Building access · Garaventa Genesis OPAL

Vertical platform lifts for buildings and homes.

When stairs become a barrier, the answer is not always a long ramp. The Genesis OPAL is an unenclosed vertical platform lift that bridges short-to-medium height differences — indoors or outdoors — for wheelchair users and people with limited mobility. Maya Mobility surveys the site, specifies the lift, and installs it.

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When a ramp is not enough — or not possible

A vertical platform lift carries the wheelchair between levels.

A chair stairlift requires the user to sit and leave the wheelchair behind. A ramp needs space most entrances do not have. A vertical platform lift solves this differently: you roll onto the platform in your wheelchair, the gates lock, and the lift moves you straight up or down — no transfer, no long slope.

The Garaventa Genesis OPAL is the model Maya Mobility specifies for unenclosed applications: residential porches, building entrances, split-level interiors, stages and public facilities. It installs directly on the floor or in a shallow pit, needs no machine room, and requires minimal architectural changes. Lifting height up to 3 metres, rated load 340 kg.

In motion

See OPAL vertical travel in a real setup.

A short product clip showing platform travel, gate operation, and landing access. The user stays in the wheelchair throughout the lift cycle.

01 · Outdoor access

Building entrances and garden levels.

The OPAL installs next to existing stairs at apartment buildings, public facilities, and homes. It bridges the height difference between the street and the entrance — without the footprint of a ramp.

02 · Indoor access

Split levels, stages, and mezzanines.

Inside a school, community centre, or split-level home the platform bridges the few steps that block a wheelchair. Hold-to-run controls ensure the lift only moves while a button is pressed.

03 · The platform

Roll on, ride up, roll off.

A non-skid platform with interlocked safety gates, under-platform obstacle detection, and a folding access ramp. The user stays in the wheelchair throughout — no transfer required.

Specified for real sites

Details that matter once the lift is in daily use.

No machine room

The drive mast houses all mechanical components. No separate room or shaft to build.

Indoor and outdoor

Anodised aluminium frame and weather-resistant panels. Suitable for porches, gardens and building entries.

Minimal construction

Install on a level surface or in a shallow pit. No hoistway required for the unenclosed model.

Safety gates & interlocks

Gates lock before travel. Under-platform obstacle sensor stops the lift if anything is detected.

Hold-to-run controls

The platform moves only while a button is pressed — release and it stops immediately.

Maya Mobility survey and install

Site measure, specification, commissioning and aftercare through Maya Mobility — not a catalogue sale.

Garaventa Genesis OPAL

Unenclosed vertical platform lift.

Application
Vertical platform lift · indoor & outdoor
Manufacturer
Garaventa Lift
Type
Unenclosed (open) · no shaft required
Rated load
340 kg (750 lb)
Lifting height
Up to 3 m (two lifting heights: 1143 mm / 1600 mm)
Drive
Hydraulic or leadscrew
Stops
2
Entry / exit
90° or 180° configurations
Controls
Hold-to-run · constant pressure operation
Safety
Interlocked gates · under-platform obstacle sensor · emergency stop · battery lowering
Installation
Floor mount or shallow pit · no machine room

Good to know

User stays in the wheelchair
Not a chair stairlift — no transfer
Indoor and outdoor rated
No machine room or shaft
Site survey before install
Maya Mobility specification & aftercare
Genesis OPAL platform detail with access ramp and safety gates
Non-skid platform with interlocked safety gates and folding access ramp.

FAQ

Questions before the site survey.

No. Vehicle lifts (BraunAbility, Fadiel) carry a wheelchair into a van. A vertical platform lift is a fixed building installation — it moves a person in their wheelchair between floor levels at a building entrance, split-level interior, or porch.
A chair stairlift requires the user to leave the wheelchair, sit on the stairlift chair, and ride the rail up the stairs. A vertical platform lift carries the user while they stay in the wheelchair — no transfer. The platform travels straight up, not along a staircase.
The Genesis OPAL is available in two standard lifting heights: 1143 mm (45″) and 1600 mm (63″). For greater heights — up to 14 feet (commercial) or 23 feet (residential, Canada) — enclosed models like the Genesis Enclosure or Shaftway are specified. Maya Mobility will recommend the right model after the site survey.
No machine room is required — the drive is built into the mast. The OPAL can be floor-mounted with an access ramp, or installed in a shallow pit for a flush entry. Local building codes may apply.
Yes. The OPAL is rated for indoor and outdoor use. Anodised aluminium construction and weather-resistant panels make it suitable for building entrances, porches, and garden levels.
The lift includes a battery-operated emergency lowering system. In a power failure, the platform can be lowered to the bottom landing so the user can exit safely.

Planning a vertical platform lift — or comparing options?

Send photos of the location (top landing, bottom landing, and the height difference), who will use it, and whether it is indoor or outdoor. A Maya Mobility specialist will tell you if the Genesis OPAL is the right fit — and what we need to measure on site.

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