Engineered Vertical. Installed on Schedule.
From pit buffer springs to machine room controllers — Ascend installs, modernizes, and maintains vertical transport systems for buildings that can't afford to stop moving.
Pit & Foundation Work
Every installation begins below grade. Our structural team excavates and forms the pit to ASME A17.1 specifications — buffer spring footings, sump drainage, and seismic anchor provisions engineered before a single rail goes up.
Concrete cure time is scheduled into the project timeline. We don't cut corners on foundation depth — a 5-foot pit deviation today becomes a $40,000 remediation in year three.
Shaft Steel & Guide Rail Installation
T-section guide rails are plumbed to ±0.5mm over the full shaft height. Each rail bracket is torqued to specification and documented. Deviations get corrected before the next floor — not after.
Our rail alignment process uses laser-guided plumb fixtures. The result is a cab that runs on geometry, not adjustment — and an inspection that passes on the first visit.
Cab Finishing & Door Operators
The cab is the passenger's entire experience. We install door operators, threshold plates, car operating panels, and interior finishes to the client's specification — from utilitarian powder-coat to brushed stainless and custom stone floors.
Door timing is set to the exact cycle count required for the building's peak traffic analysis. A lobby elevator in a 400-unit residential tower is programmed differently than a service lift in a distribution center.
Machine Room & Controller Programming
The controller is the brain. We program dispatch algorithms, fault logging, fire service modes, and building automation integration. Every parameter is documented in the commissioning package handed to the facility manager.
Our controllers support BACnet and Modbus integration for smart-building systems. Remote diagnostics are standard on all installations — we see faults before your tenant does.
Inspection & Certificate of Occupancy
We manage the AHJ inspection process from scheduling to sign-off. Our 99.7% first-inspection pass rate means your project timeline doesn't slip waiting for re-inspection. We hand over a complete documentation package: test records, wiring diagrams, and maintenance log.
The commissioning package includes load test records at 125% capacity, door timing logs, leveling measurements at every floor, and the controller's fault history — blank, as it should be.
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System Catalogue
Select Your System
Every Ascend installation is specified to the building — not configured from a catalogue. These are the platforms we build on.
Gearless Traction
Passenger & Residential
Machine-room-based permanent-magnet motors for buildings requiring high-cycle duty, smooth ride quality, and long service life. Ideal for commercial towers and premium residential.
Capacity
2,000 – 10,000 lbs
Speed
100 – 1,200 FPM
Floors
Up to 60 floors
Hydraulic
Low-Rise & Freight
Holeless and conventional hydraulic systems for 2–6 floor applications. Lower pit depth requirements make these ideal for retrofit and low-rise construction.
Capacity
2,500 – 12,000 lbs
Speed
25 – 150 FPM
Floors
2 – 6 floors
Machine-Room-Less
Mid-Rise Efficiency
Traction drive with overhead machine placement. Eliminates machine room real estate while delivering traction performance — the default choice for mid-rise residential.
Capacity
1,500 – 5,000 lbs
Speed
100 – 500 FPM
Floors
3 – 25 floors
Escalator & Moving Walk
Transit & Retail
KONE, Otis, and Schindler-compatible installations for transit hubs, retail concourses, and airport terminals. Step width 24" to 48", single or double-balustrade.
Capacity
10,000 persons/hr
Speed
90 – 120 FPM
Floors
Any rise
Transparent Pricing
Standard Configuration Pricing
Prices shown for standard configurations. Custom cab finishes, destination dispatch, and seismic upgrades are quoted separately.
All prices are installed cost including equipment, labor, permits, and first-year inspection. Excludes shaft construction, electrical rough-in, and pit waterproofing.
Standard
Low-rise hydraulic or MRL
Installed, 2–6 floors
Floors
2 – 6
Capacity
Up to 3,500 lbs
Lead Time
10 – 14 weeks
- Holeless hydraulic or MRL traction
- Standard cab interior (painted steel)
- Single-speed door operator
- ADA-compliant COP
- ASME A17.1 inspection included
- 1-year parts & labor warranty
Commercial
Mid-rise MRL or gearless traction
Installed, 6–20 floors
Floors
6 – 20
Capacity
Up to 5,000 lbs
Lead Time
14 – 20 weeks
- Gearless traction or MRL
- Premium cab interior (stainless option)
- Variable-speed door operator
- BACnet/BMS integration
- Remote fault diagnostics
- Fire service Phase I & II
- 2-year parts & labor warranty
High-Rise
Gearless traction, custom spec
Engineered per project
Floors
20 – 60+
Capacity
Up to 10,000 lbs
Lead Time
20 – 36 weeks
- High-speed gearless traction
- Custom cab design & finishes
- Destination dispatch system
- Seismic provisions (IBC 2021)
- Full BAS/BMS integration
- Dedicated commissioning engineer
- 3-year parts & labor warranty
Engineering Resources
Download the Ascend Spec Sheet
A 24-page technical reference for structural engineers, architects, and project managers. Compare shaft dimensions, load tables, and electrical requirements before the design is frozen.
Document Contents
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