Access Elevator Supply was started in 1988 by Joe Roberts who left a sales manager position at GE to go into business for himself. The company was originally known as Access Electric Supply and to commercial/industrial customers, it still is (See the Access Electric Supply link at the bottom left of the home page).

Initially, Access Elevator Supply was best known for having the largest inventory of replacement contact kits in the country. Relays, contactors, starters, and other electrical parts were the next product lines added. In 1994, Access became the first stocking distributor for a new product that had been developed by the Nordic division of Furnas: an electronic elevator motor starter. Access is still the largest stocking distributor for the Siemens/Furnas/Nordic Electronic Elevator Starter with inventory located on both the east and west coast.

After being a distributor for Aromat’s Green Power starters, contactors, and relays for several years, Access became the North American Master Distributor for Aromat in 2000. This culminated in a trip to Aromat’s headquarters in Osaka, Japan by the company’s president, Joe Roberts.

In 1999, Access outgrew its warehouse and office facility.  They purchased a building in Emeryville, CA, just across the bay from San Francisco.  The building had previously housed a t-shirt factory and was gutted and rebuilt specifically for Access Elevator Supply office and warehouse facilities.  In 2003, the property next door was purchased to accommodate future expansion.

Access continues to add both electrical and non-electrical product lines and now maintains an inventory that serves most of the needs of elevator service companies.

Access also serves independent elevator controller manufacturers with an extensive inventory of wye-delta starters, electronic soft starters, contactors, fuses, timers, and relays.  Bulk packaging, logistical placement, and custom assemblies are all services that the company currently provides to this market.  Domestic and export shipment with certified export packaging and full NAFTA documentation is available.

Access is an active member of the NAEC since 1993 and has hosted a regional training seminar in its facility.