Handi-Lift

What Handi-Lift does

Handi-Lift, Inc. is a privately held accessibility solutions provider founded in 1975 and headquartered in Carlstadt, New Jersey. The company sells, designs, installs, and services wheelchair lifts, platform lifts, and small elevators for commercial, institutional, and residential customers, primarily across the New York City metro area and New Jersey. Its product portfolio spans four vertical platform lift variants (custom/shaftway enclosed, standard factory-enclosed, unenclosed, and heavy-duty), two inclined platform lift types (straight and turning — the latter navigating curves and intermediate landings), limited-use/limited-application (LU/LA) elevators for small commercial buildings, and residential home elevators. Handi-Lift primarily resells and integrates Garaventa-manufactured lifts (Genesis, Artira, Xpress II, OPAL models) and complements them with site assessment, permit handling, custom design, and certified installation services.

The company generates revenue through three streams: hardware sales of lift equipment (Vertical Platform Lifts, Inclined Platform Lifts, LU/LA elevators, home elevators), professional installation services (site assessment, custom integration, permits), and recurring service/maintenance contracts (quarterly or semi-annual for commercial lifts, annual for residential). Pricing is custom quote-based and varies with lift type, travel height, permitting, and site conditions. Go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales with sales engineers providing on-site consultations, working alongside architects and general contractors during project design. The firm also runs AIA Continuing Education Lunch & Learn programs and publishes free CAD blocks to drive specifications, and offers free consultations via phone and web.

Management remains founder-led: Doug Boydston, who co-founded the company with his parents, has served as President since 1990 and chairs the ASME A18.1 Safety Standard main committee — a position that gives Handi-Lift direct influence over the regulatory framework governing its product category. The company has accumulated 10,000+ completed projects and currently maintains 1,000+ lifts under service contracts, with reference installations spanning government, education, healthcare, retail, hospitality, religious, and nonprofit segments including Lincoln Center, the US Air Force Academy, the NYC Subway, Princeton University, and the FDR Four Freedoms Park. Handi-Lift has earned multiple Elevator World Project of the Year awards (2011, 2015, 2018/2019) and the 2014 NYC ADA Sapolin Award from Mayor de Blasio.

Name

Handi-Lift

Legal name

Handi-Lift, Inc.

Website

https://handi-lift.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Handi-Lift, Inc. is a privately held, founder-led accessibility equipment provider founded in 1975 and headquartered in Carlstadt, NJ. The company sells, installs, and maintains wheelchair platform lifts, inclined platform lifts, LU/LA elevators, and home elevators for commercial, institutional, and residential customers across the New York City metro and New Jersey regions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Accessibility Equipment

NAICS

Elevator and Moving Stairway Manufacturing (333921), Other Specialized Design Services (54149)

SIC

Orthopedic, Prosthetic & Surgical Appliances & Supplies (3842)

akta.pro primary industry

Accessibility & Platform Lift Service (Wheelchair/Vertical Platform Lifts) (BPABAIAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Stair Lifts, Platform Lifts & Residential Elevator Services (HSABAJAD), Home Mobility & Accessibility Equipment (Ramps, Stair Lifts, Transfer Aids) (HSABAKAB), Stair Lifts & Residential Platform Lifts (HSAPANAC)

Keywords

• Wheelchair lift installation
• Platform lift systems
• Accessibility equipment
• ADA compliant elevators
• Vertical platform lifts

Headquarters

HQ city

Carlstadt

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Lift and Elevator Products: Sale of platform lifts, elevators, and accessibility equipment including vertical platform lifts, inclined platform lifts, LU/LA elevators, and home elevators
2. Installation Services: Professional installation services including site assessment, custom design integration, permits handling, and installation
3. Service and Maintenance: Ongoing maintenance programs and repair services for lifts and elevators. Residential lifts recommended annually, commercial lifts quarterly or semi-annually

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Handi-Lift designs, sells, and installs accessibility equipment including vertical platform lifts, inclined platform lifts, home elevators, and LU/LA elevators for commercial, institutional, and residential customers. The company provides site assessments, custom design integration, permitting, professional installation, and ongoing maintenance services, serving primarily the NYC metro and New Jersey regions.

Product overview

Handi-Lift is a physical accessibility equipment provider offering a comprehensive portfolio of wheelchair lifts, platform lifts, and elevators for both commercial and residential applications. The product lineup includes four types of Vertical Platform Lifts (Shaftway/Custom Enclosed, Standard Enclosure, Unenclosed, and Heavy Duty), two types of Inclined Platform Lifts (Turning and Straight), plus Home Elevators and LU/LA (Limited Use/Limited Application) Elevators. The company primarily resells and installs Garaventa-brand lifts (Genesis, Artira, Xpress II, OPAL models) and provides custom design, installation, and maintenance services. All products are designed for ADA compliance and must meet safety standards such as ASME A18.1 and ICC A117.1.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Shaftway Vertical Platform Lifts (Custom Enclosure VPL) Custom enclosed vertical platform lifts designed for commercial and residential buildings where aesthetics are a priority. Features include power door operators, interlocks, battery backup, and ADA phone.
• Standard Enclosure Vertical Platform Lifts Factory enclosed vertical platform lifts that require minimal construction for installation. Features include exterior domed roof, communication systems, and integrated lighting.
• Unenclosed Vertical Platform Lifts Vertical platform lifts for low-rise locations (maximum 5 feet 0 inches in public buildings). Common for stage applications with flip-up ramps, safety pans, and optional mast heaters for outdoor installations.
• Heavy Duty Vertical Platform Lifts Heavy-duty vertical platform lifts designed for 10-14 feet of travel with heavy-use requirements. Features 30 FPM speed, quiet submersible pump operation, smooth solid ride, automatic lighting, and 750 lb capacity.
• Turning Inclined Platform Lifts Garaventa Artira model that travels over staircases, folds up when not in use, and can navigate multiple flights with corners and intermediate landings. The most versatile lift in the company's lineup.
• Straight Inclined Platform Lifts Garaventa Xpress II model designed for buildings with one flight of stairs and no intermediate landings. Features direct mount capability, side load, power door interface, and handrail options with compact design.
• Home Elevators Affordable, customizable residential elevators that enhance mobility for individuals with impairments, boost property value, and support aging in place. Features include powered car gates, emergency lowering, two/three speed doors, and flush swing doors.
• LU/LA Elevators Limited Use/Limited Application elevators serving as compact, cost-effective alternatives to full commercial elevators. Ideal for small buildings with 25 ft travel, 30 fpm speed, 1400 lb capacity, and 18 sq ft floor space.
• Service and Maintenance Programs Ongoing maintenance and repair services for installed lifts and elevators. Residential lifts are recommended for annual maintenance while commercial lifts are recommended for quarterly or semi-annual maintenance, covering 1,000+ lifts currently under maintenance.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 10,000 projects completed since 1975
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Inclinator Company of America: Long-established manufacturer of residential elevators, dumbwaiters, and stair lifts. Directly comparable as a heritage brand competing in home elevators and accessibility lifts for aging-in-place applications.
• Garaventa Lift: Manufacturer of the Artira, Xpress II, Genesis, and OPAL platform lifts that Handi-Lift resells and installs. Comparable because they offer the same core product categories (vertical and inclined platform lifts, LU/LA elevators) to overlapping commercial and institutional customers through dealer and direct channels.
• Bruno Independent Living Aids: Manufacturer and seller of platform lifts, stair lifts, and vehicle lifts for residential and commercial accessibility. Directly comparable product portfolio (vertical platform lifts, inclined lifts) and similar aging-in-place and ADA-compliance positioning.
• Symmetry Elevating Solutions: Provider and installer of residential elevators, dumbwaiters, and stair lifts, primarily in the Northeast. Comparable as a regional installer-dealer with overlapping residential and light-commercial accessibility offerings.
• Access Industries: Manufacturer and supplier of wheelchair lifts, vertical platform lifts, and LU/LA elevators serving commercial and institutional markets across the U.S. Closely comparable as a manufacturer-dealer competitor in Handi-Lift's core product categories.
• National Wheel-O-Vator: U.S. manufacturer of vertical platform lifts and LU/LA elevators for commercial, institutional, and residential applications. Directly comparable product line and customer overlap in ADA-compliant accessibility equipment.

Broad incumbents

• ThyssenKrupp Access: Large global mobility company's accessibility division offering home elevators, stair lifts, and platform lifts through a national dealer-installer network. Comparable at the product and customer level but operating at significantly greater scale and geographic breadth.
• Savaria Corporation: Public accessibility equipment company (acquired Handicare's accessibility business) offering home elevators, stair lifts, and platform lifts globally. Comparable product portfolio but with a much larger footprint and broader product mix than Handi-Lift.
• Stannah Stairlifts: Major UK-headquartered manufacturer of stair lifts and home lifts with U.S. distribution. Comparable as an established accessibility-equipment incumbent overlapping in stair lifts, home lifts, and aging-in-place solutions.

Emerging players

• Pneumatic Vacuum Elevators: Manufacturer of self-supporting pneumatic vacuum elevators for residential and light commercial use. Comparable in the residential accessibility/home-elevator category but with a distinctly different, niche technology that competes for the same aging-in-place customer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/handilift
• Facebookfacebook.com/handilift

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

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 Handi-Lift