ELEVATOR WORLD was conceived over seven decades ago in the mind of my father, William C. Sturgeon, who had returned from the war and joined his father-in-law’s small elevator company. Business was good, but finding components and packages was difficult and marketing your services was strictly face-to-face. A new association of contractors had formed, but he felt more was needed to encourage communication and information exchange in the industry.
This issue, January 2023, begins ELEVATOR WORLD’s 70th year in business. The first issue was born on the back porch of my grandmother’s house. Sturgeon wrote every word in the first issue, and my mother typed the address labels of 250 people in the elevator business. I was young, but I remember licking stamps and labels. The story goes that our printer, who was a good friend, did us a favor and varnished the covers of the January 1953 issue, causing all the labels and stamps to pop off that first edition. Today, I went looking for the first issue, but, of course, there were no single unbound copies left. I did find a dog-eared February 1953 issue, and on the back cover was a typed label and two canceled 1-1/2 cent stamps! My thoughts immediately went back to my parents on that back porch, and then I thought, “I bet my DNA is on those stamps!”
From those humble beginnings, the Sturgeon family DNA has always been involved. We, like many of the companies we write about, are third-generation owners. Each generation has expanded the content and the reach. Today’s digital editions, training and safety materials, and international offices might surprise my father, but not for long. He was a far forward thinker.
This month, we celebrate the winners of the 25th Annual Project of the Year contest. There are nine categories, and our winners come from Europe, Australia, Asia, North America and Africa. All of the winners showcased their ingenuity and challenges overcome.
Elevators, New Construction, 22 Bishopsgate. Otis provides a custom, complex VT system to a people-first workplace in the heart of London.
Elevators, Modernization, Quay Quarter Tower. Schindler Lifts Australia has a challenging modernization in a world-first upcycling project where 60% of the existing building was retained for expansion in Sydney, Australia.
Escalators, New Construction, East Rail Line Cross-Harbour Extension. Otis displays creativity and determination to bring a challenging project to fruition in Hong Kong SAR.
Escalators, Modernization, First National Center. KONE’s modernization breathes new life into a 90-year-old building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Moving Walks, Port of Algeciras. TK Elevators (TKE) supplies and installs two moving walks in the lateral boarding tunnel of the ship terminal in Algeciras, Spain.
Inclined Elevators, Following Nature’s Path. Minnesota-based Hill Hiker conceives and realizes the innovative lift system in Panora, Iowa.
Platform Lifts and Stairway Chairlifts, U.S. Senate Handicap Accessibility Lifts. Gillespie Corp. fine-tunes an innovative system serving top lawmakers in Washington, D.C.
Private-Residence Elevators, North Rosedale. UT Elevator NA Inc. provides accessibility and a scenic view while maintaining the area’s heritage in Toronto, Canada.
Special-Purpose Lifts, Dr. Pixley Ka-Isaka Seme Memorial Hospital Rooftop Lift. Doppler presents its rooftop elevator custom designed for patient safety in harsh elements in KwaMashu, South Africa.
Several events are highlighted in this issue, including LIFTEX 2022 by Angie C. Baldwin and SILC 2022 by Bülent Yılmaz. Plus, there are three profile/interviews with movers and shakers in the industry: Vantage’s new CEO, Jay Dietz; KONE America’s Dan Walsh; and CEO for TKE Europe Africa, Inge Delobelle.
Enjoy! We packed this issue just for you.
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