Adding Staff Around the World

Consultancy Lerch Bates continues to set the pace in new hires.

Compes Managing Schmersal’s Marketing Department

Constanze Compes is now managing Schmersal Group’s Marketing Department. She is responsible for marketing strategy and management of the company’s marketing activities worldwide. She previously owned and managed a technical planning office for event technology for industrial automation technology companies and automotive manufacturers. As the managing director of a marketing association and member of economic organizations, Compes played a significant role in shaping economic policy. She said her primary role as head of Marketing for Schmersal is “to build on the company’s position as a systems and solutions provider for functional machine safety in the international market.” She also plans to establish Schmersal’s newly expanded and restructured Services division.

Lerch Bates’ Payroll Grows in Canada, China

Lerch Bates Inc. has hired David Witt as a consultant based in Toronto and added three professionals to its Lerch Bates (China) Ltd. subsidiary in Shanghai: Stanley Zhao, project consultant; Tian Qui, office manager; and Wenting Jiang, administrative assistant.

Witt’s experience promises to help Lerch Bates grow in Toronto and beyond. He previously served as review engineer for the Technical Standards & Safety Authority, the AHJ for elevating devices in Ontario. In that role, he oversaw safety reviews for new technology and was part of a team that developed a patent-pending, risk-based inspection system for elevator equipment. He was formerly operations manager at Bramalea Elevator Ltd. He is chairman of the ASME A17.1 Dumbwaiter and ATD committees and sits on the A17.1 Hoistway and Emergency Operations committees. He is a member of NAESA International and has been a CEI since 2009. He is a Professional Engineer who holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Waterloo in Waterloo, Canada.

Zhao is managing and supporting vertical-transportation analysis, project design, domestic high-rise construction sales and bidding out of the Shanghai office. He previously was a high-rise project sales and support supervisor for ThyssenKrupp Elevator in Shanghai. Notable projects with which he was involved include the 81-story Dalian Eton Center in Dalian, Huabang World Trade City in Hefei, China Bohai Bank headquarters in Tianjin and Beijing Olympic Park Observation Tower. He earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering and Automation from Tongji University in Shanghai.

Qiu’s duties include project proposal preparation, contract administration and accounting. Her project experience includes Rui Hong Xin Cheng in Shanghai, Future Ark and International Finance Centre in Guiyang, and Qingdao Haitian Centre in Qingdao. Qui is a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (U.K.) and a graduate of the University of Essex and Qingdao Technological University.

Jing recently worked for Aedas as a project secretary, supporting the firm’s design team and managing communications materials including project design briefs, positioning reports and local design codes.

Dean Joins LECS

LECS (UK) Ltd. has announced that Lee Dean has joined the practice as a manager, major modernization and new installation projects. He previously served as project manager at LSL. David Cooper, director of LECS (UK), said he is pleased his practice was able to attract a qualified engineer with a wealth of experience.

Contracts

Otis, Prysmian win significant work.

193-Order for Massive Project in Jordan

Otis subsidiary Jordan Elevator Overseas Ltd. (JEOL) has been awarded a contract to supply 193 elevators to Saraya Aqaba, a master-planned mixed-use development comprising 634 m2 in the coastal city Aqaba in Jordan. The order includes Otis’ energy-efficient Gen2® elevator system. Joe Ghanem, managing director of JEOL, stated:

“We are proud to have been selected for this exciting new development on the northern shore of Aqaba, which will include hotels from Jumeirah International and Starwood Hotels & Resorts.”

Prysmian Awarded Several OEM Contracts

Draka Elevator Products, Prysmian Group’s elevator-business unit, has obtained a series of contracts valued at EUR1-1.5 million (US$1.1-1.7 million) each from elevator-industry majors for cables and components to be used in some of the world’s most iconic buildings. With KONE, Prysmian was awarded a contract to replace all existing cables in the luxury Marina Bay Sands hotel in Singapore, providing cut-to-length round elevator traveling cables pre-fitted with connectors to ensure reliability and reduce installation times.

Schindler awarded Prysmian two contracts: one for the supply of traveling cables specifically designed for the open-air environment at the half-scale Eiffel Tower landmark within The Parisian Hotel in Macau, and another for the development and supply of 13 km of flat traveling cables that include fiber-optic and copper conductor technology for Three World Trade Center, which forms part of the rebuilding of the World Trade Center site in New York City (NYC). The latter is planned to be 329 m tall with 80 stories – the tallest building currently under construction on the U.S. East Coast.

Otis awarded Prysmian a contract to supply its Super-Flex® cabling to the tallest building under construction on the U.S. West Coast – Wilshire Grand Center, a 335-m-tall skyscraper in the Financial District of downtown Los Angeles. Otis also tasked Prysmian with providing multiple high-rise Super-Flex traveling cables and Super-Duct® hoistway cables, designed to provide superior communication by combining copper and fiber-optic components, to the Lotte World Tower. This 123-floor, 555-m-tall skyscraper is under construction in the second-generation Lotte World complex in Seoul. Once completed, it will be the tallest building on the Korean peninsula and the fourth-tallest building in the world.

Sterrett Lloyd, president, Draka Elevator Products, commented:

“Following the recent successful completion of the One World Trade Center and the World Financial Center in NYC with ThyssenKrupp, where Draka Elevator Products provided traveling and hoistway cables, Prysmian continues to [provide] sophisticated solutions to the world’s most important projects in the elevator sector.”

ThyssenKrupp Elevator Hosts Unveilings

MULTI, MAX take spotlight.

Scale Model of Ropeless System Presented in Spain

ThyssenKrupp presented a working model of MULTI, what the company calls “the world’s first ropeless elevator system,” at its Innovation Center in Gijón, Spain, on November 5, 2015. The 1:3 scale model consists of a pair of 10-m shafts and four cabs powered by linear motors, enabling horizontal movement through the use of exchangers that change shaft configuration. The technology is based on the magnetic levitation train Transrapid, and includes a multilevel brake system and inductive power that transfers from shaft to cabin. By incorporating numerous self-propelled cabs running in a loop, transport capacity is increased by up to 50%. That promises to be a valuable feature as urbanization gains momentum worldwide. Since MULTI requires smaller shafts than conventional systems, a building’s usable area can be increased by up to 25%.

The next step is for a full-scale, operational system to be built in ThyssenKrupp’s new test tower in Rottweil, Germany, scheduled for completion by the end of 2016. During the presentation in Gijón, ThyssenKrupp Elevator CEO Andreas Schierenbeck stated:

“Our R&D team is right on track to realize this cutting-edge transport technology. MULTI will be our answer to tomorrow’s challenges. As the nature of building construction evolves, it is also necessary to adapt elevator systems to better suit the requirements and high volumes of passengers.”

MAX Predictive Maintenance Technology Introduced

ThyssenKrupp has unveiled MAX, predictive maintenance technology that remotely monitors and collects data into the Microsoft Azure cloud platform and utilizes intricate algorithms to determine problems and equipment’s expected lifespan and issue preemptive repair notifications. As globalization continues and skyscrapers multiply, particularly in locations such as China, such predictive maintenance will be critical to saving time and money, according to ThyssenKrupp, which introduced the technology during a gala event in New York City (NYC) in October 2015. ThyssenKrupp noted that a 2010 study by Columbia University students found that NYC office workers spend a cumulative 16.6 years waiting for elevators – a figure that could be cut in half by the increased uptime made possible by MAX.

The company is rolling out MAX in phases, with 180 units expected to be installed by 2017 in North America and Europe. The U.S., Germany and Spain are serving as pilot countries, with other key countries in Europe, Asia and South America following shortly thereafter. In two years, ThyssenKrupp expects MAX to be available to approximately 80% of elevators worldwide. ThyssenKrupp Elevator CEO Andreas Schierenbeck stated:

“MAX is a key business growth strategy for ThyssenKrupp Elevator, and we are confident that during the coming months and years, this innovative technology will become an integral part of elevator markets across the world. The phased approach allows us to introduce the solution in priority markets first and build its strengths incrementally, to enable organic developments to be made in line with the constantly evolving market conditions.”

Otis in China

OEM staying busy in world’s largest market.

President Reiterates Commitment to China

Otis President Philippe Delpech reiterated the OEM’s commitment to China during a recent visit, stating the company plans to focus on growth opportunities related to infrastructure and high-rise residential development, particularly in second- and third-tier cities, China Daily reported. With persistent safety concerns and recent studies showing that 84% of elevator/escalator malfunctions are caused by poor installation and maintenance, Otis plans to additionally focus on service by adding 1,000 to 1,500 mechanics per year and working with the government to address service quality issues. Otis has enjoyed approximately 20% annual growth in China over the past several years and anticipates that will continue as China is expected to remain the world’s largest elevator/escalator market despite slowing growth.

Xizi Otis Providing 30 Units to China’s Olympic Sports Center

Xizi Otis Elevator Co., Ltd. has been hired to provide 30 energy-efficient Gen2® elevator systems to the 80,000-seat Olympic Sports Center in Hangzhou, China. With its main stadium scheduled for completion by the end of 2015, the facility is being built to host the 2022 Asian Games. Xizi Otis states Gen2 systems are up to 75% more energy efficient than conventional systems lacking regenerative drives such as Otis’ ReGenTM.

Contract with Key Chinese Rail Hub Renewed

A four-year maintenance contract between Xizi Otis and Beijing South Railway Station has been renewed as part of Xizi Otis’ “Back-Home Inspection Program,” launched in 2014 and providing complimentary maintenance for Xizi Otis escalators and elevators in China. Covering 110 Xizi Otis escalators, the contract includes counseling and support for railway station officials in an effort to enhance equipment’s reliability and safety. Beijing South Railway Station covers approximately 320 m2 and is one of China’s busiest transit hubs.

London Activity

Skyscrapers continue to multiply in historic city.

Mixed-Use “Skinny Shard” Planned

Irvine Sellar, the real-estate mogul behind The Shard in London, now has his sights set on Paddington in West London, where he hopes to build a 65-story, 224-m-tall mixed-use skyscraper that promises to revitalize a neglected area, the Evening Standard reported. Scheduled for completion in 2020 if approved, the cylindrical, crystal-like tower at 31 West London Street would have residences, offices, upper-floor restaurants and a rooftop garden inspired by Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in the U.K. The plan is being backed by Singapore’s Hotel Properties. The structure was designed by Renzo Piano. If built, it will be among the tallest in the city.

Clover-Shaped Tower Planned in Canary Wharf

Greenland Group of Shanghai plans to build a 67-story, 240.5-m-tall residential tower at the western end of the north dock in Canary Wharf, Construction Enquirer reported. It is set to take shape on a site previously approved for a 63-story commercial tower, until Greenland’s plans superseded them. HOK is the architect, and construction is expected to take between four and five years and employ hundreds of construction workers. The design has a cloverleaf shape meant to maximize views for the nearly 900 residences within. Should it be built, it will be among the tallest residential buildings in Europe. 

City Leaders OK 45-Story Tower

City leaders approved a proposal from Appold Broadgate Owners to build a 45-story, 156-m-tall office/hotel building next to Broadgate at 13-14 Appold Street, Architects’ Journal reported. Pending the plan receiving all needed approvals, Appold Broadgate Owners had hoped to break ground in November and finish the project in 2019. Kohn Pedersen Fox is responsible for the slender design, which features a glass and metal fin façade. Nearly 400 hotel rooms and 10,855 m2 of office space are included.

Kudos

Conceptual elevator, environmental practices and digital magazine earn praise.

Hitachi’s HF-1 Lauded

HF-1, a “human-friendly” elevator concept by Japanese industrial designer Naoto Fukasawa for Hitachi, received the Japan Institute of Design Promotion’s 2015 Good Design Gold Award. Hitachi told ELEVATOR WORLD it is evaluating market response before it decides to put HF-1 on the market. HF-1 is designed to create a soothing and stress-free riding experience. Hitachi spokesperson Koh Murasaki explains:

“In our new concept model, the walls were joined seamlessly into a rounded shape as a result of identifying unconscious human behavior. The rounded design around the doors intuitively escorts riders stepping in and out of the elevator. The vertical control panel and the areas viewed by riders are all furnished with a dark, shining surface for easy recognition. An LCD above the control panel portrays an image that allows riders to intuitively identify the location of the elevator in which they are riding. A pleasant sound for the control panel was also developed. The ceiling was heightened and has lighting and temperature features capable of creating an ambiance to reflect morning, night and seasonal sensations.”

KONE Earns Accolades from Nonprofit

KONE’s efforts to shrink its carbon footprint through its products and operations earned the OEM top scores from international environmental nonprofit CDP. KONE is on CDP’s Climate Performance “A List” and is one of two companies out of more than 200 to receive the best possible climate-disclosure score of 100A in the CDP Climate Change Report 2015. KONE has steadily moved up in the rankings in the past six years and, in 2015, was also included in the nonprofit’s Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index (CDLI) for the fifth consecutive year. CDLI recognizes companies that are transparent about climate-related information.

ThyssenKrupp Publication Among Winners

URBAN HUB, the digital magazine produced by Triplesense Reply for ThyssenKrupp Elevator, was among 28 projects to receive the 2016 Gold Award at the annual Multimedia Awards in Germany. There were 128 projects honored in all. Featuring videos, photographs, illustrations and third-party content in five languages, URBAN HUB, www.urban-hub.com, won praise for being technically innovative and imaginative. Topics covered include smart cities and sustainable/efficient urban mobility.