List of elevator companies in Germany – An overview

The classic elevator as we know it today has been around for over 150 years. The elevator was invented by Graves Otis, who at the time was actually just looking for a way to transport loads over several floors. Since then, however, much has changed. Today, there are a wide variety of elevator companies for a wide variety of applications.

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Elevators are used in the transport of loads and in the transport of people – and increasingly in private households. The reason for this is the steadily aging population. In addition, many houses and staircases are not suitable for the installation of a normal stair lift due to the design.

PhotosSource: wikipedia.org | CC BY-SA 3.0

A passenger elevator in one’s home creates an almost unrestricted barrier-free environment and offers people with limited mobility a new lease on life. Likewise, an elevator allows people to remain in their own four walls – without having to rely on outside help.

Another significant advantage of an elevator over a stair lift is the ability to transport heavy things easily and quickly over several floors, in addition to one or more people at the same time. In Germany, there are a number of companies that specialize in the production and sale of passenger elevators. Which these are and what the companies offer, especially for private individuals, we show in the following article.

Lift companies in Germany – An overview

There are currently over 60 different manufacturers and suppliers of passenger elevators in Germany. In the following, we present some elevator companies in more detail, limiting ourselves to the most well-known providers. These include:

These ten elevator companies have already been known for many years for their high-quality products, as well as for their range of services. In the main, the companies differ in terms of model selection and the various special features of the elevators. In order to gain a better overview of the respective companies and their offers, we present the manufacturers in detail and show by which special features the individual providers differ from their competitors.

Kone

KONE, founded in 1910 and headquartered in Espoo near Helsinki, Finland, is an international engineering and services company that employs some 55,000 people in 60 countries worldwide. KONE also builds and services moving walks, automatic doors and gates, escalators and elevators. The company provides local service to builders, developers, building owners, designers and architects with 1,000 offices in over 50 countries. In Finnish, Kone means “machine” or “device.”

Founded in Finland over 100 years ago, Kone supplies passenger elevators as well as escalators and automatic doors to more than 50 countries. In Germany, Kone is represented by several branches in order to be able to guarantee optimal service coverage. The special features of the elevator company include manufacturer-independent maintenance, detailed and customer-oriented advice and a wide range of models. In addition, the elevators can be individually adapted to the needs of the customer.

ThyssenKrupp

ThyssenKrupp is a German multinational conglomerate focused on industrial technology and steel production. The company is headquartered in Duisburg and Essen and is organized into 670 subsidiaries worldwide. It is one of the largest steel producers in the world. The company was formed in 1999 from the merger of Thyssen AG and Krupp and today has its operating headquarters in Essen.

PhotosSource: tkelevator.com | © ThyssenKrupp AG

In addition to steel production, ThyssenKrupp’s products range from machinery and industrial services to high-speed trains, classic elevators and shipbuilding. The subsidiary ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems also manufactures frigates, corvettes and submarines for the German and foreign navies.

The well-known German corporation ThyssenKrupp offers a multi-faceted product portfolio, which also includes the manufacture and installation of passenger elevators. ThyssenKrupp offers good service, high-quality products and a very good price/performance ratio. The elevator manufacturer offers various solutions for modernizing and retrofitting elevators. As ThyssenKrupp has a large number of service locations in Germany, both advice and delivery and installation can be carried out within a very short time.

Schindler

The Schindler Group is a Swiss multinational company that manufactures escalators, moving walks and elevators worldwide, founded in Switzerland in 1874. Schindler manufactures, installs, services and modernizes elevators and escalators in many types of buildings, including residential, commercial and high-rise. The company has a presence in more than 140 countries and employs more than 58,000 people worldwide. Production facilities are located in Brazil, China, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, India and the United States.

The company was founded in Switzerland in 1874 by Robert Schindler and Eduard Villiger. Shortly thereafter, a machine shop was built in Lucerne, Switzerland, for the production of all types of hoists and machinery. In 1906, Schindler founded the first foreign subsidiary in Berlin, Germany. Thereafter, the company expanded continuously, mainly throughout Europe.

In 1980, Schindler established the first Western industrial joint venture in the People’s Republic of China. The company is the world’s second largest manufacturer of pull-out systems and is also the market leader in Germany. Schindler offers a mobility guarantee that ensures the customer unrestricted and optimal use of the elevator at all times. To this end, Schindler attaches great importance not only to the quality of its products, but also to service and ISO-certified manufacturing.

Otis

Otis is an American company that designs, manufactures and markets elevators, escalators, moving walks and related equipment. Headquartered in Farmington, Connecticut, USA, Otis is the world’s largest manufacturer of vertical transportation systems and focuses primarily on elevators, moving walks and escalators. The company pioneered the elevator safety system invented by Elisha Otis in 1852, which used a special mechanism to lock the elevator car in place if the hoist ropes broke. Otis Elevator Company was acquired by United Technologies in 1976 and in April 2020, spun off as an independent company.

Founded in 1853, Otis is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of passenger elevators. The elevator company has around 100 branches at various locations in Germany alone. Thanks to its many years of experience in the production of elevators and in advising and supporting customers, both its model selection and its service are regarded as outstanding. In addition, Otis attaches great importance to all-round service – from the first customer meeting to successful installation. Otis was founded by Graves Otis, the inventor of the elevator.

Otis has installed elevators in some of the world’s most famous structures, including the Eiffel Tower, Empire State Building, original World Trade Center, Petronas Twin Towers, Burj Khalifa, CN Tower, Winchester Mystery House, Hotel del Coronado, Demarest Building (first electric elevator), Singing Tower in Bok Tower Gardens and Skylon Tower.

Hiro Lift

The origins of the German company Hiro Lift date back to 1897, when the company was founded in Bielefeld. In addition to elevators, Hiro Lift also produces stairlifts – and does so exclusively in Germany. In addition to first-class quality and an unrestricted service, the manufacturer is known for its excellent advice.

Hiro Lift supports customers from the very beginning and is available at any time for questions as well as problems.

Lifta / Lifton

The Lifta Lift und Antrieb GmbH was also founded in Germany. The company’s headquarters have been located in Cologne since 1977. Lifta also maintains numerous other branches throughout Germany. The product range includes various stair and seat elevators, elevators and special solutions for wheelchair users. The manufacturer is characterized by high-quality products and very detailed advice. In addition, the service employees are available 365 days a year.

BroBeil Elevators

Elevator manufacturer BroBeil offers over 130 years of experience in the production and distribution of passenger elevators. The company manufactures elevators that are not only high quality, but equally state of the art. In addition, BroBeil attaches great importance to professionally competent employees, who are constantly trained and educated in order to be able to offer customers the highest level of consulting quality.

Lift Reith

Lift Reith GmbH & Co. KG is a family-run company since 1999 with a headquarters in Ehrenberg near Fulda in eastern Hesse and a sales office in Hilders in the Rhön region. As one of Germany’s leading lift suppliers, the experienced company Lift Reith’s product range includes not only elevators but also home lifts, stair lifts, lifting platforms and platform lifts. Due to its manufacturer independence, the products can be used according to individual usage and space requirements not only for private buildings, such as single-family homes, but also find their use in apartment buildings, offices, boutiques or even public buildings, such as town halls and museums.

Almost all products are ideal for installation in new buildings or renovations, as well as for modernization. The selected and durable materials especially of the elevators, home elevators and lift systems of Lift Reith are not only designed for indoor use, but also for outdoor integration. This allows an uncomplicated realization of barrier-free accesses to the desired levels or floors not only for the own house, but also for company or administration buildings. Thanks to the many years of expertise of Lift Reith, customers receive complete service starting with the first individual consultation, through more detailed planning by the experienced sales staff, to installation and maintenance by the service technicians operating throughout Germany.

Aufzüge mit Herz GmbH

The company “Aufzüge mit Herz” is one of the youngest elevator manufacturers in Germany. The company was founded in Berlin in 2007 and was able to make a name for itself as a full-service provider in a relatively short time. In addition to consulting, sales and maintenance of passenger elevators, Aufzüge mit Herz GmbH also offers solutions for barrier-free conversion and modernization of the living environment. In doing so, the provider relies on the highest product and service quality.

Vestner Elevators

The company Vestner Elevators has its roots in the Bavarian capital Munich and has been one of the most reliable elevator companies in Germany for over 80 years. The high degree of flexibility in terms of manufacturing, consulting and service makes Vestner Aufzüge one of the most interesting suppliers for individual solutions. In addition, the manufacturer is known for its very good quality management.

Lutz Elevators

Since the foundation of the German company Lutz Elevators in 1927, the manufacturer has been one of the leading producers of passenger elevators. The company’s offer includes not only consulting and planning but also manufacturing and installation of elevators. Moreover, Lutz Elevators offers manufacturer-independent services and carries out repairs as well as modernizations. The manufacturer has a wide range of products, which can be seen as an additional distinguishing feature, not least because of the high quality.

What services do elevator companies offer?

In Germany, passenger elevators are subject to strict regulations and laws, which are intended to guarantee the safety of the transported persons. Therefore, elevator companies are required to provide special service and maintenance services.

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In addition, the elevators, as well as the providers, are strictly monitored and controlled – for example, by the TÜV. The following services should be offered by an elevator company in any case:

Extensive consultation: Since an elevator is a cost-intensive purchase, it should be very well thought out. Where should the elevator be used? What equipment must the lift have? Can elderly people operate the elevator without problems? These are just some of the questions that need to be answered during a detailed consultation. In addition, the customer consultation should also include an on-site inspection, because this is the only way the elevator company can identify which model is most suitable. It is not possible to provide serious advice without an inspection of the current housing situation. Providers who issue a quotation without this walk-through should be avoided.

Guarantee and warranty: A passenger elevator must function at all times without restriction and without problems. If this is not the case, it is up to the manufacturer to remedy this circumstance as soon as possible. Therefore, it is advisable to find out in detail about the possible warranty claims even before buying an elevator. As a rule, elevator companies offer a warranty period of two years, which can be extended if a maintenance contract is concluded. In addition, the various services should be explained and contractually assured. Here it is important, among other things, that the repair and the journey do not cause any additional costs. Also, one should make sure that the customer service is available at any time and that an emergency repair on weekends and holidays is included.

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Maintenance: Another important point is the maintenance of the elevator. Depending on the model, location and frequency of use, a passenger elevator must be serviced at least once a year, but in some cases several times a year. This is the only way to guarantee unrestricted functionality. Here, too, it is important to discuss the maintenance modalities with the elevator company in advance. Maintenance should be included, at least for the duration of the warranty. To avoid surprises, the maintenance costs after the end of the warranty period should be clarified and contractually agreed.