History of APS
Since 1987, we’ve helping hundreds of satisfied customers work safer and smarter at height
The History of Access Platform Sales
From its early beginnings in 1987, Access Platform Sales has grown to become the UK’s largest independent supplier of access platforms and material handling equipment
We’re proud to represent some of the world’s best manufacturers, and through a rare mix of expertise and impartiality we’ve helped hundreds of satisfied customers work safer and smarter at height.
Access Platform Sales opens for business
Jim Daintith joins forces with Malcolm Brown, owner of access rental company Height for Hire, to set up a powered access dealership. They negotiate a regional distributorship for Genie personnel lifts and Niftylift trailer-mounted booms, along with Stothert & Pitt scissor lifts. In May 1987, Access Platform Sales (APS) is born in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.
Jim Daintith
1987
Expands territory, adding JLG & Skyjack to the product range
Business is booming, so Jim and Malcolm negotiate a larger territory with both Genie and Niftylift. In 1991 they take on more staff, laying the foundations for its next growth phase. Throughout the 90s, the company continues to expand. It becomes a regional dealer for JLG, then the sole UK distributor for Skyjack.
Top, L to R: Steve Sharp, Dean Holloway, Zoe Law & Alan Russon. Bottom, L to R: Lee Louder & Jim Daintith. Circa 1994
1990
US Manufacturer Snorkel appoints Access Platform Sales as its exclusive UK dealer for Snorkel booms and scissors
2001
APS enters the tracked boom market by becoming the UK distributor for Danish crawler-mounted manufacturer Omme Lift
2005
APS becomes UK distributor for Hinowa tracked booms
2007 sees the start of our close relationship with innovative Italian spider lift manufacturer Hinowa, allowing us to expand our offering with high performing, compact and lightweight tracked booms.
2007
Partnership with IPS begins with UPAS UK joint venture
Tanfield Group Plc, owner of the UpRight brand of access platforms, acquires US-based Snorkel. This means it had two UK dealers: IPS, the UK dealer for UpRight, led by Tony Jennings and Kevin Shadbolt, and Snorkel dealer Access Platform Sales.
Rather than choose between them, Tanfield asked the two companies to work together. In September 2007, they formed a joint venture, UpRight Powered Access Sales UK.
In 2012, a chance remark by Access Platform Sales owner Jim Daintith while on a fishing trip with Tony Jennings changed the course of both men’s lives. It leads to the creation of IAPS Group, bringing together APS’s new and used equipment distribution with IPS’s replacement parts and mobile service engineer business. The merger gives the new company significant scope and scale.
Rather than choose between them, Tanfield asked the two companies to work together. In September 2007, they formed a joint venture, UpRight Powered Access Sales UK.
In 2012, a chance remark by Access Platform Sales owner Jim Daintith while on a fishing trip with Tony Jennings changed the course of both men’s lives. It leads to the creation of IAPS Group, bringing together APS’s new and used equipment distribution with IPS’s replacement parts and mobile service engineer business. The merger gives the new company significant scope and scale.
L to R: Tony Jennings with Jonathan Till, Managing Director of GT Access & Jim Daintith
2007
Enters low-level access market as Youngman BoSS dealer
2009
Access Platform Sales is confirmed as one of five official Genie distributors in UK
2011
Formal merger with IPS to form IAPS Group
In 2012, a chance remark while on a fishing trip with Tony Jennings changed the course of both men’s lives. As a result, IAPS Group was created to bring together Access Platform Sales new and used equipment distribution with IPS’ award-winning replacement parts business and mobile service engineer fleet, it gave the new company significant scope and scale.
L to R: Richard Tindale, Jim Daintith, Tony Jennings and Kevin Shadbolt
2013
APS enters vehicle-mounted boom market as UK dealer for Italian manufacturer Isoli
2013
APS takes on UK distributorship for US-based Ultra-Deck scissor lift and Titan boom manufacturer MEC
2014
New Managing Director for IAPS Group
Steve Couling joins IAPS as group Managing Director, enabling Tony Jennings and Jim Daintith to take a step back from the day-to-day operations, and to drive the business forward through the next stage of its development.
Access Platform Sales is named as one of Genie’s key partners after nearly 30 years of selling its product range.
Access Platform Sales is named as one of Genie’s key partners after nearly 30 years of selling its product range.
Steve Couling
2014
Awarded official Genie distributor status
Access Platform Sales is proud to be named as one of Genie’s key partners after nearly 30 years of selling its product range. As a full service distributor, Genie customers in the UK can have complete confidence, and expect a first-rate service from our expert team of Genie qualified personnel.
2015
APS expands into van mounted booms, complementing its existing range by becoming a UK dealership for British manufacturer Aldercote
2015
APS is appointed UK distributor for Socage, an Italian truck-mounted boom lift manufacturer
2017
30 years in business
APS marks 30 years in business by launching a new website to fully showcase its many productive relationships with some of the world’s biggest access platform brands. Business is booming with record sales.
2017
Hinowa Lightlift 33.17 Performance IIIS launched
APS is delighted to help Hinowa launch its exciting new Lightlift 33.17 spider platform. Delivering 33m of working height and 17m of reach, it becomes the largest platform in the Performance range and can be supplied with all-electric or hybrid lithium battery power.
2018
Linda Betts joins us as Key Account Manager
Highly experienced access platform sales professional Linda Betts joins the APS sales team. Linda brings huge knowledge and drive to APS, helping us strengthen relationships with valued customers and bring new ones to the business.
2019
APS founder Jim Daintith retires
Jim Daintith, co-founder of APS, retired from the access industry after more than 30 years. Gentleman Jim, as he become known in the industry, bows out by delivering two new platforms to long-standing customer Warren Access.
2019
APS is appointed distributor for UK & Ireland for LGMG
LGMG selects APS to lead its entry into the UK and Ireland access platform market, with great success. Chinese manufacturer LGMG’s brand of excellent build quality, smart design and high performance proved very popular with APS customers.
2020
Kevin Shadbolt joins the APS team as Operations Director overseeing the day to day operations of the business
2021
APS deal puts Nolim’s UK sales on firm footing for growth
Access Platform Sales has been appointed by outrigger pad manufacturer Nolim as its UK authorised distributor.
2023
Toughlift Launched
Working at height and lifting specialist Access Platform Sales has launched a new range of high performance material lifts.
2023
APS Parts Shop opened
APS Parts Shop launched, giving customers easy access to a dedicated range of access platform parts and spares.
2024
Andy Bray Appointed Managing Director of APS
2025
JLG/PowerTowers partnership
JLG/PowerTowers partnership agreement signed, strengthening our low-level access, scissor lift and boom lift product offering.
2025