Choosing Elevator Companies: How to Find the Perfect Fit
Are you considering investing in a new lift for your commercial property? Choosing the right manufacturer is the first step in ensuring you find the perfect lift for your organisation. With a wide range of lift companies available, selecting the right one can seem daunting. That’s why we at ADL Lift Services have put together this guide to help you evaluate potential elevator companies, ensuring the best possible lift outcome.
In this article, we will cover the key considerations any business should make when looking for lift companies, ensuring you can make an informed decision that aligns with your organisation’s needs and goals.
The Importance of Choosing the Right Lift Company
Choosing suitable elevator manufacturers is essential for several reasons. First and foremost, safety is a critical consideration. Property owners, or business owners in some cases, are legally responsible for ensuring the safety of any lifts their building may have.
All lifts must meet stringent safety standards, including:
● Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) 1998: Governing the safe operation of lifting equipment to minimise the risks to lift users associated with faulty or poorly maintained lifts.
● The Equality Act 2010: This requires lifts to be made accessible to all passengers, including those with limited mobility or disabilities, to ensure compliance with anti-discrimination laws.
Reputable lift companies should be well-versed in these regulations and will help you make sure that your lifts comply with all the relevant legal guidelines and operate reliably and safely. However, choosing manufacturers is about more than just the final product, it’s also about forming a long-term partnership with a lift company that understands your business’s needs, offers reliable support and ensures ongoing maintenance.
Factors to Consider when Choosing Between Elevator Companies
When attempting to choose between a range of elevator companies, there are many factors that can give you an idea of which company is best to work with. Begin by researching a number of companies in your local area and compile a list of the top-rated companies to assess in more detail.
Below, we explore the key factors to help you make your decision, ensuring you select a lift company that will provide high-quality lifts and excellent customer service.
Experience
Experience is a crucial factor when it comes to lift services. A well-established company will have developed a wealth of industry knowledge and expertise, enabling them to provide specialist guidance on lift design, installation, maintenance and compliance.
Likewise, lift companies that have been operating for decades will have built up a wide range of experiences, working across diverse projects across industries. Look for companies with a solid portfolio of completed projects, particularly those similar to your own requirements. This helps guarantee reliability and a high-quality service.
Accreditations and Certifications
Lift manufacturers may possess a number of accreditations and certifications that demonstrate a company’s commitment to safety, quality and excellence.
Some relevant accreditations and certifications include:
● ISO 9001 (Quality Management): Ensures a company follows best practices in delivering high-quality products and services.
● ISO 14001 (Environmental Management): Shows a commitment to sustainable practices and minimising environmental impact.
● BS EN 81 Standards: These European safety standards regulate lift design, installation, and maintenance to ensure compliance with the latest safety protocols.
● Industry Memberships: Associations such as the Lift and Escalator Industry Association (LEIA) can indicate a company’s commitment to maintaining industry best practices.
Reputation
A company’s reputation is a strong indicator of the level of service you can expect. To assess a lift manufacturer’s reputation, it’s a good idea to read customer testimonials and reviews. These provide useful insights about previous clients’ experiences with the company, giving you a reliable picture of whether customers were ultimately satisfied or unsatisfied with the service they received.
Alternatively, you could ask the company for references. A reputable company should be happy to provide case studies or client references that highlight their positive client feedback and ability to deliver reliable and professional service.
Case Studies
Case studies are an essential part of researching a company as they can give you a clear picture of their expertise and capabilities. Any company that is proud of its previous projects will take the time to showcase them on their website.
By reviewing case studies, you can view the standard of their work and get an idea of the scope of their previous work, their technical expertise and their level of customisation. Ultimately, this enables you to assess whether a company has relevant experience with projects similar to yours and whether their completed work meets your expectations.
Customisation Options
No two projects are the same, which is why customisation to adapt the lift to meet the specific needs of your organisation is essential. Expert lift manufacturers understand that every business has different operational demands and space constraints and should offer bespoke lift design services with a wide range of customisation options.
Common customisation options include:
● Custom lift dimensions: Custom sizing to fit within unique building constraints.
● Load capacities: Options to suit different weight requirements, whether for passenger or goods lifts.
● Aesthetic design: Finishes and materials that match the look and feel of your property.
● Accessibility features: Options such as Braille buttons and voice announcements for enhanced inclusivity.
Transparent and Fair Pricing
Cost should never be considered the most critical factor when selecting lift services, as the cheapest option is not always the best. That said, gathering various quotes from several lift manufacturers is recommended.
Comparing at least three detailed quotes from reputable lift companies will provide you with a rough estimate of the costs you can expect from the project. With comprehensive breakdowns of the costs of materials, installation and labour, you can have a proper understanding of what you will pay for and ensure pricing is fair and transparent.
Additionally, comparing quotes also enables you to identify any concerningly high or low quotes. Higher than average prices should be justified with premium features or exceptional service in the cost breakdown. On the other hand, extremely low quotes may suggest certain corners will be cut to complete the project.
Ongoing Aftercare
Lift design and installation is undoubtedly an important part of the partnership with a lift company, but ongoing aftercare is equally as important and should not be overlooked. Having a proactive maintenance plan will extend the lifespan of your lift, enhance user safety, and minimise costly repairs or downtime.
When evaluating lift manufacturers, consider whether they offer any of the following services:
● Maintenance contracts: Does the company offer routine inspections and servicing to prevent breakdowns?
● Emergency support: Do they provide 24/7 call-out services in case of lift failures?
● Availability of spare parts: Can they quickly source and replace faulty components?
● Compliance inspections: Do they ensure your lift remains compliant with LOLER and other safety regulations?
Trust ADL Lift Services for All Your Lift Needs
At ADL Lift Services, we understand how crucial a lift is to a building’s infrastructure, not only for facilitating daily operations but also for ensuring safety and accessibility.
From our base in Motherwell, Scotland, we offer lift services to clients across the UK. Working with us means forming a partnership with our company that will support you throughout every stage of your lift’s lifecycle, from installation to ongoing maintenance and beyond. With our 24-hour emergency lift cover that operates 365 days a year, you can rest assured that any lift breakdowns will be addressed with prompt and reliable services.
For elevator manufacturers, you can trust for reliable lift design, installation, maintenance and repair, choose ADL Lift Services today. To discuss the unique requirements of your project with one of our expert team members, contact us today.
