People of all ages may find that due to some disease, condition or injury they are unable to climb stairs. If stairs are becoming too difficult for you, and you would prefer not to move to a new home without stairways, then an ACORN stair lift could provide the extra help you need in your current location.
ACORN Stair Lifts were formed in 1992. It initially bought, reconditioned and resold used stair lifts. However, increasing demand soon convinced the company to begin the design and manufacture of their own stair lifts. The company christened their new lift the "ACORN Superglide Stair Lift." Their experience with lift reconditioning provided the information they needed to improve stair lift design.
ACORN is now the largest volume UK-based stair lift manufacturer. They currently build more than 50,000 new stair lifts per year and ships thousands of units around the world. Located in Northern England, ACORN employs more than 750 people worldwide.
Stair lifts from ACORN are designed to use 24-volt direct current (or DC) electric power. The power for operation of the stair lift is supplied by rechargeable batteries, eliminating the "trailing cable" that you may see on stair lifts that plug into the home electrical supply. The ACORN stair lift does use mains supply for recharging the batteries, but the voltage is reduced to 15 volts so that there is no full voltage power connected to operating parts of the lift.
The DC type of power system is able to provide smoother starts and stops, and quieter operation. By doing away with any jolting or lurching motion, it offers an increased feeling of safety and stability. It also has the advantage of being available for use at all times, even during a power outage.
ACORN's rail design and roller system also contribute to the smoothness and stability of the stair lift. Instead of a square shaped rail, ACORN uses a double tube rail design. The roller system that attaches the chair to the rails also has eight chassis rollers, compared to the usual four and sometimes six roller configuration of most other stair lift manufacturers.
Stair lifts from ACORN are supplied with two ways to control the lift: a mechanical joystick mounted on the seat arm and two infrared remote control handsets. The remote controls allow the lift to be called from upstairs or down. If there's ever a conflict, the seat-mounted joystick overrides the commands from the remotes.
Safety features available on ACORN stair lifts include both electronic and mechanical braking systems to reduce or eliminate the chance of an uncontrolled descent. Sensors at each end of the lift are used to ensure that the chair stops smoothly in the correct position. Also, the lift will not operate unless the chair is locked into position. The stair lift will stop immediately if the edges of the lift collide with any item or obstruction in the stairway.
Each stair lift is built for a specific location, prepared for installation and delivered direct to the address. Installation videos are provided as well. ACORN stair lifts come with a lifetime warranty.
Stair lifts from UK-based ACORN have a reputation for smoothness and quality