|
| Capacity on flat ground | up to 660 lbs (300 kg) |
| Climbing speed | up to 48 steps/min. |
| Range per charge | approx. 2,000 steps |
| Battery | Li-Ion 7.2 Ah, 3.5 lbs (1.6 kg) |
| Base unit weight | from 33.9 lbs (15.4 kg) |
| Maximum step height | 8.27” (210 mm) |
Weight depends on the model; the FOLD is 34.6 lbs. Loop, round, or pistol grip, whatever you like. Different toe plates are available. A tire change takes about 10 seconds.
Lithium powered. Super strong. High autonomy.
For the heavy stuff. Boilers, cast-iron stoves, vending machines, elevator motors, big copiers. It has two climbing speeds and two modes, one step at a time or continuous, so you can slow down on a tight landing and move quicker on a straight run. The step-edge brake is on the second you power it up. Every model except the FOLD-XL works as a regular handtruck on flat ground too.
| Capacity on stairs | 440 or 800 lbs (200 or 360 kg) |
|---|---|
| Capacity on flat ground | up to 1,000 lbs |
| Climbing speed | 9–15 or 6–10 steps/min. |
| Range per charge | up to 700 steps |
| Battery | Li-Ion 7.2 Ah, 3.5 lbs (1.6 kg) |
| Base unit weight | from 78.9 lbs (35.8 kg) |
| Maximum step height | 8.27” (210 mm) |
Two capacity classes in the US: 440 lbs at 9–15 steps a minute, or 800 lbs at 6–10. The FOLD-XL is for stairs only. Puncture-proof tires and the HD 530 toe plate come standard.
The rest of the line
The rest of the SANO line.
SANO makes more than stairclimbers. We can get you any of these. Same aluminum frame and wheel system, and we support all of it out of our shop.
Powered · cabinet & fixture installation
This is a SAL Pro UNI 170 set up with SANO's lifting attachment and puncture-proof tires. Made for installers. It takes an upper cabinet up the stairs and lifts it into place so nobody is holding it overhead.
- 375 lbs (170 kg) on stairs
- Lifting attachment approx. 47.6 lbs (21.6 kg)
- Stainless plate 23.25” × 14.75”
Manual · modular handtruck
The LiftKar frame without the motor. Built from the same parts, so you can swap pieces to fit the load. Comes as the BASIC, BOXER, BOXER Pistol, Dolly Kick-Out, and the AQUA for water delivery.
- Up to 660 lbs (300 kg)
- From 22 lbs (10 kg)
- Wheel change in about 10 seconds
Manual · 2-in-1 convertible
Handtruck one minute, four-wheel platform cart the next. Converts in a few steps with no tools. Good for long or bulky loads, or when you'd otherwise need two carts.
- Up to 660 lbs (300 kg) either way
- 36 lbs (16.5 kg)
- Air tires plus braked swivel casters
Manual · lifting handtruck
A handtruck that lifts. Crank the load up to working height instead of bending over it. It uses a 2” strap winch, not a chain, so it's quiet and there's nothing to grease.
- 265 lbs (120 kg)
- Lifts to 43”, 51”, or 63”
- Fork or universal-plate load support
Manual & powered · keg handling
Five keg trucks: BREW, STOUT, NITRO, ELEVATE, and HIGH GRAVITY. Between them they cover rolling, stairs, and lifting. The BREW and ELEVATE have SANO's KegKatch, so you grab a keg with one hand.
- Transport up to 660 lbs (300 kg)
- ELEVATE climbs at 48 steps/min.
- NITRO and HIGH GRAVITY lift to 43”
Who uses them
Who buys these.
Appliance delivery
Refrigerators, ranges, washers and dryers into walk-ups and basements.
HVAC & plumbing
Boilers, water heaters, condensers, and steel tanks up attic and cellar stairs.
Office & IT
Copiers, server racks, safes, and cases of paper between floors.
Food & beverage
Kegs, cases, and dollies into cellars, taprooms, and basement coolers.
Healthcare & labs
Oxygen cylinders, sterilizers, and equipment where elevators are not an option.
Last-mile & moving
Crates and cartons from the truck to the third floor, by one driver.
Talk to us
Come see one climb.
Tell us what you're moving, how many flights, and how often. We'll tell you which machine fits and, just as important, which one doesn't. Then come see it for yourself.
We've been in Elk Grove Village since 2001. Casters and wheels, handtrucks, platform trucks, furniture dollies, Johnson bars. We also repair casters and wheels, and we don't charge labor for it.
Authorized SANO dealer
Creative Caster, Inc.
1060 Pauly Dr.Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 (847) 981-9214
Saturdays by appointment.