Issue 1107 | 7/9/2025 | Currently reaching 42K global contacts

ELEVATOR WORLD's July 2025 Issue

On the Cover: Imagination Unbound

Feature: Tyne Tunnel...

Focus on Cabs and Cab Accessories: The Most Overlooked Room in the Building; Elevated Sustainability...

Columns: Elevating Industry Safety; Modular Design...

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EW TO FOCUS ON RESIDENTIAL LIFTS AND ACCESSIBILITY, NAEC
ELEVATOR WORLD's September 2025 issue will focus on Residential Lifts and Accessibility with a special section providing a NAEC Convention Preview and special distribution at the NAEC Convention. The article submission deadline is July 15, and the advertising deadline is August 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.

NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN FOR 2025 ELLIES AWARDS
Nominations for the ELEVATOR WORLD's Ellies 2025 Awards are now open through July 14. This is the industry award program that is voted on by you. The Ellies recognizes North American vertical-transportation industry businesses that go above and beyond for their customers, employees, communities and the industry as a whole. There is no need to nominate a company multiple times. Voting for the finalists runs from August 1 to 11; once voting opens, you can vote as much as you want. The ELLIES awards will be presented live at the NAEC Fall Convention in Houston, Texas, on September 17 at 4 p.m. If you have any questions or have any general feedback on the program, feel free to email.

SUBMIT YOUR PROJECT FOR THE EW PROJECT OF THE YEAR AWARDS
Submissions are now being accepted for the ELEVATOR WORLD 28th 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, as well as 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 2026 issue of ELEVATOR WORLD. Winners in each category will be acknowledged with an award of recognition. The submission deadline is September 2.

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

WITTUR APPOINTS FEENSTRA AS CCO, PRESIDENT AND GM EMEA
The Wittur Group appointed Paul Feenstra as chief commercial officer (CCO), president and general manager (GM) of the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region, effective July 1. Feenstra joins Wittur from Fluke Corp., part of Fortive, where he served as vice president and GM of EMEA. He brings more than two decades of global executive experience across publicly listed companies, private-equity ventures and start-ups. Read more here

ITALY'S CMALIFTS UNDERGOING MAJOR EXPANSION
CMAlifts^®, headquartered in Corato, Italy, is undergoing a EUR42-million (US$49-million), 15,000-m² expansion that will see three new factories built and the company occupying a total area of approximately 60,000 m². In line with CMAlifts' aspirations to become carbon-neutral, installation of additional photovoltaic panels in the new facilities will increase solar electricity output to 800 kW, compared to 400 kW currently. The new factories will handle automatic steel processing, powder-coating, hinged-door production and warehouse automation with a capacity of 1,500 pallets for storing finished materials. These targeted investments will effectively double CMAlifts' current capacity. Co-founder Giulio Caputo said, "It's not just about business expansion, but a challenge that leads us to think bigger, to a new way of doing business."

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

TKE NAMES VASA CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER
TK Elevator (TKE) announced Sherry Vasa as its new Chief People Officer, effective August 14. Reporting to CEO Uday Yadav, Vasa will lead the global human resources (HR) and communications divisions. Vasa joins TKE from Marelli, a leading global automotive supplier with EUR8.2 billion (US$9.6 billion) in revenue and 45,000 employees. There, she has served as chief HR officer since 2021. Read more here

ALIMAK ACQUIRES TEXAS-BASED INDUSTRIAL ELEVATOR BUSINESS
Alimak Group, the global provider of vertical-access and working-at-height solutions headquartered in Sweden, on July 8 announced plans to acquire the permanent industrial elevator business of Century Elevators Inc., based in the Houston, Texas, area. Owned by BrandSafway since 2019, Century has established itself as a leading supplier of industrial rack-and-pinion elevators throughout North America since it began in 2009. The company has two divisions: one rental and another that sells and services permanently installed rack-and-pinion elevators. Alimak is acquiring the latter, which has an annual turnover of approximately US$9.7 million. With the acquisition, Alimak gains a team of skilled professionals and a strengthened market presence in the U.S.

VANTAGE ANNOUNCES KUZDZAL AS NEW COO
Vantage Elevator Solutions, headquartered in Bronx, NY, on July 7 announced Mike Kuzdzal as new chief operating officer (COO). Kuzdzal assumes COO duties from former COO Mike Kohout, who has retired. Kuzdzal brings nearly 30 years of multi-site global experience in metals manufacturing and assembly, with a focus on the aerospace and lifting/rigging industries. Read more here

KONE OPENS FIRST TRAINING CENTER IN EGYPT
KONE has opened its first Training Center in Egypt, marking a key milestone in supporting Egypt Vision 2030 and the country's expanding urban infrastructure. The facility aims to build local capabilities, strengthen safety and meet the rising need for skilled professionals as Egypt develops new cities and high-rise projects. Located in Cairo, the center, which supports KONE's Rise Strategy, offers hands-on, immersive training to technicians, engineers and service professionals. Read more here

MEGA BILL PASSED IN NORTH CAROLINA
House Bill 559, also known as Make Elevators Great Again (MEGA), was one of six proposals signed into law in North Carolina by Gov. Josh Stein on July 7, The Center Square reports. The law gives the Commissioner of Labor the power to waive or amend the American National Safety Standards in relation to the qualifications of inspectors if the Commissioner sets "alternative standards that are reasonably equivalent." The bill passed with only six Democrats in the Senate and one in the House of Representatives voting against and is set to be implemented immediately. The bill also repealed caps on inspection and certificate issuing fees, resulting in a new standard of US$1,000 for an expedited special inspection fee; US$500 for holiday and weekend inspections; US$300 for water slide inspections; US$250 for major amusement ride inspections; and US$100 for amusement rock wall inspections. The special fund revenues for the state will increase over the coming years and are set to be US$2.2 million this year, US$2.6 million in 2027, US$2.8 million in 2028, US$3.1 million 2029 and US$3.4 million in 2030.

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

CHALKE TAKES OVER RESPONSIBILITY FOR SCHINDLER ASIA PACIFIC
Nitin Chalke, current country head Schindler India, will join the Schindler Group Executive Committee (GEC), taking over responsibility for Schindler Asia Pacific. He will succeed Robert Seakins who will step down from the GEC and retire after 22 years with the company. Chalke first joined Schindler in 1998 as field operations director at Schindler India, and then served in various senior leadership roles at Eaton Corp. in Asia Pacific and North America. Chalke rejoined Schindler in 2023 as country head India. Read more here

IN MEMORIAM: DR. PETER LAUER
Dr. Peter Lauer, a well-known force in the elevator world and honorary member of VFA-Interlift e.V., passed away in mid-2024 at the age of 87, VFA-Interlift Chairman Achim Hütter announced in June. A frequent contributor to and collaborator of ELEVATOR WORLD in years past, Lauer studied business and economics at the University of Hamburg in Germany, where he earned a Doctorate in Business Management in 1964. Upon graduation, he moved to Dortmund to manage printing company Rhein-Ruhr Druck with his father-in-law. In 1982, he founded VFZ-Verlag, publisher of the international trade magazine liftreport. Lauer guided VFA-Interlift from its very beginnings and enriched the world of journalism with his expertise, Hütter observed. "His warm and thoughtful manner, as well as his tireless commitment, made him a valued partner of our association," Hütter said. "With his passing, we lose a loyal companion whose passion and dedication to the concerns of the elevator industry will always be remembered. His vision and personality were highly valued by all who worked with him."

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

POHLE, HESS TAKE ON NEW ROLES AT SCHINDLER
Meinolf Pohle, currently responsible for Europe North on the Schindler Group Executive Committee (GEC), will take over responsibility for China. He will succeed Daryoush Ziai, who will step down from the GEC to pursue opportunities outside of the company, after a decade driving Schindler's China operations. Patrick Hess, current CEO Schindler Switzerland, will join the GEC and succeed Pohle in leading Europe North. Hess has been with Schindler since 2001 and held several finance positions in Switzerland and the U.K. Read more here

KONE TO PROVIDE VT FOR FUTURE FRENCH METRO LINE
KONE won an order to provide a suite of People Flow® solutions for the future line C of the Toulouse Metro that will serve Toulouse Métropole, France. The 27-km line is set to open in 2028. KONE secured the order to equip the metro line's 21 stations with a total of 90 KONE TransitMaster™ escalators and four KONE TransitMaster sidewalks in Q1 2025. Read more here

GODWIN JOINS CEDES AS KEY ACCOUNT MANAGER
CEDES recently welcomed Jason Godwin as key account manager of the North Europe elevator and escalator division. Godwin has worked across the U.K., U.S., Australia, Central Europe and Middle East regions where he gained a wide range of elevator industry experience before joining the telecommunications industry. Most recently, he served as a key account manager at 2N, where he was instrumental in forming a partnership between 2N and CEDES that resulted in a global distribution agreement and the launch of CEDES EComgard, an elevator data hub that combines Internet of Things data with emergency communications. "For me to join the team at CEDES knowing their commitment to safety, quality and innovation is an amazing opportunity," Godwin said.

HYUNDAI ELEVATOR VOLUNTEER WORK FOCUSED ON ESG
On June 12, approximately 30 Hyundai Elevator employees gathered to participate in volunteer work protecting the natural environment at Binae Island, Chungju, South Korea, a government-designated inland wetland area. Prior to the day, Hyundai Elevator held thorough pre-education sessions. Employees then removed invasive species like Japanese brome and mile-a-minute weed. In addition, they participated in trash collection and sorting to combat plastic pollution, the official theme for this year's Environment Day. Read more here

EFESME'S BOD AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REVIEWS FUTURE OF EUROPEAN LIFT SMES
European Federation for Elevator Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EFESME), headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, held its annual Board of Directors (BoD) and General Assembly on June 25 to review current industry events and define strategic priorities for the future. The Federation's leadership and national associations discussed ongoing initiatives and assessed current challenges. The meeting focused on the future protection and promotion of the interests of European lift SMEs, defining measures to ensure they remain competitive in an evolving global market. 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

KONE ON CDP 2024 SUPPLIER ENGAGEMENT A LIST
KONE has been recognized on CDP's 2024 Supplier Engagement Assessment (SEA) A list. This is the sixth year since 2018 that KONE has earned a Supplier Engagement Leaderboard position, ranking among the top-performing companies worldwide. This recognition follows CDP's release of its 2024 global scores, where KONE was honored with a place on the prestigious Climate 'A List', marking the 12th consecutive year for KONE to receive a leadership score of A or A-. CDP's SEA evaluates how effectively companies engage their suppliers in addressing climate change. It focuses on four key areas: governance, targets, emissions from the supply chain (scope 3) and value chain engagement. The A-rated companies are celebrated on the SEA Leaderboard. By 2030, KONE is committed to cutting emissions from its own operations by 50% and reducing emissions of its products' materials and lifetime energy consumption by 40% per product ordered, compared to a 2018 baseline.

TWO MODERNIZED ELEVATORS OPEN ON NYC'S UPPER WEST SIDE
Two new elevators recently opened for riders at the 66th Street-Lincoln Center 1 train station on the Upper West Side in NYC, the West Side Rag reports. The new elevators were funded by the Federal Transit Administration, and the work included full replacement of the elevator cab and the shaft, along with two new elevator head houses on the street level; equipment updates for a smoother and more reliable ride; replacement and modernization of all elevator machine room equipment; and upgrades to the remote-monitoring equipment, intercom system and cameras. Read more here

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TKE TO SUPPLY BOARDING BRIDGE TO PORT OF DOVER
The Port of Dover in Dover, U.K., will introduce a new boarding bridge by TK Elevator (TKE) at Cruise Terminal 1 to "ensure a seamless and stress-free embarkation" for thousands of cruise passengers each year, Travel Weekly reports. It is expected to be operational from 2027. The announcement comes two months after the Port of Dover said it was ready to welcome cruise ships of up to 350 m in length following upgrades to its mooring infrastructure. Read more here

MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR TECH DISTRICT UNVEILED IN SAUDI ARABIA
Pulse Wadi, a 600,000-m², AED12.1-billion (US$3.2-billion) technology and cybersecurity district including multiple towers, has been unveiled on the outskirts of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat reports. With a gross floor area of 1.14 million m², the development will include two "iconic government headquarters, multiple cultural institutions and a vibrant cyber-research community." Read more here

The 2025 Elevator Industry Field Employees' Safety Handbook is here! The 220-page pocket-sized, spiral-bound 2025 edition of the Elevator Industry Field Employees' Safety Handbook is designed as a resource for safety information and written processes for elevator industry field employees to help prevent injuries and illnesses resulting from unsafe acts and conditions found in the elevator industry. Order your copy today at: https://elevatorbooks.com/shop/new-products/2025-elevator-industry-field-employees-safety-handbook/ Advertisement

MICHIGAN CHURCH INSTALLS LIFT
Linden Presbyterian Church in Fenton, Michigan, recently installed a lift to make worship more accessible, the Tri-County Times reports. The congregation collected funds to purchase the approximately US$100,000 Savaria lift, which was installed in May. The chapel was built between 1860 and 1862, and the fellowship hall and Sunday school classrooms downstairs were built in 1976, which made the building a split level. Read more here

1980s LONDON BUILDINGS TO MAKE WAY FOR NEW TOWER PLAN
Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM) has devised a plan to replace Linklaters' 1980s headquarters (HQ) at 1 Silk Street in London, England, with two 20-story towers, Building Design reported in June. The legal services firm plans to move from the mid-rise linked buildings into a new HQ at a 25-story building in East London by 2026. SOM designed the new Silk Street towers for 22 Bishopsgate developer Lipton Rogers to provide 91,000 m² of commercial space, 2,200 m² of retail and 2,400 m² of public space. The old buildings will soon become "unlettable due to requirements for commercial buildings to have a minimum EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) rating of C," set to be enforced in 2026. Only the basement and foundation of the existing property will remain, with a foliage-filled, terraced structure in its place that Lipton Rogers said would yield a biodiversity increase of 352%. The completed towers are set to open in 2032.

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