Thyssenkrupp Accessibility Limited 
ThyssenKrupp Accessibility sold to EquiLift
ThyssenKrupp Elevator Ag today announced restructuring of its UK Accessibility operations. In a deal of undisclosed value, the Leicester based Field Operations Division with a turnover in excess of £10m was the subject of a Management Buy Out. The MBO was led by Lawrence Wright, Managing Director of ThyssenKrupp Accessibility Limited. As part of the deal Reseller Operations were sold to ThyssenKrupp and will trade as a separate legal entity, ThyssenKrupp Access.
Lawrence Wright joined Gimson Stairlifts in 1990. In 1991, as Managing Director, he led the sale of the company to one of their Dutch suppliers, Thyssen de Reus. This created a £5m business that employed 80 people. In 1996, after building Gimson into the UK’s leading Public Access company, Lawrence moved to The Netherlands. Over the next 8 years he travelled through Europe and the Far East, notably China and Japan developing stairlift sales and winning contracts in excess of US$2m for wheelchair lifts in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. Returning to the UK in 2004, Lawrence was responsible for the restructuring of the UK Accessibility operation.
Following the MBO the company will be renamed EquiLift. A company with a stronger base and a brighter future, over 100 local jobs have been secured. EquiLift is responsible for the supply, installation and maintenance of Public Access products (wheelchair platform stairlifts and vertical lifts) as well as the StairGlide range of domestic chairlifts; including the market leading lift for curved stairways, Flow.
EquiLift’s main focus is to develop sales in both the Public Access and direct to end user sectors. Lawrence Wright says “I have been committed to the Accessibility industry for over 15 years and it is exciting to get the chance to develop the company in the direction that I believe will serve our customers best.”
Colin Wickison joins the Board as Operations Director. He has been with ThyssenKrupp Accessibility for the last two years and has over forty years experience in the Lifts, Escalator, and Accessibility businesses, having worked for Hammond & Champness, Keighley Lifts; Schindler as well as Brooks Stairlifts.
David Taylor FCA continues in his role of Company Secretary and Financial Controller. Local advisers actively involved in the deal were Heath Walker of Cooper Parry advising on the Financial and Corporate issues with Robert Rowley, David West and Sarah Lorkin of Freeth Cartwright handling all the legal issues.
Lawrence said “this deal would not have been done without the support, advice and input of these two firms. The people that worked with me were available whenever needed and had the experience and seniority to make things happen. It is good to know that this level of service and expertise is available locally”.
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