Since its origin Richmond Elevator successfully designed and Installed Hydraulic Elevators. The first units being in ground direct action. These types of units require the drilling of a bore hole and the insertion of a Steel Cylinder with a PVC liner to house and protect the Hydraulic Jack.
The In Ground design has been used successfully for many years, they have however in some instances been subject to Corrosive; Acidic in ground contaminates which consequently damaged the integrity of the cylinder causing failures. With the inability to inspect the units whilst underground, visibly checking the oil level gauge within the Hydraulic Tank Unit, noted oil seepage within the Elevator Pit area, or the Elevator Cab failing to maintain floor level when parked, were the only known ways to determine if oil loss was apparent, or occasionally the catastrophic collapse of the Elevator Cab onto the Safety Buffers.
Eventually the use of Floor Mounted Hydraulic Jack(s) within the Elevator Hoistway eliminated the need for inground units and became the unit of choice.