Member Article

Hartlepool firm acquired by Swedish lift leader

Swedish lift manufacturer CIBES Lift Group has acquired Hartlepool-based Platform Lift Solutions Limited in a move to strengthen its UK operations.

CIBES, which was founded in Sweden in 1947 is recognised as a global leader in the lift sector with an annual turnover in excess of £42m and employing more than 290 staff across Europe and the Far East.

The business has subsidiaries in Norway, Finland, Holland, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Spain, France, Hong Kong and China and is continuing to grow throughout the world.

Cibes Lift Group has a strong relationship with Platform Lift Solutions having manufactured and supplied lifts for the last 8 years, and will now run the business alongside Axess4All, another of its other UK-based businesses under the rebranded umbrella of Cibes Lift UK.

The acquisition means Platform Lift Solutions’ headquarters will now be based in Leicester with the Hartlepool offices being partially used as an Engineering Training Center of Excellence for new and current lift installation teams and service engineers. Cibes Lift UK Sales and Marketing will also operate from the North East branch of Cibes Lift UK.

Mats Engblom, Cibes Lift Group Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are delighted to secure the acquisition of Platform Lift Solutions.

“The potential for us is exciting, and this deal enables Cibes Lift Group to strengthen its service and support to the UK market with all existing network of sales regions, trade partners and installation companies.

All Cibes lifts are manufactured in Sweden, renowned for high quality, design and safety, and are shipped to more than 50 countries via a worldwide distribution network.

Mats continued: “From a logistics perspective, Leicester is perfect to remain as our headquarters whilst now having a good presence in the North East. We have branches and sales engineers that cover the whole of UK, and our reputation, size and longevity gives our customers comfort and assurance that we are a reliable supplier.

“We also have plans later in the year to open a London-based office. This is a very exciting time for the business and we are looking forward to a bright future with continued growth.”