Innovation is at the heart of Sesame Access Systems success. We have developed a vast range of products over the years by adapting to client’s needs.
We began by designing, testing, building and patenting our horizontal retracting stairs that remain hidden below stone cladding until called upon. On one of our projects we were faced with a structural I beam supporting the front of the building where our horizontal retracting stairs would normally retract into. So we had to design, develop and patent a vertically retracting set of stairs which is was a great success and is leading the way for Sesames future.
On one of our projects we were faced with a structural I beam supporting the front of the building where our horizontal retracting stairs would normally retract into. So we had to design, develop and patent a vertically retracting set of stairs which is was a great success and is leading the way for Sesames future.
When the stairs retract they reveal a lift platform to transport the user to the next level. The user needs a set of buttons when on the platform to control the lift. One of our clients did not want to see the buttons so we developed our touch sensitive rising button box that hides completely out of sight below the platform when the stairs extend and then rises automatically for the user to hold onto and control the lift when the stairs retract.
One of our clients had a paraplegic daughter who controlled her wheelchair and the environment she lived in with her voice. We were extremely proud to install for them a Sesame lift that retracted the stairs under her “Open Sesame” command.
The Sesame stairlifts are designed to conform with local standards such as British BS:6440:2011, European EN:81-42, or American ASME A18.1 for example. The lifts need to adapt to conform to each local standard, as time passes the standards are updated. Before the release of BS:6440:2011, a standing pedestrian and a seated user could travel on platforms with less than a meter rise with wheelchair rolling protection in the form of a toe guard 100mm high on all three open sides, however the 2011 standards stated that a standing user must be fully enclosed on the platform with barriers 1100mm height. So we designed automatic touch sensitive rising barriers that rise up through the platform when the stairs retract to fully enclose the user when travelling on the lift. The barriers fold out of the way to be completely hidden once the stairs extend over the top of them, which is perfect for listed buildings.
We haven’t stopped there and this article has only scratched the surface, our Intellectual Property department have their work cut out trying to keep up with our Research and Development department and we wouldn’t have it any other way.