Stannah Lifts

Stannah Lifts is a British, family-owned lift and accessibility-equipment business headquartered in Andover, Hampshire. The company supplies commercial lift systems and manufactures stairlifts and platform lifts, while also providing installation, maintenance and repair services. Although its portfolio includes passenger lifts, goods and service lifts, escalators and moving walkways, Stannah is especially associated with stairlifts for residential and accessibility applications. Joseph Stannah founded the business in London in 1867. Its earliest activities involved the manufacture of cranes and hoists used to move ships' cargo. Around the beginning of the twentieth century, the company expanded into manually powered passenger lifts, marking the start of its long-term involvement in vertical transportation. Its early London premises included a location on Southwark Bridge Road and later a site at Bankside. The Bankside headquarters were destroyed during the London Blitz in the Second World War. Leslie Stannah, who was chairman at the time, subsequently used compensation awarded to the company to establish new headquarters on Tiverton Street in Southwark. Stannah relocated from London to Andover in 1974. The move placed its headquarters and principal factory on the Portway Industrial Estate, on the western outskirts of the town. In 1975, the company produced its first stairlift, creating the product category for which it would later become best known. It began exporting in 1979 and subsequently developed an international position in stairlift manufacturing. The business also operates a factory in Newburn, near Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The stairlift division makes equipment for straight, curved and external staircases. Its systems use a rail installed along the stair treads, and the company manufactures new units as well as reconditioning older equipment. In the broader commercial market, Stannah supplies passenger and platform lifts, goods and service lifts, escalators and moving walkways for different types of buildings. It also installs and services equipment, including products imported from lift and escalator manufacturers based in other countries. Stannah has remained a family-run enterprise since its foundation. According to the cited company information, six fifth-generation family members held the entire shareholding, making the business distinct from publicly traded lift groups and large multinational manufacturers. Stannah Lifts was formally incorporated as a private limited company in March 1961, although the operating business dates back to the nineteenth century. A reported December 2022 annual turnover of £116,384,000 and profit of £32,946,000 illustrates the scale of the private company at that time; these figures should be understood as historical reported results rather than current financial guidance. The company was also formerly associated with sponsorship of the Kwadro-Stannah cycling team.

Stannah's history begins in London in 1867, when Joseph Stannah established a manufacturing business serving the movement of heavy cargo. The company's first known products were cranes and hoists used in maritime settings, reflecting the importance of London's docks and shipping trade to nineteenth-century industrial commerce. This original engineering base later supported the company's expansion into vertical transportation. At the turn of the twentieth century, Stannah began manufacturing hand-powered passenger lifts. This broadened its activities from industrial handling equipment into equipment intended to move people within buildings. The company's early London presence included premises on Southwark Bridge Road, followed by a move to Bankside in the early twentieth century. Bankside remained an important base until the headquarters were destroyed during the London Blitz. Leslie Stannah, then chairman, used compensation received by the company to build replacement headquarters on Tiverton Street in Southwark. The next major geographic change came in 1974, when Stannah moved its London operations to Andover in Hampshire. Its headquarters and factory were established on the Portway Industrial Estate on the western side of the town. The relocation gave the company a consolidated manufacturing base outside London and preceded its most important product development in the accessibility market. In 1975, Stannah produced its first stairlift. The product became central to the company's identity and commercial development. Stannah later manufactured stairlifts for straight, curved and external staircases, with rails fitted to the stair treads. Its stairlift operation also included the reconditioning of older units, allowing the company to serve both new-installation and replacement or refurbished-equipment requirements. The company began exporting in 1979. International sales helped it develop a position beyond the British market and contributed to its reputation as a major stairlift manufacturer. While stairlifts became its best-known product, Stannah continued to operate across the wider lift sector. Its commercial offering came to include passenger and platform lifts, goods and service lifts, escalators and moving walkways. It also undertook installation, maintenance and repair work and imported and installed equipment from manufacturers based in other countries. Stannah later added or maintained manufacturing capacity at Newburn near Newcastle-upon-Tyne, alongside its Andover headquarters and factory. The resulting business combines product manufacturing with project delivery and after-sales service. Its work spans domestic accessibility equipment and equipment for commercial buildings, giving the company a broader scope than a specialist stairlift-only brand. The business has remained family-run throughout its history. Stannah Lifts was formally incorporated as a private limited company in March 1961, while retaining the older operating heritage associated with the 1867 founding. The cited reference describes six fifth-generation family members as holding 100 percent of the company's shares. This ownership structure has kept Stannah separate from publicly listed international elevator groups. Reported 2022 financial results stated turnover of £116,384,000 and profit of £32,946,000. Stannah was also formerly a sponsor of the Kwadro-Stannah cycling team, an association that connected the brand with professional cycling. Its continuing identity is built around British engineering, family ownership, accessibility, and the manufacture and servicing of vertical-transportation systems.

• 2022

  Reported annual financial results

  [1]Stannah Liftsen.wikipedia.org

  Reported results for the year referenced in December 2022 stated turnover of £116,384,000 and profit of £32,946,000.

• 1979

  Exporting begins

  [1]Stannah Liftsen.wikipedia.org

  The company began exporting its products and developed an international presence in stairlifts and related equipment.

• 1975

  First stairlift produced

  [1]Stannah Liftsen.wikipedia.org

  Stannah manufactured its first stairlift, beginning the product focus for which the company later became widely known.

• 1974

  Relocation to Andover

  [1]Stannah Liftsen.wikipedia.org

  Stannah moved from London to Andover, Hampshire, where its headquarters and factory were established on the Portway Industrial Estate.

• 1961

  Stannah Lifts incorporated as a private limited company

  [1]Stannah Liftsen.wikipedia.org

  The company was formally incorporated as a private limited company in March 1961.

• 1940

  Bankside headquarters destroyed during the Blitz

  [1]Stannah Liftsen.wikipedia.org

  The company's Bankside site was destroyed during the London Blitz. Chairman Leslie Stannah later used company compensation to establish replacement headquarters at Tiverton Street in Southwark.

• 1900

  Expansion into passenger lifts

  [1]Stannah Liftsen.wikipedia.org

  Around the beginning of the twentieth century, Stannah began producing hand-powered passenger lifts, extending its engineering activities into vertical transportation.

• 1867

  Joseph Stannah establishes the business

  [1]Stannah Liftsen.wikipedia.org

  Joseph Stannah founded the company in London as a manufacturer of cranes and hoists used for transporting ships' cargo.

A family-owned British vertical-transportation specialist with a particularly strong association with stairlifts and accessibility equipment, complemented by commercial lift, escalator, moving-walkway and servicing capabilities.

• Accessibility equipment · 1975

  Stairlifts

  Stairlifts are Stannah's best-known product category. The company produces systems for straight, curved and external staircases, using a rail fitted along the stair treads. The division supplies new units and also reconditions older equipment, supporting residential accessibility and mobility needs.

• Commercial and accessibility lifts

  Platform lifts

  Platform lifts form part of Stannah's lift portfolio for buildings requiring accessible movement between levels. They complement the company's stairlift business and are supplied alongside installation and service capabilities.

• Commercial lifts

  Passenger lifts

  Stannah supplies passenger lift solutions for commercial and other building applications. The company's involvement includes sourcing, installing and servicing lift equipment, including products imported from manufacturers in other countries.

• Commercial lifts

  Goods and service lifts

  Goods and service lifts are supplied for buildings that need to move materials, supplies or service loads between floors. They are part of Stannah's wider commercial lift offering rather than its consumer-facing stairlift range.

• Building transportation systems

  Escalators and moving walkways

  Stannah provides escalators and moving walkways as part of its commercial vertical- and horizontal-transportation activities. Its role may include supply, installation and ongoing maintenance, including systems sourced from other manufacturers.

• After-sales services

  Maintenance and repair services

  The company provides maintenance and repair for lift and related transportation equipment. These services support both its own products and commercial installations within its broader building-equipment business.

• Kwadro-Stannah cycling team sponsorship

  Cycling sponsorship

  Stannah was formerly a sponsor of the Kwadro-Stannah cycling team. The available reference identifies the sponsorship but does not provide its precise dates, campaign objectives or activation details.

  Outcome. The sponsorship is described as former; no further outcome is specified in the available material.

  Source

• 1979

  Begin exportingStrategy

  Background

  Following the development of its stairlift business, Stannah sought to serve customers outside the United Kingdom.

  Action taken

  The company began exporting its products.

  Aftermath

  Exporting contributed to Stannah's development as an international stairlift manufacturer.

  Source

• 1975

  Enter the stairlift marketProduct launch

  Background

  The company had a long engineering history in cranes, hoists and passenger lifts before developing a product for assisted movement on stairs.

  Action taken

  Stannah produced its first stairlift.

  Aftermath

  Stairlifts became the company's best-known product and helped establish its international manufacturing position.

  Source

• 1974

  Move manufacturing operations from London to AndoverStrategy

  Background

  After a long period of operation in London, Stannah moved its headquarters and factory to Andover, Hampshire.

  Action taken

  The company established its principal headquarters and factory on the Portway Industrial Estate.

  Aftermath

  Andover became the company's principal base and remains associated with its headquarters and manufacturing operations.

  Source

1. 1Stannah Liftsen.wikipedia.org