Stertil History

Stertil is established as an operating company of the Nederlandse Dok en Scheepsbouw Maatschappij (NDSM) in Amsterdam. The company name derives from the village of Kootstertille where our offices and production plant are located. The company premises were officially opened by the Frisian Commissioner to the Queen on 12th December1963.

From new contracts for sweeping machines and heavy excavators, Stertil takes its first strides in production. Stertil is one of the few manufacturers of these machines in Europe.

Stertil carries out numerous projects for the petrochemical industry.These projects include drilling platforms, fractionating columns and 66 m ventilation pipes for Shell.

Across the Netherlands, Stertil helps with the construction of bridges, providing important transport networks for the Dutch waterways. Stertil carries out numerous projects for the petrochemical industry.These projects include drilling platforms, fractionating columns and 66 m ventilation pipes for Shell.

Stertil Dock Products was established in 1972. In cooperation with Kelley and Frommelt, Stertil began manufacturing dock levellers and dock shelters for loading bays. That same year, Stertil Dock Products entered the UK market, with Stertil UK becoming its first international company.

Stertil supplies the first condenser for the new power plant operated by the Provincial Electricity Company on the north side of Bergumer lake, which also supplies electricity to the Stertil plant.

Stertil builds bow components for shipping tankers. The largest bow components ever constructed by Stertil, each 1,500 ton in weight, are loaded onto a barge for transport to Rotterdam.

Koni Service is established due to the increase in sales of Stertil-Koni vehicle lifts.

Moving up, Stertil-Koni enters the vehicle lift market. The merger with Koni-Vehicle Lifts in Oud Beijerland provides more continuity to Stertil and reduces dependence on the volatile steel construction market.

A milestone in 1992 for Stertil-Kelley Dock Products. The production of the 30,000th dock leveller.

Stertil-Koni goes USA. Stertil becomes a global company with the establishment of Stertil-Koni USA. A new subsidiary in Stevensville, Maryland, covering the USA and Canada.

In the same year, Stertil-Koni produces the first mobile column vehicle lift at HQ's factory in the Netherlands. A truely new innovation for workshops.

Stertil expands into Germany and France. Local markets are supported through dedicated German and French sales organisations for Stertil-Koni and Stertil Dock Products.

In 1999 Stertil Dock Products develops the patented automatic vehicle restraint system COMBILOK®. An innovative safety solution for loading and unloading processes.

Stertil-Koni Polska is a fact, with a local sales office in Poland. In 2002 Stertil Equip'VI is France is established. Stertil acquires Equip'VI in order to be able to provide a complete range of workshop equipment products for the French market.

Getting to the top means standing out from the crowd. Market demand leads Stertil-Koni to focus on heavy duty vehicle lifts and to differentiate the company in this market segment. This marks the start of Stertil-Koni becoming the worldwide market leader in heavy duty vehicle lifting.

Stertil-Koni develops the first wireless mobile column vehicle lift, the ST 1082, and launches it at Autopromotec in Italy, one of the largest vehicle trade fairs in Europe. With a lifting capacity of 8.2 tonnes per column, it uses Bluetooth technology to create a safe wireless lifting system.

A mulit-year modernisation plan is developed to streamline production into a flow process. The Stertil Group invests in its European production facility, while building renovations modernise the production environment for personnel.

2007 is also the year of another Stertil-Koni patented design and a complety new product development. The platform SKYLIFT^® is launced, offering freedom of movement for mechanics around and under the lifted vehicle.

Stertil in Kootstertille, the Netherlands is acquired by the Kroymans Group, a group of companies from the automotive industry, later positioned under Citadel Enterprises.

Stertil-Koni launches a "green" mobile column lift, the EARTHLIFT^®, which creates its own energy upon descent, meaning 55 lifting cycles are possible without recharging.

Stertil Group acquires ALM Corporation (Streator, Illinois, USA) and adopts the scissor in-ground vehicle lift, the ECOLIFT (Manheim, Massachusetts). In the same year, the ECOLIFT production moves to ALM, making Streator our central production facility in the USA.

Stertil also acquires Sofregi Services, a French garage equipment service company, for the complete maintenance, service and installation of the Stertil-Koni vehicle lifts and other garage equipment.

In the same year there is a takeover in the Netherlands of the service activities of Lasaulec that provides Stokvis Service with even more qualified service engineers.

Taking a risk. The economy in Europe suffers severe recession and Stertil decides to invest instead of cutting back on costs. The next phase in the development of the Stertil Kootstertille production facility is realised. Official opening is done by Mr. F. Kroymans, Owner of Citadel Enterprises and Mr. E. Nijpels Frisian Commissioner to the Queen, with CEO of the Stertil Group, Mr. U.G. Bijlsma.

Stertil unveils a new corporate identity, reinforcing its position as a global company with recognisable brands.

The further expansion of the Stertil ALM production facility of 1 acre in Streator, IL, USA. Due to the increased demand in a wide range of Stertil-Koni vehicle lifts, additional production space, as well as test and training facilities have been built on the existing site.

Stertil establishes a sales office subsidiary in Istanbul, Turkey, Stertil Interyapi. This is one of the largest growth markets for loading bay dock equipment.

This is also the year that the Stertil-Koni product range is enhanced with the launch of the in-ground piston lift, the DIAMONDLIFT^®. Produced at Stertil ALM in the USA.

Stertil Equip'VI and Sofregi Services merge. The new name of the French company is Stertil SO-Services.

The 7 year investment in the modernisation of Stertil's production facility is completed. The new assembly line is officially opened.

Stertil-Koni introduces the newest in workshop technology, the ebright Smart Control System. The EARTHLIFT is the first mobile column vehicle lift with a fullcolour 7" touch screen, allowing up to 32 mobile columns to be operated with a single touch. 

Stertil Dock Products launches the ultra-secure EDGEDOCK mini dock leveller, designed to help prevent accidents while trucks back up to the dock.
It also introduces the SPL retro-fit dock leveller, offering a durable solution for retro-fit dock situations and a wide range of vehicles.

In 2015 Stertil begins as sales office and production facility in Qingdao, China to produce Stertil-Koni heavy duty vehicle lifts for the local Asian markets. The first order was placed the same year for the Qingdao local bus company.

Stertil Dock Products rose to the challenge in the fast-moving courier and parcel distribution centre market. Many major courier services, as well as online companies, approached Stertil Dock Products for a soft yet robust, weather-resistant dock shelter for fast and safe loading and unloading. In response, Stertil Dock Products launched the Courier & Parcel Services Shelter.

The Stertil ALM production plant in Streator, IL, USA, was further expanded. A major investment has been made by the Stertil Group in a state-of-the-art robotised welding line to boost productivity. Alongside this, the overall working environment is upgraded and work begins on the new mobile column vehicle lift assembly line.

All Stertil-Koni mobile column vehicle lift models feature the ebright Smart Control System, including cabled models.

Stertil Group B.V. takes over the French sales company Dock Products France from their distributor Schiltz n.v. in Belgium. Stertil Dock Products France supply a complete range of loading bay equipment to the French market including loading bay dock doors and other accessories.

Launch of the next level in safety: the COMBILOK^® G². This automatic universal vehicle restraint system is answering the challenges of the modern day distribution centre. 

The Stertil Group acquires Nussbaum Custom Lifts GmbH and Nussbaum World Lifts GmbH, in Kehl, Germany. A high quality manufacturer of world-class automotive light duty lifts.

In 2022 the official opening of the expanded global headquarters of Stertil B.V. marks a major step in the company’s growth, with the Stertil Group significantly enlarged by 7,500 m² of new production and office space. The opening is performed by the King’s Commissioner of Friesland.

Acquisition of the business activities of Beissbarth GmbH. The company Beissbarth Automotive Testing Solutions GmbH - manufacturer of world-class modern testing and service equipment - now belongs to the Stertil Group.