Stannah Lifts
Encyclopedia
Stannah Lifts Holdings Ltd is a manufacturer of lifts based in Andover, Hampshire
. Founded in 1867 in London
as a crane and hoist manufacturer, the company began to produce lifts shortly after. Although varying types of lifts are manufactured by the company, it is best known for its stairlift
s with which the company's name has become synonymous.
The company headquarters and stairlift division are located within the Portway Industrial Estate on the western outskirts of Andover. Its microlift
division is located in a separate building within the same estate, whilst its passenger lift division is located near to the town centre. The company also operates a factory in Newburn
, near Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and its escalator
division is based in Norwich
. Stannah Lifts is ranked #176 on the 2010 edition of the Top Track 250
list of companies published by The Sunday Times
.
, before moving to Bankside
in the early 20th century. The company remained here until the site was destroyed during the London Blitz. The chairman at the time, Leslie Stannah, built new headquarters at Tiverton Street, Southwark
using compensation money awarded to the company.
Stannah Lifts moved from London to Andover in 1974, produced its first stairlift the following year, and began exporting in 1979. From there, it established itself as the leading manufacturer of stairlifts worldwide, as well as Britain's largest lift manufacturer. Subsidiaries were opened in the United States and Holland in 1994, and Slovakia in 2003. The company also purchased distributors in Ireland in 2005, and Norway in 2010. The company produced its 500,000th stairlift in February 2011 during a visit by the Prince of Wales
to the Andover headquarters.
. The Maxilift range is available in car sizes for between 6 persons / 450 kg and 16 persons / 1200 kg. The lift system is either wall-mounted or supported by an independent structure, and is powered by either a conventional lift motor (mounted in a separate lift motor room), a hydraulic drive system
or a traction motor
.
The Midilift range is designed for use in low-rise buildings or low use applications up to a maximum height of 12 metres, and is a structurally-supported system with a traction drive motor and partially-enclosed car. The Xtralift range is designed for high use applications and is available in six standard models for between 17 persons / 1250 kg and 33 persons / 2500 kg. Lifts in this range are fitted within a modular structure and driven by a traction motor.
has rated capacities of 50 kg and 100 kg, and is available in models designed for restricted headrooms and spaces. This includes a 'double decker' version, incorporating two cars in a single shaft.
Andover, Hampshire
Andover is a town in the English county of Hampshire. The town is on the River Anton some 18.5 miles west of the town of Basingstoke, 18.5 miles north-west of the city of Winchester and 25 miles north of the city of Southampton...
. Founded in 1867 in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
as a crane and hoist manufacturer, the company began to produce lifts shortly after. Although varying types of lifts are manufactured by the company, it is best known for its stairlift
Stairlift
A stairlift is a mechanical device for lifting people and wheelchairs up and down stairs. For sufficiently wide stairs, a rail is mounted to the treads of the stairs. A chair or lifting platform is attached to the rail...
s with which the company's name has become synonymous.
The company headquarters and stairlift division are located within the Portway Industrial Estate on the western outskirts of Andover. Its microlift
Dumbwaiter (elevator)
Dumbwaiters are small freight elevators intended to carry objects rather than people. Dumbwaiters found within modern structures, including both commercial and private buildings, are often connected between two floors...
division is located in a separate building within the same estate, whilst its passenger lift division is located near to the town centre. The company also operates a factory in Newburn
Newburn
Newburn is a semi rural village, parish, electoral ward and former urban district in western Tyne and Wear, North East England. Situated on the banks of the River Tyne, it is built rising up the valley from the river...
, near Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and its escalator
Escalator
An escalator is a moving staircase – a conveyor transport device for carrying people between floors of a building. The device consists of a motor-driven chain of individual, linked steps that move up or down on tracks, allowing the step treads to remain horizontal.Escalators are used around the...
division is based in Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
. Stannah Lifts is ranked #176 on the 2010 edition of the Top Track 250
Top Track 250
The Top Track 250 is a list published by British newspaper The Sunday Times each year ranking Britain's top 250 Mid-market private companies by their turnover over the previous year, from published accounts.- Sunday Times 2010 Top Track 250 :...
list of companies published by The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times is a British Sunday newspaper.The Sunday Times may also refer to:*The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times...
.
History
The company was founded in London in 1867 by Joseph Stannah, who had worked as an engineer since the 1820s. Initially a manufacturer of cranes and hoists for transporting ships' cargo, the company began to make hand-powered passenger lifts at the turn of the 20th century. Its first headquarters were located on Southwark Bridge RoadSouthwark Bridge Road
Southwark Bridge Road is a road in Southwark, London, England, between Newington Causeway near Elephant and Castle and Southwark Bridge across the River Thames, leading to the City of London, in a meandering route...
, before moving to Bankside
Bankside
Bankside is a district of London, England, and part of the London Borough of Southwark. Bankside is located on the southern bank of the River Thames, east of Charing Cross, running from a little west of Blackfriars Bridge to just a short distance before London Bridge at St Mary Overie Dock to...
in the early 20th century. The company remained here until the site was destroyed during the London Blitz. The chairman at the time, Leslie Stannah, built new headquarters at Tiverton Street, Southwark
Southwark
Southwark is a district of south London, England, and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Southwark. Situated east of Charing Cross, it forms one of the oldest parts of London and fronts the River Thames to the north...
using compensation money awarded to the company.
Stannah Lifts moved from London to Andover in 1974, produced its first stairlift the following year, and began exporting in 1979. From there, it established itself as the leading manufacturer of stairlifts worldwide, as well as Britain's largest lift manufacturer. Subsidiaries were opened in the United States and Holland in 1994, and Slovakia in 2003. The company also purchased distributors in Ireland in 2005, and Norway in 2010. The company produced its 500,000th stairlift in February 2011 during a visit by the Prince of Wales
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
to the Andover headquarters.
Stairlift division
The company's stairlift division manufactures new stairlifts for purchase or rental, as well as reconditioning pre-used units. Five models are produced for both straight, curved and external staircases, with all units run on a rail fitted to the stair tread and powered via a mains-charged battery. The lift is controlled by a control pod or a joystick attached to the arm of the seat (depending on the model), together with a remote controller. All models are fitted with a seatbelt and safety edges, which will stop the lift if an obstruction is encountered. The Solus and Sofia models are also fitted with a seat load sensor, which prevents movement of the lift unless the occupant is safely seated.Passenger lift division
The company produces three ranges of passenger liftsElevator
An elevator is a type of vertical transport equipment that efficiently moves people or goods between floors of a building, vessel or other structures...
. The Maxilift range is available in car sizes for between 6 persons / 450 kg and 16 persons / 1200 kg. The lift system is either wall-mounted or supported by an independent structure, and is powered by either a conventional lift motor (mounted in a separate lift motor room), a hydraulic drive system
Hydraulic drive system
A hydraulic drive system is a drive or transmission system that uses pressurized hydraulic fluid to drive hydraulic machinery. The term hydrostatic refers to the transfer of energy from flow and pressure, not from the kinetic energy of the flow....
or a traction motor
Traction motor
Traction motor refers to an electric motor providing the primary rotational torque of a machine, usually for conversion into linear motion ....
.
The Midilift range is designed for use in low-rise buildings or low use applications up to a maximum height of 12 metres, and is a structurally-supported system with a traction drive motor and partially-enclosed car. The Xtralift range is designed for high use applications and is available in six standard models for between 17 persons / 1250 kg and 33 persons / 2500 kg. Lifts in this range are fitted within a modular structure and driven by a traction motor.
Goods lift division
The Goodsmaster range of goods lift is produced in a number of sizes, with a maximum capacity of 1500 kg. These are structure-supported systems provided with a load weighing device and alarm, and can be manned or unmanned. Unmanned lifts controlled by a control panel installed at each floor level, with manned lifts having a panel located in the cabin. The Trolleylift range is of a similar specification, but with a maximum capacity of 300 kg. The Microlift range of dumb waitersDumbwaiter (elevator)
Dumbwaiters are small freight elevators intended to carry objects rather than people. Dumbwaiters found within modern structures, including both commercial and private buildings, are often connected between two floors...
has rated capacities of 50 kg and 100 kg, and is available in models designed for restricted headrooms and spaces. This includes a 'double decker' version, incorporating two cars in a single shaft.
Escalator division
The company's escalator division produces escalators and moving walkways, which are available as horizontal or inclined units.Corporate
Since its foundation, the company has remained a family-run business. At present, six fifth-generation members of the family maintain a 100% shareholding in the company. Stannah Lifts was officially incorporated as a Private Limited Company in March 1961. In December 2009, the company reported an annual turnover of £183,426,000 and a profit of £9,671,000.Recognition
- Queen’s Award for Export Achievement (1987, 1994, 1999)
- Golden Trophy Award for Design (2005)
- The Queen's Award for Enterprise: International Trade (Export) (2010)The Queen's Award for Enterprise: International Trade (Export) (2010)The Queen's Award for Enterprise: International Trade was awarded on 21 April.-Recipients:The ninety-eight following organisations were awarded in 2010* AMI Exchangers Limited of Hartlepool for charge air coolers and heat exchangers....