Bookmark  Print

Acorn Stair Lifts

Acorn Stair lifts was founded in 1992 and has grown to become a market leader in the global stair lift market. Acorn is a privately owned company whose headquarters and manufacturing plant are located in Yorkshire in the UK. Today, Acorn stair lifts employs some 550 people worldwide and has sales offices and distribution centers in Orlando, Florida as well as in Ontario, Canada.

The flagship of the Acorn's range is their Superglide stair chair lift. This pioneering electric stair lift was the first to use DC Power (Direct Current) in the stair lift industry, and today Acorn remain at the forefront of DC technology. The advantages of  DC power is that it provides a smooth and whisper silent operation. Since it is battery powered, it will continue to operate even in the event of a power cut.

The Superglide range has no trailing cable, eliminating any danger of an electric shock. The DC power technology provides a very gentle stop and start motion, which is ideal for handicap stair lift users, or those suffering from lower back pain. The batteries used are maintenance free and are simply recharged safely each time it is not in use. The DC technology, also allows for a very quick, simple installation without mess or interruption.

Acorn's unparalleled ride quality can be attributed to its unique double tube rail profile and chassis roller system, together with its DC power operation and positive rack and pinion drive. The Superglide uses eight rollers, giving a surface contact area up to four times larger that competitor models increasing the feeling of stability when in use.

Acorn pride themselves on the safety features encompassed in their Superglide range. It has both an electronic and mechanical braking system, providing the user with complete control when the lift is in motion. Limit sensors ensure that at the end of each accent or decent, the stair lift comes to a gentle stop and that the stair lift comes to rest in the correct position.

Acorn offer the user a choice of using either a mechanical joystick or infra red remote control handsets, two of which are provided with each model. The remote control handsets allow two users in the house to operate the lift, since it can be operated without the person physically being on the chair, allowing it to be called for if it is at the wrong end of the staircase.

Acorn use a three-position swivel seat with locking catch. This allows the user to mount and dismount the stair chair lift safely and easily. The swivel seat feature is very important when dismounting at the top of the stairs. It allows the user to turn the stair chair ninety degrees and then lock the position with the locking catch. This eliminates any danger of falling on the stairs when dismounting. This is particularly important for wheel chair stair lift users who require easy access to and from the stair lift to their wheelchair.

Acorn stair lifts utilize five pressure sensitive areas that will stop the lift should there be any obstruction of the stair way. These are positioned on the footrest and at the top and bottom of the carriage. Additionally, the stair lift also has an overspeed governor (OSG) which ensures that it is always traveling at a safe and constant speed. Finally, it also includes a diagnostic digital display system. This control panel will immediately alert the user if there is any fault with the stair lift.

Acorn's  Superglide range can be used as a straight or curved stair lift depending on what type of staircase the individual has. The company has also developed a perch model which has been specifically designed for very narrow stairs, or where the user has difficulty in bending their legs. Additionally, Acorn also provide an outdoor stair lift model. Since this is specifically designed for outdoor use, all metallic and plastic components are treated to limit the exposure from the elements. A plastic cover is also includes to provide extra protection.