Ian Elford

It is with great sadness that Dolphin Mobility have to announce the death of Ian Elford the former owner of Dolphin Lifts Kent.

Ian was a great friend to us all in the Dolphin Group of companies and will be sadly missed. Ian died after a 2 year battle against Leukaemia, at the age of 56. He kept his sense of humour until the very end. If anyone would like to donate to Leukaemia Research, please click on this link.

Disabled student hit by stairlift delays

Coventry Telegraph - News - South Warwickshire News - Disabled student hit by Warwick District Council stairlift delays

Handicare Group to buy Minivator

News broke yesterday that Handicare Group intends to buy Minivator Stairlifts.

http://www.growthbusiness.co.uk/news/mergers-and-acquisitions/1146038/gresham-sells-minivator-for-34-times-money.thtml

http://www.cityam.com/news-and-analysis/handicare-%C2%A344m-deal-private-equity-rush-continues

http://www.altassets.com/private-equity-news/article/nz17819.html

Stannah Stairlift Rail Colours

Stannah 260 rails are now available in these colours as well as the standard pearl finish

Minivator Offset Footrest

Minivator's Offset Footplate has been designed to reduce the track height on a small number of staircases. In some instances the stair configuration would mean that a stairlift with a standard footplate would have to have a high track height to avoid a clash with the stairs as the stairlift travels around a corner. Sometimes this may even mean that a stairlift cannot be fitted.

 

 

The Offset footplate has been specially designed for use in circumstances where a standard footplate or and it allows the height of the track to be reduced significantly by changing the position of the footplate. As the track height is reduced the offset Footplate can also offer increased bulkhead clearances.

Further to this, this footplate can also fit into narrower staircases, again allowing a stairlift to be installed where a standard unit would not fit.

For more information and prices please call Dolphin Stairlifts on 0800 9800 126.

New look Minivator stairlift

Minivator's new seat offers a single seat solution designed to fit a greater range of users.

The seat is wider for added comfort, yet also has a reduced swivel radius, meaning it will fit into smaller narrower staircases and suits the needs of more clients.

The new seat will be supplied with Minivator's new innovative dual retractable inertia seat belt as standard. The belt can easily be secured at either one side or centrally using one or both hands, depending on the user's flexibility or preference. The new seat also has a redesigned manual swivel mechanism intended for users with limited strength and dexterity.

Meditek Stairlifts - Heavy Duty Powered Hinged Track

UK stairlift manufacturer MediTek has developed a manual and powered - Heavy Duty Hinged Track for use on its straight stairlift range. The new Heavy Duty Hinge can now accommodate a safe working load of 160kg (25st) which is 40kg (6st) more than that of the standard hinge.

MediTek are confident they are the only UK manufacturer that can supply a fully compatible heavy duty powered hinge track for use on domestic stairlifts.

The new Heavy Duty Hinge is retrospectively upgradable and compatible with all other lift options and is available on all order. Please contact Dolphin Starlifts for more details.

Stannah Stairlifts - Curved Stairlift Rail Colours

Dolphin Stairlifts can now offer five optional rail colours to make sure your new Stannah Stairlift blends perfectly into your home. The new colours are only available on the 260 model, and the chair and carriage will be in Pearl.  The extra cost for this is approximately £500.

Please click the link to see a colour swatch of curved stairlift rail colours.

For more pdf's and information regarding several stairlift and mobility products please visit the Dolphin Stairlifts reference library. Alternatively, call us free on 0800 9800 126.

Stannah Stairlifts - Footrest Fold Button

Stannah Stairlifts have introduced the option of a new footrest fold button on the arm of the Sofia and Solus chairs. Just one click is all it takes to fold and unfold the footrest independently of the seat and arms.

Family's fury at "high-pressure" sales to Marion, 89

The family of an elderly woman living in Haworth are furious after she was targeted by a high-pressure salesman into parting with £100 for a stairlift she did not need.

For the full story visit thetelegraphandargus.co.uk

13 stairlift jobs risk

nebusiness.co.uk - News - Business News - 13 stairlift jobs risk

STAIRLIFT manufacturer ThyssenKrupp is to rescope its business at Stockton, which will cease assembly of new products and concentrate instead on sales, marketing and service.

The news ends months of speculation that the German stairlift giant, part of the much larger global technology and steelmaking group ThyssenKrupp AG, was closing its UK subsidiary and consolidating production in mainland Europe. However the reorganisation will put 13 out of a total of 80 jobs at risk, the company confirmed today.

ThyssenKrupp, which continues to trade under the Lift Able brand bought from founder Jim Simmonds in March 2008 for around £9m, said it would continue to expand from its Stockton base, which was acquired as part of a strategy to get a foothold in the UK market for stairlifts - one of the biggest in the world.

Since buying into the country, the company has expanded the Lift Able product range to include curved and platform lifts and said its share grew at twice the market rate last year of 5% - at 12.5%. That was driven largely by public sector contracts in the care home and private housing sectors.

As a result the company said it was recruiting sales and marketing staff for its teams at Stockton and a smaller division in Warrrington, Cheshire. It would also continue to support an assembly team to meet the growing demand for reconditioned stairlifts, hundreds of which are stored at its Stockton plant. It had no plans to downsize the premises, which are on a long-term lease.

The reorganisation of Lift Able, part of ThyssenKrupp Accessibility division, coincides with plans revealed in the group’s generally downbeat annual results last week to streamline operations and cut costs. Although the group reported a loss of euro1.87 billion, compared with a net profit of euro2.3 billion the previous year, Accessibility emerged as one of the few segments that continued to build on a strong order book.

Plans to cut 5,000 jobs and sell divisions employing another 15,000 people would largely affect those employed in the conglomerate’s steelmaking operations.

nebusiness.co.uk - News - Business News - 13 stairlift jobs risk

nebusiness.co.uk - News - Business News - 13 stairlift jobs risk

STAIRLIFT manufacturer ThyssenKrupp is to rescope its business at Stockton, which will cease assembly of new products and concentrate instead on sales, marketing and service.

The news ends months of speculation that the German stairlift giant, part of the much larger global technology and steelmaking group ThyssenKrupp AG, was closing its UK subsidiary and consolidating production in mainland Europe. However the reorganisation will put 13 out of a total of 80 jobs at risk, the company confirmed today.

ThyssenKrupp, which continues to trade under the Lift Able brand bought from founder Jim Simmonds in March 2008 for around £9m, said it would continue to expand from its Stockton base, which was acquired as part of a strategy to get a foothold in the UK market for stairlifts - one of the biggest in the world.

Since buying into the country, the company has expanded the Lift Able product range to include curved and platform lifts and said its share grew at twice the market rate last year of 5% - at 12.5%. That was driven largely by public sector contracts in the care home and private housing sectors.

As a result the company said it was recruiting sales and marketing staff for its teams at Stockton and a smaller division in Warrrington, Cheshire. It would also continue to support an assembly team to meet the growing demand for reconditioned stairlifts, hundreds of which are stored at its Stockton plant. It had no plans to downsize the premises, which are on a long-term lease.

The reorganisation of Lift Able, part of ThyssenKrupp Accessibility division, coincides with plans revealed in the group’s generally downbeat annual results last week to streamline operations and cut costs. Although the group reported a loss of euro1.87 billion, compared with a net profit of euro2.3 billion the previous year, Accessibility emerged as one of the few segments that continued to build on a strong order book.

Plans to cut 5,000 jobs and sell divisions employing another 15,000 people would largely affect those employed in the conglomerate’s steelmaking operations.

Outdoor Stairlifts

The following UK stairlifts are suitable for outdoor use.

Stannah Outdoor Stairlifts

Minivator Outdoor Stairlifts

Meditek Outdoor Stairlifts 

 

Stannah Stairlifts Announced as Superbrand

Stannah Stairlifts has been announced as one of the UK’s leading brands in the 2009/10 Superbrands list – for the second year running.

Stannah has continued the trend from last year as the only company within the mobility industry to ever make it into the top 500, moving up the rankings by 25 places.

Dolphin Stairlifts are approved suppliers of Stannah Stairlifts products, installing and maintaining hundreds of stairlifts every year.

Freelift Stairlifts: Curved Stairlift Xmas Price Reduction

Freelift Stairlifts supplied by Dolphin Mobility are currently available at heavily discounted prices. The cost of an automatic powered hinged stairlift rail is now the same as for a drop nose start (a saving of £400).

Additionally, if you have more than one bend in the stairs, the cost of one free 90 degree horizontal bend is now included in the price(a saving of £175).

All prices will be honoured on quotations completed before Christmas 2009, at which point, the prices will return to normal. Please call Dolphin on 0800 9800 126 for more details or visit the Dolphin Stairlifts website.

Freelift Stairlifts: Christmas Cut Off Dates

Freelift curved stairlift orders will need to be placed by Monday 30^th November to ensure delivery of your stairlift before Christmas.

Meditek Stairlifts to open US branch

Visit  www.gethampshire.co.uk for the full story

A FLEET-based stair lift company continues to climb new heights.

MediTek has seen exports exceed 30% of sales and is firmly on track to double its order book over the next two years.

It has also just opened a new regional office in Pennsylvania, USA.

Meditek Stairlifts are avilable in the UK from Dolphin Stairlifts.

Dolphin achieve Constructionline and CHAS accreditation

Dolphin Mobility are pleased to announce the renewal of their Constructionline and CHAS accreditation.

Blog format

Something seems to have gone wrong with the blog. Please bear with me as I try to correct it.

Freelift Stairlift Environment Movie ISO 14001

Freelift is the first stairlift company in the field to be awarded the ISO 14001:2004 environmental management certificate. Across the Freelift system, there is a recognition that climate change may have long-term implications for their business and supply chain. Their business system has a role to play in ensuring they use the best possible mix of energy sources whilst improving the energy efficiency of the manufacturing processes. Working with Freelift means you can rely on goods and services which are manufactured with the deepest environmental responsibility to the highest quality standards.

•Freelift also holds the ISO 9001:2000 quality management certificate. All of their products are tested and approved by worldwide independent inspection services. This gives users the assurance that all products meet the highest standards in terms of quality, safety, comfort and design and are manufactured with corporate, social, and environmental responsibility.

•Freelift consider ISO quality more than just a word or goal. It is a world recognized symbol of excellence that guarantees quality products whilst respecting environmental implications. At Freelift, it is just another step toward achieving total customer satisfaction.

Freelift products can be purchased from Dolphin Stairlifts.

#Stairlift Prices

If you need a stairlift and are struggling to get a straight answer from firms as to how much it will actually cost, then you should probably check out Dolphin's stairlift prices calculator.

Who will mend the Vale Stairlifts?

This article is taken from the Vale Mail.

The Council no longer repairs stairlifts that it has installed, Vale’s 2005 Group heard at its meeting tonight.

CVCHA Chief Executive Peter Richmond said that his organisation has got to decide whether or not to take on the responsibility that the City Council used to have for maintaining stairlifts. “We have some difficult decisions,” he told the meeting. “The ageing population of Castle Vale is likely to need more stairlifts in the future. If we take on responsibilities that the council can no longer afford, we may have to transfer money from other sources. This is where the recession really starts to bite.”
He said that they would not want a situation to arise where a broken stairlift might mean that an elderly person has to live on the groundfloor and use a commode because they are unable to get to the toilet upstairs.

#Stairlift Parts

Do you have an old stairlift which requires servicing? Have you been told that your stairlift is obsolete? Why not ask Dolphin if they can help? Dolphin have a huge stockpile of second hand stairlifts and stairlift parts which could save you hundreds of pounds. Call 0800 9800 126 for more details.

Who can get a Disabled Facilities Grant?

A grant can be used for adaptations to give you better freedom of movement into and around your home and/or to provide essential facilities within it.

If you are disabled, acceptable types of work include:

• widening doors and installing ramps
• providing or improving access to rooms and facilities - for example, by installing a stair lift or providing a downstairs bathroom
• improving or providing a heating system which is suitable for your needs
• adapting heating or lighting controls to make them easier to use
• improving access to and movement around the home to enable you to care for another person who lives in the property, such as a child

An occupational therapist will look at your circumstances and can recommend the type of adaptation(s) needed.

For more information plase visit the directgov.co.uk website

New Meditek Stairlifts from £1395 installed

Dolphin Mobility are delighted to announce details of a huge price reduction on new Meditek Stairlifts.


One of the best stairlifts on the market can now be fully installed for only £1395 with a 12 month warranty. Call Dolphin on 0800 9800 126 for a free no obligation quote.

A stairlift could cost as little to run as 1.3p per day

Mobility aids can give elderly or disabled people a new lease of life; allowing them the freedom to move alone, and to stay independent in their own home for longer. Every senior citizen should consider how the use of a mobility aid could make their life easier, and safer. But many worry about the hidden costs of stairlifts, so here is some data which should help them breathe easier.


A stairlift could cost as little to run as 1.3p per day, which comes in at under £5 per year! When you compare the cost of running a stairlift to other household items (at ukpower.co.uk)

it becomes apparent that the cost to run a Stannah Stairlift is really nothing to worry about. A lightbulb costs £14 per year, a washing machine double that. A tumble dryer can cost up to £60 to run for a year, and a television around £20. These stats are based on average usage according to the calculator at ukpower.co.uk, and on seven return journeys in the stairlift.

Many people put off making adaptations to their homes, wondering if they might be leaving sometime soon. Elderly and disabled people will be forced to leave their home if it becomes difficult to get around, so making home improvements, including installing a Stannah Stairlift, is one of the best ways to make their home easily navigable again. The stairlifts work by charging a battery at the top and bottom of the stairs, so you’ll never find yourself stranded in the middle of the stairs and out of juice. As the data above proves, the expense to run a stairlift is pretty measly, so the only cost you need to worry about is the initial spend on the stairlift and it’s installation.

New Stannah Stair Lifts from £1795

To see the full selection of Stannah Stairlifts please visit the Dolphin Lifts website.

Axe fear at stairlift firm

This article can be found at nebusiness.co.uk

THE future of around 90 Teesside workers is in doubt today after it emerged ThyssenKrupp is scaling back production of its straight stair lifts in Stockton.

The German giant, which took over the facility last year after buying family-owned manufacturer Lift Able, will cease production of its battery powered Cumbria lift from September 25.

But the move may not lead to redundancies, as a new product is being lined up to fill the gap. The mains-powered Cumbria unit will also continue to be produced on Teesside.

ThyssenKrupp, however, refused to rule out the prospect of redundancies.

“This is a decision which has not been taken yet,” a spokesperson from the firm’s elevators division said. “A new product will be coming in, but we cannot say which product or when.”

One of the world’s biggest manufacturers of escalators and elevators, ThyssenKrupp bought Lift Able in March, 2008.

ThyssenKrupp saw the move as an opportunity to expand its UK operations and strengthen its presence in a UK market which employs more than 12,000 people and saw 267,750 lifts installed in 2008, according to the European Lift Association (ELA).

But this is only a fraction of the 4.96m lifts installed across Europe last year, with Italy the biggest single market. There were only 7,079 new lifts installed in the UK in 2008, with a commercial value of 473m euros.

ThyssenKrupp declined to comment on sales volumes of the Cumbria DC unit or revenues derived from its UK-based transactions.

Lift Able was one of Europe’s five largest manufacturers of straight stair-lifts, with a turnover of more than £10m when it was sold in March 2008.

The company specialised in the manufacture, supply and maintenance of stairlifts and disabled access solutions to domestic and public buildings and was a major supplier to local authorities and the NHS.

In 2007 Lift Able won a Green Apple Environment Award for its commitment to the environment and for sourcing materials from local suppliers.

Teesside is home to several companies in the mobility sector including independent lift maker Pickerings Lifts in Stockton.

Founded in 1854, the company specialises in the design, manufacture, installation and maintenance of lifts and earlier this year won a contract to install three lifts in the grade 1 listed Crockfords Casino in central London.

The venue is the world’s oldest private gaming club founded in 1828 and owned by Genting Stanley Ltd, which operates more than 40 branded casinos throughout the UK.

Dolphin Lifts on Twitter

Follow Dolphin Lifts updates on twitter - http://twitter.com/dolphinlifts

Travellers evicted from stairlift factory site

Staff arrived at Acorn Stairlifts, at the Millennium Business Park in Steeton, near Keighley, to see the car park taken over by 20 caravans.

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/4564201.Travellers_evicted_from_factory_site/

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/Travellers-defy-barriers-as-they.5582895.jp