A shift in identity and a pandemic-driven partnership

Standard Elevator Systems Is Torin’s New U.S. Brand

Torin Drive International LLC, based in Memphis, Tennessee, announced its new U.S.-registered brand — Standard Elevator Systems — on July 1. The company said it adopted the brand to reflect extended product offerings.

There will be no changes in staff, prices and services. The legal entity remains the same, so orders and agreements already in place are unaffected. The company also has a new website, standard-elevator.com. “Under the Standard Elevator Systems brand, we will develop more integrated elevator products, technology and solutions to become a true technology-driven and field-solutions-driven elevator subsystems provider,” Manager of Business Administration Morgan Jones said.

SCS Elevator Products, RailEyes Partner on Antimicrobial Product

Red Wing, Minnesota-based SCS Elevator Products, Inc. announced in July it has partnered with RailEyes to use its TouchPointTM antimicrobial product to coat elevator buttons and other high-touch surfaces. The thin, heavy-duty antimicrobial urethane film is infused with silver nanoparticles, which have been proven to combat microbes. The film can also incorporate social-distancing messages, and may be applied to buttons, panels and other elevator surfaces without affecting American Society of Mechanical Engineers regulation compliance. The goal of the partnership, according to SCS, is to “help facilitate reopening efforts across the country.”

MESA Holds Virtual Membership Meeting

by Matthew Jackson, EW Correspondent

In what is probably a season of firsts for many organizations, the Massachusetts Elevator Safety Association (MESA) held its initial virtual membership meeting on June 9. The meeting was hosted by President Roland Locke, and the first order of business was to announce the annual US$2,000 G. Gahr Finley scholarship winners, this time to three high school graduates (instead of the usual two): Mackenzie Guthrie, Owen Tragash and Bridget Evers.

Sam Laudati from the Boston office of Lerch Bates Inc. made a visual presentation on “Vertical Transportation: Back to Work Challenges.” Much was discussed about this new COVID-19 world we are in and some of the hurdles that will need to be overcome when reopening many of the commercial buildings that have been shut down, especially those involving keeping the elevator-riding public safe.

After the presentation, Locke conducted the business meeting and had some announcements. The annual MESA Boat Cruise fundraiser, usually held in July, was canceled and will take place in 2021. The annual MESA Golf Outing for August 12 was still a go, and the annual MESA Christmas Party is planned for December 8. MESA

Director Dave Gaudet from Boston University gave the Code and Treasury reports and said that, due to meeting cancellations, membership years 2020 and 2021 will be combined and only require one registration.

Before gaveling the meeting, Locke announced there will be a September meeting, either in person or virtually. Shawn Cowden, Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation executive director, will be the guest speaker.

United 2020 Registration Open

Registration for United 2020, being held virtually on September 14-16, opened in late July. This first online-only iteration of the event is free to attend but requires registration at bit.ly/2COx0sG. By paying US$95, the registrant adds 15 possible contact hours of educational sessions. Held only once every several years, United is a combined expo and conference of the Canadian Elevator Contractors Association, Elevator U, the International Association of Elevator Consultants and the National Association of Elevator Contractors. For more information, visit unitedconvention.com