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ELEVATOR WORLD’s May 2026 Issue
 On the Cover: Central Deborah Gold Mine
Features: Being Connected; Making it "Grand"
Focus on Special-Purpose Lifts: From the Stage to the Lift; Why Data Centers Rely on Vertical Freight Doors
Columns: Development in Greece; Rise of the Supertech
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EW AUGUST 2026 TO FOCUS ON INSURANCE AND LIABILITY
ELEVATOR WORLD’s August 2026 issue will focus on Insurance and Liability along with a special regional section on Chicagoland. The issue will feature the 14th annual Photo Contest Winners with bonus distribution at NAEC. The article submission deadline is June 15, and the advertising deadline is July 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.
ENTER THE 2026 PRODUCT OF THE YEAR AWARD CONTEST
ELEVATOR WORLD’S sixth annual Product of the Year Award recognizes outstanding product development achievements of manufacturers whose products are considered particularly noteworthy or innovative. The product(s) should represent any of the following qualities: a significant advancement in a technology or its application, an exceptionally innovative design, a substantial achievement in price/performance, improvements in design performance and a potential for new product designs/opportunities. To learn more about how your company can participate in the 2065 contest, download and complete the 2026 entry form. |
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Introducing WURTEC WATCH – Wurtec’s own 24/7 elevator monitoring service. Wurtec Watch is available at a great yearly rate with no added fees. Choose between two options. Wurtec Watch for Voice is an audio monitoring service for analog communicators or any phone. Wurtec Watch for WUR-COM delivers text, video, and audio monitoring to cover all your bases. Learn more here. Advertisement
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SUBMIT YOUR PROJECT FOR THE EW PROJECT OF THE YEAR AWARDS
Submissions are now being accepted for the ELEVATOR WORLD 29th 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 2027 issue of ELEVATOR WORLD. Winners in each category will be acknowledged with an award of recognition. The submission deadline is September 2. |
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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
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KONE EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING TO INCLUDE TKE ACQUISITION VOTE
KONE announced it will convene an Extraordinary General Meeting on June 3 at the Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre in Helsinki, Finland. During the meeting, which starts at 10 a.m., shareholders will have the opportunity to exercise their voting rights, including by voting in advance, on certain matters on the agenda including KONE’s proposed acquisition of Germany-headquartered global OEM TK Elevator (TKE) from a consortium led by Avent and Cinven through holding company Vertical Topco II S.A. Read more here
COMPLII CONTINUES EXPANSION WITH ACQUISITION OF THE ESCALATOR CO.
Complii, one of the U.K.'s leading providers of building safety and regulatory compliance services, announced its acquisition of The Escalator Co., a specialist in escalator and moving walk service, maintenance, refurbishment and installation. Based in Rochester, Kent, and founded in 2002, The Escalator Co. has built a reputation for technical expertise and a refurbishment-first approach. Following the recent acquisition of Classic Lifts (Scotland) Ltd., this deal furthers Complii's ongoing lifts and escalators division growth strategy. Read more here |
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INOVANCE INDIA BRINGS SOLAR POWER TO REMOTE HAMLET
Inovance India, a leading provider of industrial automation solutions, including for the elevator industry, announced on May 18 the successful implementation of a Corporate Social Responsibility initiative to bring solar lighting to a remote hamlet in the Kadambur Hills of Tamil Nadu. The initiative brings reliable and sustainable electricity to families who had previously lived without it, and is expected to support children's education and safety after dark. Having electricity also promises to support community development. Read more here
WAITING LIST LAUNCHED FOR FULLY BOOKED NORDIC LIFT EXPO
With a little less than six months to go until Nordic Lift Expo 2026, the exhibition on November 10 at Scandic Infra City in Stockholm, Sweden, is fully booked, prompting organizers to start a waiting list. “You never know what will happen in the coming six months,” Project Director Bjorn Delin said. “There could be mergers and all sorts of things that might lead to a possibility to exhibit for those on the waiting list.” With record-breaking interest, this year’s Nordic Lift Expo has grown by 50% in terms of exhibition space and number of exhibitors, which includes ELEVATOR WORLD, one of the event’s media partners; Fermator; Cibes; Dewhurst; Motum AB; Wittur and Ziehl-Abegg. Event organizers are also gathering proposals for the conference program, and welcomes “examples of the most advanced and astonishing cases and news.” Contact email if you would like to be added to the exhibitor waiting list, and email if you would like to submit a proposal for the conference program.
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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
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NAEC, CECA AND NEII TO HOST TOWNHALL ON ASME, ISO STANDARD ADOPTION
The National Association of Elevator Contractors (NAEC), the Canadian Elevator Contractors Association (CECA) and National Elevator Industry, Inc. (NEII) ask interested elevator industry professionals to mark their calendars and register for the ASME & ISO Townhall Meeting planned on June 9 from 2-3 p.m. EST. The virtual meeting will focus on the adoption of ASME and ISO standards and what that means for the future of the vertical-transportation (VT) industry. Read more here
NEW ORGANIZER CONFIRMED FOR HEILBRONN ELEVATOR DAYS 2027
Heilbronn Elevator Days, a trade event for the industry that brings together experts involved in the planning, operation, testing and manufacture of lift systems, will continue under new management from 2027 onward. The Technische Akademie Esslingen (TAE) will take over as organizing body, while the established venue Harmonie in Heilbronn, Germany, remains unchanged. The 44th iteration of the event is scheduled for March 2-3, 2027. Registration and more information are available on the TAE website. |
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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
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JACKSON LIFT GROUP COMPLETES SCOTTISH OPERATIONS FACILITY
Jackson Lift Group has completed a EUR2.23 million (US$2.6 million) purpose-built operations, storage and warehouse facility in Paisley, Scotland. Having maintained a presence in Scotland for more than two decades, Jackson identified the need for a larger, strategically located base to support its existing lift maintenance, repair and modernization customer portfolio within the country. In 2022, the company acquired a major commercial site in Paisley that would provide access to Glasgow city center and key transport links across Scotland. Construction began in 2023, and the facility became fully operational at the end of 2025. Read more here
ALIMAK GROUP ACQUIRES AUSTRALIA’S FUJI LIFTS
Sweden-headquartered Alimak Group announced it signed an agreement to acquire Fuji Lifts, a Melbourne, Australia-based traction elevator company specializing in new installation and modernization. The deal is expected to close on June 1. With a team of six and a contracted project portfolio worth approximately SEK13 million (US$1.37 million), Fuji Lifts will become part of Alimak's Industrial division, strengthening capabilities in the traction elevator segment. Read more here
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Enhance your elevator interiors with Inpro’s fully wrapped cab panels. We believe durability shouldn’t compromise design. Made with Palladium® Rigid Vinyl Sheet, our panels resist damage, endure daily wear, and maintain a high-end finish. Trust Inpro for durable, design-forward solutions that last. Advertisement
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SMART CITY EXPO POLAND PLANNED FOR SEPTEMBER 16-17
The seventh edition of Smart City Expo Poland will be held on September 16-17 at EXPO XXI in Warsaw. The only trade fair dedicated entirely to urban technology in Poland, the expo will provide a networking platform for the public and technology and investment sectors. Read more here
TKE ALAT JOINT VENTURE ANNOUNCES DEVELOPMENT UPDATE ON SAUDI ARABIA FACILITY
TKE ALAT, the joint venture between TK Elevator (TKE) and Alat, a public investment firm building industrial capabilities in priority sectors, has confirmed the location and construction partners for its planned elevator and escalator manufacturing facility in Saudi Arabia. The 40,000-m2 multi-purpose facility will be developed in Dammam’s Third Industrial City, under the management of the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones. Read more here |
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What do you need to lift? No matter how specialized your material lifting needs, PFlow Industries can engineer and manufacture a vertical reciprocating conveyor (VRC) for your specific material lifting application. Leading the VRC industry since 1977, PFlow has the experience to ensure your project’s success! Visit us at www.pflow.com or call (414) 352-9000 to learn more. Advertisement
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ELEVATOR MECHANIC: A SIX-FIGURE, AI-RESISTANT JOB IN HIGH DEMAND
Elevator mechanics are in short supply, and global OEM Otis is among those struggling to hire enough of them to meet demand, Judy Marks, Otis chair, president and CEO tells Business Insider. Described by Marks as a "true craft profession," elevator mechanics can earn a six-figure salary in an era where "tech companies are cutting jobs and many roles face pressure from AI and automation," the source observed. Elevator mechanics have less reason to fear automation since the industry is highly regulated in most countries, making human presence essential, Marks said. Read more here
FATAL MBTA ESCALATOR ACCIDENT BACK IN THE NEWS AMID PROBE
New surveillance footage showing a 40-year-old man falling and becoming caught in a Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) escalator outside of Boston has the fatal incident back in the news as experts and the victim’s family ask why it took MBTA more than 22 min to make contact with the man, outlets including the New York Post report. On the early morning of February 27, the man lost his balance and fell at the bottom of a still-moving down escalator. Read more here |
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SKYSCRAPER TRENDS FUEL VT GROWTH AROUND THE GLOBE
The vertical-transportation (VT) industry's projected growth from US$128.29 billion in 2025 to US$180.30 billion in 2031 reflects a "world building upward, even as parts of that ambition stall," Realty+ reports. In China, much high-rise construction has stalled, with 193 of the 259 stalled global skyscraper projects — nearly 75% — located there. Other parts of the world are filling the gap. In the Middle East, Saudi Arbia is planning hundreds of thousands of homes and millions of square feet of office space. India, meanwhile, installed 60,000 VT units in 2024 "as cities shift from sprawl to vertical living.” Another global VT business driver is modernization, with approximately 7 million elevators passing the 20-year mark in 2024. Most buildings pre-date 2021 in Europe, and VT regulations like EN 81-80 are mandating upgrades "from door locks to emergency systems." While passenger elevators dominate the global market at 64%, the fastest-growing segment is moving walks, especially in airports as infrastructure expands and global travel evolves. Looking at the big VT picture, the "Asia-Pacific still dominates, contributing nearly two-thirds of global revenue, and India's growth is increasingly driven by smaller cities" as China balances slower new construction with the need for modernization.
POPULAR PANORAMIC ELEVATOR REOPENS IN PORTUGAL
The Boca do Vento panoramic elevator reopened in Almada, Portugal, in early May after an almost two-month shutdown for modernization work, Lisboa Secreta is among outlets to report. This South Bank landmark elevator takes passengers up to a glass-enclosed balcony offering unobstructed views of the Tagus estuary, the 25 de Abril Bridge and the city of Lisbon. The elevator had previously been closed between February 2-16 during an initial phase of construction. Read more here |
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As a proud partner of @Chicago Build 2026, we’re excited to see this year’s speaker line-up taking shape! Leading names from across the built environment are already joining the agenda, including Vocon, Golub & Company, Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure, and Clayco. With 450+ speakers taking part this October at McCormick Place, Chicago Build is shaping up to be a major meeting point for the construction, architecture, engineering, and real estate industries. Take a look at the agenda or enquire about exhibiting: www.chicagobuildexpo.com Advertisement
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ELEVATOR PROBLEMS HINDER ACCESS AT THE ACROPOLIS
As tourist season gets fully underway, an elevator at the Acropolis in Athens, Greece, that “works two days out of seven,” at best, according to a tourism official, is hindering accessibility at the ancient citadel, Tovima reports. The source illustrated the problem with a recent account of a wheelchair-bound woman riding the elevator up to the top of the Sacred Rock to take in views, only to find it no longer working when she was ready to make her way back down. Firefighters had to assist her. “This was not an isolated incident,” Tovima observed, pointing out similar incidents that occurred last summer. Even when the lift is working, tour guides accompanying disabled visitors are not permitted to ride it, which results in tourists arriving at the top at least 15 min ahead of their guides. Tour guides have grown increasingly vocal about the Acropolis’ accessibility issues, but it is unclear if, or when, a solution will be found.
“ART IN THE ELEVATOR” INSTALLATION OPENS IN TENNESSEE
A new art installation representing the fourth iteration of the Frist Art Museum’s Art in the Elevator program opened on May 7 in Nashville, Tennessee, Art Daily reports. Titled “Here With You: Awake and Dreaming,” the works by Nashville-based artist Dylan Camp explore themes of family, individuality, fashion and dreams. Vinyl reproductions of eight of Camp’s acrylic paintings can be viewed when taking the Frist’s Grand Lobby elevator. Read more here |
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EUROPEAN ELEVATOR CAPACITY SIGNS MAY UNDERESTIMATE PASSENGER WEIGHT
Research presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Istanbul on May 12-15 finds capacity signs for the maximum number of passengers allowed in elevators across Europe fail to reflect current obesity trends, outlets including the Medical Xpress report. The study’s author, past clinical professor of medicine at University College of London Nick Finer, said failure of elevator manufacturers to adapt to rising obesity levels and adjust capacities accordingly — particularly since 2002 — means journey times are likely to be increased and safety could be compromised. Read more here
ELEVATOR OUTAGES RESULT IN FINE FOR BOSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY
Persistent elevator outages at a public housing complex in Boston have resulted in a US$400,000 fine for the Boston Housing Authority (BHA) from the Massachusetts Architectural Access Board, outlets including WGBH report. The Ruth Lillian Barkley housing development dates from the 1950s and includes 11 multifamily apartment buildings that are up to 13 stories tall. Outages among the complex’s 15 elevators have persisted for years, severely hindering accessibility for disabled residents, advocates said. Read more here |
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ELEVATOR WORLD’s July 2025 issue will focus on Motors and Drives with specially priced full- and half-page ads and sponsorship opportunities. The deadline to advertise is June 1. To participate or for more information, contact the EW Advertising Department at 251-479-4514, ext. 131 or advertising@elevatorworld.com Advertisement
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ESCALATOR MALFUNCTION AT BROADWAY THEATER INJURES 11 CHILDREN, ONE ADULT IN NYC
Eleven children and one adult were hurt in an escalator accident at the Gershwin Theatre in NYC on the evening of May 13, CBS News is among outlets to report. The incident happened around 5 p.m. inside the theater on West 51st Street, where the musical “Wicked” is being performed in NYC’s Theater District. Police said the escalator suddenly jolted and threw riders forward after a child’s shoelace got stuck. Read more here
PLANS FOR 1,090-FT-TALL RESIDENTIAL SUPERTALL IN TRIBECA REVEALED
A team consisting of Morris Adjmi Architects, Vornado Realty Trust and Stellar Management submitted an Environmental Assessment Statement to the NYC Department of City Planning for a 1,090-ft-tall residential supertall at 310 Greenwich Street in Tribeca, Manhattan, NY, New York YIMBY reports. To take shape on the site of a trio of 39-story residential towers built in the 1970s known as Independence Plaza, the 72-story, 705,309-ft2 structure would yield 976 units, including an affordable component. A portion of Independence Plaza containing 45 residences would be demolished, with residents relocated to the new supertall. If developers secure all needed approvals, they aim to start demolition in 2027, with construction starting in 2028 ahead of targeted completion in 2032. No final renderings were revealed with the latest plans, but previous renderings show design elements including a three-winged podium, gray paneling, large square windows and red brick to complement the historic character of the neighborhood. |
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2025 Elevator Industry Field Employees’ Safety Handbook is now available in Spanish. Published every five years, 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 digital copy today at www.elevatorbooks.com Advertisement
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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.
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ELENET is a registered trademark, and all rights are reserved. Copyright 2026 © Elevator World, Inc., 354 Morgan Avenue, Mobile, AL 36606, phone: 251-479-4514, www.elevatorworld.com.
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