HRH the Prince of Wales visited 140 year old British manufacturer Stannah yesterday to help the company celebrate the production of its 500,000th stairlift.
The Andover, Hampshire based company, first formed in 1867, remains a family managed affair and is today resided over by fourth generation chairmen Alan and Brian Stannah.
Prince Charles joined the company on Monday (Feb 21) as Patron of two elderly people charities, The Almhouse Association and Abbeyfield. He presented both with a free Stannah stairlift.
He also met members of the Stannah family and some of its employees, including field repair manager Martyn Channon, to whom he presented a long-service award for 45 years work for Stannah Group.
Patrick Stannah, Group Director at Stannah Stairlifts, said: “Our business is, and has always been, founded on The Stannah Promise. It’s about doing things well, making products we are proud of and growing the business in a responsible and ethical way.
“It is a great shame that Britain has lost many of the manufacturers which made it a leading force for industry. But today, I am proud to celebrate the enthusiasm and drive for engineering we see among the thousands of people who are part of Stannah. We prove that an independent, family-run firm has a place leading British industry – and that manufacturing is indeed alive and kicking!”
Stannah employs 1,500 people in total and operates out of 42 countries. Last year the company received its fourth Queen’s Award for Enterprise and its most recent financial results show a 6.7% rise in operating profit.
