SIC code 28220 covers manufacture of lifting and handling equipment businesses. With 784 active companies, this is a specialised niche within the UK business landscape. It falls under Section C (Manufacturing) of the UK SIC 2007 classification system, which is used by Companies House to categorise all registered businesses.
See the full industry analysis on the Manufacture of lifting and handling equipment industry page.
With a 91% survival rate, this sector shows strong business longevity. Only 1 of 864 companies registered under this code have dissolved, well below the UK average. With an average age of 21.8 years, companies in this sector tend to be well-established. This maturity reflects high barriers to entry and strong business continuity among surviving firms. The sector is experiencing strong growth, with 28% of active companies formed since 2020 and 20% during the 2010s. This sustained formation rate points to continued demand for manufacture of lifting and handling equipment services. Companies are geographically dispersed across the UK, with no single location dominating. The top three locations — LONDON, SHEFFIELD, NOTTINGHAM — together account for just 9% of the sector.
SIC code 28220 stands for "Manufacture of lifting and handling equipment" under the UK Standard Industrial Classification (SIC 2007) system. It belongs to Section C — Manufacturing. Companies use this code when registering with Companies House to indicate their primary business activity. The code is required for annual confirmation statements and is used by HMRC, ONS, and other government bodies for statistical and regulatory purposes.
There are currently 784 active companies registered under SIC code 28220 in the UK, out of 864 total registrations. This gives a survival rate of 91%, meaning 9% of companies registered under this code have since dissolved. These figures are based on Companies House data and updated regularly.
The top locations for manufacture of lifting and handling equipment companies (SIC 28220) are: LONDON (39), SHEFFIELD (19), NOTTINGHAM (12), CHESTERFIELD (11), LEICESTER (10). Geographic concentration can reflect local economic conditions, industry clusters, or proximity to key markets and supply chains.
The sector is growing: 28% of currently active SIC 28220 companies were formed since 2020, and 20% during the 2010s. This sustained formation rate indicates ongoing demand for manufacture of lifting and handling equipment services in the UK.
Companies classified under SIC 28220 have an average age of 21.8 years. This indicates a mature sector where businesses tend to operate long-term. Notable companies include THWAITES LIMITED, KONECRANES DEMAG UK LIMITED, JUNGHEINRICH UK LIMITED.
Related SIC codes within the same division include: 28990 (Manufacture of other special-purpose machinery n.e.c.), 28290 (Manufacture of other general-purpose machinery n.e.c.), 28490 (Manufacture of other machine tools), 28250 (Manufacture of non-domestic cooling and ventilation equipment). Companies may use multiple SIC codes if they operate across several of these related activities. When registering with Companies House, businesses should select the code that best represents their primary activity.
You can search for companies with SIC code 28220 (Manufacture of lifting and handling equipment) using UVAGATRON's company explorer, which allows filtering by SIC code, location, and company status. Alternatively, Companies House offers a basic search on their website. Our platform adds risk intelligence, director networks, and signals from 50+ government databases to each company record.
Search, filter, and analyse 784 companies classified under this SIC code with AI-powered risk intelligence.
Data sourced from Companies House, HM Land Registry, FCA Register, and 50+ government databases. SIC classification follows the UK Standard Industrial Classification of Economic Activities 2007 (SIC 2007). Last updated: 2026-04-17.