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Our Company

Savaria has made its mission to empower peoples’ mobility. Around the globe, the population is aging, with more people every day needing ways to stay mobile.  A simple stair lift installed in a home can reduce the risk of falling and allow people to remain in their home as they age. A home elevator creates future proofing providing convenience today and barrier-free living in the years to come. For public spaces, accessibility is a must-have to welcome those in wheelchairs or with limited mobility. Ceiling lifts not only help move people safely – they virtually eliminate injury risk to the caregiver. And therapeutic surfaces provide clinical positioning and allow movement to prevent pressure ulcers. Altogether, the over 2500 Savaria employees are committed to a vision of making products that make a positive difference in people’s lives.

Marcel Bourassa pressing button to Eclipse home elevator

Our History

From a small Quebec, Canada company to a global leader

In 1989, Marcel Bourassa found a small company called Savaria that was building wheelchair lifts. Looking for a business he could grow for the long term, he saw the potential to serve the growing needs of the aging population. He purchased Savaria and set upon a path to expand the company’s product line and distribution.

As the Executive Chairman of Savaria today, Marcel looks back on over 35 years of history with a great sense of pride for what he and the entire team at the company have accomplished to become a leading manufacturer in the accessibility industry. In 2014, he created the Bourassa Savaria Foundation to give back to people challenged with mobility issues.


Our History

Milestones & Growth

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Vipal worker holding a sheet of metal

Acquisition of Vipal and Baxter residential Elevators

V-1504 vertical platform lift enclosure installed by Western Elevator black frame

Acquisition of Western Elevator

Waiter using Matot dumbwaiter to transport food

Acquisition of Matot Dumbwaiters & Divestiture of Van Action & Freedom Motors

Worker in Savaria's Mexico facility

Opens Savaria Querétaro manufacturing (Mexico) & Acquisition of Ultron Technologies

worker in Handicare facility

Acquisition of Handicare group

Worker at a Silvalea facility manufacturing products

Acquisition of Florida Lifts & Silvalea

Group event with people standing outside Garaventa Lift building

Acquisition of H.E.S. Elevator & Garaventa Lift

Hospital bed made by SPAN SPAN PressureGuard® Span-Care®

Acquisition of Premier Lifts, Visilift, Master Lifts, & Span-America

accessibility modified van with ramp

Acquisition of Shoppers Automotive division

Two ladies next to stairlift demos in Silver Cross showroom

Acquisition of Silver Cross

Savaria's Infinity Home elevator with door opened

Acquisition of Concord Elevator (London) Ltd., Liberty Motor Co & Viewpoint Mobility

manufacturing facility in China

Opens Savaria Huizhou manufacturing (China)

Savaria Orion commercial elevator installed in main lobby

Acquisition of Concord Elevator & Van Action

image of stock market

Becomes publicly traded TSX:SIS

Photo of Marcel Bourassa

Purchased by Marcel Bourassa

Company founded

2026
2025
2024
2022
2021
2019
2018
2017
2016
2014
2010
2007
2005
2002
1989
1979

Our History

Milestones & Growth

Vipal worker holding a sheet of metal

Acquisition of Vipal and Baxter residential Elevators

2026
V-1504 vertical platform lift enclosure installed by Western Elevator black frame

Acquisition of Western Elevator

2025
Waiter using Matot dumbwaiter to transport food

Acquisition of Matot Dumbwaiters & Divestiture of Van Action & Freedom Motors

2024
Worker in Savaria's Mexico facility

Opens Savaria Querétaro manufacturing (Mexico) & Acquisition of Ultron Technologies

2022
worker in Handicare facility

Acquisition of Handicare group

2021
Worker at a Silvalea facility manufacturing products

Acquisition of Florida Lifts & Silvalea

2019
Group event with people standing outside Garaventa Lift building

Acquisition of H.E.S. Elevator & Garaventa Lift

2018
Hospital bed made by SPAN SPAN PressureGuard® Span-Care®

Acquisition of Premier Lifts, Visilift, Master Lifts, & Span-America

2017
accessibility modified van with ramp

Acquisition of Shoppers Automotive division

2016
Two ladies next to stairlift demos in Silver Cross showroom

Acquisition of Silver Cross

2014
Savaria's Infinity Home elevator with door opened

Acquisition of Concord Elevator (London) Ltd., Liberty Motor Co & Viewpoint Mobility

2010
manufacturing facility in China

Opens Savaria Huizhou manufacturing (China)

2007
Savaria Orion commercial elevator installed in main lobby

Acquisition of Concord Elevator & Van Action

2005
image of stock market

Becomes publicly traded TSX:SIS

2002
Photo of Marcel Bourassa

Purchased by Marcel Bourassa

1989

Company founded

1979
factory icon
15 facilities 
square feet icon
1.6 million square feet
icon for sales
$914m
in revenue
(CAD $, 2025)
employee icon
2500
employees 

Accessibility Division

Through its Accessibility segment, Savaria designs, manufactures, distributes and installs a wide portfolio of accessibility products including commercial elevators, home elevators, stairlifts and platform lifts for personal, residential or commercial applications. Savaria products are sold worldwide through a network of approximately 1,500 dealers as well as through 28 Corporation-owned direct sales offices, through which the Corporation also provides installation, repair and maintenance services.

Through its Silver Cross division, the Corporation operates a network of franchises and corporate stores in which new and refurbished accessibility equipment is sold. Silver Cross Automotive Inc. is a retailer of wheelchair-accessible vehicles for personal and commercial customers with locations in the provinces of Ontario and Alberta, Canada.

Savaria worker bending rails that are used in curved stairlifts

Savaria Brampton doing research and development on the Luma through-floor lift

Accessibility Operations

At our Brampton, Ontario, Canada factory, we have a testing and training area for all of our accessibility lifts and home elevators.

Savaria Australia showroom, showcasing Vuelift residential elevator and Handicare Freecurve curved stairlift

Accessibility Operations

In one of our Australian offices, our showroom welcomes customers to try a Vuelift, or a stair lift along with other Savaria products.

Savaria Xiamen factory

Accessibility Operations

In Xiamen, China, our factory meticulously builds sub-assemblies for stair lifts.

Vipal employee working in factory

Accessibility Operations

In 2026, we acquired Vipal S.p.A of Ferentillo Italy. They make lifts for residential and commercial use.

Savaria Netherlands staff looking at curved railing

Accessibility Operations

In 2021, Savaria acquired Handicare, a leading manufacturer of stair lifts. Heerhugowaard, Netherlands produces custom curved stair lift rails for Europe.

Savaria Mexico factory

Accessibility Operations

Our factory in Querétaro, Mexico was opened in 2022 to help meet demand in North America.

Matot by Savaria product assembly

Accessibility Operations

Savaria acquired Matot dumbwaiters in 2024. We now make dumbwaiters, material lifts and vertical reciprocating conveyers in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. These lifts are used in many industries including healthcare and hospitality.

Handicare UK staff interacting with curved railing for stairlifts

Accessibility Operations

Quality is built into our processes, like this curved stair lift rail. That takes investments in machines and the expertise of people to operate them.

Garaventa factory product assembly

Accessibility Operations

Our Garaventa Lift factory in Surrey, British Columbia Canada makes home elevators and wheelchair lifts.

Manufacturing components at Garaventa Factory

Accessibility Operations

At our Garaventa Lift factory, good process and continuous improvement ensures the quality that our customers count on.

Savaria Ontario showroom in Brampton

Accessibility Operations

Savaria has showrooms in key markets around the world. This one at our Brampton, Ontario office is attached to our manufacturing facility.

Savaria staff member putting up schematics for products on board

Accessibility Operations

We have research and development staff stationed around the world to gather the best ideas and approaches.

Savaria home elevator wall sample in Australia

Accessibility Operations

Our direct stores feature showrooms to try home elevators and choose finishes. This is in Australia.

Patient Care Division

Savaria designs and manufactures an innovative ceiling lift product line designed to meet the needs of patients and caregivers by safely repositioning patients in bed or proceeding with a transfer of a patient from wheelchair to bed or bath areas using the overhead ceiling lift. Span-America Medical Systems Inc. (“Span”) makes medical beds, therapeutic support surfaces and pressure management products used in healthcare facilities such as long-term care and nursing homes. Silvalea based in Newton Abbot, U.K., manufactures patient transfer slings and accessories. Products are sold through distribution networks, directly to institutions and through homecare dealers.

Production facility in Magog

Ceiling lift training at Savaria's St. Louis facility

Patient Care Operations

Clinical training with health care professionals is an important service provided by our patient care division.

Savaria technician

Patient Care Operations

Fixed track ceiling lifts are installed in hospital and care home settings to improve the safety of the patient and health care staff.

People surrounding ceiling lift demo unit in a boardroom meeting

Patient Care Operations

Training at Savaria is important at all levels. From employees, to health care professionals and installers, our patient care division invests in ongoing training programs.

worker at SPAN manufacturing facility making hospital beds

Patient Care Operations

In Greenville, South Carolina, we design and manufacture therapeutic mattresses and surfaces suitable for long term care and hospital settings, as well as home care.

SPAN manufacturing facility

Patient Care Operations

In St Louis, Missouri, we operate a factory to sew patient slings for our patient care business in North America.

Silvalea technical drawings

Patient Care Operations

Our patient care division invests in R & D, including technology in fabric that is used in patient slings to improve health outcomes.

Silvalea factory in the UK

Patient Care Operations

Our Silvalea Savaria patient sling facility in Newton Abbott, England is the headquarters for design of our top-quality slings.

Worker manufacturing ceiling lifts in Magog facility

Patient Care Operations

Rigorous testing in our testing facility ensures that our ceiling lifts meet safe weight load capacity ratings and long-term reliability.

Patient Care at Advantage Tradeshow

Patient Care Operations

Our Patient Care team at a tradeshow, one of the many sales and marketing events we participate in throughout the year.