| ELEVATOR WORLD's November 2025 Issue
 On the Cover: More from EW's annual Photo Contest
Features: Rising to the Challenge; Pop/Joe at 50; CIBC SQUARE...
Focus on Communication Systems: Emergency Communication for All; POTS Line Replacement... Columns: Elevator Safety Codes in North America; Elevating Innovation ... Subscribe or log in here to read more than 5,000+ searchable articles, news briefs, blog posts and more. | | EW TO FOCUS ON THE FUTURE OF VT SAFETY, PROJECT OF THE YEAR WINNERS
ELEVATOR WORLD's January 2026 issue will focus on The Future of Vertical-Transportation (VT) Safety and feature the 2026 Project of the Year Winners. There will be special distribution at SLM World in India. The article submission deadline is November 17, and the advertising deadline is December 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. | | 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 | | | | CECA ANNOUNCES EVENTS FOR NOVEMBER
The Canadian Elevator Contractors Association (CECA) announces events for November. These include the CECA Western Region Meeting and Networking event on November 20 in Richmond, B.C., where attendees can "channel their inner athlete" through virtual sport simulators at the Richmond Olympic Experience, give back and enjoy networking over drinks and dinner. Following the success of last year, CECA Western Region will again do a toy drive for children at the Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau. Read more here
INPRO RECOGNIZED AS GREEN MASTER BY SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS COUNCIL
Muskego, Wisconsin-based Inpro Architectural Products, a past ELEVATOR WORLD Product of the Year winner for its elevator interiors, has been recognized as a Green Master within the Sustainable Business Council's (SBC) Green Masters Program®, Inpro announced. The program categorizes participants into four levels that reflect the degree to which sustainability has been integrated into their business model: Adapting, Advancing, Maturing and Green Master. 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 | | | ESI WELCOMES NEW VP OF STRATEGY AND OPERATIONS
Elevator Systems, Inc. (ESI) recently announced Greg Zuckett as its new vice president (VP) of Strategy and Operations. With deep experience across the industrial, technology and manufacturing sectors, Zuckett has driven enterprise growth through both organic strategies and M&A initiatives, ESI observed. Based in the Midwest, Zuckett will support the Garden City, NY-based company's continued growth in the Midwest region and around the world. Read more here
OTIS PROMOTES JONES TO DIRECTOR AND GM IN TEXAS
Otis recently promoted Ryea Jones from senior manager to director and general manager for Austin/San Antonio, Texas. Jones said he will continue to "support our amazing team as it rises to new heights." Jones was part of the Otis team that provided the elevator system for Waterline, the tallest tower in Texas. Since joining Otis in 2022, Jones has held roles including business development manager and senior manager of repair sales, all in the Austin area. Read more here | | | CEA TO HOST CHRISTMAS PARTY ON DECEMBER 5
The Chicago Elevator Association (CEA) will hold its Christmas Party on Thursday, December 5, from 6-10 p.m. at The Copper Oak Event Space in River Grove, Illinois. The event will feature live music by Duneland Jazz Collective. RSVPs are requested by no later than December 1 via email or by fax: (708) 371-2477. Read more here
MCDONALD TAPPED TO SUPPORT U.K. MARKET FOR MP LIFTS
MP Lifts, headquartered in Seville, Spain, with operations around the world recently announced the appointment of Steve McDonald as its new U.K.-based representative. With more than 20 years' lift industry experience, including 15 working with MP Lifts equipment, McDonald brings exceptional product knowledge and hands-on expertise to the company's U.K. partners. He can provide site surveys, technical support and on-site assistance to technicians, helping ensure fast, reliable local service. "McDonald's appointment reinforces our strong commitment to the U.K. market," Rowan Lebbink, responsible for the U.K. at MP Lifts, said. "His experience and local presence will help us deliver even greater support and responsiveness to our customers." | | Revolution product line redefines the standard in Jack Replacements. No Welds, No Worries! Nidec Elevator Jack Replacements saves time and money on your installations. No need for hot work permits or certified welders. All in-house jacks will come standard with our newly designed Weld-less Cylinder couplings. This versatile solution allows you to simply screw together or weld in the field. Pressure test plates will be provided for on-site validation before setting the jack. Simplify your next jack replacement, Safer, Faster, and built to last. www.nidecelevatorgroup.com Advertisement | | | | NORDIC LIFT EXPO 2026 ALREADY GENERATING MASSIVE INTEREST
The latest iteration of the Nordic Lift Expo, planned on November 10, 2026, at Scandic Infra City in Stockholm, Sweden, is already generating massive interest with nearly 70% of exhibition space booked more than a year in advance, organizer Oxbridge Live Media reports. Many companies are opting for larger stands, and the exhibition hall is expected to become fully booked in the near future. Read more here
FUJITEC WINS GOOD DESIGN AWARDS FOR ELEVATOR, UNIFORMS
Japan-headquartered Fujitec announced on November 11 it won two Good Design Awards 2025 from the Japan Institute of Design Promotion (JDP) for its Elĕ Glance standard elevator for the domestic market and its new employee uniform. JDP said Elĕ Glance is harmonious with its surroundings, sustainable, aesthetically pleasing and smart thanks to the integration of Internet of Things and AI technology. Unveiled in 2024, the model also has main operating units located at the upper side of the unit to minimize flood risk. The uniform is the result of feedback from more than 600 employees and reflects the concept of "Gradation Diversity," according to Fujitec. It is gender-neutral and has "many line-ups that enable various wear combinations in order for the respective employees to capitalize on their uniqueness." | | AGING PEOPLE AND ELEVATORS MEAN VT BUSINESS IN CHINA
Many of the 9 million elevators operating throughout China — the largest installed base in any single country — were installed in the early 2000s and will soon need replacement, China Global Television Network (CGTN) reported in November. That, combined with the aging population, will translate into business for vertical-transportation (VT) companies including Otis. CGTN caught up with Otis President and CEO Judy Marks at the recent China International Impact Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai to ask her about these opportunities. Read more here
TKE TO EXHIBIT AND HOST EVENT AT GEE 2025 IN MILAN
TK Elevator (TKE) will present its latest elevator innovations for residential, commercial and midrise buildings at the Global Elevator Exhibition (GEE) at Fiera Milano in Milan, Italy, on November 19-21. Visitors to the TKE booth will gain insights into TKE's Universal Service offerings for predictive maintenance, multi-brand service and modernization. In addition, there will be an exclusive event for media showcasing TKE's latest products. Read more here | | 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 | | | IN MEMORIAM: MICHAEL "MIKE" GODWIN
Michael "Mike" Godwin, a man whose world "consisted of lift engineering and little else," according to his son, Jason Godwin of CEDES, passed away on November 5 at age 95 while on a trip away from his home in Cagnes-Sur-Mer on the French Riviera, where he lived for the last 40 years, to visit his son William Godwin in Leeds, U.K. Godwin, along with the late Dr. Gina Barney, was gracious enough to lead ELEVATOR WORLD on a tour of notable vertical-transportation (VT) installations in the U.K. in the early 1980s. Godwin had many noteworthy pioneering VT industry contributions to his name, including inventing, conceiving or introducing the first curved elevator; the first "practical" Rope-less Gearless Linear Motor and associated Vertrak lift design; first graphic elevator remote-monitoring system; first hall-call cancellation feature; and first computer-based group traffic control algorithm; Remote Monitoring and "Lifts In Service Indicator" (LISI) now used on every elevator installation worldwide; first computer simulator for lifts; first Dot Matrix LED Position Indicators; co-invented Lift Call Allocation - COCA. In the 1970s, he authored, designed and specified a lift standard for the London Borough of Southwark that became the standard for all Housing Authority lifts throughout the U.K. His work had ties to the U.S., too, Jason Godwin said, recalling that his father insisted on Armor and GAL equipment for his ground-breaking 1981 Bush House (BBC World Service HQ) modernization and played a large role in GAL establishing itself in the U.K. having spent time with GAL founders Walter and Herb Glaser at their Bronx, NY office and factory. Godwin is survived by his two remaining sons, Jason Godwin and William Godwin, (the eldest son, Adrian Godwin, having passed away in 2019) together with three grandchildren, Farrah Louise Godwin, Laura Godwin and Michael Charles Godwin, plus four great-grandchildren. | | 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 | | | | 54 OTIS VT UNITS FOR SOUTH KOREA GOVERNMENT PROJECT
Otis will provide 54 vertical-transportation (VT) units for the Landmark K project in the Seongsu District of Seoul, South Korea, Otis President CEO Judy Marks said in a recent earnings call. The order includes 25 SkyRise® elevators and the Compass® Infinity destination-dispatch system to optimize passenger journeys. The first urban architectural design innovation project by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the 105-m-tall Landmark K complex will serve as new headquarters for a South Korean IT company. Read more here
NYC MTA ANNOUNCES FIVE MODERNIZED ELEVATORS IN QUEENS AND BRONX
The NYC Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) recently announced five modernized elevators manufactured and installed by Mid-American Elevator to enhance accessibility at two subway stations: the Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Avenue/74th Street station in Queens (two units) and the Fordham Road station in the Bronx (three units). Part of larger safety and accessibility upgrades, work included full replacement of cabs and equipment associated with cabs, shafts and pits and two renovated elevator enclosure structures. Read more here | | 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 | | | NEW INITIATIVE AIMS TO IMPROVE U.K. STUDENTS' ACCESS TO STEM EXPERIENCES
EngineeringUK and the City & Guilds Foundation have announced a new five-year partnership designed to improve access to consistent, high-quality science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) experiences among secondary school students. This initiative will provide substantial multi-year bursaries and expert support to schools, designed to remove barriers to sustained STEM participation for students as they progress from year seven to year 11. Read more here
JMG SPONSORS ACAN EVENT THAT INCLUDES TKE INSTALLATION TOURS
JMG Ltd., a provider of integrated electromechanical solutions, earlier this month sponsored a roundtable of the Association of Consulting Architects of Nigeria (ACAN) that included tours of TK Elevator (TKE) installations in Lagos, outlets including The Nation report. The immersive industry engagement event was aimed at encouraging collaboration and showcasing JMG's leadership in vertical transportation through its partnership with TKE. Read more here | | | Looking to maximize elevator door performance? Upgrade to the MOVFR3 Next-Gen Door Operator from GAL for reliable, quiet and precise performance. Featuring a 1/2 HP motor, quick plug-and-play installation, and seamless closed-loop operation. Perfect for demanding applications. Works with all OEM and independent cabs and doors with optical closed loop feedback. Experience intelligent design and proven reliability. Learn more at www.vantageelevation.com/movfr3-harmonic-door-operator/. Advertisement | | | NEARLY 700 TKE VT UNITS FOR NEW RIYADH METRO
TK Elevator (TKE) announced on November 11 it successfully deployed and provided maintenance for 692 vertical-transportation (VT) units across Lines 1 and 2 of the new Riyadh Metro in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The TKE VT system serving the transit system in the Saudi Arabian capital includes 277 elevators and 415 escalators, including seven elevators and 26 escalators at the King Abdullah Financial District station — one of Riyadh's busiest. Since the metro's launch in December 2024, response has been remarkably strong, with more than 100 million passengers — including more than 63 million on Lines 1 and 2 — using the system within the first nine months of operation. Ercan Keles, TKE Middle East CEO and TKE ALAT chairman of the board, said TKE is proud to contribute to a project that "embodies transformative innovation and sustainability" and supports the Kingdom's long-term vision.
FORTE AND MID-AMERICAN INVOLVED IN NYC MTA ELEVATOR REPLACEMENT
Forte Construction Corp. announced it successfully replaced two elevators at the NYC Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (MTA) 14th Street/Eighth Avenue subway station in Manhattan. Forte tells ELEVATOR WORLD it worked with subcontractor Goldman Copeland, which oversaw design work to upgrade elevator infrastructure, resulting in updated equipment rooms and enhanced electrical and mechanical systems, as well as expanding the capacity to monitor the elevators' performance remotely. Read more here
ODYSIGHT.AI RECEIVES ORDER FOR 200 ELEVATOR-MONITORING SYSTEMS
Odysight.ai Inc. announced it received a purchase order for 200 industrial predictive-monitoring systems from a European provider of industrial sensing and monitoring solutions, StreetInsider is among outlets to report. The order follows successful field testing of prototype systems for elevator belt monitoring in Europe, marking the company's transition from pilot validation to commercial deployment. 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 | | | POWER OUTAGES HALT RESIDENTIAL ELEVATORS IN CENTRAL UKRAINE
As of November 9, nearly 150 elevators, including those serving high-rise apartment buildings, had stopped working in central Ukraine due to power fluctuations and outages, ANTIKOR reports. A major Russian attack on the central Ukrainian city of Poltava on November 7-8 continues to affect electricity and elevators, with one communal group saying some residents cannot use the elevators at all and that some motors have burned out due to voltage fluctuations. Read more here
41-STORY MIXED-USE TOWER GREENLIT IN SAN FRANCISCO
A 41-story tower designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill containing office space, hotel rooms and a replacement for San Francisco's Fire Station No. 13 has been approved by the city's Board of Supervisors at 530 Sansome Street in the Financial District, SF YIMBY reports, citing the San Francisco Examiner. The project is a public-private partnership between the city and Related California. On the drawing board are a 200-room hotel on floors four-15, offices on floors 16-41, employee amenities on the 16th and 17th floors and a 4,000-ft2 restaurant on the second floor overlooking Washington Street. A project rendering shows the 564-ft-tall, 649,500-ft2 tower rising between the Transamerica Pyramid and Embarcadero Center. Related could start construction as early as 2026. | | 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 Kathleen Farrell. 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 2025 © Elevator World, Inc., 354 Morgan Avenue, Mobile, AL 36606, phone: 251-479-4514, www.elevatorworld.com. | | | | |
Comments
Post a Comment