ThyssenKrupp Access Acquires Largest US Stair Lift Dealer

ThyysenKrupp Access announces it has purchased The Whitaker Company located in the northeastern United States

Grandview, MO September 3, 2004 -- ThyssenKrupp Access, a leading manufacturer of stair lifts, wheelchair lifts, and residential elevators, announces its acquisition of The Whitaker Company, the largest stair lift dealer in the United States. The Whitaker Company, with six office locations in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, sell and install stair lifts, residential elevators, and wheelchair lifts for residential and commercial use. The acquisition of Whitaker will enable us to further penetrate the Northeastern United States and develop a much larger market share, said Thomas Hance, president of ThyssenKrupp Access. This acquisition falls inline with our long-term accessibility equipment and residential elevator growth strategy.    

Malcolm Miller, CEO of Whitaker, will not continue to be active in the business. Stephen Maliniak, president of Whitaker, will remain with the company as the Northeast regional vice president of field sales for ThyssenKrupp Access and will be responsible for day- to-day operations.

About The Whitaker Company
The Whitaker Company was founded in 1937 as a pharmacy by Nathan E. Miller. Miller's son, Malcolm A. Miller, joined the family company in 1960 and using his experience with Parke Davis & Co. developed the companys surgical supply department with the first stair lift installation in 1965. The pharmacy was sold in 1979 with the accessibility portion of the company moving offices to Yonkers, N.Y. Miller, using his sales and marketing experience, developed Whitaker into the largest installer of stair lifts in the United States. Whitaker currently has six locations in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts. For more information about The Whitaker Company, visit the companys web site at www.stairlift.com.

About ThyssenKrupp Access
Since 1947, ThyssenKrupp Access, headquartered in Grandview, MO, has been the worlds leading accessibility equipment and residential elevator manufacturer. Equipment manufactured at its plant include stair lifts, wheelchair lifts and elevators for both residential and commercial use. ThyssenKrupp Access has more than 1,000 dealers nationwide along with 11 company owned and operated field sales offices in Kansas City, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Dallas, Houston, Miami, Chicago, Cincinnati, Atlanta, St. Louis and New York.

For more information about ThyssenKrupp Access, visit the companys Web site at www.accessind.com.
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