ELENET Issue #1153 | The Elevator World Weekly Industry Newsletter

Issue 1153 | 5/27/2026 | Currently reaching 42K global contacts

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.

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.

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
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EMCO ENTERS PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT WITH ELMO
Elevator Motors Corp. (EMCO), a value-added distributor of mission-critical elevator components serving the North American market, has entered into an agreement with Pavia, Italy-based ELMO to stock and distribute ELMO submersible hydraulic elevator motors throughout North America. Under the agreement, EMCO will maintain inventory of commonly deployed ELMO motor models at its Farmingdale, New York, warehouse, along with strategically positioned inventory through select distribution partners across North America to support rapid delivery and reduced customer lead times. Read more here

METRO ELEVATOR WELCOMES TWO TO CENTRAL TEXAS TEAM
Metro Elevator recently welcomed two vertical-transportation (VT) industry professionals to its Central Texas team: Bobby Hopper as Repair and Service Department lead and Braden Pressley as account manager. Hopper brings extensive hands-on VT industry experience in new construction, repair and maintenance. Having worked his way up from the field, Hopper "understands firsthand what it takes to deliver responsive service, quality work and strong customer support," Metro Elevator stated. Read more here

SPAIN’S MP LIFTS LANDS SEVILLE METRO VT MAINTENANCE CONTRACT
MP Lifts, a Seville, Spain-headquartered enterprise with more than 165,000 lifts installed globally, announced on May 21 it has been awarded a contract to maintain Seville Metro's vertical-transportation (VT) equipment. The long-term contract strengthens a relationship that dates to 2007, when MP Lifts designed and installed 42 elevators and 53 escalators across the metro network. Read more here

OTIS SMART CAB 2.0 AWARDED TWO RED DOT DESIGN AWARDS
The Otis Smart Cab 2.0 has been honored with two Red Dot Product Design Awards for 2026, recognizing excellence for both the integrated elevator system and its innovative modular ceiling solution. The next-generation elevator cab integrates AI, sensing technologies, Internet of Things connectivity and biometric recognition to deliver an immersive, multi-sensory experience tailored to a building’s unique architecture and brand identity — and to the individual passenger. The Smart Cab 2.0’s award-winning modular ceiling solution allows architects to precisely tailor the elevator experience. 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

KONE INDIA’S EXPANDED PATNA OFFICE INAUGURATED
In a LinkedIn post titled “As we expand further in Patna, nobody covers eastern India like KONE,” Amit Gossain, managing director, KONE Elevator - India & South Asia, shared, “Pleased to inaugurate our expanded Patna office along with a very dear developer of the region and our Senior Director, NBS Ravindran S. KONE continues to grow its presence across Tier 1, 2 and 3 cities in India. Our teams in Bihar have been doing excellent work in service, installation and customer support. This expansion brings us even closer to our customers there. The state is seeing strong infrastructure growth today, with rapid development across residential, commercial and public spaces. As cities continue to grow, it is important for us to stay closer to our customers and support them better. Excited to see the opportunities ahead as Bihar continues its growth journey.”

FIFTH VIETNAM ELEVATOR EXPO COMING IN DECEMBER
Organizers of the fifth Vietnam International Elevators Exhibition (Vietnam Elevator Expo) announce this year’s event is planned on December 3-5 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The cost of a 9-m² booth is US$3,100, and those interested in exhibiting are asked to respond no later than October 5. 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

QUEBEC’S ADAMS ELEVATORS MARKS 50 YEARS WITH COLLEAGUES
Adams Elevator Services Inc. hosted a 50^th anniversary celebration earlier this month in Montreal, and was joined by colleagues including Michael J. Ryan of The Peelle Co. and representatives of Wurtec, Vantage Elevator Solutions, Noddem Solutions, Nagel Lift Products and F. Shaw Consulting. Adams is among the most well-known independent elevator companies in Quebec and has been a valued freight and passenger door customer of Peelle for many years, Ryan said. During Ryan’s time on the Canadian Elevator Contractors Association (CECA) board, Adams Elevator President Pedro Oughourlian served as CECA president, and their time together on the board overlapped with Peelle hosting the 2017 CECA Convention in Collingwood, Ontario, along with working together on the United shows, Ryan said. “Pedro and his family are strong supporters of the elevator industry and are frequent attendees at industry events throughout America,” Ryan said. “This anniversary marks a major milestone for Adams. Founded by Pedro’s father, it’s impressive to see (Pedro and his two siblings) continuing to build on the company’s strong reputation and legacy.”

PRECISION ELEVATOR DUPLEX VT SYSTEM FOR BILLIONAIRES’ ROW CONVERSION
Brooklyn, NY-headquartered Precision Elevator provided two gearless passenger Class-A loading elevators that operate as a duplex vertical-transportation (VT) system for Parc Beaufort, a 14-story residential conversion at 140 West 57^th Street on Billionaires’ Row in Midtown Manhattan, Precision President Kristof Okulewicz tells ELEVATOR WORLD. The project is roughly 85% complete, Okulewicz says, and the elevators are currently being used by the general contractor under temporary-use permits. Read more here

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INDIA’S RICARDO ELEVATORS CONFERRED EXCELLENCE IN MANUFACTURING AWARD
In a LinkedIn post titled “Exciting News from Ricardo Elevators,” Neeraj Hemnani, CEO of the Hyderabad, India-based company, shared, “We’re incredibly proud to announce that Ricardo Elevators has been honored with the Excellence in Manufacturing award at the Indo-Italian Home Elevator Awards – Pan India 2026, presented by the Times of India. This recognition is a testament to the unwavering dedication, innovation and passion that each one of us brings to our work every single day. Here’s to growing stronger, aiming higher and achieving even greater success in the future.” Read more here

OTIS TO SUPPLY 186 ESCALATORS FOR SHANGHAI METRO
Otis will provide 186 escalators for the Shanghai Metro Demonstration Line, further strengthening Otis’ longstanding relationship with one of the world’s largest urban transit systems, for which it has delivered more than 3,500 elevator and escalator units to date. When complete, the Demonstration Line will span 10 stations across 52 km. Read more here

DELCO ELEVATOR PRODUCTS is partnering with RCW CANADA! Through this new partnership, RCW Canada is now stocking Delco products at its Pickering, Ontario facility — giving elevator contractors across Eastern Canada faster local access, more efficient shipping, and convenient pickup options. This partnership is another step toward improving product availability and support for elevator contractors across the region. Contact us: delcoelevator.com or rcwcanada.ca
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OMEGA ELEVATORS CONTRIBUTES MOVING WALKS TO INDIAN URBAN-CONNECTIVITY PROJECT
In a LinkedIn post, Omega Elevators shared, “We are proud to contribute to the Delhi–Ghaziabad–Meerut Namo Bharat Corridor, a project that represents the future of high-speed, efficient urban connectivity in India. Omega Elevators will be installing advanced moving walks to enhance passenger movement between Ghaziabad Namo Bharat Station and Delhi Metro Rail Corp. Shaheed Sthal Metro Station, in collaboration with National Capital Region Transport Corp. This project reflects our continued commitment to building infrastructure that supports seamless mobility, urban growth and smarter cities.” Omega Elevators is one of the most advanced and trusted elevators brands in India known for reliability, efficiency and the highest standards of quality. The foundation of the company’s success lies in its differentiated high-tech technology, commitment to quality and focus on customer satisfaction.

MTA UNVEILS MID-AMERICAN-MODERNIZED ELEVATOR IN GREENWICH VILLAGE
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) unveiled an elevator modernized by Chicago’s Mid-American Elevator at the West Fourth Street-Washington Square ACEBDFM subway station in Greenwich Village, Manhattan, NY, on May 20. The station serves approximately 27,000 riders each weekday. The last of three modernized elevators modernized at the station since 2025, the elevator opened on budget and ahead of schedule. Read more here

EL-ESCA NAMES MALMHOLT MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
EL-ESCA, an elevator and escalator parts sourcing, supply and support business based in Ontario, Canada, and serving North America, on May 20 announced Erik Malmholt has joined the team as Marketing & Communications manager. Malmholt began his career with EHC Global in 2005 after completing marketing and communication studies at Durham College in Oshawa, Ontario. Read more here

RCW CANADA NOW STOCKING DELCO ELEVATOR PRODUCTS
RCW Canada founder Hugh Hunter announced his company has partnered with Delco Elevator Products to stock select Delco products at RCW’s Pickering, Ontario, warehouse, providing same-day availability to customers in the greater Toronto area. “Shipping across eastern Canada just became faster and more economical,” Hunter said. “Contractors across the region will benefit from faster local access and more efficient shipping.” Founded in 2025, RCW Canada has quickly established itself as a growing Canadian-owned supplier focused on wire rope, travel cable, hoistway wiring, compensation chain and other cut-to-length solutions for the vertical-transportation (VT) industry. Company founder Hunter has more than 35 years’ VT industry experience and has held leadership roles with TK Elevator and Wurtec and years of involvement with the Canadian Elevator Contractors Association and the Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation of Canada.

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PRECISION ELEVATOR PROVIDES PASSENGER ELEVATORS FOR NEW MANHATTAN RESIDENTIAL TOWER
Brooklyn, NY-headquartered Precision Elevator provided three passenger elevators — two gearless traction and one hydraulic — for 18W55, a 25-story residential tower designed by Morris Adjmi Architects and developed by Skyline Developers at 18 West 55^th Street in Midtown Manhattan, Precision President Kristof Okulewicz tells ELEVATOR WORLD. New York YIMBY reported this month that construction is finished, with final touches going onto the Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete façade. It will yield 97 rental units within153,104 ft². Read more here

LAGOS ELEVATOR FIRM MEETS WITH SAFETY COMMISSION
Lagos, Nigeria-based JMG Ltd. has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing safety standards and promoting sustainable industry practices during a visit by its management to the Lagos State Safety Commission in Alausa, Ikeja, the Nigerian Tribune reports. The visit brought together key executives from JMG Elevators — an authorized TK Elevator distributor — and officials of the commission to deepen conversations around safety awareness, technical training, regulatory compliance and the continuous improvement of elevator safety standards across Lagos State and beyond. Read more here

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

SMALLER ELEVATORS PART OF NYC MAYOR MAMDANI’S HOUSING PLAN
Incorporating smaller elevators into some buildings is among measures being looked at as part of NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani's "Block by Block" master housing plan unveiled on May 26, the New York Post reported. Late this year, the "Affordable and Efficient Code Reform" task force led by the Department of Buildings (DOB) and bringing together engineers, contractors and the DOB will examine NYC's "decades-old" building codes to look for ways to save developers money and bring plans to fruition. Cost-saving measures for new buildings ranging from affordable housing to office-to-residential conversions and schools will be sought. Smaller elevators are already being considered, as the task force's formation comes on the heels of a related DOB program set to launch this year to allow smaller-than-currently-allowed elevators for existing walk-up buildings. According to the city, only 34% of such apartments have elevators. Current city code requires elevators that can accommodate a 7-ft stretcher and wheelchairs, and upcoming discussions about whether to allow the small elevators is expected to be "contentious," according to DOB Commissioner Ahmed Tigani. The DOB and Mamdani's efforts come amid an affordable housing shortage that Tigani describes as a "crisis."

CHICAGO RAIL STATION ELEVATOR OUT OF SERVICE UNTIL WINTER 2027
Disabled riders of Metra, the rail system serving Chicagoland, are being forced to reroute their trips with the closure of the only elevator that provides access to the Electric Line at Millennium Station downtown, CBS Chicago reports. The elevator on South Water Street was shut down for modernization on May 18 and is not expected to reopen until winter 2027. One disabled rider said the closure came with no warning, but Metra said the agency worked with its American with Disabilities Act (ADA) advisory committee to give notice, made announcements on Metra trains, handed out flyers and placed notices in train seats, among other measures. Read more here

BROOKLYN REZONING WOULD PAVE WAY FOR TALLER BUILDINGS, THOUSANDS OF APARTMENTS
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s “South of Prospect Plan” to rezone a stretch of Brooklyn south of Prospect Park along the proposed Interborough Express (IBX) would pave the way for taller buildings and thousands of new apartments, The Real Deal NY reports. The area along Coney Island and McDonald avenues is currently dominated by low-rise housing and one-story storefronts. Read more here

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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