The Dancing Man Brewery at the Wool House

The owner of the Grade I listed Dancing Man Brewery & Pub came to us needing a pub lift that fitted the industrial aesthetics of the building and did not compromise the Grade I listing.

The Dancing Man Brewery & Pub is situated in the Wool House, Southampton. The Wool House is a 14th Century, Grade I listed building that has recently been converted into a microbrewery and pub. The owners wanted to make the 1st floor accessible to disabled customers so that they could experience the whole brewery. The main challenge that needed to be overcome was how to design a lift to fit into a 1450mm x 1450mm space that did not compromise the property's Grade I listing.

We came up with a small platform lift within its own lift shaft. In order to meet the client's expectations of an industrial looking pub lift to reflect the building's historic past, we opted for a glass lift shaft with a black structure. This was so that the inner workings of the lift could be seen by the customers to give it a warehouse/industrial charm. The work was completed within 10 days and the lift was ready for the grand opening of the Dancing Man. Our engineers even fitted the client's existing handrails to the lift structure as to maximise the space on the stairway leading to the 1st floor. The client was really impressed with the finished article and said, "we were very pleased with how Access Lifts worked, the guys left the site neat and tidy ready for the grand opening."

To see more of our projects in listed buildings click on the following links: York Theatre Royal, British Library, National Theatre and Inclined Platform Lift in Grade II Listed Waterworks.

Specialist Boat Lift in Partnership with Berthon Boat Company

Upon recommendation, Berthon Boat Company in Lymington called us with a very specialist problem. Their client, who was an enthusiastic sailing boat owner, sadly had an accident and had been left paralyzed. To allow him to enjoy his boat to its full extent they needed to install a specialist boat lift that would allow their client to get from the deck to the cabin below.

The challenge of the project was to design and fit a specialist boat lift in such a narrow gap as well as keeping all the remaining features intact so both the client and his family could use the boat without any obstacles. The client had two beautiful wooden doors that he wanted to remain in place and so Berthon Boat Company removed 75mm of the fibreglass deck so we could fit our lifting system. We installed a bespoke scissor jack system with a platform to accommodate the wheelchair - the control system and small hydraulic pump were placed inside a cupboard that was easily accessible. The platform was fitted with the same carpet as the lower deck's flooring so that when the lift was not in use you wouldn't know it was there! A small set of temporary steps were then put into place so the rest of the family could easily access the lower deck.

The lift allowed the client to get back onto his boat and enjoy sailing in the Solent and further afield once again. To see more of our work for disabled access on boats click here

Disabled Access on the Royal Barge – Gloriana

We were lucky to be asked to provide the disabled access solution for the Queen’s royal barge – Gloriana – this was in preparation for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations. The architect needed a simple solution so that the boat’s users could get from the upper outdoor deck to the lower covered part of the barge. They wanted a lift that would cause as little disruption to the boat as possible and would be quick and simple to operate. The main challenge was that they came to us 4 weeks before the Gloriana was due to motor up the Thames as part of the celebration. The majority of our projects are completed in 10-12 weeks so it was a race against time to get the lift designed, built and then installed.

We designed and created a scissor lift that would fit under the original cabin doors and would have a very small pit below the lift of only 120mm. The lift’s platform measured 800mm x 1200m so could easily fit a wheelchair as well as another person. When not in use the temporary steps were placed on top of the lift so that the boat could be used as it was before the installation of the lift. We managed to use the boat’s own power supply of 24V DC to operate the lift. In order to disguise the lift and make it match the aesthetics of the Gloriana, we finished the platform with the same Elm, from the Prince of Wales Estate in Cornwall, that was used on the rest of the interior of the boat.

On the day of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee the Gloriana sailed down the Thames with members of the Help For Heroes Charity, unfortunately it was a wet day but luckily our lift was installed so everyone could get under cover quickly and safely.

To see more of our platform lifts on boats or in historic buildings have a look at our Speedboat, National Army Museum, York Theatre Royal and Baltic Centre projects.

Platform Lift at Audi Northampton

The General Manager of Audi Northampton came to us to ask if we could design a solution so that wheelchair users could get from one side of the showroom to the other side with a floor level difference of over a metre. He really didn’t want a ramp as it wouldn’t match the showroom’s aesthetics and would take up much needed retail space. Ramps can take up to 40m² and so really aren’t the option for busy shop floors and retail spaces! Therefore a disabled platform lift was the only solution.

We designed and then installed a LP8 platform lift from Guldmann with dimensions of 900mm x 1530mm with a 1200mm travel. The lift was finished in grey with glass doors and sides to match Audi’s colour scheme and the client’s requirements.

The platform lift was fitted and installed in just 1 day! The lift now allows both staff and clients alike to use both levels of the showroom and provides vital access for wheelchair users.

Access Lifts at the Olympics

Back in 2012 we were asked by the well known temporary structure supplier Portakabin to help with the access issues for their Operations Centre in Stratford, East London during the London 2012 Olympics. They needed to provide access to the viewing platform on top of their temporary structure for mobility impaired and wheelchair bound visitors.

The specific requirements of the lift were - it had to travel over 11 metres, they needed an external lift shaft attached to their existing structure, a through lift cabin with doors on both sides of the shaft, fire control sensors and testers and an intercom that connected directly to the main reception - they needed all of this done within 40 days! We even took into account any prevailing winds as the lift would be over 13 metres tall and attached to a temporary structure.

We initially met with Portakabin on 31st May and on the day we managed to give an immediate verbal quotation after taking all of the necessary measurements. By the afternoon we had contacted the manufacturer to produce detailed drawings of the lift and were able to provide a full quotation with the necessary builders' work. Within 5 working days Portakabin confirmed the order and the lift was installed by 29th June (only 21 days later!), this was 10 days before the deadline and the client was totally delighted with the finished product.

Paternoster Square

We were approached by the building and real estate group CBRE for a project in one of their buildings in Paternoster Square, Central London. Paternoster Square is in the heart of the financial district in the City of London, playing host to the London Stock Exchange as well as several investment banks. The client wanted a lift that would connect the kitchen on the lower floor to the staff restaurant above. The lift would act as disabled access as well as performing as a goods lift ferrying food to and from the two floors.

The specific requirements that the client wanted were; the lift could take over 300 kg in weight, as they would be transporting several heavy trolleys to and from the kitchen. The second requirement was that the lift had 2 points of access on the lower floor so that trolleys could be loaded into the lift form both sides of the kitchen and the client wanted an affordable product that wouldn’t break the bank.

In order to match these criteria we decided to install a 1100mm x 1460mm screw drive platform lift with a travel of 3.6m between floors. The lift supports a load of up to 410kg so staff could easily transport large trolleys carrying food up in the lift. As requested two doors were fitted on the lower floor to allow goods to be loaded form both sides of the kitchen and then one adjacent door was fitted within the restaurant. The structure and lift car were finished in white with blue floors apart from the restaurant door was finished in black as to match the colours of the restaurant. The installation was completed within 3 days.

Westbourne

We were approached by a private client who was looking to install a lift in their newly built house in Westbourne. The client needed a small home lift that would fit in the middle of their tight staircase and provide the main access route to the whole of the house. The lift would need to the suit the modern look of their house and specifically the kitchen as this is where the lift would be accessed on the ground floor.

We designed and fitted a lift with cabin dimensions of 980mm x 1200mm that would fit within the ready made lift shaft in the stairwell. The lift travel distance was over 5.7 metres across 3 floor levels. The lift was finished with automatic swing doors - the door on the ground floor was finished in panoramic glass, this means that the whole face of the door is glass with the exception of the door handle which is made out of polished stainless steel. This premium look coupled with the smoked glass lift shaft is befitting of the rest of the house. The internal cabin was a combination of glass and polished stainless steel which allows the maximum amount of light into the lift and means that the lift shaft acts as a light well. The doors on 1st and 2nd floors were a mixture of steel and glass with the steel being painted black to match the modern style of the home.

The home lift installation was completed within 7 days and ready in time for the completion of the client's kitchen.

Cupboard Lift in Newbury

We were asked by the building contractor Calco to come and measure for a cupboard lift for their client in Newbury. The site was a newly built farmhouse and we were told that the client wanted a lift that would be easily disguised and concealed within their home. The main challenge was that the lift shaft was relatively narrow and so limited options were available.

We decided to install the Elfo by EP, due to its versatility and ability to be designed for even the smallest of spaces, the lift shaft measured 1150mm x 1500mm. The lift travelled 6m in total across 3 floors with 800mm swing doors fitted on each floor. On both the ground floor and 1st floor, the doors matched the others on the floor and so the lift looked as if it was simply another room or cupboard.

We completed the installation within 8 days and the lift was ready for the client to move into their new home.

To see more of our home lift projects have a look at our Westbourne, Powys, Torquay, Branksome Park and Whitecliff projects.

External Home Lift in Powys

We were asked to go to Powys, to measure up for an external home lift in the region for a couple who wanted to make access to their home easier. After speaking with the client we found that 7 other lift companies had turned down the project as it was either too far away for them to realistically complete the project or they simply didn’t have the expertise to design and fit an external home lift.

We managed to come up with the solution of an external platform lift within its own fully glazed structure so that the homeowner could see the wonderful vista of the Welsh countryside surrounding their home whilst travelling in the lift. The lift connected the garage with the walkway above which in turn connected straight to their front door.

The lift would make it easier to go from the garage straight to the house without having to tackle the steep steps up to the front door and is also useful to take heavy shopping and other items up to the house. The lift that was fitted was a 1600mm x 1500m Elfo EP with a 4.1m travel up to the first floor. The structure was fitted with opaque glass on the ground floor to increase privacy from the road whilst the upper part of the shaft was completely transparent so the homeowner could see the surrounding views. The finish of the lift was in light grey as to match the colour of sky and so the lift would blend in.

We installed the lift within a fortnight and the client is very happy with the lift.

To see more of our home lift projects have a look at our Newbury, Westbourne, Torquay and Whitecliff projects

Southern Rail Fiasco

One of the main stories that has been popping up in the news lately is about the ongoing strikes being conducted by Southern Rail staff over pay. This has led to infighting between MPs and transport ministers and has affected the customers using Southern Rail. This disruption has created irregular train timetabling and in turn has led to commuters not being to get to work on time.

Among other issues, one significant point is that on Southern Rail services, there is a lack of disabled access meaning that many routes across the South do not cater for wheelchair users. This coupled with overcrowding of trains makes it virtually impossible for people with disabilities to get on the services. Public transport should serve every member of the public regardless of their impairments.

These concerns have been echoed on other rail networks with many passengers being left in the dark. Issues such as year-on-year ticket price increases and services being cut increase the profits of the large corporations who own the rail services. In addition due to new train carriages being commissioned with higher step ups, access is becoming more difficult for customers with disabilities as well as mums with pushchairs.

One of the products we offer is the LP11, a Guldmann product that can be stored on the platform and then rolled out as and when it is needed. This product has a maximum travel of 1 metre and can take a maximum load of 300 kg. This portable lift only needs one person to operate it and means that disabled passengers or mums with pushchairs can get on and off trains quickly and safely. This is an easy solution to a complex problem that rail services have created for themselves. Rail networks cannot cope with the increased demand and so have cut corners and have disregarded their namesake of public transport as they leave many members of the public out in the cold.

Our products are used throughout Europe by large railway companies such as SNCF in France, DSB in Denmark and RENFE in Spain. It is difficult to see why British rail companies haven’t followed suit as, in the long term, with more disabled customers using their services, they would increase their profits. British rail companies need to wake up and actually face their problems rather than this petty squabbling that has been seen week in, week out this entire year.

For more information about our lifts for public transport please read our brochure, visit our lifts for public transport page or view our train lift data sheet

News

The Dancing Man Brewery at the Wool House

For more information about lifts like the one above then call us on 0800 65 252 65 or email us

Specialist Boat Lift in Partnership with Berthon Boat Company

For more information about lifts like the one above call us on 0800 65 252 65 or email us

Disabled Access on the Royal Barge – Gloriana

For more information about lifts like the one above call us on 0800 65 252 65 or email us

Platform Lift at Audi Northampton

For more information about lifts like the one above call us on 0800 65 252 65 or email us

Access Lifts at the Olympics

For more information about lifts like the one above call us on 080 65 252 65 or email us

Paternoster Square

For more information about lifts like the one above call us on 0800 65 252 65 or email us

Westbourne

For more information about lifts like the one above call us on 0800 65 252 65 or email us

Cupboard Lift in Newbury

For more information about lifts like the one above call us on 0800 65 252 65 or email us

External Home Lift in Powys

For more information about lifts like the one above call us on 0800 65 252 65 or email us

Southern Rail Fiasco