Discontinued Home Elevators

Discontinued Brands, Models, and Repair Options

Finding out that your home elevator is no longer manufactured can be unsettling, especially when it needs a repair. A discontinued model may be harder to support, but it does not automatically need to be replaced or removed. The key questions are which component has failed, whether a suitable replacement is available, and whether the rest of the elevator is in good condition.

Manufacturers and brands leave the home elevator market in different ways. Some stop making a particular model while remaining in business. Others close a residential division or sell their assets to another company. That history can affect where an owner looks for documentation, parts, and service.

Discontinued Home Elevator Brands at a Glance

Manufacturer or brand	What changed	What owners should know
ThyssenKrupp Access	Its U.S. home elevator lines have not been manufactured or sold since 2012.	Identify the exact model, check current parts and service options, and review any applicable safety notice.
CemcoLift	Otis acquired CemcoLift in 1999; its operation closed in 2012.	An obsolete controller or hydraulic pump may be replaceable while the rest of the installation remains usable.
Matot residential elevators	Matot discontinued its residential elevator product line in 2014. The company remains in business.	Have a contractor evaluate the specific system and determine what components can be serviced or updated.
Older Concord / Savaria elevators	Savaria identifies the Concord Kwiklift, Horizon, and Hampton elevators as non-current products. Savaria remains an active home elevator manufacturer.	Find the model and serial or job number, then contact Savaria or an authorized dealer about service and parts.
Waupaca Elevator	Waupaca’s assets were sold to Wisconsin Elevator Company, which operates as Fox Valley Elevator.	Check the unit’s model, current support options, and applicable safety notices. The change in ownership does not, by itself, mean every model is obsolete.
Earlier Stiltz Duo and Trio Classic versions	Stiltz introduced Duo Alta and Trio Alta while earlier Duo/Trio Classic and Vista versions were discontinued Stiltz remains in business.	Confirm the exact version and current production and parts status with a Stiltz dealer.

ThyssenKrupp Access Home Elevators

ThyssenKrupp Access and related companies sold home elevators under several names through approximately 2012. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) identifies Chaparral, Destiny, LEV, LEV II, LEV II Builder, Rise, Volant, Windsor, Independence, and Flexi-Lift in its recall information. That list combines products from ThyssenKrupp Access and related or predecessor companies; an owner may recognize only the name shown on their own equipment. Older Access Industries materials also identify Windsor and Minivator residential elevators. Minivator is another name owners may find in a manual or on the equipment, though it is not named separately in the CPSC model list.

If you have one of these elevators, locate the owner’s manual and the model and serial number, then ask a qualified elevator contractor to assess its condition and support options. Ask specifically which parts are needed for any proposed repair, whether they are available, and whether updating the controls or other components is feasible. Owners should also check whether their elevator is covered by the CPSC recall to inspect for hazardous door gaps. A recall inspection addresses a particular safety issue; it is separate from deciding whether the elevator should be modernized or removed.

CemcoLift Elevators

CemcoLift produced hydraulic elevator equipment for many years before being acquired by Otis in 1999. The company continued operating as an Otis subsidiary until its Hatfield, Pennsylvania, operation closed in 2012. Some owners may assume that closure makes their elevator impossible to repair, but the answer depends on the installation and the component that needs work.

In our experience working with CemcoLift units, controllers and hydraulic pumps have sometimes been replaced while the car, rails, and other structural components remained in good condition. That does not mean every unit can be modernized in the same way. A contractor should inspect the existing equipment, confirm compatibility, and assess the condition of the entire system before proposing an upgrade. Otis has also published parts information for CEMCO equipment, although a listing is not a guarantee that every part remains available.

Matot Residential Elevators

Matot announced in 2014 that it would discontinue its residential elevator product line. Matot itself continues to operate and offer other lifting products. An existing Matot home elevator therefore deserves a model-specific assessment rather than an assumption that the company has disappeared.

Ask an experienced service company to identify the drive and control equipment, determine which parts are proprietary, and explain any practical modernization options. The condition of the hoistway, car, guides, doors, and electrical equipment will help determine whether continued service is reasonable.

Older Concord and Savaria Home Elevators

Savaria is still an active home elevator manufacturer, but some older elevators sold under the Concord name are no longer current products. Savaria specifically lists the Concord Kwiklift, Concord Horizon, and Concord Hampton elevators among its non-current equipment. Its current home elevator lineup includes the Eclipse, Infinity, Zenith, and Vuelift, so those names should not be treated as discontinued models.

Savaria directs owners of older products to contact the company for service information or an owner’s manual. Have the model and serial or job number ready so Savaria or an authorized dealer can identify the equipment and check the available parts and service options.

Waupaca Elevator and Fox Valley Elevator

Waupaca has a different history. Waupaca Elevator’s assets were sold through a receivership proceeding to Wisconsin Elevator Company, which operates as Fox Valley Elevator. A Waupaca nameplate should prompt an owner to identify the exact model and ask about present-day support; the change in company ownership does not establish that every Waupaca elevator has been discontinued.

Waupaca owners should also review the CPSC’s safety information for their equipment. In addition to routine repair questions, ask a qualified professional to check any applicable recall or warning and the condition of the landing doors, car gate, and other safety components.

The Original Stiltz Duo and Trio Classic Models

Discontinued models are not limited to manufacturers that closed. Stiltz is still in business, but its earlier Duo and Trio designs were succeeded by the Alta line. An owner may have an original Duo even though current Stiltz materials prominently feature the newer Duo Alta. This is a model change, not a sign that the manufacturer has disappeared.

If you own an older Duo or Trio model, identify its exact version and serial number before ordering parts or discussing an upgrade. Ask a Stiltz dealer or experienced service company whether the needed components are available and whether they are compatible with your unit. The availability of a newer model does not, by itself, mean an earlier lift should be removed.

What If Replacement Parts Are Unavailable?

Start by asking the contractor to identify the failed component and explain how they determined that a replacement is unavailable. Sometimes the original part is obsolete but a suitable replacement or a broader modernization package exists. In other cases, replacing one component requires changes to related controls or equipment, which can make the project more expensive.

It helps to get a written explanation of the repair and at least one estimate for each practical option: repair, modernization, or complete replacement. If the first company does not work with the brand, a second opinion from a residential elevator specialist familiar with older systems may reveal additional options. Any proposed substitute parts or modifications should be assessed for compatibility and applicable code requirements.

When Does Removal Make Sense?

Removal may be reasonable when the elevator cannot be restored safely, repeated failures make continued use impractical, the cost of modernization is difficult to justify, or the homeowner no longer wants an elevator. Age and discontinued branding alone are not enough to make that decision.

If removal is under consideration, decide what will happen to the hoistway before work begins. Keeping a usable shaft may preserve the option to install another elevator later. Removing the equipment, securing the landing openings, and converting the surrounding space can involve different contractors and separate costs. For a closer look at that process, see our guide to home elevator removal.

Before You Decide

Write down the manufacturer, model, serial number, and the symptoms you are experiencing. Gather any maintenance records and ask a qualified residential elevator contractor to inspect the complete installation. Have the contractor explain which components are serviceable, which need replacement, and whether any applicable safety notices require attention. That assessment gives you a sound basis for choosing repair, modernization, replacement, or removal.