Niftylift welcomed over 300 guests from ten countries to its Shenley Wood headquarters in Buckinghamshire last month as the UK-based access equipment manufacturer celebrated 40 years in business with two days of festivities, demonstrations, and announcements.
The event brought together suppliers and customers from as far afield as the UAE, and served as a tribute to the company’s journey from modest beginnings to becoming a major player in the global powered access industry.
Founded in 1985 by current chairman Roger Bowden, Niftylift has grown from a garden-shed operation in Bedfordshire to a 28,000m² manufacturing and R&D centre at the heart of its international business.
The celebrations began with a supplier event attended by more than 130 supply chain partners. The morning session featured interactive demo rides of the HR28 with virtual reality enhancements, as well as guided tours of the company’s state-of-the-art production facility.
Team leaders and company executives – including Bowden himself – also took to the stage to offer insight into Niftylift’s innovations in safety, sustainability and product development over the past four decades.
The afternoon shifted focus to Niftylift’s customer base, with more than 200 attendees arriving from Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, and across the UK. Guests participated in factory tours, static product showcases, and hands-on experiences with Niftylift’s broad equipment line-up across dedicated demonstration zones.
The day concluded with a gala dinner at Whittlebury Hall Hotel, hosted by radio presenter and voiceover artist Daisie-Belle Downer.
Guests enjoyed a champagne reception and a three-course dinner, followed by a presentation highlighting Niftylift’s growth and milestones. Live music, a DJ set, and an open dance floor ensured the celebration continued into the early hours.
In a nod to the future, Niftylift used the occasion to reveal three upcoming upgrades to its HR12 range, with further details to be released in the coming weeks.
Reflecting on the anniversary, managing director John Keely commented: “It was a real pleasure to welcome so many of our partners and customers to our headquarters. Seeing guests travel from over 4,000 miles away really brings home the scale of Niftylift’s reach and the strength of the relationships we’ve built across the industry.
“We’re incredibly proud of our legacy as an independent and innovative force in powered access. Being UK-based is a key part of our identity, and something we take great pride in. Reaching our 40th anniversary is a significant milestone, and we’re excited to keep pushing boundaries as we look ahead to the next chapter.”
