What TEI Group does

TEI Group is the largest independent, full-service provider of vertical transportation (elevator and escalator) services in the New York and New Jersey metropolitan area, operating from its Long Island City headquarters. Founded in 1989 by two elevator mechanics, the company designs, installs, modernizes, services, and repairs hydraulic, Machine-Room-Less (MRL), conventional gearless high-speed traction elevators, and spiral or straight escalators across commercial, large residential, hospitality, institutional, and government segments. Its field force consists of 300+ employees including more than 200 Local 1 union technicians, with a 17.3-year average employee tenure, and more than 90% of service technicians hold or are in queue for NYC DOB elevator inspector licenses. Revenue is generated through a mix of recurring preventative maintenance contracts (driving a 98% customer retention rate), one-time new construction installations, modernization projects typically completing in 12-14 weeks, and specialized testing and violations management for NYC DOB compliance. Customers are acquired through dedicated regional sales teams in the Northeast and Southeast, long-standing partnerships with major general contractors (Turner Construction, AECOM Tishman, Suffolk Construction, Related, Sciame), and direct engagement with developers and property owners including Brookfield, SL Green, Waldorf Astoria, NYCHA, Columbia University, Mount Sinai, and Jack Resnick & Sons.

Since March 2020, TEI Group has operated as an equity partner of Analogue Holdings Limited (HKG:1977), a Hong Kong-listed electrical and mechanical engineering firm, while remaining independently operated. The company has aggressively expanded geographically since 2024, launching a Southeastern Region headquartered in Tampa, Florida under EVP Chad Posey, acquiring Orlando-based TAKA Elevator in January 2025, opening branches in Tallahassee (April 2025), Alabama, Jacksonville and Orlando (January 2026), with Atlanta announced for March 2026, and operating a Puerto Rico office led by VP Pedro L. Espinosa. Core technology capabilities center on green/MRL systems, PMAC permanent magnet motors, Destination Dispatch controls (claimed to increase capacity by up to 33% and reduce trip times by up to 25%), and code-compliance expertise around ASME A17.1 and A17.3 deadlines that drive the modernization pipeline. The company has earned the Elevator World Ellies Award for Best Contractor East three consecutive years (2019-2021), Great Place to Work certification, and USA TODAY Top Workplaces 2026 recognition.

Name

TEI Group

Legal name

TEI Group

Website

https://teigroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

TEI Group is the largest independent, full-service vertical transportation company in the New York and New Jersey metropolitan area, designing, installing, modernizing, servicing, and repairing elevators and escalators for commercial, residential, hospitality, institutional, and government clients through 300+ Local 1 union technicians, with active Southeast expansion into Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and Puerto Rico.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vertical Transportation / Elevator Services

NAICS

Elevator and Moving Stairway Manufacturing (333921)

SIC

Fabricated Structural Metal Products (3440)

akta.pro primary industry

Elevator, Escalator & Lift Maintenance (IMAIABAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Traction/Machine-Room-Less (MRL) Elevator Service & Maintenance (BPABAIAL), Elevator Modernization & Retrofit (Controllers, Drives, Door Systems) (BPABAIAE), Accessibility & Platform Lift Service (Wheelchair/Vertical Platform Lifts) (BPABAIAI)

Keywords

• Elevator installation services
• Vertical transportation maintenance
• Elevator modernization solutions
• Escalator construction services
• Elevator code compliance testing

Headquarters

HQ city

Long Island City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Preventative Maintenance Contracts: Recurring maintenance agreements providing scheduled servicing of elevators and escalators. Technicians manage a maximum of 60 units each, with customized Preventative Maintenance and Repair programs based on customer systems and usage. Drives a 98% customer retention rate.
2. New Construction Installation: One-time revenue from designing and installing new vertical transportation systems, including hydraulic, MRL, conventional gearless high-speed traction elevators, and spiral or straight escalators. Recent major wins include 30-unit install at The Torch ($1.3B project).
3. Modernization Projects: One-time revenue from modernizing legacy vertical transportation systems, including full replacements, controller upgrades, door operator upgrades, fixture upgrades, rope gripper retrofits, machine replacements, and cab refinishing. Most projects complete in 12-14 weeks.
4. Testing and Violations Management: Revenue from tracking and coordinating NYC DOB Category 1 and Category 5 inspections, filing required documentation, and remediating elevator code violations to keep customers compliant and avoid penalties.
5. Repair Services: Revenue from on-call repair work on heavy equipment (machines, motors, wire rope, sheaves, counterweights). Field vehicles stocked with commonly needed parts for fast repairs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

TEI Group designs, installs, modernizes, services, and repairs elevators and escalators (vertical transportation systems) for commercial, residential, hospitality, institutional, and government customers. Core offerings span new construction design and installation, modernization of legacy systems, customized preventative maintenance and repair, NYC DOB Category 1 and Category 5 testing, and violations management. The company also supplies and installs a curated catalog of elevator components and featured products such as controllers, door equipment, door lock monitors, fixtures and displays, rope grippers, motors and machines, remote monitors, and Destination Dispatch systems.

Product overview

TEI Group is the largest independent vertical transportation company in the greater NY Metro Area, delivering a comprehensive suite of elevator and escalator services organized around five core service offerings - New Construction, Modernization, Maintenance and Repair, Elevator Testing, and Violations Management. On top of this service platform, TEI Group provides a curated portfolio of featured products (Elite PI Elevator Displays, Door Lock Monitors, Rope Grippers, and Destination Dispatch Systems) and represents multiple equipment vendor brands across product categories: Controllers (Claddagh Electronics, GAL, MCE, Smartrise), Door Equipment (Adams, AVIRE, CEDES, Columbia, EDI-ECI, Electrodyn, GAL Canada, National, Peelle), Fixtures and Displays (CE Electronics, Dewhurst, EPCO, Innovation Industries, MAD Elevator, Monitor Elevator, PTL Equipment), Remote Monitors (Lift-Net), Motors and Machines (Hollister Whitney, Imperial Electric, MCE, Reuland, Torin Drive International), and Rope and Plunger Grippers. The platform serves commercial, large residential, hospitality, and institutional markets in the NY Metro and US Southeast regions, with over 300 employees, a 98% customer retention rate, and an equity partnership with Analogue Holdings Limited (HKG:1977).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TEI Northeast: Regional division of TEI Group serving the New York metropolitan area (Long Island City, NY headquarters and satellite office adjacent to Penn Station in Manhattan).
• TEI Southeast

Products and services

• New Construction Comprehensive design and installation of new vertical transportation systems including hydraulic, Machine-Room-Less (MRL), conventional gearless high-speed traction elevators, and spiral or straight escalators for indoor or outdoor use. Includes green technology solutions and PMAC motor systems. Targeted at commercial real estate developers, general contractors, and property owners undertaking major new building projects in the NY Metro area and US Southeast.
• Modernization Comprehensive elevator modernization services including full replacement, controller upgrades, door operator packages, fixture replacements, cab refinish or replacement, and rope gripper retrofit (dual plunger brakes) to meet the January 2027 ASME code compliance deadline. Most projects complete in 12-14 weeks. Targeted at property owners and managers of older buildings that need to bring aging systems up to current code.
• Maintenance and Repair Customized Preventative Maintenance and Repair programs for elevators and escalators delivered by certified Local 1 IUEC union technicians, each managing a maximum of 60 units, with vehicles stocked with commonly needed parts for fast repairs. 24/7/365 emergency service. Drives a 98% customer retention rate. Targeted at commercial, residential, hospitality, institutional, and government property owners and managers.
• Elevator Testing and Inspections Category 1 (annual no-load safety test) and Category 5 (full load and speed inspection every five years) elevator inspection and testing services coordinated with licensed inspection agencies and certified category test witnesses for NYC DOB compliance. More than 90% of TEI service technicians hold NYC DOB elevator inspector licenses. Targeted at NYC building owners required to maintain periodic inspection compliance.
• Violations Management NYC DOB elevator violations resolution and management, including remediation of Category 1 deficiencies, filing of Affirmation of Corrections, removal of violations from city public records, and negotiation to reduce or eliminate fines. Targeted at NYC building owners needing to resolve outstanding elevator code violations.
• Elite PI Elevator Displays

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% customer retention rate
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers33 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• TAKA ElevatorflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025TEI Group acquired TAKA Elevator, an independent provider of elevator services based in Orlando, Florida, in January 2025. TAKA Elevator Company, LLC was established in 2012 and brings a strong reputation, customer base, and management team with 50+ years of combined experience. Mary and Patrick Lalchandani report directly to Southeastern Regional EVP Chad Posey. Field personnel became IUEC members.
• International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) Local 1coreOthersAll TEI Group technicians belong to Local 1 International Union of Elevator Constructors - the only technicians trained and licensed to work on every aspect of an elevator or escalator project. TEI supports Helmets to Hardhats program to hire veterans.
• National Association of Elevator Contractors (NAEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association membership. TEI is a member of NAEC, with Ray Downs serving on NAEC safety committees. TEI Group's Ray Downs participates in NAEC's Annual Convention and Exposition as a round table presenter.
• Elevator Conference of New York (ECNY)coreOthersIndustry association membership. Michael Staub is a member of ECNY. Ray Downs and Michael Luraschi are also active members.
• National Elevator Industry, Inc. (NEII)coreOthersIndustry association membership. Ray Downs serves on NEII safety committees and has published in NEII Safety Corner.
• Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY)coreOthersIndustry association membership - logo displayed prominently on TEI website footer. Mark Gregorio is a member.
• New York Building Congress (NYBC)coreOthersIndustry association membership. Mark Gregorio is a member.
• Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA NY)minorOthersIndustry association membership.
• U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)minorOthersIndustry association membership reflecting TEI's expertise in green technology elevators.
• Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation (EESF)minorOthersIndustry association membership.
• Turner Construction CorporationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLong-standing GC partner on multiple projects including 17 elevators at Columbia Business School, 4 MRL elevators at 601 Lexington Avenue, 37 Blue Slip Greenpoint Brooklyn, HS 742 (largest public high school built by SCA), and 1 Penn Plaza extension.
• AECOM TishmancoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLong-standing GC partner on multiple major projects including Amsterdam Houses (30-elevator rehabilitation), Dyckman Houses (14 elevators), and the iconic Waldorf Astoria.
• Suffolk ConstructioncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGC partner on NYULH Brooklyn Ambulatory Hub installation (3 Overhead Traction PE, 1 Hydraulic PE, 2 Overhead Gearless Traction SE). Also working together on The Torch project ($1.3B).
• E.W. Howell ConstructionminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGC partner on Wagner Pavilion Battery Park project - 3 elevators (2 hydros & 1 dumbwaiter).
• Sciame ConstructionminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGC partner on New Museum at 231-235 Bowery project (1 overhead geared freight + 2 overhead gearless passenger) and Collegiate School Riverside Center Expansion.
• Padilla Construction ServicesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGC partner on PS 62 Inocensio Casanova project - 1 geared traction simplex elevator + 1 hydraulic wheelchair lift.
• Related CompaniesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDeveloper partner on 555 West 22nd Street condo project - construction of 8 elevators (4 overhead gearless passenger, 2 service, 1 hydraulic, 1 auto lift).
• Hollister-WhitneycoreTechnology or IntegrationTEI installs and services the Hollister-Whitney Rope Gripper Elevator Brake. TEI Group's Kevin Lynch, Michael Donohue, and Wayne Locker were recognized at Torin Drive for the installation of their One Millionth machine into a modernization project at Baruch College (with Hollister-Whitney).
• Torin Drive InternationalcoreTechnology or IntegrationMotor and machine supplier. TEI Group recognized at Torin Drive for the installation of their One Millionth machine into a modernization project at Baruch College.
• GAL Manufacturing Corp.coreTechnology or IntegrationTEI offers GAL controllers and Destination Dispatch solutions as part of its product catalog.
• MCE (Motion Control Engineering)coreTechnology or IntegrationTEI offers MCE controllers, motors and machines as part of its product catalog.
• Nidec Elevator GroupcoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides Global Engineering support to TEI Group's in-house engineering group for high-speed elevator installations, including 2000fpm elevators at The Torch project.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Schindler Group: Global elevator and escalator manufacturer with strong US presence, particularly in NYC high-rise commercial and transit infrastructure. Competes with TEI on new construction installations (MRL and high-speed traction) and maintenance contracts at major accounts. Rym Chasalow, TEI's new VP Northeast Sales, came from Schindler.
• Kone: Finland-based global elevator company with strong US presence, especially in high-rise residential and commercial new construction. Competes on large new installation projects where TEI also operates (e.g., 1 Penn Plaza, 601 Lexington).
• Fujitec: Japanese elevator manufacturer with active US operations competing in commercial, residential, and institutional markets. Michael Donohue, TEI's GM of Modernization and Construction, previously worked at Fujitec - reflecting direct competitive overlap.
• Mitsubishi Electric (Elevator & Escalator Division): Global elevator OEM with premium positioning in high-speed and high-rise applications. Competes with TEI on flagship NYC installations and modernization programs, particularly for premium Class A commercial properties.
• Hitachi Elevator: Global elevator manufacturer with growing US presence, particularly in commercial and high-rise markets. Competitor on new construction installation bids in major metropolitan markets.
• TK Elevator (ThyssenKrupp): Major global elevator company with significant US footprint. John Rose, TEI's VP Construction/Modernization, came from TKE - illustrating the talent flow and competitive overlap between the two organizations on NYC modernization and new construction projects.
• Otis Worldwide: Global market leader in elevator and escalator manufacturing, installation, and service. Operates across commercial, residential, and institutional segments in NY Metro and nationwide - a direct competitor to TEI with massive scale advantages, but OEM-tied service model creates openings for independent providers like TEI.

Direct peers

• Abell Elevator: Independent regional elevator service company providing installation, modernization, maintenance, and repair. Closely comparable to TEI's independent full-service model outside the major OEMs, often competing on mid-sized commercial and institutional projects.
• Schumacher Elevator Company: Independent regional elevator service company focused on commercial, institutional, and residential verticals. Comparable independent full-service model to TEI in terms of installation, modernization, and maintenance offerings.

Emerging players

• Hyundai Elevator: South Korean elevator OEM with growing US presence, primarily in new construction installations. Less established in maintenance/services than legacy OEMs but expanding in commercial and residential segments where TEI competes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TEI_Group

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about TEI Group