Freelift changes its name to Handicare Stairlifts
On July 1st 2010 Freelift changed its name to Handicare Stairlifts. Handicare Stairlifts is one of the largest stairlift manufacturers in the world.
The Norwegian company Handicare AS, was founded in 1986 and has operations in technical aids for elderly and physically disabled people. In order to present one strong brand on the international market as a Handicare business unit, we have decided to change our company name to Handicare Stairlifts B.V.
Even though the name of Freelift changes, the service, quality and relliablity of our stairlifts, remain as the customers are used to. We will continue to operate independently as a stairlift expert, under the company name Handicare Stairlifts. We will continue to deliver the same products and services from the same locations and with the same people; only the company name will change. Our contact details stay the same.
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Freelift’s Naidex prize winner
During the recent Naidex show, all visitors who had their details scanned on Freelift’s stand were entered into a free draw to win the giant teddy bear which Freelift used to demonstrate their new range of ceiling and mobile hoists.
The winner was drawn out from over 300 entries, and pictured below is Mrs Pat Gregory, of R J Gregory Stairlift Services in Gloucester, receiving her prize from Freelift’s dealer manager, Bob Hambleton.
Contact:
Jackie Moore, Marketing Manager
Freelift Ltd, 2 Kings Court, Kingsway South, Gateshead, NE11 0SH
jackie@freelift.co.uk
Tel 0845 330 0950
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Handicare acquires Minivator
Midlands based Stairlift manufacturer Minivator has signed a deal to become the latest addition to the Norwegian based healthcare company Handicare.
Following the approval from the Office of Fair Trading, all the final documentation has been completed.
“We never doubted that we would receive OFT approval,” said Handicare CEO, Per Gunnar Borhaug, “but it’s great to have it now so that we can start working together in earnest. This acquisition strengthens our position in the UK, broadens our product offering and will improve our sourcing capacity too. We are all looking forward to building on Minivator’s already strong foundations.”
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Handicare takes the next step to success!
2 February 2010 - Midlands based Stairlift manufacturer Minivator has signed a deal to become the latest member of the family of companies in the Norwegian based Handicare, subject to regulatory approval.
Previously owned by its Directors and Gresham PE, Minivator Group has an exceptional growth record, indeed it continued to experience double digit growth throughout the testing economic climate of recent years. With a core product range of stairlifts Minivator has expanded its presence establishing operations in North America and Germany and has recently started its own manufacturing base in the Far East. It has seen expansion within the UK having taken on new premises at least four times in the last three years.
As one of the world’s leading manufacturers of stairlifts with a turnover of approx. 55 million Euro, and 420 employees selling to over 35 countries the Minivator Group was a desirable prospect for many companies. The board were in no rush to sell, choosing instead to spend time finding the perfect partner to move forward with. They found such a match with the Handicare Group. Minivator CEO Mike Lord commented “We were looking for a buyer who not only made sound business sense but who was also a great fit with the culture and values that Minivator holds at its core. We are delighted with the deal and are looking forward to seeing what the future holds. We believe exciting times are ahead and being part of a larger and well established group that holds similar ethical beliefs will open up many opportunities that will be mutually beneficial and rewarding.”
The healthcare company Handicare AS, owned by Herkules Private Equity Fund[1], was founded in 1986 and has operations in technical aids like wheelchairs and home care products in addition to adaptation of cars for elderly and physically disabled people. Through its subsidiary Puls, the Group also has a leading position in Norway in the sales of capital goods and consumables to hospitals and institutions. Handicare has its headquarters in Moss, Norway, and has subsidiaries in Sweden, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, England, Belgium, Poland, USA and Canada, and distributes its own products to an additional 30 markets. Handicare has just shy of 1000 employees and reached sales over 250 million Euro in 2009.
Handicare CEO Per Gunnar Borhaug explained “Handicare has grown both organically and through the acquisition of successful companies that had the same drive as Handicare: the desire to provide excellent products and services that help improve the quality of life for the less able, the elderly and those who care for them. Having identified Minivator Group as a financially promising acquisition target we were delighted to find that they had the kind of culture that would fit right in with Handicare’s other companies.”
For further information concerning this press release please contact:
Per Gunnar Borhaug, CEO Handicare, +47 69 24 44 28
Mike Lord, CEO Minivator, +44 (0) 1384 40 87 00
Jeroen Meier, CEO Freelift, +31 (0) 72 576 88 88
[1] Herkules Private Equity Fund is an investment fund with Euro 250 million in capital from 25 Norwegian and international investors. Herkules Capital has in total 1,4 bill Euro under its administration. HPEF has a financial strength which enables them to take a dominant position of ownership in well-established companies with a potential for further growth. Herkules acquired Handicare in July 2005 and has during the latest three years tripled the size of Handicare and is aiming for further growth.
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Freelift first to score with new standards!
Gateshead, 20 November 2008 - Freelift, The Stairlift Company, is delighted to be awarded a triple International Standard recently, which incorporates Environmental, Quality and Health & Safety Management. Freelift is the first stairlift manufacturer to be awarded all three standards, known as ISO14001, ISO9001 and OHSAS18001.
Jeroen Meier, Managing Director of Freelift, commented: "We are proud to be the first in our industry in meeting these rigorous standards." Meier continues: “Across the Freelift system, we recognize that climate change may have long-term direct and indirect implications for our business and supply chain. Our business system has a role to play in ensuring we use the best possible mix of energy sources while improving the energy efficiency of our manufacturing processes.”
ISO 9001
Freelift Ltd were originally awarded ISO 9001 quality standard back in February 1997 confirming that Freelift is a customer focused organisation, striving for continuous improvement and setting processes in place to manage the business effectively.
OHSAS 18001
This occupational health and safety (OH&S) specification demonstrates that Freelift Ltd have controls in place to eliminate or minimize any risk associated with its activities to employees and other interested parties.
ISO 14001
Freelift is the first stairlift company to be awarded the prestigious ISO 14001 Environmental standard, providing a framework for the strategic approach to the organization's environmental policy, plans and actions. Targets have already been set for the reduction of gas, electricity and water consumption, and the use of chemicals in the powder coating process. Freelift is the only manufacturer of seated stairlifts in the world to comply with the lowest requirements in terms of CO2 emission. When designing the main production plant and head office in North Holland, minimal energy consumption was specifically taken into account. The building is heated and cooled by the sophisticated use of ground water. Thanks to the temperature differences between the upper and lower soil layers, a closed system heats and cools the building without any external sources of energy. As a result Freelift BV’s CO2 emission is 80% lower compared to conventional heating and cooling.
More information
Download Freelifts ISO:9001 Certificate
Download Freelifts ISO:14001 Certificate
Download Freelifts OHSAS:18001 Certificate
For more information please contact Freelift Ltd.
82 First Avenue - Pensnett Estate - Kingswinford - West Midlands - DY6 7FJ - England