Passenger lift manufacturer PLS is seeing a positive future under new ownership, with fresh expertise among shareholders and board members, investment in manufacturing facilities at its Smethwick base, and new products in the coach and minibus sectors.
That is a big turnaround from 2022, when PLS entered administration. It is now jointly owned by five people, four of whom are longstanding staff: Managing Director Adam Beck, Sales Director Mike Pitt, Commercial Director Paul O’Connor, and Production Director Richard Poston. The fifth joint owner is Mark Clissett, founder of Treka Bus and later Managing Director of the Woodall Nicholson bus division after it bought Treka.
Mark is Chairman and has many years of commercial knowledge from the accessible minibus sector. He is joined on the senior team at PLS by his son Morgan as After Sales Director. Morgan also brings experience from senior leadership roles at Treka and Mellor.
Those six give PLS a well-rounded leadership. Adam notes that while he always believed the business would return to prosperity under new ownership, Mark’s arrival has enabled that to accelerate. No key talent was lost during the change.
Mike adds that the new owners were honest will all parties, including suppliers. All creditors were repaid within 12 months of the shift in ownership, allowing partnerships to be maintained. Customers also stayed on side – a further key contributor to the current trajectory.
Increased focus on self-sufficiency
PLS is now what Adam describes as “a more customer focused business.” The previous undertaking was largely focused on product development and assembly, but the reborn PLS quickly worked to bolster aftersales and manufacturing capabilities, and more installation of lifts into vehicles is now also carried out by PLS staff.
The aftersales function in Morgan’s charge has 10 staff, including five field engineers, so that customers are offered ongoing service and maintenance support by PLS. Some contractors are still used, but management of aftersales has been digitalised, and those third parties work with the same parameters as PLS’s own staff.
In manufacturing, the business is working to reduce reliance on third parties. Central to that is the arrival of an on-site laser cutter of flat steel, which will drive efficiency. Customer service will also benefit; if necessary, individual parts for existing users will be cut in-house.
“One of the biggest questions we ask ourselves about processes is: Can we do it better ourselves?”, Morgan says. “If we can, let’s make that change.”
EA4 leads line for PLS inboard lift offering
Among products that will benefit from the laser cutter is the newly launched EA4 inboard lift. It complements the Access underfloor product and suits multiple vehicle types, including minibuses. The EA4 is lighter than its predecessor and uses high tensile steel. Design and stress testing via CAD has assisted greatly in reducing weight.
Key to the EA4 is modularity. The same frame and power pack permit multiple platform lengths and three styles: Solid, vertical split, and horizontal fold. Adam describes the EA4 as a lightweight yet robust product that suits all mobility applications; power packs are now assembled in-house by PLS, and those units can be placed in various locations around the EA4.
Eco and standard variants of the lift are offered. The former recaptures energy when lowering and is focused on electric vehicles, although it has a cost premium. Interest from domestic minibus manufacturers is strong, but enquiries from other territories are growing.
Coach lift overhaul progressing for PLS
The design philosophy from the EA4 is shared with the latest-generation Motion cassette lift for coaches. It was revealed in concept form during 2023 and will debut in vehicles during Q3 2025. Via its CAD-created nature, the Motion will save up to 50kg from previous coach products, and when stowed it will occupy less space despite having a larger platform.
Prototypes of the Motion are with two coach OEMs via CAD drawings. A major difference to earlier coach lifts is how the Motion platform moves in an arc into the vehicle. Adam says that such an approach came out of comments made by the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) that parallel-rise coach lifts are unsuitable, and with an eye on safety.
DPTAC’s point relates to the ongoing PSVAR review. PLS has seen an impact of uncertainty brought by that drawn-out process; it continues to supply lifts for new coaches that comply with PSVAR, but the call for retrofit has dropped significantly.
“At one time we were doing a significant number of coach lift retrofits. While there is still business in that area, it has slowed since the PSVAR review call for evidence,” Adam explains.
That is unfortunate, he believes; the cost of conversions was beginning to stabilise by then, but now PLS and other coach accessibility suppliers await the delayed government response and next steps. Certainty and continuity for those parties is important, Morgan adds.
That aside, a change of ownership and strategy and new ideas mean that PLS is growing. Mike acknowledges good relationships with customers and suppliers and notes export prospects. Since the buy-out, headcount has almost doubled to 57; investment has been made, with more to follow. A strong future is once again on the cards.
