Some days when I look at the news, it feels like we are back in the 1960s. College kids are protesting a war 5,000 miles away. (Yes, I went to one Vietnam War protest in 1963!) But, my parents didn’t spend US$100,000 a year on tuition. Now, colleges don’t know how to respond to these protests because these are very high-value students. At the same time, universities are increasing their tuitions yearly, and millennials (and their parents) are opting out of huge college loans and turning to trade schools. They are finally doing the construction industry a favor.
Suddenly, the trades are hot. A nonprofit organization, the Mike Rowe Works Foundation, grants Work Ethic Scholarships to help people get trained for skilled jobs that are in demand. They believe that a four-year college degree is not the best path for everyone, and that trade school is not a “consolation prize.” This year, the foundation will give away US$1 million in scholarships to help close what they call the “skills gap.” Hopefully, this will benefit the vertical-transportation industry. Many of the next generation come to our industry because of their family. Let’s find a way to tell non-family, too, what a great industry this is in which to work.
Our focus this month is Environmental Issues. We have five articles:
- Taking Architectural Drainage to New Heights. This Product Spotlight describes a commercial drain that prevents water from entering elevator shafts in the event of a fire or triggered sprinklers.
- Magic Cotton Wool by Lindsay Fletcher. Zauberwatte®, developed by Stingl GmbH and a partner company, absorbs anything that is lighter than water, aiding in oil cleanup in our industry.
- IoT’s Role in Fire Safety and Evacuation by Dr. Vikram Mehta. The author extolls the benefits of IoT in fire safety when evaluating equipment and working with firefighters.
- Corrosion: A Closer Look by Dan Jenkins. The author explores moisture’s role in elevator malfunctions and offers some preventive measures.
- A Field Study on the Damage of Elevators After the Twin Earthquakes by Ferhat Çelik, C. Erdem Imrak and Sefa Targıt. A study of the Türkiye earthquakes and what needs to be done to prevent damage in the future.
It is also The People Issue. This is another killer issue with so many great people who make our world go up, down and sometimes sideways. There are CEOs, managers, retirees, financial officers, graphic artists, mechanics, computer nerds, rock stars and so much more. Can’t wait for you to read about the group this year!
Our other features this month come from Spain and Greece: Santorini’s Special Charm by Carmen Maldacena shows off Doppelmayr’s cable car that takes visitors up the rugged mountain on Santorini Island in the Aegean Sea. Escalators for La Losa is about TK Elevator replacing the escalators to the “the slab” in Oviedo, Spain.
In addition, we have events from India and NYC. Villa Barone Magic by Kaija Wilkinson is a report on the Elevator Conference of New York’s once-a-year, 6-h Supplier Showcase, and More Than Just a Showcase by Vijay Pandya and Sheetal S. Patil describes the Smart Lift & Mobility World 2024 international exhibition in Bengaluru, India.
Lastly, we have Dr. Lee Gray’s second chapter in the 75-year celebration of the National Association of Elevator Contractors, The National Association of Elevator Contractors 1975-1999. The final chapter will run in the September issue in time for the association’s United Convention. ELEVATOR WORLD is working on a book with photos and reports from our archives on their 75 years, which will also be available in September.
We hope you enjoy this issue. Please let me know your thoughts at ricia@elevatorworld.com.
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