Multi-story homes require an elevator that performs consistently across every floor, every day, for years. Symmetry inline gear drive elevators from Cibes Symmetry are built on a traction elevator drive system that delivers that performance without the maintenance demands of a hydraulic system. They run without hydraulic oil, carry full residential loads smoothly across two, three, or four stops, and bring the ride quality and cab experience that full custom homes and multi-story new construction projects call for.
American Elevator has installed inline gear drive residential elevators across Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina since 1997. Every project is handled by state-licensed technicians from initial site planning through final state inspection. No subcontractors. No handoffs.
Cibes Symmetry’s inline gear drive residential lineup includes several platforms, each built around the same oil-free traction elevator drive system with different footprints, finish levels, and configuration options. American Elevator installs all three across Georgia and the Carolinas and carries the technical depth to help you choose the right model for your home’s layout and your project’s goals.
The Symmetry Residential Elevator is the foundational platform in the Cibes Symmetry inline gear drive lineup, built around a dependable, oil-free machine-room-less elevator drive system that travels multiple floors without the maintenance overhead of a hydraulic system. It is a well-specced residential elevator that fits cleanly into new construction shafts and retrofit hoistways across a wide range of home layouts and travel heights.
The Symmetry Dream is a premium inline gear drive residential elevator built for custom home projects where both ride performance and cab finish quality matter, with a depth of interior customization that lets the elevator integrate visually with the rest of the home rather than stand apart from it. Homeowners can choose from 13 design options, including a backlit panel that turns the cab wall into a soft, glowing focal point, alongside a range of wood finishes selected for their grain and richness. It is the right choice for homeowners and builders who want a multi-stop residential elevator that can be specified to match the design standards of the home it serves.
The Symmetry Asterix is a residential inline gear drive elevator that shares its core ride performance with the Symmetry Dream, distinguished instead by its own design language and finish palette. Upgraded lighting, a curated range of wood finishes, and flooring choices give homeowners another way to carry the same materials found throughout the home into the cab itself. It is the right choice for homeowners who want a fully customized residential elevator with its own distinct look, without any compromise on ride quality or capacity.
American Elevator has operated in the Southeast since 1997, and our coverage model is built around long-term accountability, not one-time installs. Whether you are planning a new construction elevator, a retrofit, or a lift, our process stays consistent for every modern home elevator installation we complete.
An inline gear drive residential elevator requires a dedicated hoistway built to the specifications of the platform you are installing. That includes confirmed interior shaft dimensions, landing door openings at each stop (and specific centerlines), a pit at the base of the hoistway, and appropriate overhead clearance at the top. Electrical requirements vary by model and number of stops. American Elevator reviews all of these requirements with your team early, before plans are locked, so shaft construction and rough-in decisions are made with accurate information rather than corrected after framing begins.
Inline gear drive elevators are installed in both existing homes and new construction. In new construction, early coordination gives you the most flexibility in shaft placement, dimensions, and finish integration. In an existing home, feasibility depends on whether there is a practical location to build a hoistway, whether that space can accommodate the required shaft dimensions, and how electrical and structural modifications will be managed. American Elevator assesses both types of projects and walks you through exactly what your home requires before any commitments are made.
Once the shaft is built, rough-in is complete, and permits are in order, most inline gear drive elevator installations are operational within a few days of the installation crew arriving on site. Total project timeline depends on the scope of shaft construction, local permitting timelines, and coordination with other trades during the build. Because American Elevator’s in-house team manages everything from planning through final state inspection, the installation phase stays organized and you are not coordinating between separate vendors.
We handle the elevator installation and manage coordination around the shaft, but hoistway construction is typically completed by your general contractor or framing crew according to the specifications we provide. American Elevator delivers precise shaft dimensions, landing door rough-in locations, pit requirements, and electrical placement early in the process so the shaft is ready when the installation crew arrives. That early coordination is one of the most important contributions we make on multi-story new construction projects, and it prevents the rework that happens when elevator specs get addressed late in the build.
Hydraulic elevator systems rely on oil to power the cab, which means oil levels need to be monitored, seals can wear and leak over time, and oil disposal becomes part of the long-term maintenance picture. Inline gear drive elevators from Cibes Symmetry run without hydraulic oil entirely, removing those concerns from the equation. The drive system is mechanical rather than fluid-based, which simplifies annual maintenance and eliminates the environmental and liability risk associated with hydraulic oil. American Elevator services what it installs, and our maintenance programs are built around the annual visit required by state code, keeping your system compliant and performing consistently.
