Past

Over 60 Years of Building Insight

Our history reflects the entrepreneurial spirit and vision of our many founders as well as their interest in contributing to changes in the way we design, specify and operate the systems that move “people and materials” short range.

In 1947, Charles Lerch (standing right) left his position as Chief Engineer for Westinghouse Elevator to strike out on his own doing maintenance and repairs as C. W. Lerch Co. in Chicago. Always focussed on client needs, he added elevator consulting as a side business in response to client requests.

Quent Bates (sitting left) knew the reputation of Charles Lerch and actively sought an opportunity to work with him. Quent left Haughton Elevators in 1964 to join Charlie and both men committed to full time elevator consulting. They both moved to Denver, Colorado which is still the location of our North American headquarters today – the same year. In 1974 the company was incorporated as Lerch Bates & Associates Inc.

By the time of the 1980’s building boom, Lerch Bates already had 15 offices throughout North America. In 1984 the Healthcare group was added, now known as the Materials Management/Materials Handling Group (3MH).

Meanwhile in the UK the independent lift consultancy Lift Design Partnership had been founded by Mike Godwin (standing right) and Dr George Barney (sitting centre) in 1975. Mike Godwin had been the former head of Research and Development of Wadsworth Lifts and George Barney was a senior lecturer at UMIST (the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology). The founders of LDP had pioneered the first ever application of computers to lift simulation and became renowned for their technical and academic knowledge in the field combined with some quite unique  “problem solving” capabilities.

By the time Mike Godwin retired in 1985 his eldest son, Adrian Godwin, had taken up the role of Managing Director of the firm and had already met the principals of Lerch Bates Inc including Charlie Lerch, Quent Bates, Jim Fortune and Jerrold Feuerman.

In 1990 Lerch Bates Inc and Adrian Godwin entered into a 50:50 joint venture business arrangement and LDP changed its name to Lerch Bates Limited to give the Lerch Bates organisation a major presence in Europe.

Today the Lerch Bates organisation has more than 30 offices worldwide and continues to attract some of the most talented individuals in the industry who share the vision and values of the Company and its founders.