Bruno is a US stairlift manufacturer, while Stannah is a UK stairlift manufacturer. Both companies manufacture and supply their products around the world and both are considered market leaders. Bruno and Stannah manufacture the best quality curved elevators. What follows is a comparison of both models.
Bruno has been in business since 1984 and is a family-owned American manufacturer. They are an ISO 9001 certified manufacturer, which means they produce the highest quality products using the best materials and the latest technology. The Bruno chairlifts are very popular. The company makes a curved version called the Electra-Ride III Curved Rail.
Stannah is a UK manufacturer and has been in business for over 140 years and is still owned by the family that founded the company. It began manufacturing home appliances for the UK market in 1975 and began exporting in 1979. Stannah stairlifts are now exported to over 40 countries. To date, the company has installed more than a quarter of a million of them. The company makes a curved model called the Stair Lift Stannah 260.
What follows is a comparison and review of both models.
Seat
The seats from both companies come with the usual fold-down seat and fold-down footrest features. Both seats offer footrest mounted safety detectors to immediately stop the chair if an obstacle is encountered.
The standard weight capacity of the Stannah 260 is approximately 270 pounds. The Bruno lift can carry heavier loads; up to 350 pounds as standard. If you have a large size, Bruno could be the best option.
Both seats come with armrest controls. The Bruno comes with a 3-position momentary rocker switch that requires the user to continuously hold it down towards the control unit; the switch is mounted under the arm. The Stannah comes with a removable ‘on / off’ key cap on the end of the arm and a light touch tiller style control for up / down operation. Which control system is better is a matter of personal preference, however the Stannah seems the more attractive of the two and its ergonomic design is effortless for most to use.
Both chairs can be rotated to allow easy access. Both the Stannah and Bruno stairlifts come with manual operation as standard – a lever is pressed to rotate the seat. However, with the Stannah you have the option to upgrade to a motorized swivel seat; This can be a real plus for those with more restricted mobility.
Track
Both companies use a rack and pinion system, which is the industry standard. Both tracks look attractive, but the Stannah’s unique dual-rail system might look a bit more elegant. The Stannah also beats the Bruno when it comes to space requirements. The Bruno rail is placed between 7 and 8 inches from the wall; the Stannah rail fits closer to around 5 inches. In addition, the actual width of the rail is thinner due to its innovative double track system. Finally, the standard angle that the rail can be mounted at is a maximum of 45 degrees with the Bruno. The Stannah wins again, as its stairlift can withstand 52 degrees as standard.
Therefore, if your stair is narrow or quite steep, the Stannah stairlift would be the best option.
Security features
The chairs from both companies come with a host of safety features. Both come with retractable seat belts. They also come with overspeed governors to slow the car from traveling at a certain speed. Both have footrest safety sensors to stop the cart from touching any obstruction. Both are battery powered so they can still work if there is a power outage. All things considered, both elevators are a match for each other in terms of safety.
The price of the stairlift for Bruno and Stannah will depend on the features you want and what your local supplier offers you. A curved model requires an on-site inspection, as the track must be custom made. Accredited dealer surveys are free and are not required to purchase. Your best bet is to request a survey for both the Bruno Electra-Ride III curved rail and the Stannah 260. Compare the options offered and the total cost. You can easily find a Bruno and Stannah provider on the web.