Johnson Lifts Commits ₹300 Cr to R&D, Eyes Residential Market Growth with New Retrofit Solutions

Johnson Lifts is gearing up for a major innovation push with plans to invest ₹300 crore in research and development over the next 2–3 years. The investment will focus on designing high-speed elevators—up to 4 m/s—aligned with the new IS 17900 standards, signaling a strong bet on advanced lift technology.

The company, which operates four manufacturing facilities across Poonamallee, Oragadam, Sengadu (all in Tamil Nadu), and Nagpur, recently completed a ₹54 crore expansion at its Nagpur plant. It has also inaugurated a new office in Noida to strengthen its northern India footprint.

A major share of the upcoming ₹300 crore will be channeled into upgrading the company’s Sengadu R&D center, with ₹250 crore earmarked for this facility alone. This move underscores Johnson’s intent to lead in product development and customization, especially in the fast-evolving residential lift segment.

With the above, Johnson Lifts has announced the Eazy Ride Plus, premium elevators for existing homes. Existing, 80 percent of residential elevator demand comes from the retrofit market. The product is seen strategically as a response to the ever-increasing need for compact and easy-to-install lift solutions in already-constructed areas.

India’s current market for elevators and escalators has been pegged at ₹15,000 crore. According to V Jagannathan, Managing Director and CEO of Johnson Lifts, residential demand is expected to grow at 10-12% annually over the next five years due to urbanization, premium housing, and an aging population. “The commercial segment is expected to grow much faster than the residential segment, driving further growth within the industry, ” he added.

With its growing manufacturing base, budget-hungry investments in aggressive R&D, and retrofit solutions, Johnson Lifts is positioning itself as a major player preparing to “surf” the future wave of urban mobility in India.