| ELEVATOR WORLD's December Issue
 On the Cover: Enhancing the Sydney Metro City Line: 190 new TKE units key part of "transformative" Australia project.
Features: Like a Tiger; The 2024 Ellies Award Winners...
Focus on Escalators and Moving Walks: Escalator Brake Failure Investigation; Fujitec Modernizes Its Longest Escalator in Japan... Columns: Focused on Success; Stronger Together... Subscribe or log in here to read more than 5,000+ searchable articles, news briefs, blog posts and more. | | EW MARCH TO FOCUS ON SUSPENSION MEANS AND MATERIALS, NEW YORK
ELEVATOR WORLD's March 2025 issue will focus on Suspension Means and Materials (ropes, belts, clamps, sheaves, plastic gears, rack and pinions systems and more) with a Special Regional Section on New York and bonus distribution at the NAEC Spring Conference. The article submission deadline is January 15, and the advertising deadline is February 3. 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.
CLOSINGS FOR NEW YEAR'S DAY
The offices of Elevator World, Inc. will be closed on January 1, 2025, for the New Year's Day Holiday. They will open for regular business hours on January 2, 2025. | | Right on the Button! From the most simple incandescent backlit button to our almost bulletproof Bruiser design, every push button device we manufacture is reliable and built to the highest standards of quality to meet or exceed ADA and ANSI A17.1 compliance as well as state and local codes. That's why when you choose any Innovation push button, you'll be right on the button…every time. innovationind.com Advertisement | | | | FUJITEC TO LAUNCH NEW STANDARD ELEVATOR MODEL IN SPRING 2025
Masayoshi Harada, CEO of Japan-based Fujitec Co., Ltd., announced the company will launch a new standard elevator model, Ele Glance, in spring 2025. A successor to Fujitec's XIOR standard elevator model, Ele Glance is equipped with enhanced capabilities in design, maintenance and disaster response. Read more here
ARCHITECT CONCEIVES ELEVATOR BLENDING TRADITION AND TECHNOLOGY
Chinese architect Han Mo has conceived a "private access via public elevator" system connecting upper-level apartments with ground-floor courtyards to provide urban dwellers with exclusive access to their courtyards, the Global Times reports. Boasting an innovative spatial configuration and following five years of research, Han Mo's "public elevator personal use" technology has been granted a patent by the National Intellectual Property Administration. It has been implemented in the Lutai Shangyuan residences in Shanxi Province, China, enabling the elevator to transition to private mode through an intelligent control system and time-based access protocols. The elevator responds to user commands for direct courtyard access. "Residents experience a fluid transition from urban streets (or upper-level apartments) to private courtyards, where they can engage in traditional activities despite living in a high-density urban area," the source observes. | | | NYC STATION NEAR HUNTER COLLEGE NOW FULLY ACCESSIBLE
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced the completion of three new elevators making the 68 St-Hunter College station on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, NY, fully accessible. This is the ninth subway station to be made accessible in 2024. The project included one new street-to-mezzanine elevator and two new mezzanine-to-platform elevators, six new stairways and nine refurbished stairways. Read more here
MRVC TO GIVE SUBURBAN MUMBAI MAJOR VT BOOST BY 2027
Mumbai Railway Vikas Corp. (MRVC) aims to give suburban Mumbai railway stations of the Central Railway (CR) and Western Railway (WR) a major vertical-transportation (VT) boost by 2027 — specifically, an additional 119 elevators and 183 escalators, outlets including The Free Press Journal report. The new lifts and escalators will bring the total number of units serving the Mumbai Metropolitan Region to 336 — 138 elevators and 208 escalators. In addition to MRVC's contributions, CR and WR are also expanding VT facilities at stations not covered by MRVC. The new VT equipment is part of a greater initiative to provide better accessibility for passengers, especially the elderly and disabled, as the city's dynamic rail network grows. | | Maven Group, LLC is the premier choice for owners of independent elevator companies who consider selling their business. We understand the daily challenges of independent companies and we know what buyers are looking for. To maximize your return, we provide hands-on help when you prepare for the complex mergers & acquisitions process. For confidential advice, please contact Dominik Sachsenheimer at dominik@mavenelevator.com / 561-225-3320 or Bill Beaury at bill@mavenelevator.com / 239-253-4500; www.mavenelevator.com Advertisement | | | | ELEVATOR AND ESCALATOR TECHNICAL PROBLEMS AT BANGLADESH METRORAIL STATION FIXED
Over last few days, passengers of Dhaka Metrorail in the capital city of Bangladesh, especially senior citizens and people with mobility issues, have been facing massive disruptions to travel due to the suspension of elevator and escalator operation caused by technical problems, the Daily Observer reports. Read more here
FUJITEC'S JAPANESE ESCALATOR FACILITY RECEIVES AWARD
Masayoshi Harada, CEO of Fujitec Co., Ltd., announced on December 24 that Fujitec's Big Step escalator R&D and manufacturing facility in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, received a Factory Management Award in the Japan Management Association's 13th Good Factory Awards 2025. It is the first Good Factory Award received by Fujitec and the first such award presented to a factory in Hyogo Prefecture. The awards are given to factories that have formed strong bonds with local communities and employees, achieved comprehensive improvement and have become model Japanese manufacturers for productivity and quality-improvement processes. According to contest judges, Fujitec's Big Step effects positive change guided by customer needs, preserves proven safety and quality practices and works to enhance sustainability through close cooperation with local communities. | | 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 | | | | UPGRADES AT CHINA RAIL STATION INCLUDE ESCALATORS
A recent upgrade, including a new walkway and escalators, at Zhengjia Yuanzi Station of Chongqing Rail Transit (CRT) Line 3 in Chongqing, China, has greatly improved commuting for local residents, iChongqing reports. The Zhengjia Yuanzi Station upgrade was driven by local demand for better metro access. "We leveraged the 30-m height difference between the community and the main road to build a new walkway and install an escalator, cutting the walking distance by 550 m and benefiting 5,000 residents," said He Yuanqing, an official from Yubei District. Read more here
FUJI ELEVATOR CO. WELCOMES GHANA DELEGATION FOR TOUR
China-based FUJI Elevator Co. recently welcomed a delegation from Ghana, marking an important milestone in the company's ongoing efforts to expand its global reach. The visiting group explored FUJI Elevator's advanced production facilities, including the production workshop, where members were able to observe firsthand the precision and expertise in every step of the elevator manufacturing process. The group also had the opportunity to see the packing process in action, which ensures the safe and secure delivery of the company's products worldwide. "Throughout the visit, the Ghanaian guests were impressed with the level of technological innovation, quality control standards and efficiency embedded in our operations," FUJI said. "We believe that the success of this visit lays a strong foundation for future collaboration between FUJI Elevator and our partners in Ghana. The exchange of ideas and insight has opened new doors for potential business opportunities, and we are excited about the possibilities this partnership may bring." | | 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 | | | | ELEVATORS INSTALLED TO MAKE TWO MORE UNIVERSALLY ACCESSIBLE STATIONS IN MONTREAL
Workers finished installing elevators at two Montreal metro stations just in time for the holidays, reports The Montreal Gazette. Earlier this month, the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) announced that the Blue line at Outremont station and the Orange line at Place-Saint-Henri are now accessible. The updates to Outremont station, which began in January 2021, include the installation of three elevators, a new natural ventilation shaft and a staircase, amounting to CAD53 million (US$36.9 million) in refurbishments along with landscaping costs. Read more here
EIFFEL TOWER EVACUATED DUE TO ELEVATOR FIRE
On December 23, approximately 1,200 tourists were evacuated from the Eiffel Tower in Paris following reports of a fire in one of its elevator shafts, MSN is among outlets to report. The incident was caused by an elevator cable overheating between the first and second floors, according to reports. Emergency crews promptly addressed the situation, and the fire was contained without further incident and minimal disruption as access to the tower was only temporarily restricted, according to Euronews sources. According to MSN, the Eiffel Tower faced an earlier fire-related incident in 1956 where a significant blaze in the television control room caused severe damage to the tower's top section. Repairs took a year to complete, during which the current radio antenna was added to its pinnacle. | | 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 | | | | SKI LIFT CRACK LEADS TO EVACUATIONS
More than 170 skiers and snowboarders were evacuated due to a crack in a Colorado ski lift on December 21, The Guardian reports. Those riding the gondolas were lowered down by ropes over the course of hours. Officials are still investigating what caused the gondola lift at the resort approximately about 70 mi. west of Denver to crack. The unit automatically stopped when it detected the crack in a structural piece of the lift, according to officials. Read more here
RESIDENTIAL ELEVATOR MISHAPS IN NAGPUR, INDIA, CONTINUE
In the second similar incident in two weeks in December, a senior citizen was rescued after being trapped in a malfunctioning elevator in Nagpur, India, The Times of India reports. The victim was in the elevator when it derailed off its rollers on the fifth floor and began descending before getting stuck due to a door bending, which altered the free fall. It took almost an hour to safely rescue the person inside the elevator. The first incident happened a week earlier, with two people being trapped inside an elevator at an apartment in the region. These malfunctions have raised concerns about "the safety standards and maintenance practices in residential buildings across Nagpur," according to the source. | | FUJITEC RECEIVES 239 ELEVATOR ORDER FOR METRO IN CHENNAI
Fujitec India Pvt. Ltd. announced on December 23 it received an order for 239 elevators for corridors 3 and 5 of the Chennai Metro Rail Project (CMRP), its first order for a metro project in India. Corridors 3 and 5 represent Phase 2 of the CMRP, creating a north-south and east-west rail network across the city of Chennai. Read more here
WORLD-FIRST WATER ELEVATOR FOR HAWAII WATER PARK
The "world-first" water elevator is a feature at Hawaii's Grand Wailea Resort as it floats passengers to the top of a huge water park, Metro reports. The water elevator was originally built to help the attraction owner's physically disabled son get back to the top of the flumes. To use the elevator, participants in the water open up a submarine-like door that leads into a partially submerged cave resembling the bottom of a large well. Water then gradually fills the chamber as a round seating platform rises to the top of the park with an operator watching. After ascending, water is sent cascading over a rock feature in order to lower the platform back down. A pump room provides the mechanical muscle for the slides at the beachside resort, and one operation of the water elevator alone is said to require 16,000 gallons of water. The view from the top of the elevator looks out over the 40-acre resort's canyon activity area. | | THE 2025 EW MEDIA KIT IS HERE! Download the ELEVATOR WORLD Media Kit to see EW's upcoming feature stories, focus topics, special sections and editorial and advertising submission deadlines here. Join us as we continue to celebrate and support the industry in 2025! Advertisement | | | 16 KOREAN COMPANIES FOUND TO FALSIFY INSPECTIONS
The Korea Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced the results of the "2024 elevator maintenance status sample inspection" on December 27, and of the 30 companies inspected, a total of 48 violations were detected, including failure to conduct self-inspections and falsified inspection results in 16 companies, ChosunBiz reports. These 16 companies are subject to administrative action, including fines and business suspension. Over the last year, the Ministry, in collaboration with local governments and the Korea Elevator Safety Corp., has been conducting unannounced sample inspections. Companies selected through lowest bid, shortest inspection time and public interest reports are examined for self-inspection implementation and failure to report elevator accidents.
ELEVATOR TECHNICIAN FATALITY REPORTED IN MUMBAI
A 25-year-old elevator technician died in December after being stuck between the flooring slab and the lift car in a building in the Shivaji Nagar area of Vakola in Santacruz East, in Mumbai, India, MSN is among outlets to report. The accident took place during lift maintenance work. According to officials, the technician was trapped in the gap between the flooring slab and the lift car on the first floor of the 13-story building. Rescue operations were carried out by Mumbai Fire Brigade personnel, police and the elevator company's staff. The man was declared dead at a nearby hospital. The police have initiated an investigation into the incident. | | ELEVATOR WORLD's March 2025 issue will focus on New York. The advertising deadline is February 3 with sponsorship opportunities available. To reserve your space or for more information, contact advertising at 251-479-4514, ext. 131 or advertising@elevatorworld.com Advertisement | | | EDITORIAL AND SUBSCRIPTIONS: Editorial submissions, reprint permission requests and subscription/removal requests should be sent to editorial@elevatorworld.com. ELENET Editorial staff: Angela C. Baldwin, Kaija Wilkinson, Lindsay Fletcher and Sophie Goodwin. ADVERTISEMENTS: To advertise and reach ELENET's readership of 41,000+, contact the Advertising staff at phone: 251-479-4514 or e-mail: advertising@elevatorworld.com. Download the ELEVATOR WORLD magazine Editorial Calendar to see EW's upcoming feature stories, focus topics, special topics, special sections and Editorial/Advertising submission deadlines here. ELENET is a registered trademark, and all rights are reserved. Copyright 2024 © Elevator World, Inc., 354 Morgan Avenue, Mobile, AL 36606, phone: 251-479-4514, www.elevatorworld.com. | | | | |
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