Industry giant KONE acquires Shipley-based elevator company

The Shipley-based elevator company, Express Elevators Ltd, which specialises in the maintenance, repair, modernisation and installation of elevators, has been acquired by Elevator and escalator industry giants, KONE.

Express, whose turnover last year was £7.5m, currently employs around 100 people and has over 2,000 elevators operational in the region.

Express Elevators, which is located near KONE’s regional offices in Keighley, is believed to have first been founded in 1842 when Josiah and Benjamin Gimson started an engineering business in Leicester.

At the turn of the century, passenger lifts, goods lifts and hoists were also being produced, a development that the firm would become most known for.

Michael Williams, the Great Britain managing director of KONE, said: “The acquisition of Express will assist KONE to consolidate and expand in the Yorkshire and surrounding regions in the future.

“I look forward to bringing the fast, reliable and dedicated service of Express to our customer base.”

Richard Hepworth, partner at Manchester law firm Pannone Corporate, said: “We are delighted to advise Express on the acquisition by KONE. There are great synergies between the two companies and Express, which has a strong reputation and customer base in the UK, will be an excellent addition to KONE.