Columbia Elevator Partners With USDE, Fermator U.S. Division

Columbia Elevator and US Door Equipment Corp. (USDE), a Fermator company, have entered into a strategic partnership to provide the new construction and modernization segments of the North American elevator market with complete automatic door systems. Columbia Elevator CEO LJ Blaiotta said the partnership aims to better serve the “evolving needs of the North American market through proven, modern technologies and solutions.” Columbia and USDE, a division of Fermator, will share a combined platform to serve the North American market, focusing on introducing new, co-developed products for independent elevator contractors. The platform will be led by Blaiotta, who will serve as president, and Ji Fan, who will be CEO. All products will be manufactured at Columbia’s legacy factories in Winfield, Kansas, and Bridgeport, Connecticut, as well as at USDE’s new factory in Oxford, Connecticut. An open house at the Oxford facility is planned on December 12.