Escalator

Stannah Lifts deliver multi-lift project for Welcome Break’s 60th Service Station

Building Products Index Ltd July 20, 2025 Escalator, Lift Leave a Comment

Welcome Break opened its 60^th service station at Junction 33 on the M1 in January, featuring a Stannah escalator, passenger lift and goods lift.

Spanning 32,000 square feet, located between Sheffield and Rotherham, the services offer state-of-the-art facilities, including dining options from KFC, Burger King and Starbucks as well as 28 EV charging stations and dedicated HGV amenities.

Designed to resemble a traditional Yorkshire village, the two-storey service station also includes retail, gaming, restrooms, seating, a children’s play area and remote workspaces. It marks Welcome Break’s first new motorway service in two decades.

Work

Stannah Lifts collaborated with principal contractors, HML Construction, architects Whittam Cox and SVM Associates on this £55 million project to create a cohesive lift solution and modern design that delivers an inclusive and convenient experience for visitors.

Back of house, Stannah installed a Goodsmaster lift to facilitate the safe and efficient transportation of goods between floors while improving workflow and minimising manual handling risks.

For front-of-house, a Stannah A2C escalator and a 13-person passenger lift were selected to optimise visitor traffic flow, improve accessibility and enhance overall experience.

Challenges

To optimise operations and resources, Stannah collaborated with teams across its divisions to ensure successful execution. Its Microlifts division installed the Goodsmaster lift, while the Passenger Lifts Division handled the passenger lift installation and the Major Projects Division oversaw the escalator.

This coordinated effort and meticulous planning ensured a seamless and efficient installation process, enhancing overall project delivery. As one of the few lift companies offering a full range of lift products along with comprehensive servicing, Stannah stands out as an ideal multi-project lift solution, streamlining customer communication, project specification and overall project management.

Solution

Passenger lift

To improve accessibility for wheelchair users and those less mobile, Stannah installed a 13-person stainless steel MRL (Motor Room Less) traction passenger lift from the Maxilift range, with a 1,000kg weight capacity.

Operating at 1.0 metres per second across two floors, the lift features efficient VVVF drives for a smooth, quiet and energy-efficient ride. Integrated remote monitoring ensures reliable operation, while LED lighting and standby shutdown contribute to an A-rating in BREEAM.

The lift’s design includes adjacent-opening, two-panel entrances, stainless steel walls and premium vinyl stone black concrete floor, providing a sleek and spacious feel. Equipped with intelligent controls, GSM connectivity and compliant with EN81-73 safety standards, it offers both safety and ease of maintenance, providing a future-proofed and high-performance solution for the service station.

Escalator

With the end user in mind, Stannah proposed its A2C escalator solution featuring a 1000m wide step to ensure maximum pedestrian flow during peak hours. Operating at 0.5 metres per second, a 30-degree angle offers a gradual transition from flat to inclined, providing a smoother and more comfortable ride.

The A2C-30 escalator is equipped with a toughened glass balustrade for enhanced durability, a hot-dip galvanised truss for improved protection in damp environments and an auxiliary brake for an added layer of safety.

Designed with efficiency and sustainability in mind, the escalator features speed monitoring that slows down when not in use. This is ideal for locations with varying traffic flow, helping to reduce operating costs and extend the product’s lifespan.

It also delivers a quiet and efficient ride with high efficiency and low maintenance, thanks to its low-vibration, low-noise motor and VVVF drive.

Goods Lift

To facilitate safe goods transportation, Stannah installed the Goodsmaster CD goods-only lift. This heavy-duty goods lift, capable of carrying 1,000kg, features a robust steel cladding structure with protective epoxy finish, non-slip aluminium checker plate flooring and bump rails.

Operating at 0.15 metres per second, the lift has front-facing entrances for easy loading and unloading. The Goodsmaster is supplied with interlocking car and landing gates to prevent load movement during travel, car safety gear and a load weighing device to prevent overloading.

The goods lift also includes LED lighting with an automatic timer for energy efficiency, ensuring long-term reliability and performance.

Results

The multi-lift solution provided by Stannah prioritises accessibility, safe operation and energy efficiency. Design was also an important consideration and Stannah collaborated closely with architects Whittam Cox to align with the original design scheme of this stylish new Welcome Break.

Lift Consultants, SVM associates commented “We were pleased to work with Welcome Break to provide the escalator, goods and passenger lifts in their new service station at Rotherham. Stannah were a natural fit as a delivery partner, being able to provide all products under one umbrella. The units have gone on to provide a reliable service for motorists and retailers alike.”

By offering both a passenger lift and an escalator solution, Stannah ensures full accessibility for wheelchair users and pushchairs, allowing easy movement between floors while maintaining smooth traffic flow, even during peak periods. A separate goods lift further enhances operational efficiency while ensuring customer safety.

Stannah successfully integrated three lift solutions into the building’s structure, completing the project ahead of schedule and within budget.

This cohesive and effective solution met the project’s diverse needs, ensuring seamless access throughout the building and efficient transportation of goods.

Continued product support

The Stannah East Midlands branch based in Mansfield, part of a nationwide network providing comprehensive lift servicing and support for all makes and models, is managing the lifts’ maintenance under the lift warranty, ensuring they stay in excellent condition with regular servicing. With the branch arranging on-site engineer attendance for the high-profile local opening day.

Archie Hungwe, Chief Operating Officer at Stannah Lifts, said: “Working with Whittam and SVM Associates, we were thrilled to be involved in this exciting multi-million-pound motorway service area project on the M1 in Rotherham for Welcome Break. I would like to say a big thank you to all our teams for working so hard on this project. After lots of hard work, it’s great to see the site open and ready to welcome the public”.

For more information, please visit: www.stannahlifts.co.uk/

Case Study: Newcastle United Football Club enhances fans’ experience with Stannah escalators

Building Products Index Ltd April 29, 2025 Escalator Leave a Comment

View the Stannah entry on BPindex

Visit the Stannah website

Newcastle United Football Club, a cherished home for generations of fans since 1892, has introduced two new escalators as part of a refurbishment of its on-site merchandising outlet.

Through close collaboration with Newcastle United Football Club, the Stannah Major Projects team designed and delivered a bespoke escalator system, offering seamless transportation and significantly enhancing user experience.

Open seven days a week, the club’s refurbishment plans aim to celebrate and preserve its rich history and heritage while showcasing its widest range of football kits and merchandise, introduced as part of its £30 million partnership with Adidas.

The works

The project entailed a full refurbishment of the club’s shop following a £30m deal with Adidas as NUFC’s official kit supplier. This included removing the existing escalator, and designing and installing two new escalators to integrate with the updated layout.

Stannah Lift Services worked alongside 442 Design, a leading interior design company, to ensure the new escalators would seamlessly integrate into the architectural framework. Together, they identified necessary structural changes, including adjustments to the pit area to address conflicts between the stadiums’ structural supports and the original layout.

Stannah also carried out a detailed evaluation of the existing escalator and its surrounding infrastructure to find the best and safest removal solution. While the client liaised and initiated the removal with the demolition company, Stannah removed key components, such as the steps and drive unit, to facilitate easier manoeuvring of the escalator sections.

The challenge

The client set a tight budget and a strict timescale in order for the work to be completed in a timely manner and offer value to NUFC fans. To address this, Stannah provided detailed guidance on an escalatorlution that met the building and shop layout requirements while balancing cost and efficiency.

Stannah faced other challenges as logistics were disrupted due to conflicts impacting the Suez Canal, which made it unsafe and inaccessible for ships to pass through. As a result, logistic companies were forced to reroute deliveries around the Cape of Good Hope, causing significant delays in the delivery of materials. To mitigate further delays and to meet the store opening deadline, Stannah increased on-site labour resources to ensure the installation, commissioning and testing proceeded as planned.

The integration of the new escalators also demanded technical precision to address structural modifications to ensure the installation aligned seamlessly with the architectural framework and complied with rigorous safety standards. Extensive testing was conducted by Stannah’s engineers to confirm the escalators’ safety and performance, ensuring they met the BS115 standard.

Stannah provided comprehensive training on escalator operation, maintenance and safety to the building management team and store staff, providing all the skills and knowledge needed to manage and operate the systems efficiently.

The escalator solution

Stannah proposed the installation of two new A2C escalators to improve traffic flow between the ground and shop’s mezzanine levels, ensuring seamless access and greater convenience for users.

With a high-quality design, the escalators’ design focused on minimising friction, vibration and noise, delivering a smooth and quiet ride capable of efficiently managing increased foot traffic during peak periods.

To maximise energy efficiency and to provide flexibility on how the client would like to use the escalators, Stannah provided features such as stop-and-start technology and reduced speed operation so they can choose the correct operational philosophy to suit their current or future requirements. Star/delta bypass was also provided which provides redundancy in case of VVVF inverter failure.

Stannah’s A2C escalator package is a reliable solution for commercial, retail, hotel and office environments. With a rise of 3.0 to 15.8 metres and speeds ranging from 0.5 to 0.75 metres per second, these escalators are finished with a glass balustrade and natural anodised aluminium handrail guide frames for a modern and durable design.

Ryan Robson, Head of Projects, at Newcastle United Football Club, said: “The new escalators are a step forward to improving the efficiency of foot traffic around the NUFC. Stannah’s expertise and attention to detail throughout the process, from design to installation, were incredible. Their ability to deliver a solution tailored to our needs and manage challenges swiftly has been beneficial to the completion of this project.”

John Metcalfe, Project Delivery Manager at Stannah Lifts, said: “This project was an exciting opportunity to showcase our expertise in delivering tailored escalator solutions that seamlessly integrate into unique architectural environments. By collaborating closely with the client, we were able to address their specific requirements for increased foot traffic, while incorporating energy-saving features like the VVVF drive system.”

All of Stannah’s escalators are fully compliant with the latest British Standards, including BS5656 and BS115, and are equipped with the latest passenger safety features.

Find out more information on escalators and moving walkways or contact Stannah for a range of lift products and services at www.stannahlifts.co.uk.

bespoke escalator system BS115 standard Escalator Newcastle United Football Club reduced speed operation Stannah stop-and-start technology