Part Of Your Team

Our Heritage

Express Evans Lifts was formed in 1996 when OTIS took over The Express Lift Company and merged it with Evans Lifts which had been part of OTIS since 1982.

The skill and experience of these two companies was an awesome combination.

The Express Lift Company Limited

Officially Formed in 1917 with the financial backing of the General Electric Company (G.E.C). Express Lifts merged with Smith Major and Stevens, who's beginnings can be traced back to William Smith of Princes Street London in 1770.

The Express Lift Company was at the forefront of developments in lift technology. In the post war era the company supplied several special lifts, including the rising dance floor at the Savoy Hotel in London.

Several decades of growth and increasing export contracts made The Express Lift Company a force on the world stage. Express received the Royal warrant for work done at Sandringham House for Edward VII and more recently for the Queen at Windsor Castle.

One of the most famous Express developments was the 418.1 feet tall lift testing tower, built in Northampton. This was fondly dubbed the 'Northampton Lighthouse'.

In the UK numerous landmark buildings were fitted with, and still today operate lifts supplied by the Express Lift Company of Northampton.

Evans Lifts

Formed as RA Evans Limited in 1919 by the Evans brothers in Leicester. In 1928 it was taken over by F.G. Cherry. In 1929 he renamed the company Evans Lifts and in this year alone, notable installations included 10 Downing Street.

In 1937 the company was re-located to the Abbey Lane site. A site which today houses the OTIS customer care centre. In the post World War II era Evans firmly established itself as a major player in the UK market.

In 1955 Evans made an industry leading technological breakthrough with the development of the hydraulically powered lift. This breakthrough was in the passenger and goods/passenger markets where Evans firmly established itself as the leading hydraulic lift experts in the retail sector.