BOWIE CORPORATE HISTORY

Humble Beginnings To Now!

Founded in 1996 by James Bowie, Bowie Lifts began with a simple vision: to challenge the status quo of vertical transport in Africa. With South-Africa-born engineering precision and continental ambition, the company grew under James’ leadership into a trusted provider of lift and escalator systems across the region.

Early Days & Founding Vision

James Bowie founded Bowie Lifts in 1996 with the ambition to build a truly South African lift company capable of competing with global players. For nearly three decades, he has led the business across Africa with an unwavering commitment to delivering quality products and excellent service. Today, Bowie Lifts stands as a testament to local enterprise excellence and proudly represents South African engineering at its best.

Growing Regional Footprint & Credibility

Under James Bowie’s leadership, the company expanded its operations beyond South Africa into the SADC region, becoming a trusted regional provider of lift and escalator installations, modernization, and maintenance.

Bowie Lifts holds key certifications and affiliations — including ISO 9001, CIDB SI, and BBBEE Level 1 — reinforcing its commitment to world-class standards and dependable service across the continent.

Leadership & Brand Implications

James Bowie embodies the values that define the Bowie Lifts brand: local engineering leadership, regional ambition, and global-standard excellence.

His story reflects the brand’s vision — an African company built by Africans who think globally.

Bowie Lifts continues to prove that African innovation can redefine international benchmarks: Smart. Strong. African.