An apparatus for lifting a load on an automated lifting cart, the apparatus comprising: a lifting surface (102, 124) connected to the lifting cart and vertically movable relative to the lifting cart; a first and a second pair of cams (130, 132, 134, 136), each pair of cams (130, 132, 134, 136) positioned underneath the lifting surface (102, 124) and having cam profiles shaped to lift the lifting surface (102, 124) upon rotation of each pair of cams (130, 132, 134, 136); characterized in that: the cam profiles of the first pair of cams (130, 132, 134, 136) are reversed in orientation in relation to the cam profiles of the second pair of cams (130, 132, 134, 136), and in that the first pair of cams (130, 132, 134, 136) is configured to rotate in an opposing direction from the second pair of cams (130, 132, 134, 136); the apparatus further comprising: a first encoder operable to read a rotation property of the first pair of cams (130, 132, 134, 136), and a second encoder operable to read a rotation property of the second pair of cams (130, 132, 134, 136); a controller configured to control rotational movement of each of the first and second pairs of cams (130, 132, 134, 136), the controller synchronizing the rotation properties of the first and second pairs of cams (130, 132, 134, 136) by matching output from the first and second encoders, a plurality of cam followers extending below the lifting surface (102, 124) to contact the first and second pairs of cams (130, 132, 134, 136). a lifting surface (102, 124) connected to the lifting cart and vertically movable relative to the lifting cart; a first and a second pair of cams (130, 132, 134, 136), each pair of cams (130, 132, 134, 136) positioned underneath the lifting surface (102, 124) and having cam profiles shaped to lift the lifting surface (102, 124) upon rotation of each pair of cams (130, 132, 134, 136); the cam profiles of the first pair of cams (130, 132, 134, 136) are reversed in orientation in relation to the cam profiles of the second pair of cams (130, 132, 134, 136), and in that the first pair of cams (130, 132, 134, 136) is configured to rotate in an opposing direction from the second pair of cams (130, 132, 134, 136); the apparatus further comprising: a first encoder operable to read a rotation property of the first pair of cams (130, 132, 134, 136), and a second encoder operable to read a rotation property of the second pair of cams (130, 132, 134, 136); a controller configured to control rotational movement of each of the first and second pairs of cams (130, 132, 134, 136), the controller synchronizing the rotation properties of the first and second pairs of cams (130, 132, 134, 136) by matching output from the first and second encoders, a plurality of cam followers extending below the lifting surface (102, 124) to contact the first and second pairs of cams (130, 132, 134, 136). a first encoder operable to read a rotation property of the first pair of cams (130, 132, 134, 136), and a second encoder operable to read a rotation property of the second pair of cams (130, 132, 134, 136); a controller configured to control rotational movement of each of the first and second pairs of cams (130, 132, 134, 136), the controller synchronizing the rotation properties of the first and second pairs of cams (130, 132, 134, 136) by matching output from the first and second encoders, a plurality of cam followers extending below the lifting surface (102, 124) to contact the first and second pairs of cams (130, 132, 134, 136).