SubscribeAt EquiLift we have one of the UK's widest ranges of access solutions. And because we work as an independent company, we take a far more focused approach to our customers.
Whether you are looking for a home stairlift or commercial wheelchair lifts for use in public buildings, EquiLift can help. We offer accessibility solutions for almost any situation.
We are also a member of the Lift & Escalator Industry Association (LEIA) the trade association for the lift industry, which means we adhere to the LEIA Code of Practice, which safeguards customers when purchasing stairlifts. We also hold the ISO 9002 certificate for quality assurance.
We source our products from UK, Sweden, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands. With these affiliations EquiLift provides our customers with confidence that they have a competitive but safe solution - in short, peace of mind.
Introducing the Discrimination Disability Act
1995 saw a major turning point in Public Accessibility when Parliament introduced the Disability Discrimination Act; this was aimed at creating awareness towards ending the discrimination people with restricted mobility face during their day to day activities.
The bigger and more socially aware businesses immediately began development programmes, upgrading their buildings to give access to both people with disabilities and their friends and family too. From 1 October 2004, Part 3 of the DDA 1995 required businesses and other organisations to address physical barriers to people with disabilities who want to access their services.
This meant removal, alteration or addition of a means of avoiding physical features of a building which make access impossible or unreasonably difficult for disabled people. Examples include:
- Providing larger, well defined signs for people with a visual Impairment
- Improving access to toilet or washing facilities
- Putting in a ramp to replace steps (but space hungry and unattractive as ramps have to be a minimum of 15 times longer than their height).
- Provision of a traditional lift or an alternative lifting platform (or stairlift) to overcome stairways
The 2004 change came with the force of law and several businesses are already defending prosecutions for failing to comply. Thus businesses are once again putting compliance to the forefront, leading to a substantial demand for new, public access solutions. There are around 9.8 million people with disability in the UK (around 1 in 7) so the requirements are extensive and widespread. However, the demands affected businesses differently.
Incline platform lifts and vertical lifting platforms at EquiLift.
Focussing on a stairway barrier, for those occupying old or listed buildings, adding a new lift would be very difficult and could cause problems. In construction programmes buildings are developed around a lift shaft rather than introducing a lift shaft into an existing building.
The retro-fit of a traditional elevator is a major construction job - for instance a crane is usually required to bring the main lift components and shaftway through the roof. Traditional elevators also have safety requirements demanding overhead space and safety pits below the cabin.
We recognised these difficulties and have developed a product range to overcome them. The solution is likely to be one of our incline platform lift range - that suit a variety of staircases, and folds up when not in use.
Straight stairs are catered for by our Tangent platform lift (with unique vertical lowering at the bottom!) while curved or spiral staircases are served by the Radius platform lift. Radius platform also folds up and can be "parked around the corner" away from busy traffic flows.
EquiLift also offers a wide range of vertical lifting platforms - from gently lifting a wheelchair user up a couple of steps to a whopping 9 metres high. Again, easily retro-fitted into buildings without extensive building work because they are modular in design and have built in safety mechanisms that avoid the need for extensive "pits" or headroom.
For new buildings, architects can plan for accessibility. In addition to conventional lifts, the EquiLift Vertical Lifting platforms serve a useful niche. They can offer access to mezzanine floors or provide an effective alternative where space or cost is restricted.
These lifts come with their own enclosures and are fully protected with safety devices as well as being "hold to run" and restricted to speeds of 9 metres per minute.
One problem EquiLift foresaw with new builds and the requirement to fit accessibility lifts, was the issues facing architects. Creativity could be stifled, because modern and design breaking ideas would be compromised to allow for accessibility lifts. However, EquiLift's overlapping product range and choice of finishes, material and colour complement most designs.
So, whether you have a huge sweeping staircase or three sets of small steps in a row, accessibility will not be a problem. Fitting a stairlift involves minimal building work. With this flexibility, EquiLift can ensure you get the lift to suit your business and its premises.
Companies investing in disabled access are opening up their business to a huge potential market. After all, in addition to the approximately 9.8 million disabled people in Britain, with a collective buying power in excess of £45 billion there are the friends and family that say - "If mum can't go there, we won't either!" EquiLift help businesses to capitalise on the potential by making premises more accessible. (Incidentally, around 35% of people with disability access the internet so there is a potential online audience of around 3 million people!)
Unbeatable project management to ensure minimal disruption; even if that means overnight installation.
When considering an accessibility solution there are several areas to focus on. Quality or reliability of the product is at the top of the list and then ease of use. Once these criteria have been met, consideration of impact on the building and the use of the building. Questions such as:
- How much space is required (when being used and when not in use)?
- How often will it be used?
- What will it look like (again both in and out of use)?
- Affordability (including disruption to business during installation).
However, the reality is that you will have very little experience of this type of product or the various regulations governing compliance with the DDA provisions. In fact it is usually a "one-off" purchase. That's where EquiLift comes in. We recognise that you want to get on with your day to day business.
We help you choose the best solution for your needs; agree the time schedule and then project manage the manufacture, delivery and installation in accordance with your requirements. We can even arrange installation over night to avoid disruption through your working day.
In addition to the before sales and installation management most people overlook the after sales support offered. Sadly, many stairlift distributors - especially those that are regionally based, do not give adequate thought to thiseither.
All EquiLift products are safe, reliable and user friendly. Unfortunately as with any mechanical equipment problems are sometimes unavoidable but, in these circumstances, EquiLift offers the support you need. In the first year following installation, during the warranty period we carry out preventative maintenance nationally.
A choice of extending the service contract only, or the warrant period as well, can be made. We aim to minimise any inconvenience with a fast response to call outs by having a 24 hour support service, running 365 days a year; connected to our network of engineers throughout the country.
Domestic chairlifts for the home
Another significant area of accessibility is the provision of chairlifts in the home. This can be attributed to changing demographics. An ever increasing older population has meant this part of the industry is growing at a much faster pace - and is already significantly bigger than the Public Access market. EquiLift also supplies this sector of the market with a number of products, including the unique "Flow" which travels up a single tube monorail that can be fitted on either the inside or outside path of the stairs.
A new start for Gimson Engineering
EquiLift is a new name for an old friend! We can trace our history back to the mid 1800's when Gimson, a Leicester based engineering family, were building and installing beam engines - used for Pumping stations. The family developed the business into Passenger Lifts, adding stairlifts in the 1970's before selling the company in 1986. In 1991 Thyssen bought the business, combining it with their developing worldwide Accessibility Group.
The Managing Director at that time, Lawrence Wright, stayed with the Thyssen Group, travelling extensively before returning to the UK in late 2004 and buying the business back from ThyssenKrupp in 2006. Colin Wickison, with a 42 year history in Lifts, Escalators and Stairlifts, is the Operations Director.