ELEVATOR WORLD's January 2026 Issue  On the Cover: An overview of the inclined elevator system from Project of the Year winner "Choryang 186 Stairs"
Features: Interlift 2025
Focus on the Future of VT Safety: Designing Future-Proof Safety in VT… Columns: EFESME at 20; The World of Elevator Safety in 1973…
Subscribe or log in here to read more than 5,000+ searchable articles, news briefs, blog posts and more. | | EW TO FOCUS ON FIXTURES
ELEVATOR WORLD's April 2026 issue will focus on Fixtures (Cab and hallway lighting,
buttons, handrails, car panels, phone and more) with Bonus Distribution at the ECNY Supplier Showcase. The article submission deadline is February 16, and the advertising deadline is March 2. 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 | | | | LEIA MD ROLE TRANSITIONS FROM MELLOR TO WEBB
The Lift and Escalator Industry Association (LEIA), headquartered in London, has appointed Laura Webb as its new managing director (MD), "marking an important new chapter for the association," LEIA announced on January 19. She succeeds Nick Mellor, who has stepped back after nearly nine years as MD and 14 years with the association overall. During his tenure, Mellor played a central role in strengthening LEIA's influence and reinforcing its position as a leading voice for the lift and escalator industry. Read more here
STANNAH LIFTS PARTNERS WITH TEST VALLEY BOROUGH COUNCIL
Stannah Lifts, a leader in the U.K. lift sector, has announced a new partnership with Test Valley Borough Council to deliver comprehensive lift maintenance services across the council's full property portfolio, covering six sites. The council selected Stannah Lifts based on its extensive engineering coverage across the region and a proven track record for rapid and reliable call outs. With key public buildings such as Chantry Centre and public car parks, 24/7 support was also essential and a key factor in the council's decision. Read more here | | Full Package Hydraulic Elevators. Done Right! Nidec Elevator delivers complete hydraulic elevator packages engineered for reliability, efficiency, and real-world installation. Trusted since 1946, we provide Fully integrated hydraulic elevator packages using state of the art designs and industry leading components. Let Nidec Elevator design, draw, build and ship your next passenger, service, or freight elevator package. From design to delivery, we have the resources required to keep your project on schedule. Make Nidec Elevator Your Hydraulic Elevator Package Supplier. Build with confidence. Build with Nidec. www.nidecelevatorgroup.com Advertisement | | | PME ACQUIRES MIDSTATES ELEVATOR
Phoenix Modular Elevator Inc. (PME), based in Mt. Vernon, Illinois, announced acquisition of the assets of Midstates Elevator, based in Mishawaka, Indiana. Founded in 1985 by Dennis Gadacz, Midstates continues to operate under its existing name. The company has served northern Indiana for decades, specializing in the installation of residential elevators and commercial platform lifts. Read more here
EAOF MEETING PLANNED IN FEBRUARY IN TAMPA, FLORIDA
The next Elevator Association of Florida (EAOF) meeting is planned for February 10 in the Wesley Chapel at Hyatt Place Tampa in Tampa, Florida. Presenters include Dot Mynahan of the National Elevator Industry, Inc., who will speak on mental health; Travis Doran of NDC Drives; Joel Gilmer of Argus Elevator, who will talk about Unintended Car Movement protection; and Evan Rahey of Wurtec, who will give a presentation on two-way elevator communications. The State of Florida will also have representation. Coffee will be served at 8 a.m., followed by the meeting from 8:30 a.m. to approximately 12:30 p.m. An informal cracker barrel is planned for February 9 at 6 p.m., also in Hyatt Place Tampa's Wesley Chapel. All elevator industry personnel are invited to attend, whether they are an EAOF member or not, and room reservations may be made here. EAOF meetings for the rest of 2026 will be held on the second Tuesday of May, August and December, with locations to be announced. | | | ECNY SHARES 2026 SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION
Elevator Conference of New York (ECNY) is excited to share this year's scholarship information packet, which can be found on its website under the "Scholarships" section. The association is offering a minimum of two US$5,000 scholarships to high school seniors who are graduating in 2026, with the possibility of additional scholarships in various amounts if more than 10 applications are received. Read more here
ALIMAK GROUP NAMES NEW EVP OF CONSTRUCTION DIVISION
Alimak Group announced it has named Karin Bååthe executive vice president (EVP) of the Construction division, which develops, manufactures, sells, services and provides rentals of a wide range of construction hoists and platforms for temporary use in projects globally, effective April 7. Based in Stockholm, Sweden, Bååthe brings considerable global industrial experience, profit and loss leadership and strong operational knowledge that promises to strengthen the division, Alimak Group CEO Ole Kristian Jødahl said. Read more here | | The WUR-COM On-Prem from Wurtec is a fully off-cloud / on-premise solution for multimedia elevator communications. The On-Prem's devices connect to the local server over your internal network, not the public Internet. This means you stay fully compliant with code while maintaining control over your data. Read the brochure for details or get in touch with our elevator communications specialist, Evan Rahey, at evan.rahey@wurtec.com. Advertisement | | | | OTIS EXPANDS LITTLE ENGINEERS PROGRAM GLOBALLY
Otis announced it is making its successful Little Engineers program available everywhere the company does business. Little Engineers is a hands-on, elevator-focused STEM education initiative designed to teach young students about the technology, safety and history of the elevator and escalator industry. Through interactive lessons, hands-on projects and virtual adventures, primary school students can explore the science behind elevators and escalators, learn about vertical mobility technologies and build mini elevators and pulley systems. Read more here
TES DUBAI 2026 OFFERS MORE EXHIBITORS, SPACE AND THE EW FORUM
The second edition of The Elevator Show (TES) Dubai will feature more exhibitors, more space and the new ELEVATOR WORLD Forum. Planned for September 21-23 with the trade floor occupying an additional hall at the Dubai World Trade Center, TES expects to welcome approximately 120 exhibitors. Numerous international exhibitors have already registered, including companies from China, Germany, Great Britain, India, Iran, Iraq, Korea, Spain, Türkiye, the U.S. and the U.A.E. Read more here
KONE OPENS CENTRAL REGIONAL OFFICE IN HYDERABAD
KONE inaugurated its central regional office in Hyderabad, India, on January 19 to strengthen its presence across some of India's fastest-growing urban markets, The Hindu is among outlets to report. The office will cover a diverse and rapidly expanding market spanning Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, covering important cities such as Hyderabad and Warangal; Nagpur and Amravati; Bhopal and Indore; and Raipur. Read more here | | IN MEMORIAM: MARIUS MAKOVSKY
Marius Makovsky, ELEVATOR WORLD's Hungary correspondent since the early 1980s, passed away in spring 2025 at the age of 92 after a rich and rewarding personal and professional life in the elevator industry, his daughter, Martina Makovsky, tells EW. Born in Budapest, Makovsky knew from the time he was 10 that he wanted to become an engineer. Despite financial troubles brought about in large part by the communist takeover of Hungary in the late 1940s, Makovsky eventually earned his engineering degree from the Budapest University of Technology, shortly thereafter joining the elevator industry through happenstance — befriending elevator workers when he was on a jobsite working with concrete. Makovsky met his wife in the late 1950s, and they had two children: Zsolt and Martina Zsusaanna. As a family man, Makovsky strived to pass on family stories and values to his children and later, his three grandchildren. He worked actively until the age of 85 up to 8 h a day — later less — but continuously until the age of 90. | | 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 | | | SAN FRANCISCO STARTUP TOUTS ELEVATOR-FRIENDLY DELIVERY ROBOTS
In its recent launch video, 3E8 Robotics, a San Francisco-based startup, shows how an autonomous delivery robot called Elly efficiently uses elevators — including recognizing and punching buttons — without human help or building modifications, Imprint, the student magazine for the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, reports. Waterloo engineering alumni David Feldt and Sajeel Purewal co-founded 3E8, which is building autonomous delivery robots for condominiums, hotels and hospitals — places the young entrepreneurs feel could benefit greatly from the technology. Read more here
FUJITEC ROUNDTABLE FOCUSES ON CHILDCARE LEAVE FOR MEN
Fujitec, headquartered in Shiga Prefecture, Japan, held an internal roundtable on December 17, 2025, with male employees who have taken childcare leave. Following the success of a roundtable held in January 2025 featuring female employees, the second installment aimed to deepen understanding of childcare leave for men across the entire organization. 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 | | | | OPEIG NONPROFIT ELEVATOR ORGANIZATION LAUNCHED BY OBER
Logan Ober, founder of the Elevator Database and a recent transplant to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has launched the Ohio & Pennsylvania Elevator Industry Group (OPEIG), a nonprofit that aims to bring together elevator professionals from across the region for a "collaborative, respectful and professional forum that supports industry dialogue, code changes, shared learning, networking, vendor relationships and educational presentations." Ober observes that Ohio and Pennsylvania are part of a "unique region for vertical transportation," and the new group is intended to strengthen engagement across the region through in-person meetings and discussions among members across both states. Additional details on participation, structure and upcoming discussion topics are coming soon, Lober said. "We look forward to building OPEIG together," he said. | | ILLINOIS COUNTY HAS HUNDREDS OF EXPIRED SAFETY CERTIFICATES
Nearly one-third of the active elevators and conveyances like escalators in Champaign County, Illinois, appeared to have expired safety certificates in the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal's (OSFM) database last November. A CU-CitizenAccess review of nearly 1,000 active elevators in the county found at least 315 with expired certificates of operation as of November 2025, with some expired for months. A certificate of operation is only issued after an elevator passes a state-mandated inspection, and it must be renewed every year. Read more here
CONNECTICUT TOWN APPROVES ELEVATOR MODERNIZATION CONTRACT
Officials in New Canaan, Connecticut, approved a US$14,000 contract for modernization work KONE performed on the elevator serving the New Canaan Police Department that was part of a larger renovation project, New Canaanite reports. Joe Zagarenski, an engineer with the New Canaan Department of Public Works, said the elevator is "old" but still has "a good 20 years of life left in it," which is why the town opted for modernization rather than replacement. Read more here | | APh ePOWER RECEIVES AWARD FOR ELEVATOR ENERGY RECOVERY SYSTEM
APh ePower, a global leader in commercialized aluminum battery technology, has received the 2025 R&D 100 Award for its Elevator Regenerative Power System (ERPS), which reimagines elevator units as a high-performance distributed energy-recovery engine. Elevators generate recoverable energy during two phases. The ERPS captures that energy using high-efficiency DC-to-DC converters, achieving more than 90% conversion efficiency, and stores it in an ultra-safe aluminum battery capable of rapid charge and discharge. Read more here
FLORIDA CITY TO CONSIDER MODERNIZATION PROPOSAL
Ocala, Florida, City Hall's 57-year-old elevator system is set for a possible major overhaul as officials consider a US$188,545 modernization project to address near-critical failures, the Ocala-News reports. The elevator modernization project agreement with Oracle Elevator Holdco, Inc., is set to come before the Ocala City Council for consideration. Oracle, which does business as Elevated Facility Services, was previously awarded an elevator/lift preventative maintenance and repair service contract in June 2023. Staff identified the proposal from Elevated Facility Services as the most cost-effective solution. Read more here | | On January 27, 2026 at 10:00 AM, ELEVATOR WORLD and FIELDBOSS are breaking down the 2025 Elevator AI Survey results, giving operators, owners, and investors a look at what's working now — and what isn't — in real-world deployments. If you're responsible for reliability, margin protection, or evaluating technology impact across a multi-site or portfolio business, register today! Advertisement | | | ELEVATOR OUTAGES ON UNC CAMPUS CONCERN DISABILITY ACTIVISTS
On the University of North Carolina (UNC) campus in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, there were more elevator outages than elevators during a five-month stretch in 2025, a situation that raises accessibility concerns among disabled individuals and advocates, The Daily Tar Heel reports. Between August 1 and December 31, 2025, the campus experienced 374 elevator outages among 368 elevators. As of January 12, 2026, 11 elevators were reported as out of service, including three in buildings that lack an alternative available elevator. Read more here
ONE WORKER REMAINS HOSPITALIZED AFTER NY ELEVATOR COLLAPSE
One of five workers who were injured in a January 13 exterior construction elevator collapse at an under-construction hotel in upstate New York remains hospitalized in stable condition as the U.S. Occupational and Health Administration begins an investigation, Syrcause.com is among outlets to report. The accident occurred at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, NY, slightly less than an hour's drive from Syracuse, where the workers were hospitalized. Read more here | | THE 2026 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 2026! Advertisement | | | INDIA'S POLO ELEVATORS ANNOUNCES BRAND AMBASSADOR
Polo Elevators, one of India's most trusted names in advanced, design-led and customized elevator solutions, has announced the appointment of global wrestling icon "The Great Khali" as its new brand ambassador, siliconindia reports. The brand campaign featuring The Great Khali will run across television, digital platforms, print media, outdoor hoardings and social media channels. Polo Elevators has built its reputation on robust engineering, precision manufacturing and a strong focus on customer-centric innovation. The company designs, manufactures, installs and services elevators across residential, commercial, hospital, high-rise and premium architectural spaces, each system engineered to deliver smooth performance, advanced safety and long-term dependability. "With cutting-edge features such as regenerative drives, smart controls, high-grade materials and rigorous multi-stage testing, Polo Elevators reflects world-class quality rooted in Indian expertise," according to the source. | | 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. | | | | |
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