Although you can find Hill Hiker’s hillside lifts all over the world—16 countries and 47 US & Canadian States, Provinces, and territories—they all come from our factory in Midwestern America. For nearly 30 years, we’ve committed to building quality, American-made products users throughout the world can trust. Here’s a quick look at how we do it.
Since Hill Hiker® started out, we’ve based our operations in Minnesota. In fact, our first lift was for a residence on Lake Minnetonka. Currently, Hill Hiker® has two facilities: an office in Orono, MN, and a manufacturing facility in Annandale, MN. The manufacturing facility in Annandale employs a dedicated team of shop managers, welders, fabricators, and machinists.
In-House Steel Fabrication
We take immense pride in our craftsmanship and quality control. That is why all of our heavy structural steel components—including the track, structural supports, chassis, and the elevator cars themselves—are fabricated in-house at our Minnesota facility.
By running the metalwork and majority of fabrication under our own roof, we ensure every custom system meets our rigorous standards for safety and extreme durability. Once the in-house fabrication is complete, trusted local midwestern galvanizers and painters finish our steel parts to provide maximum weather and corrosion resistance.
Premium Components
While we handle the heavy steelwork in-house, a hillside lift also relies on complex electrical and mechanical drive systems. When engineering our lifts, we carefully source top-tier, American and globally made components to power our systems:
-
Motors & Brakes: We utilize highly reliable, energy-efficient motors and brakes with a proven track record of enduring harsh outdoor conditions. Made in Germany and Italy.
-
Gearboxes: Our systems are driven by heavy-duty gearboxes manufactured by highly experienced production staffs right here in the U.S.
-
Safety Limit Switches: To ensure our carts never travel beyond their designated limits, we install the finest industrial-grade elevator rated limit switches and safety locks available.
-
Electrical Controls: From breakers and relays to programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and variable frequency drives (VFDs), our custom electrical panels are built with dependable components right here in the U.S.
Our American-made roots are just one of the things that set us apart from other lift manufacturers. We offer unparalleled quality because a Hill Hiker® spends all of its time outdoors in the elements. That’s why it’s so important you have a system built to last. Each of our lifts not only provides seamless passage up and downhill, but they withstand the pressures of time. Learn more about what sets our residential tram and commercial lift systems apart or contact us for a free estimate.
