Lifting Columns
Instead of placing lift guides (a mast) to one side of the lift, some Steplifts / Open Style Lifts have their guides at one end of the lift in order to optimise available floor space. The user actually passes between these columns when entering / exiting the lift at the upper level served and these guides / columns can perform the secondary function of acting as gate posts. A tail lift on the back of lorry operates on much the same principle. This fixing method relies heavily on having building material of a solid construction which is capable of accepting the loads imposed.
