A significant part of this investment will go to fund a test tower designed to develop and test lifts with speeds capable of exceeding 4 metres per second. Previously Johnson Lifts have installed elevators with the speeds up to 3.5 meters per second and the company also has orders for elevators with speeds of 4 meters per second in Mumbai. This move comes in the wake of growth in high-rise residential and infrastructure across India.
Yohan K John, Director of Johnson Lifts said, “we are optimistic about the growth in the industry and look to invest in the future of our operations. We see R&D as an integral part of our leadership in this market.”
The Sengadu facility, established in 2018, is already the company’s flagship manufacturing unit spread over 34 acres. The proposed test tower will not only elevate R&D capabilities but also ensure compliance with the latest Indian safety standards, including the upcoming IS 17900 code (A new code for the Indian standard for lifts and elevators, covering both the manufacturing and installation aspects), which will come into effect in December 2025.
V Jagannathan, Managing Director and CEO said that the expansion was aimed at solidifying Johnson’s edge in high-speed elevator technology. “Urban India is moving vertical. We are seeing strong demand for faster, high-rise lifts, especially in metros such as Mumbai. The new test tower will support the design, development and performance testing of such advanced systems.”
The company also unveiled its new initiative, Eazy Ride Plus, a premium home elevator designed for existing villas and indoor applications. With features like silent operation, minimal civil work and a self-supporting structure, the product targets the growing demand for retrofitted home lifts, which, the company says, account for nearly 80 per cent of the segment. Jagannathan said, “Eazy Ride Plus is our answer to India’s evolving lifestyle needs where accessibility, elegance and ease of installation are becoming essential for modern homes.”
This investment follows closely the Rs 54-crore expansion at the company’s Nagpur facility and the inauguration of a new 11-storey office in Noida. Johnson Lifts currently commands around 20 per cent of the organised vertical transportation market in India and has more than 1.93 lakh elevators and 7000 escalators installed nationwide.
With four manufacturing facilities, over 80 branches and a presence in 11 countries, Johnson is positioning itself as a global Indian brand in vertical mobility. The upcoming R&D infrastructure is expected to accelerate the company’s wider ambitions and readiness for a new era of high-rise urban living.
