An industrial elevator for automatically handling paper rolls at high volume is described. The elevator includes load-receiving platforms at both the initial and final floor levels, interconnected by a chain suspension system such that each platform travels only one-half the distance between floors, meeting at an intermediate level where the roll transfers from one platform to the other before continuing on to the discharge level. Each platform includes a stop arm system which receives a roll, rolling on its lateral edge, absorbing its dynamic energy and bringing the roll to a stop. The roll is cradled on the stop arm such that, on positive release, a rolling motion is imparted to the roll and it rolls from the discharging platform.

An elevator system is provided with multiple sky lobbies to reduce the space required for elevator shafts and the space required for the entire elevator system, as well as the required elevator speed and motor capacity.Sky lobbies Ls.sub.1 Ls.sub.x are arranged above building lobby L.sub.G at ground level, with a prescribed number of floors between them. Shuttle elevator (1) stops only at building lobby L.sub.G and sky lobbies Ls.sub.1 Ls.sub.x, and passes through the various floors between lobbies by making them an express region. Local elevators service the floors in each bank between adjacent sky lobbies. Local elevators (2a), (2c), (2e), (2g) for the odd-numbered banks are arranged along the same elevator shaft, and local elevators (2b), (2d), (2f) for the even-numbered banks are arranged along another same elevator shaft.