About Us
Our highly-skilled engineering team brings over 60 years of combined experience from across the industry, delivering trusted expertise and innovative solutions tailored to your needs.
Levate was initially founded in a home garage by John Davies, Sales and Services Director, and Paul Austin, Manufacturing and Projects Director. Both John and Paul had previously enjoyed successful careers spanning several decades within the engineering industry, resulting in extensive collective knowledge and experience.
With these solid foundations - and engaging the services of a freelance designer and various contractors - business took off quickly, with some of the first cranes manufactured being commissioned by a giant luxury car manufacturer, with a pair of cranes costing just £54k at the time.
Quickly outgrowing their humble surroundings John and Paul sought larger premises and the Levate Solutions as we know it today was formed. Now operating from two sites - Shrewsbury (dedicated to design, servicing, sales and accounts), and Telford (expertly handling the fabrication process) - Levate has grown to a sizable team of mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, and control system design specialists - all brilliantly supported by our friendly and efficient office staff.
We design fully-automated control systems that put you in command - powered by advanced technology and expert engineering. In an industry that’s constantly evolving, we’re committed to helping you stay ahead, delivering innovative solutions that make material handling smarter, safer, and more efficient.
Allow us to introduce you to our core team at the heart of these efforts …
Meet the Team
Sales & Service Director
John Davies
One of our Co-Founders, John handles the sales arm of the company, with the majority of new orders arising from referrals - a glowing testament to John’s admirable ability to nurture customer relationships and build strong, long-term partnerships.
John initially began his career as an apprentice electrician at Cooper & Co in Shrewsbury, and after a five-year apprenticeship his expertise was called upon to assist with some large local contracts - including the Darwin Centre in Shrewsbury town centre. Keen to expand his knowledge in the electrical field, John made the decision to move across to the crane industry some 35 years ago.
With decades of experience navigating industry changes and technological advancements, John has seen how innovations have raised customer expectations significantly - especially when it comes to reliability. John thrives on applying and maintaining advanced technology to deliver cranes and lifting equipment that not only meet but exceed these ever-evolving demands for enhanced quality, performance, and reliability.
Manufacturing & Projects Director
Paul Austin
As fellow Co-Founder of Levate Solutions, Paul is responsible for overseeing the smooth operation of the manufacturing process, ensuring every project is completed on time and to exact specifications before leaving the factory.
Paul’s career began over 30 years ago with an apprenticeship at British Aluminium in Redditch. With a long-standing specialisation in the crane industry, Paul has observed a clear shift in investment attitudes over the years. Where businesses once opted for standard cranes, using them to the end of their lifespan before replacing them like-for-like, many now recognise the value in making a more substantial upfront investment in high-performance equipment - and maintaining it carefully to maximise longevity and return.
Whilst this is to some extent down to changes in health and safety regulations, it is also due to advancements in design. The quality and specification of cranes and lifting equipment in more recent years means they’re built to last, enhanced safety features are available, and they’re now more connected to technology than ever. More than simply a lifting device, they’re now a feat of engineering - and businesses are keen to invest in them as such.
Paul is proud of the fact that Levate Solutions stands out for the quality and innovation of its products, with advanced crane monitoring that is leading the way where other manufacturers can only aim to catch-up.
Control Systems Engineer
Joe Davies
As Control Systems Engineer, Joe plays a crucial role in ensuring the safe, efficient, and precise operation of our cranes through automation and intelligent control - and is certainly the brains of the operation when it comes to keeping ahead of automation capabilities and technological design.
Joe completed an electrical apprenticeship at Shrewsbury Colleges Group gaining his HNC in Electrical Engineering. His expertise lies in electrical design and software, with Joe designing the complex electrical panels and control systems that monitor and control each of our cranes. Joe is able to tailor these control systems to a customer’s unique requirements, with optional enhanced features such as anti-sway safety features or intelligent condition monitoring.
Joe is happiest applying his expertise to complex automated projects, and looks forward to more increasingly challenging assignments in the future.
