Stair lifts are devices designed primarily for residential use that restore mobility to people who have difficulty climbing stairs. They consist of a chair that moves along a rail using an electric motor. A home stair lift is one of the most effective and least expensive ways to allow disabled individuals full freedom of movement throughout a multi-story home.
The market for home stair lifts is large and continues to grow. As a result, there are several stair lift manufacturers from which to choose. This article lists some of them (in no particular order).
Summit Lifts (http://www.summitstairlift.com) is located in Lake Winnebago, Missouri. It was started by three men who wanted to found a company on traditional family values. The Summit stair lift has a three-year warranty and requires virtually no maintenance during the warranty period. The Summit stair lift uses a cable drive system.
ThyssenKrupp Access (http://www.tkaccess.com) began doing business as American Stair-Glide in 1947. The company was first formed in a Kansas City basement. ThyssenKrupp now offers a full line of stair lift models. The Citia stair lift is their newest model and has five different interchangeable seats. The StairGlide® stair lift, the company's flagship model, has a full range of options and can be fitted to curved stairways, spiral stairways, or stairways with intermediate landings. ThyssenKrupp's Flow line of stair lifts is also primarily designed for curved stairways. One of the main features of the Flow line is the ability to match seat covers and rail coatings with your home decor. TK offers a two-year warranty on the motor and gears, and a one-year warranty on the other stair lift components.
ACORN Stair Lifts (http://www.acornstairlifts.com/) is a large, privately-owned company based in Yorkshire in Northern England. They also have sales offices and distribution centers in the U.S and Canada. ACORN employs over 750 staff around the world, and its core business is the manufacture and sale of Superglide electric stair lifts. ACORN is well-known for the development of the 24 volt direct current power system for the stair lift. Their lifts also include infrared remote controls, a manual chair-mounted joystick and a digital status display. ACORN offers a lifetime warranty on the motor and gearbox assembly, and a one-year warranty on the rest of the stair lift components.
Bruno Independent Living Aids (http://www.bruno.com) was founded in 1984. It's a family-owned company located in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. In addition to being a stair lift manufacturer, Bruno also manufacturers vehicle lifts and vehicle seating. Bruno's stair lift line includes both straight and curved stair lift models. They offer a 400 pound weight capacity stair lift and promise curved stair lift installation in less than three weeks. Bruno has a five-year warranty on the motor and gears, and a two-year warranty on the other components.
These are some of the largest and most influential stair lift manufacturers. A home stair lift is a major purchase and one or more members of your family will depend on it a great deal. Spend time talking with friends who might know someone in your area with a stair lift. There may be online forums where you can learn about personal experiences people might have had with particular manufacturers. With a little time and research, your choice should become clear.
Deciding on a stair lift manufacturer involves careful comparison of available features and after the sale service