Client: Currys
Type of works: Stannah Maxilifts were chosen.

When electrical giant Currys planned the launch of their Currys/PC World Megastores it was UK lift manufacturer Stannah that they consulted for their unique in-store lifts.

The customer lifts, essential for the stores with mezzanine retail levels, were required to echo the light and airy feel of their planned-for customer experience. After much discussion the concept of all-glass 13-person Stannah Maxilifts positioned within a wrap-around stairway was decided upon. A rapid procurement programme meant Stannah were challenged with a very tight deadline to deliver the lifts for the roll out of the new electro-paradise.

Chris Thompson from Stannah’s design team explains: ‘We were working to very tight timescales to produce and install the first lift in the Currys Croydon flagship store and certainly faced a few challenges with new product design along the way. Together with our client we have developed a unique and most attractive product. We are delighted with the outcome of the project and look forward to working with the Currys team again.’

Stannah lift designers developed a blue print for Currys which has been applied across eleven locations to date.

Each 2-stop hydraulic Stannah Maxilift passenger lift travels within a clear glass enclosure. The entrance and exit to the lift is on a single side that faces onto both retail floors and the rear of the shaft carries the visible drive system. The lift car interior has a polished steel control panel, half height full width mirror on the rear wall, brushed and polished steel handrails on three sides, a white ceiling with spot downlighters and flooring that flows seamlessly from carpeted retail area. The eye-catching glass lift doors display etched-effect signage with large directional arrows and the words ‘customer lift’.

Stannah also supplied a bespoke goods only lift to each store to aid the essential movement of stock over two/three floors and ensure the Currys high standard of customer service was maintained.

The Stannah Goodsmaster 1000KG goods lift was modified to meet Currys need for a 2.2 metre high car in order to accommodate the stores’ larger than standard roll cages ,often moving particularly large American-style white goods. The lift is structure, supported for easy installation and reduced builder’s work, so saving time and money. Installed with double hinged doors for maximum ease of loading, the lift has an inner car shutter gate for essential safety. A ramp on the ground floor level negates the need for a pit and aids smooth loading. The lift has fully automatic push button controls at both landing levels.

The special adaption of a standard Stannah product is a bespoke solution for a key client who required multiple installations over a number of sites. Stannah are always happy to find solutions to non-standard requirements across their whole product range. All products are manufactured to comply with EN 81-1, CE marked and in full compliance with The Lift Directive 95/16/EC. Goodsmasters comply to EN81-31 Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC.

A spokesman for parent company Dixons Retail plc, is delighted with the lift installations to date and comments: ‘Stannah delivered a bespoke solution for both our customer lifts and our back-of-house goods only lifts within quite tight deadlines and enabled us to launch our Megastores on schedule. They have a can-do approach combined with lift expertise and we are pleased with the results of our collaboration.’

All Stannah lifts installed come with a full year’s warranty and are serviced locally by one of eleven nationwide stannah Service branches who offer 24 hour, 365 days a year support. This covers service, repair, modernisation and refurbishment of all types of lifts, stairlifts, escalators and moving walkways, not only those from the Stannah product range, but also other lift manufacturers’ equipment.