Schindler Group
A Swiss multinational manufacturer and service provider for elevators, escalators, and moving walkways.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Schindler Group is a Swiss multinational company specializing in vertical and urban mobility systems. Through Schindler Holding Ltd., the group develops, manufactures, installs, maintains, modernizes, and services elevators, escalators, and moving walkways for residential buildings, offices, shopping centers, transport facilities, hospitals, hotels, industrial sites, and high-rise developments. Its business combines equipment manufacturing with installation and a large recurring service operation, reflecting the long operating life and regulatory requirements of elevator and escalator systems. The company traces its origins to Lucerne, Switzerland, where Robert Schindler and Eduard Villiger established the Schindler & Villiger partnership in 1874. The original workshop made lifting equipment, agricultural machinery, and other mechanical products. Schindler entered elevator production near the end of the nineteenth century and subsequently expanded beyond Switzerland. Alfred Schindler, a nephew of Robert Schindler, played an important role in the company's early twentieth-century expansion, including the establishment of a Berlin subsidiary in 1906. The first Schindler escalator was installed in 1936, marking the beginning of a product line that later became central to the group's identity. Schindler's international expansion accelerated during the twentieth century. It opened a Brazilian branch in 1937, entered North America through the 1979 acquisition of Haughton Elevator Company, and substantially strengthened its United States position through the 1989 purchase of Westinghouse's elevator and escalator division. In 1980, Schindler became the first Western company to establish a joint venture with a state-owned enterprise in the People's Republic of China, giving it an early industrial foothold in that market. The 1999 acquisition of Atlas in Brazil strengthened its position in South America. The group also diversified after the Second World War into products such as construction cranes, engines, pumps, and railroad cars, although elevators and escalators ultimately became its defining activities. Schindler operates production facilities in Brazil, China, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, India, and the United States, while its sales, installation, and service network extends across more than 140 countries. The group serves both new construction and existing buildings. Its modernization business upgrades older equipment to improve performance, safety, accessibility, energy efficiency, and compliance with changing standards. Digital monitoring, traffic-management systems, and connected service capabilities complement its mechanical and electrical equipment portfolio. The brand's competitive positioning rests on engineering expertise, reliability, safety, global installation capability, and lifecycle service. Its scale allows it to participate in major infrastructure and high-rise projects while also serving local residential and commercial customers. At the same time, the company has faced scrutiny over competition-law matters and safety incidents involving equipment maintained or manufactured by Schindler. These events have made regulatory compliance, technical controls, maintenance quality, and transparent cooperation with investigations important aspects of the company's public profile.
History
Schindler began in 1874 in Lucerne, Switzerland, when Robert Schindler and Eduard Villiger formed the Schindler & Villiger partnership. A mechanical workshop was established on an island in the Reuss River, initially producing agricultural machinery, lifting equipment, and other mechanical products. The company entered elevator manufacturing at the end of the nineteenth century, moving from general engineering toward the building-transportation sector that would eventually define the group. After 1901, Robert Schindler's nephew Alfred Schindler helped expand the business. A subsidiary in Berlin, established in 1906, became the company's first foreign subsidiary. During the First World War, the company also produced ammunition. Schindler installed its first escalator in 1936 and opened a Brazilian branch in 1937, beginning a longer pattern of international expansion. Following the Second World War, Schindler developed into a broader industrial group. It diversified into construction cranes, engines, pumps, and railroad cars while continuing to develop elevators and escalators. Its international reach grew through subsidiaries, joint ventures, acquisitions, and manufacturing investments. In 1980, Schindler established a joint venture with a state-owned enterprise in China, becoming the first Western company to create such a partnership there. This move gave the company an early presence in one of the world's most important long-term construction markets. Schindler entered the North American elevator market in 1979 by acquiring Toledo-based Haughton Elevator Company. For a period, products were marketed under the Schindler-Haughton name. In 1989, the acquisition of Westinghouse's elevator and escalator division significantly expanded Schindler's United States operations. The American business later operated as Schindler Elevator Corporation, based in Morristown, New Jersey. In South America, the 1999 acquisition of Atlas in Brazil reinforced the group's regional position. The modern group is organized through Schindler Holding Ltd., also known as Schindler Holding AG in German and Schindler Holding S.A. in French. The holding company is publicly traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange. Its operating model combines manufacturing with project delivery, installation, maintenance, repair, and modernization. Production facilities identified in public descriptions are located in Brazil, China, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, India, and the United States, while commercial and service operations cover more than 140 countries. Schindler's history also includes regulatory and safety controversies. In 2007, the European Union fined Schindler and four competitors over participation in an elevator and escalator price-fixing cartel. Earlier, a series of Japanese incidents involved elevators moving with doors open, and a 2006 accident in Tokyo resulted in a teenager's death. Further reported incidents involved an escalator accident in Kanagawa and abnormal elevator movement at the University of Tokyo's Kashiwa campus. In 2013, California authorities announced fines following the death of a Schindler mechanic at Levi's Stadium. These cases highlight the safety-critical nature of the industry and the importance of equipment design, software, braking systems, installation, maintenance, and regulatory cooperation. Since 2011, Schindler has sponsored Solar Impulse, a solar-powered aircraft initiative. The partnership reflects the company's effort to connect its engineering identity with energy efficiency and technological innovation. Today, Schindler's core business remains the provision and lifecycle support of elevators, escalators, and moving walkways for buildings and public infrastructure worldwide.
- 2011
Solar Impulse sponsorship begins
[1]Schindler begins sponsoring the Solar Impulse solar-aircraft project.
- 2007
European Union cartel fine
[1]Schindler is fined €144 million in the European elevator and escalator cartel case.
- 1999
Atlas acquired in Brazil
[1]Schindler acquires Atlas, strengthening its position in the South American market.
- 1989
Westinghouse elevator division acquired
[1]The acquisition of Westinghouse's elevator and escalator division substantially expands Schindler's United States presence.
- 1980
Joint venture established in China
[1]Schindler becomes the first Western company to establish a joint venture with a state-owned enterprise in the People's Republic of China.
- 1979
Haughton Elevator acquired
[1]Schindler enters the North American elevator market through the acquisition of Toledo-based Haughton Elevator Company.
- 1937
Brazilian branch opened
[1]Schindler establishes a branch in Brazil, an early step in its international expansion.
- 1936
First Schindler escalator installed
[1]The company installs its first escalator, adding a major product category to its elevator activities.
- 1906
First foreign subsidiary established
[1]A subsidiary is established in Berlin during the expansion led by Alfred Schindler.
- 1874
Schindler & Villiger founded in Lucerne
[1]Robert Schindler and Eduard Villiger establish the mechanical engineering partnership that becomes Schindler Group.
Products and positioning
A global provider of engineered vertical-transportation and urban-mobility systems, positioned around safety, reliability, innovation, installation capability, and long-term maintenance.
Vertical transportation
Elevators
Schindler manufactures and installs elevator systems for residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, and high-rise buildings. Its elevator business covers passenger, service, and freight applications, with equipment selected according to building height, traffic demand, accessibility requirements, and local regulations. The group also provides maintenance, repair, monitoring, and modernization services throughout the equipment lifecycle.
People movement · 1936
Escalators
Escalators are one of Schindler's principal product categories and have been part of the company's portfolio since its first installation in 1936. The systems are used in shopping centers, transit stations, airports, department stores, and other facilities requiring continuous movement between floors. Schindler supports new installations as well as maintenance, component replacement, safety improvements, and modernization.
People movement
Moving walkways
Schindler moving walkways transport pedestrians horizontally or along gentle inclines in airports, rail stations, commercial buildings, and large public complexes. They are delivered as part of the group's broader people-mobility portfolio and are supported by installation, inspection, maintenance, and modernization capabilities.
Lifecycle services
Modernization and service
Schindler maintains and modernizes elevators, escalators, and moving walkways from its own installed base and, where applicable, other equipment. Modernization can address controls, drives, doors, safety systems, energy performance, accessibility, and traffic management. The service business provides recurring support after installation and is central to the long-term operation of building-transportation equipment.
Controversies
2013
California workplace-safety violations
California occupational-safety authorities announced fines against Schindler for three serious violations after a mechanic died while working at Levi's Stadium.
2010
University of Tokyo elevator incident
An elevator at the University of Tokyo's Kashiwa campus reportedly moved from the ground floor to the basement with its doors open. Eighteen students fell, and one suffered a minor injury while escaping; Schindler attributed the event to loose brake wires.
2007
European elevator and escalator price-fixing cartel
The European Union found Schindler and several competitors involved in a price-fixing cartel and imposed a fine of €144 million on Schindler.
2007
Escalator accident in Kanagawa
A nine-year-old boy was seriously injured after becoming trapped between an escalator handrail and an acrylic panel at a store in Hiratsuka. A later investigation reported that the escalator installation did not comply with Japanese building code.
2006
Fatal open-door elevator movement in Tokyo
A 16-year-old boy died after a Schindler elevator in Minato, Tokyo, began ascending while its door was open. The investigation attributed the event to a faulty brake.
Marketing campaigns
- 2011Solar Impulse sponsorship
International
Schindler sponsored Solar Impulse, a solar-powered aircraft project. The relationship connected the company's engineering and mobility brand with renewable-energy experimentation and energy-efficiency themes.
Outcome. Publicly reported as an ongoing sponsorship beginning in 2011; the available material does not specify a final campaign outcome.
Brand decisions
1999
Acquisition of Atlas in BrazilM&ABackground
Schindler was expanding its position in the South American elevator market.
Action taken
The company acquired Atlas in Brazil.
Aftermath
Schindler became a major market participant in South America.
1989
Acquisition of Westinghouse elevator and escalator divisionM&ABackground
Schindler aimed to increase its scale in the United States.
Action taken
The group acquired Westinghouse's elevator and escalator division.
Aftermath
The acquisition substantially increased Schindler's North American presence.
1979
Acquisition of Haughton Elevator CompanyM&ABackground
Schindler sought entry into the North American elevator market.
Action taken
The company acquired Toledo-based Haughton Elevator Company and temporarily used the Schindler-Haughton name for some products.
Aftermath
The transaction established a platform for Schindler's later expansion in the United States.
Recent events
- 2011
Schindler sponsors Solar Impulse[1]
Campaign
Schindler began sponsoring Solar Impulse, the solar-powered aircraft project, associating the company with engineering innovation and energy-efficient technology.
Sources1 sources
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