Yohan John, Director, Johnson Lifts | Photo Credit: BIJOY GHOSH

Johnson Lifts, the Chennai-based elevator manufacturer, has acquired 39 acres of land at Sengadu near Chennai for ₹125 crore as part of its long-term expansion strategy to boost production capacity for high-speed elevators and advanced vertical transportation systems.

The new facility, which will involve an overall investment of around ₹200 crore in the first phase, is expected to begin construction in 2028, according to Yohan John, the company’s Director. The investment includes land acquisition, facilitated by JLL, and equipment for the project’s first phase.

Speaking to businessline, John said the company is currently focused on expanding its existing manufacturing facility, with that expansion slated for completion by September 2027. The upcoming Sengadu unit will primarily manufacture high-speed elevators, while a portion of the company’s escalator production will also be shifted there to improve operational efficiency and increase capacity.

The Chennai-based firm is targeting revenue of ₹4,000 crore in the current financial year, up from ₹3,500 crore in the previous fiscal. However, the company remains cautious about demand conditions amid global geopolitical tensions and rising raw material prices.

“Demand is good but we are wary of a drop in demand over the course of the year because of the war and material prices are all going up,” John said.

The company’s business mix currently comprises 92 per cent new installations and 8 per cent replacement demand.

Johnson Lifts has emerged as a dominant player in the metro rail escalator segment, commanding around 50 per cent market share in escalator installations at metro stations across India. The company has installed 3,396 escalators out of the total 6,942 deployed in metro stations nationwide.

Among its marquee projects are the New Parliament House, the Pamban Bridge and the Statue of Unity.

The company currently manufactures around 18,000 elevators and 1,000 escalators annually. It has installed more than two lakh elevators and over 7,000 escalators across India.

Published on May 27, 2026