Total Access Elevator Buys Competitor

Total Access Elevator, an elevator servicing company based in Santa Fe Springs, has made its fourth acquisition in a buying spree aimed at gaining market share in Southern California. 

The company, founded in 2008 and backed by El Segundo-based private equity firm Century Park Capital Partners since 2024, has folded in American Elevator, one of its competitors. The deal comes as the firms that modernize and repair elevators vie for local talent in a competitive labor market for elevator technicians. 

“Our vision is to create the leading elevator services business in Southern California, and I think we’re well on our way of accomplishing that if we haven’t already,” said Adam Zacuto, a principal at Century Park. 

Last year, Total Access folded in LA Elevator, Vertical Elevator Solutions and TRE Elevator. The latter was an especially valuable acquisition, Zacuto said, allowing the company to install machine-room-less elevators, which run without a traditional rooftop or basement machine room. 

Elevator industry tailwinds

A highly fragmented market of mostly small, family-owned elevator companies and consistent demand for elevator servicing have attracted private equity to the business in recent years, Zacuto said.

“You have recurring revenue that’s created through the maintenance and repair services,” he said. “On the modernization side, there’s an industry tailwind just because there are so many older elevators in Southern California.”

What’s more, the parts for newer elevators, equipped with modern software and computer-based controllers, become obsolete faster, shortening modernization cycles.

Since Century Park stepped in two years ago, Total Access’ employee count has nearly doubled, and the company has expanded to San Diego. Regulatory filings show Total Access has received $18.3 million in debt financing from Gladstone Capital Corp. since 2024 to support Century Park’s recapitalization of the firm.