Viewing VT With a Broad Lens

As we edge toward the final quarter of 2025, a look at where the vertical-transportation (VT) industry sits regarding construction and manufacturing seems helpful to forecast its future. Recent reports show that while manufacturing is struggling a bit and tariffs are of wide concern, Europe’s commercial construction is expected to grow by 4-5% from 2025-2033. The growth, it is said, will be in response to increased urbanization, sustainability initiatives and the need for more modern infrastructure, among other factors. And while we need more skilled labor, and education is always a concern, overall, we are holding our own in a turbulent world.

In this, our interlift 2025 issue, it is fitting that we look at the VT industry with a broad lens. We do that within these pages, covering successful events and projects; spotlighting companies, people and products; and delving deep into VT history, market trends and new technology. At interlift, we can see our industry in all its global glory. The event remains the VT industry’s biggest, and this year, it gets a new stage in Nuremberg, Germany, dubbed the new “Lift City.” We touch on what to expect in interlift 2025 submitted by AFAG Messen. 

While we anticipate interlift, we report on several successful events held recently in Europe, including: 

• BGHM Lift Symposium 2025 by Sascha Göbel, EW Europe Correspondent. Lengfurt, Germany, was the location of this year’s meeting of the Professional Association for Wood and Metal, which brought together experts from the lift industry to discuss occupational safety and develop practical solutions. 
• BIKE 2025 by Göbel. A lot of ground was covered on this three-day motorcycle adventure of lift industry folks. 

Safety for the riding public and in the field remains paramount and is the reason behind our Focus on Brake Systems and Components. Four articles explore this all-important topic from varying perspectives. They include:

• Beyond the Safety Code by Andy Crowe. Your author discusses advancing elevator safety through secondary rope brakes. 
• Butterfly by Eng. Mantovani Alberto. In this Product Spotlight, IoT revolutionizes elevator diagnostics and predictive maintenance, including monitoring brake efficiency.
• Optimized Elevator Brakes for the New Standards by Alexander Hutler, Sebastian Steinert. A revolutionary new system from mayr that minimizes noise and maximizes safety is discussed. 
• Enhancing Passenger Safety: A Framework for Assessing and Optimizing Elevator Braking Distances by Shaik Javeed. An important metric that maintenance companies can utilize to enhance equipment safety is explored. 

Outside of our focus topic, we have an expansive array of subjects covered by industry experts and our own EW staff members and correspondents. To highlight just a few, we offer: 

• A Focus on Domestic Elevators by Eugene Gerden. Your author reports on how the Russian elevator sector is moving toward almost complete isolation.
• EKA S1 submitted by EKA. A look at a panoramic passenger elevator at the EKA Elevator Factory in Türkiye. 
• Elevators That Heal by Ivette Natacha Sanchez. Biophilic design in VT promotes urban well-being, writes your author.
• An Interview with MEILLER by Göbel. MEILLER’s CEO and technical managing director talk with your author about the company’s strategies, innovations and plans for the future. 
• The Strategic Impact of Counterweight Balancing by Eng. Mantovani Alberto. Elevator energy efficiency optimization according to ISO 25745 is explored in depth. 

There is so much more in this issue. I hope you enjoy the broad coverage of our industry. Reach out to me with your feedback at [email protected].