The Only Practical Solution for Steep Lakefront Access
If you own a lakefront property with a steep grade between your home and the waterfront, you know the problem. Stairs get dangerous in wet or icy conditions. Carrying supplies, dock materials, or even groceries up and down a 30-metre elevation change gets old fast. For many property owners — especially as they age — the hill eventually makes the waterfront unusable. A hillside elevator solves that permanently.
AMP Engineering is one of only a handful of firms in Ontario that designs and builds hillside elevators from scratch. There is no off-the-shelf product here. Every system is custom-engineered for the specific site — the slope angle, the soil and rock conditions, the total rise, the loading requirements, and the exposure to weather. We handle the full lifecycle: initial site assessment, structural and mechanical design, steel fabrication, electrical systems, and on-site installation. You deal with one team from start to finish, not a chain of subcontractors pointing fingers at each other.
Our hillside elevators are designed as permanent infrastructure. The rail systems are built from structural steel, anchored to bedrock or engineered foundations, and designed to handle the freeze-thaw cycles, ice loading, and wind exposure that come with lakefront sites in Eastern Ontario. The carriage and drive systems are specified for reliable year-round operation with minimal maintenance. These are not lightweight seasonal accessories — they are engineered structures built to last decades.
Full Lifecycle Service
Site Assessment & Feasibility
On-site evaluation of slope conditions, soil and rock type, total rise, available power supply, and any Conservation Authority or municipal requirements that apply.
Structural & Mechanical Design
Complete engineering drawings for the rail system, foundation anchors, carriage platform, drive mechanism, and all structural steel — stamped by a licensed P.Eng.
Steel Fabrication
All structural steel components fabricated to specification — rails, supports, brackets, and carriage frame. Hot-dip galvanized or coated for long-term corrosion resistance.
Electrical & Drive Systems
Motor, cable, and control system specification and installation. Includes safety interlocks, emergency stop systems, and weatherproof controls at both stations.
On-Site Installation
Full installation by our crew — foundation work, rail setting, carriage assembly, electrical hookup, and commissioning. We manage the entire build on site.
Permitting & Approvals
Engineering documentation prepared for building permit applications, electrical permits, and any Conservation Authority or environmental approvals required for the installation.