Building a Stairlift: How We Design, Build and Install

The manufacturing process of products can often be quite surprising. This is because people usually don’t think about what goes on behind-the-scenes of a brand, product or service. We want you to get to know us better by taking a peek at the journey your stairlift goes on, from the momento your stairlift is built to its installation. You’ll see for yourself that there’s more to it than meets the eye.

The skills and talents of our staff are a vital part of our success. At Stannah, we know the progress we’ve managed to make is all thanks our excellent employees. Together, the generations that have worked with us in the last 150 years and the people working across the Stannah Group today, have helped shape us as a business. We provide safe, co-operative and friendly working environments that foster individual wellbeing and promote teamwork, while passing on our business ethics. That means the quote below is just as important in our business today as it was when our founder wrote it back in the 1800s.

‘Acquire the habit of doing everything well’ Joseph Stannah

Joseph Stannah started the Stannah family business 150 years ago. He was an exceptional engineer who turned his hand to everything from hoists and cranes to stuffing boxes for locomotives and lifts for cars. Today, our business is managed by Jon, Patrick, Nick and Alistair Stannah, Joseph’s great, great grandchildren. And because we’re still a family business, our values are an essential part of what we stand for. Because we’re not beholden to shareholders, we can make all our own decisions, and we want you to know that you come first.

But don’t take our word for it. We are proud members of the Buy with Confidence Scheme, The British Healthcare Trades Association and Which? Trusted Traders. All these organizations recognize and reward fair trade, above and beyond customer care and customer ratings.

It’s not just what we sell that we take great care over, how we sell, deliver and service is just as important to us – and you. From the moment you contact us at our call centre, we do everything we can to make sure your experience at every step of your purchase lives up to the Stannah name. Buying a stairlift is a big decision. One we know you don’t take lightly, and we don’t either. We want to make sure we provide you with quality service from your first contact with us so we have a friendly team waiting for your call.

During your first call with us we ask you a few questions about your staircase and yourself to help us understand what your needs are and how we can help you. If you need more information or would like a quote, we arrange for one of our sales consultants to come and visit you at your house, so they can give you advice specific to you and your home.

Firstly, our consultants will talk to you to understand your wants and needs. We’ve thought about those days when your arthritis is playing up and we’ll make sure that your stairlift includes an ergonomic seatbelt. We’ll assess what the best stairlift is for your specific needs.

Next, our sales advisor will measure your staircase, using our unique Stairtracker® surveying system and assess what type of rail you need, and if any preparatory work (such as installing an extra power socket) is required. Then our consultant will have all the information they need to give you some considered options and you can choose any additional features or upholsteries you might like (they can even show you what your stairlift might look like once it’s installed using our Envisage tool).

Only after measuring your staircase precisely and meeting you in person, are our consultants able to provide an accurate no-obligation quote for the best solution for you. You can then decide – in your own time – whether you would like to go ahead and order. And remember, the price of the quote will be the price you pay, no hidden extras.

Behind the scenes at the Stannah factory, researchers, engineers and technicians are busy working out how they can help you get the most out of our stairlifts. Without them, your stairlift would not be possible.

It gives us peace of mind to know that we always provide the highest levels of service. That’s the only way we can operate. Knowing that you are safe and comfortable in your home is of utmost importance and each step of our process is meticulously monitored to lead up to that goal. In our Engineering Director’s own words:

“There is a rich and successful history of engineering at Stannah and with that comes a wealth of knowledge within the team, systems and tools. Being able to access this is invaluable and reassuring when making decisions. My role is about ensuring the engineering team have what they need to deliver creative ideas and fantastic products. One day I can be looking at business processes, prototyping technologies, facilities and the next new patents and engineering challenges. This requires me to have understanding of multiple areas and be in touch with the latest technologies and thinking.”

We can be sure of the quality because our own in-house engineers make every part of our stairlifts in our own factories. Because we control the whole process, we can be sure that only the safest materials and best practices are used.

Stannah doesn’t rely on third-parties to produce your stairlift parts.

We are manufacturers. We don’t rely on third-parties to produce your stairlift parts. That means we can test each stairlift rigorously to make sure that it meets the highest standards of quality, comfort and safety.

The result is a robust, durable stairlift that will stand the test of time, keeping you moving for years to come.

At Stannah, we have the freedom to invest in innovation. That means that if one of our engineers has an idea they think would make you safer or more comfortable, we have the freedom to investigate it. Only the best work practices are implemented when we make our stairlifts. We invest in training our staff until they are specialists in their art.

Stannah has a long history of apprentice recruitment. As many as 300 of our lift engineers working in our 11 service branches all over the UK started out in the Stannah apprenticeship scheme.

Because we are a family-run business we can make sure our standards exceed regulations. We have gained ISO certifications in the areas of quality management of business and Health and Safety management. As well as that, the British Healthcare Trades Association makes sure that our customer care goes beyond all legal obligations.

From start to finish, we design, make and install a stairlift rail that is the perfect fit for your stairs. We have our own rail factory next to our stairlift factory so both your stairlift and rail can be customized to meet your personal needs, and those of your stairs.

We are engineers, but we understand that you care about more than the mechanics of your stairlift. That’s why we’ve worked on the rail design – so that it fits seamlessly into your home. The rail in the picture may look crude, but you’ll be surprised how elegant it will look on your stairs once it’s finished.

We are also constantly looking for ways to minimize our impact on the environment across the business and make the best use of our precious resources. From our re-use programme for stairlifts, to recycling paint powder, replacing polystyrene packaging with cardboard and reducing waste in our offices, we are continually looking for ways to make our business as environmentally friendly as possible.

Throughout our manufacturing process we have a range of quality checks which end with us testing every single stairlift carriage before it leaves our factory to ensure our stairlifts meet our stringent quality criteria.

Our testing regime is second to none and every major component of every design is tested for 25,000 return journeys – the equivalent of 10 years of use. What’s more, we test throughout the manufacturing process, even when a design is past the testing phase and into production. Every individual unit we make is tested to capacity before it can leave the factory. Our curved rails, which are made according to drawings specific to each staircase, are even tested for ride quality before being authorized for shipment.

Once manufacturing and testing are complete, your stairlift will be on its way! After it’s been received and inspected again by our local team, we’ll setup a time to complete the installation. Whether you’re working directly with Stannah or purchasing your stairlift from one of our trusted dealers, professional installation is included in the price. That means you can rest easy, knowing the job will be done right.

The installation itself should only take a couple of hours. It is a quick process that won’t cause too much disruption to you or your home. How? A stairlift attaches to your stairs, not your walls. That means no damage to your walls and very little disruption to your home. You won’t need planning permission and you don’t need to worry about taking up your carpet.

You can be home and watch our friendly technicians as they work. There is very little mess, but our expert teams carry a vacuum cleaner with them, so they can clean up after themselves and leave your home as tidy as they found it.

As part of your delivery, you will be shown how to use all the features of your stairlift. Most importantly, we’ll stay with you until you’re 100% confident you can use your stairlift safely.

Once your stairlift is ready to go, you’ll soon discover:

• The freedom of being able to use your entire home again.
• Popping upstairs to pick items up is no longer an issue.
• That you have more energy for the better things in life.

All it takes to get started is for you to contact our team of advisers, either over the phone or online, and within minutes we can book an assessment for you.

There’s a reason we’ve been able to take our business around the world, to over 40 countries spread over 5 continents.  It’s because we take pride in providing an excellent product.

Stannah is recognized around the world as the company that brings freedom, independence and a strong sense of safety back to anyone who has difficulty overcoming the challenges posed by the stairs in their home. Indoors and outdoors, around the world, there are more Stannah stairlifts in place than any other brand.

Every day, we reach more and more customers, improving their quality of life and helping them increase their independence. We’re extremely proud to be the no.1 provider of stairlifts worldwide, because it means we can help more and more people live at home for longer in comfort and safety.

Our 150 years in the lift industry has made us a company you can rely on. We give you:

• Good value for money;
• Superior service;
• The best quality stairlifts.

We are proud of being a world-leading company with a family ethos. We know that developing the skills and talents of our 1,700 employees are vital to our continuing success. We’ve reached the perfect balance, achieving global success without compromising our ideals. That’s what makes us a great company to work for and do business with.