Issue 1063 | 9/4/2024 | Currently reaching 41K global contacts

ELEVATOR WORLD's September Issue

On the Cover: Past, Present and Future: A look at 150 years of Schindler's history and what comes next

Features: Atlantic City: It's a Great Day Here; Into the Depths — Carefully...

Focus on Hoistway Tools, Components and Products: Code-Compliant Pit Ladders; The Way to Better Hoistway Safety...

Columns: Women in Motion; Hytec Expands To Meet a Need...

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EW NOVEMBER TO FOCUS ON REMOTE MONITORING AND MAINTENANCE
ELEVATOR WORLD's November 2024 issue will focus on Remote Monitoring and Maintenance. The article submission deadline is September 16, and the advertising deadline is October 1. To participate or for more information, contact the EW Editorial Department at phone: 251-479-4514, ext. 130 or editorial@elevatorworld.com. To advertise, contact ext. 131 or advertising@elevatorworld.com.

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AES INTRODUCES REGIONAL SALES MANAGERS
Alliance Elevator Solutions (AES), headquartered in Greencastle, Pennsylvania, announced sales managers for three U.S. regions. Adam Engman has been promoted to Southeast regional sales manager. Engman joined AES approximately two years ago as a new construction sales representative, quickly expanding the customer base. His "savvy approach to sales allows him to bridge the gap between general contractors, architects and independent elevator contractors," AES observed. Bethany Gilbert has been promoted to Northeast sales manager. She has a background in sales and project management that "has been crucial to the development of many AES programs." Diana Manteghi has been hired as Central/West Coast sales manager. Manteghi earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Texas at Dallas. For the past 11 years, she worked for TK Elevator in the Los Angeles area as a project coordinator and new installation sales representative.

KONE ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT TO ACQUIRE CAPITOL ELEVATOR
KONE announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire Sacramento, California-based Capitol Elevator, a family-owned and -operated business that has been in the elevator industry for more than 50 years. The strategic acquisition brings Capitol Elevator's expertise and exceptional customer service reputation together with KONE's global brand, comprehensive portfolio and wide market reach, KONE stated. Read more here

Lift Business Advisors in the last 3 years has successfully represented the sellers of more than 25 elevator contractors and suppliers in the elevator industry to a broad range of acquiring companies. Since our inception in 1998, we have provided hands on support to help improve profitability and optimize value for an eventual exit. Contact Jeff Eaton for a confidential discussion and complimentary strategic review. www.liftbusiness.com, jeff.eaton@liftbusiness.com Advertisement

KELES APPOINTED TO NEW, MULTIFACETED TKE LEADERSHIP ROLE
TK Elevator (TKE) announced in August that a new, multifaceted leadership role has been created for Ercan Keles, most recently TKE chief financial officer — a role he held for 12 years. Starting October 1, Keles will be CEO of the company's Access Solutions business unit that includes airport and home solutions. Read more here

OTIS SEATTLE TEAM INSTALLING SIX ESCALATORS FOR CASINO EXPANSION
Otis' Seattle team is installing six escalators for the expansion of the Snoqualmie Casino in Snoqualmie, approximately 28 mi east of Seattle next to Snoqualmie Falls in King County, Washington. Otis tells ELEVATOR WORLD the units had to be flown in and lowered by crane due to the trusses weighing approximately 20,000 lbs each. The project involved some unique rigging, according to Otis. Read more here

Draka EHC, a brand of Prysmian, is a global manufacturer and supplier dedicated to sustainability and developing innovative solutions for the vertical transportation industry. Our diverse portfolio of high-quality elevator products includes travelling cable, compensation cable, hoistway cable, wire rope, coated steel rope, rope brakes, wireway, harnessing, and lubricants. For escalators and moving walks we offer essential handrail solutions, field splicing services, skirt brushes, rollers, replacement parts and more. DrakaEHC.com Advertisement

ATIS MAKES INC. 5000 FASTEST-GROWING PRIVATE COMPANIES LIST
St. Louis-headquartered ATIS, providing vertical-transportation (VT) consulting, management and inspection services across North America, has made the 2024 Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing privately held companies in America. Companies on the 2024 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth over the last three years. Read more here

TKE APPOINTS MUELLER AS CFO
TK Elevator (TKE), headquartered in Düsseldorf, Germany, has appointed Philipp Mueller as chief financial officer (CFO), effective October 1. Reporting to CEO Uday Yadav, Mueller will lead the company's global finance organization with responsibility for business finance, accounting, treasury, financial planning and analysis, audits, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), tax and investor relations. Read more here

SUBMIT YOUR PROJECT FOR THE EW PROJECT OF THE YEAR AWARDS
Submissions are now being accepted for the ELEVATOR WORLD 27th Annual Project of the Year Awards. We are seeking submissions of projects featuring vertical, horizontal or inclined transportation systems with an innovative design, special application or approach that solved a major problem or overcame a unique challenge. Projects will be judged on innovation, originality and creativity, challenges overcome, installation methods and techniques and use of advanced technology and overall quality of presentation. This year's categories are Elevators, New Construction; Elevators, Modernization; Escalators, New Construction; Escalators, Modernization; Moving Walks; Inclined Elevators; Platform Lifts & Stairway Chairlifts; Private-Residence Elevators; and Special-Purpose Lifts. All entries will be judged and categorized as received by an impartial panel of experienced industry experts and professionals. Winning entries will be published in the January 2025 issue of ELEVATOR WORLD. Winners in each category will be acknowledged with an award of recognition. The submission deadline is September 30.

IN MEMORIAM: PAUL T. BEISSER
Paul T. Beisser, who began his distinguished career in the elevator industry as an International Union of Elevator Constructors helper in 1962, passed away on August 20 at age 84. Formerly of Pennsylvania, and most recently making Dataw Island, South Carolina, home, Beisser became a construction mechanic and joined Security Elevator Co. in 1968. He advanced to construction superintendent in 1975, progressing to president/CEO in 1980. When Security was acquired by Dover in 1990, Heisser served as regional director for Dover's elevator division until his retirement. He mentored many young elevator professionals over the course of his career. Survivors include his wife, Ellie, with whom he helped found and support the Sandy Rollman Ovarian Cancer Foundation. Beisser is also survived by his children, Paul and Jennifer; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Mongrain Vertical Transport current products include the complete range of hydraulic elevators as well as the Emarelle hydraulic machine-room-less elevator system. Each is custom tailored to meet demanding design and performance standards as specified by building owners, architects, and installers. For more information, please email us at info@mvtinc.com or visit us online at www.mvtinc.com. Advertisement

OTIS INDIA EXPANDING BENGALURU MANUFACTURING CAPABILITIES
Otis India announced on August 28 it is expanding the capacity and capabilities of its Bengaluru manufacturing facility. The expansion will help Otis India meet growing demand for elevators and escalators domestically for residential, commercial and infrastructure development. It will also expand coverage into more cities throughout India. Read more here

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA ELEVATOR INDUSTRY GROUP PLANS NOVEMBER RELAUNCH
Northern California Elevator Industry Group (NCEIG), which closed its doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, plans to relaunch in November, NCEIG President Frank Fletcher tells ELEVATOR WORLD. The nonprofit organization for elevator industry contractors, suppliers and affiliates plans to host a kickoff meeting on November 7 with featured speaker Dan Barker, principal safety engineer for the State of California. Read more here

Gain a little more Freedom with Canton Elevator's full package Traction line. Canton's offerings are based on a wide range of capacities, platform designs, travel, and speed with both geared and gearless machines. The Freedom series allows elevator contractors and their customers to work through standard and custom applications. For more information visit www.cantonelevator.com or feel free to reach out and talk to Cindy Samek 864-328-9278. If you would like to request a quote for an upcoming project, please send in all information to info@nidec-canton.com. Advertisement

INVERTEK TO SHOWCASE ASME A17.1-COMPLIANT OPTIDRIVE VFD AT TES
Invertek Drives, Ltd., the U.K.-based electric motor control technology specialist, plans to showcase the Optidrive Elevator Core variable frequency drive (VFD) at The Elevator Show in Dubai (TES) on September 16-18. Invertek will be releasing additional new features for its dedicated VFD, including that it is now compliant with ASME A17.1-2022, opening it up to more markets such as North America, as well as Europe and the rest of the world. The innovative Optidrive Elevator Core features USB-C connectivity, allowing it to be powered up in the box with a mobile phone. It also includes a universal encoder module and an internal EMC filter. Compliance with ASME A17.1-2022 ensures the VFD "meets the most stringent safety requirements for elevators and escalators, including enhanced provisions for fire safety, emergency operations and accessibility," Invertek observed.

WITHAM NAMED BRANCH MANAGER AT AUTHORIZED ELEVATOR
Dustin Witham has been named branch manager at Authorized Elevator, a St. Louis-based elevator service company that employs experienced technicians from the International Union of Elevator Constructors Local 3 in St. Louis. Prior to joining Authorized Elevator in August, Witham was a sales manager at Midwest Elevator Co., Inc., based in St. Louis, for more than 21 years. Read more here

CECA ELLE-EVATOR WOMEN'S GROUP VIRTUAL MEETING PLANNED
The Canadian Elevator Contractors Association's (CECA) Elle-evator women's group plans to hold a virtual meeting on September 10 at noon EST. At this meeting, Elle-evator Chair Deneen McIvor of Elevator One of Ontario will review the educational sessions from the inaugural Elle-evator women's retreat held earlier this year. Read more here

Vision Plus has been developed as our most intuitive system for concise door control and paramount safety. The system is a door safety solution certified under the ASME 2022 code. It meets the requirements for object detection in both 2D and 3D without the need for extra devices, seamlessly integrating into the existing edge profile for quick and simple installation. https://www.formula-systems.com/products/vision-plus/ Advertisement

ELEVATOR CONSULTANT SOLUTIONS EXPANDING NETWORK
Montana-based Elevator Consultant Solutions, a network of elevator consulting companies, has announced its expansion by partnering with local elevator consultants to better serve building owners and managers across the country, yahoo! finance reports. Elevator Consultant Solutions is working to create the nation's largest network of local elevator experts with a strategy that aims to connect building owners and managers to a boutique style of elevator consulting — one where the consultant is not only an industry expert, but a local. The new network has been involved in completing a variety of elevator projects in offices, hotels and hospitals in locations including Chicago, Milwaukee, Denver and Southern Florida. By utilizing the expertise of local professionals, the company gains insights into citywide requirements and regulations. This approach helps in adhering to industry standards and addressing the specific needs of each location.

BOSTON CITY COUNCILOR ADDRESSES BHA ELEVATOR ISSUES
Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn recently filed a hearing order to discuss the current status of the elevator systems across Boston Housing Authority (BHA) developments, the Charlestown Patriot-Bridge reports. The elevator systems in many of these developments are aging, and frequent breakdowns are reported. These breakdowns have negatively impacted the quality of life and raised public safety concerns for many residents. Read more here

Hilliard offers its customers two styles of spring applied electric released brakes that can be easily fitted to "A" frame elevator drives. These brakes are designed to apply when unintended travel of the car occurs. Hilliard offers a friction disc plate-style brake that attaches to the drive shaft of the pulley and a caliper-style that acts on a ring attached to the pulley. These brakes are an alternative to a rope gripper when performing a modernization job which requires lifting or moving a drive or extra construction to the elevator. Hilliard offers certain models of these two styles of brakes that meet CSA approval. For more information, visit www.hilliardcorp.com Advertisement

MITSUBISHI SYSTEMS BEING INSTALLED IN MOSCOW BUSINESS CENTER
The FGC Group has begun the installation of the Mitsubishi elevator systems in the Shenogina Business Center in the northwest of Moscow as part of the Sydney City residential complex, according to the AK&M Information Agency. In total, 21 high-speed elevators of various lifting capacities and functional purposes will be installed in the 24-story building. The waiting time for the elevator will not exceed 45 s. Read more here

NIDEC INDIA DISPATCHES FIRST "MADE IN INDIA" ELEVATOR MACHINE
Nidec Industrial Automation India Pvt. Ltd. recently celebrated successfully dispatching its first assembled "Made in India" elevator machine from its Phase 1 facility in Gamanagatti, Hubli, India. The 215-kg gearless traction machine has a lifting capacity of 1088 kg and powers an elevator that travels at 1 m/s. Read more here

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GHANA HOSPITAL ELEVATOR FIXED AFTER 24-H ULTIMATUM
The faulty elevator in the Department of Surgery at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Ghana has been fixed following a 24-h ultimatum issued by Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the ranking member of the Parliamentary Committee on Health, pulse.com.gh reports. The repair work comes after the management of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital reportedly prevented Akandoh from inspecting the lifts. Akandoh, who also serves as the Member of Parliament for Juaboso, was on a routine visit to the hospital to assess the state of its facilities, with a particular focus on the condition of the lifts in the Surgical Department. Reports indicate he received multiple complaints about the lifts. Akandoh expressed his disappointment with the situation, stating that his visit was part of his oversight responsibilities as a member of the Health Committee. It has been reported that one out of two elevators at the maternity block and surgical department have been malfunctioning for more than six months.

GROWTH HIVE UK PROVIDES GUIDE FOR R&D TAX CREDITS
In the competitive landscape of U.K. business, R&D tax credits can offer a financial lifeline that fuels innovation, growth and success, and Growth Hive UK has provided a guide to demystify the process, offering insights into eligibility, the claiming process and strategies to maximize benefits. R&D tax credits are a government incentive designed to encourage companies to invest in innovation. Read more here

The NEW and revised 8th edition Inspection Handbook has just been released and is a convenient and vital field reference. This 8th Edition is intended for the experienced, knowledgeable Elevator Personnel as defined in ASME A17.1/CSA B44. It is now available to purchase in either print or digital at elevatorbooks.com. Order online today! Advertisement

DUBAI'S AL HABTOOR TOWER NOW MORE THAN 30% COMPLETE
One of the latest additions to the Dubai skyline, the 32-story, 358-m-tall Al Habtoor Tower on Sheikh Zayed Road near the Dubai Water Canal, has reached a key milestone with more than 30% completion, Mechanical Electrical Plumbing Middle East reports. Boasting a high-speed vertical-transportation (VT) system with 24 elevators traveling at 7 m/s, the luxury residential tower by Al Habtoor Group is slated to become the world's largest residential building. Read more here

MAN DIES IN INDIA HOTEL ELEVATOR INCIDENT
A 45-year-old man from Kerala, India, fell seven floors down an elevator shaft in a hotel in Surat, India, and died on August 30, The Times of India reports. The incident is being blamed on a safety issue as the elevator's doors opened on the seventh floor without the elevator being there. Officials told the source they are "investigating whether the accident occurred due to a technical issue with the lift or for other reasons." Two hotel personnel were booked under Indian Justice Code BNS section 106 (1) for causing death due to negligence.

Pre-order your limited-edition print copy of NAEC 75. This book celebrates the National Association of Elevator Contractors' (NAEC) 75th anniversary with a look back at its enduring history in the elevator industry. You don't want to miss out on this historic 75th anniversary book full of photos of the movers and shakers, friends and family who created and nurtured this great association through the years. Click here to place your order today. Advertisement

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