Exposed Cylinder Hydraulic Doors

Exposed cylinder hydraulic hangar door on a glass-front aircraft hangar

One custom door. Built for any opening.

Thought process Thought process Here's alt text for the Exposed Cylinder page images, in order: Overview/hero image (Beck's hangar with the business jet at sunset):

Exposed Cylinder is the PowerLift door trusted on everything from small shops to full-size aircraft hangars. The lifting cylinders are mounted in view — simple, serviceable, and proven — while the door itself is custom-fabricated on an all-welded steel frame and sized to your exact opening. Available in single-panel and bi-fold configurations from 4'×4' with standard sizing up to 130' wide and 30' tall — and larger for big projects with specialized engineering. It delivers the industry's lowest 0" headroom requirement and the best weather seal in the business. Whatever you're building, we design, build, deliver, and install the entire door.

Interior of an aircraft hangar with an exposed cylinder hydraulic door and a business jet

Why choose Exposed Cylinder

ANY SIZE, ANY OPENING

Single-panel or bi-fold, from 4'×4' up to 130' wide standard — and larger for major projects with specialized engineering. Our industry-exclusive outside mount can even add height and width when replacing an old bifold, fabric, or overhead door.

Large exposed cylinder hydraulic hangar door open on a steel hangar full of aircraft

BUILT TO LAST FOR DECADES

A one-piece, all-welded steel frame with no bolts or screws to fatigue or loosen, plus the best weather seal of any door on the market. Most doors are zero maintenance.

Exposed cylinder hydraulic door on a brick-and-glass building at sunset

RELIABLE IN ANY CONDITIONS

The industry-low 0" headroom requirement keeps building costs down, and backup operation — battery, generator, or tractor — keeps your door working through outages and severe weather.

Glass-front commercial building with an exposed cylinder hydraulic door reflecting the sunset

CUSTOM HYDRAULIC DOORS
34 YEARS
30,000+ INSTALLATIONS
BEST WEATHER SEAL

EXPOSED CYLINDER AT A GLANCE

Custom-built to your opening and finished your way.

4'×4' – 130'×30'+

Standard size range (larger with specialized engineering)

7-Year

Structural warranty (3-yr hydraulic components)

~1 Day

Typical installation

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the largest exposed cylinder door you can build?

Standard sizing runs from 4'×4' up to 130' wide and 30' tall, in single-panel or bi-fold configurations. Larger openings are possible for major projects with specialized engineering — tell us the opening and we’ll confirm what’s buildable.

What’s the largest exposed cylinder door you can build?

Can an exposed cylinder door replace my existing bifold or overhead door?

Yes, and our industry-exclusive outside mount can often add height and width in the process. Replacing an old bifold, fabric, or overhead door frequently ends up giving you a larger clear opening than you started with.

Can an exposed cylinder door replace my existing bifold or overhead door?

How much headroom does an exposed cylinder door need?

Zero. The 0" headroom requirement is the lowest in the industry, which keeps construction costs down on new builds and makes retrofits possible in buildings that can’t accommodate overhead track.

How much headroom does an exposed cylinder door need?

Zero. The 0" headroom requirement is the lowest in the industry, which keeps construction costs down on new builds and makes retrofits possible in buildings that can’t accommodate overhead track.

What happens if the power goes out?

Backup operation keeps the door working through outages and severe weather, with battery, generator, or tractor options depending on your setup. We spec the right backup during design so the door still opens when the grid doesn’t.

What happens if the power goes out?

Do the exposed cylinders need maintenance?

Most PowerLift doors are zero maintenance. The one-piece, all-welded steel frame has no bolts or screws to fatigue or loosen, and mounting the cylinders in view means they’re simple to inspect and service if anything ever does need attention.

Do the exposed cylinders need maintenance?

Should I choose single-panel or bi-fold?

Single-panel gives you one clean moving surface and the simplest operation; bi-fold reduces how far the door projects when open, which helps on tighter sites. We’ll walk your opening and clearances during the site visit and recommend the right one.