EURO-LIFT 2014 Poland

Third international event draws 128 exhibitors.

An important industrial hub, Kielce, Poland, hosted the third International Lifts Exhibition EURO-LIFT 2014 on October 22–24, 2014. The biannual event was organized by PSPD (Polish Association of Lift Manufacturers) and the Administrator Monthly. Its 128 exhibitors came from not only Poland, but from Germany, Italy, Turkey, the Czech Republic, Spain, China, the U.S., Switzerland, South Korea, Greece and Belgium. Besides lift companies, prestigious industry associations, such as the European Lift Association (ELA), the Italian Association of Lift Component Manufacturers (ANICA) and the National Association of Elevator Contractors (from the U.S.) also participated in the event.

The fact that 60% of the expo’s exhibitors came from abroad exemplifies many foreign vertical-transportation companies’ attraction to Poland’s developed market. The 5,000 m2 reserved for the expo attracted nearly 2,000 attendees, who viewed displays including drives, cabins, ropes, doors, controllers, surveillance and safety systems, operating and maintenance systems, indicators, hydraulic solutions, accessories and trade publications.

The exhibition started with a gala ceremony attended by guests of honor. Afterward, a seminar titled “World without Barriers – Elimination of Architectural Barriers” was held. Main topics were European Union requirements on lift adaptations for the needs of the disabled, necessary changes to construction-sector regulations, opportunities for equalization in access to buildings and assistance in architectural barrier liquidation.

Opening speeches were made by Vice President of the Architects Chamber Piotr Gadomski and PSPD Secretary General Tadeusz Popielas. Seminars included presentations by ELA Chairman Philippe Lamalle, Pawel Rajewski (UDT), Wojciech Gwizdak (SARP), Krzystof Kosinski (Government Plenipotentiary for Disabled People), Jolanta Budny (SARP), Wlodzimierz Tracz (SARP), Jadwiga Irla (PFRO Świętokrzyskie Branch), Robert Chudzik (UDT), Dr. Wojciech Rogowski (SARP), Piotr Pawlowski (Integration Association) and Justyna Mrzyczek (Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers Lifts Group).

Lamalle expressed ELA’s support of EURO-LIFT and spoke of the importance of Poland for the elevator industry. He also explained the theme of ELA Congress 2014, which took place earlier in the year in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, under the theme “A Safe Ride at the Heart of the Building.” He also presented impressive examples of market knowledge, such as the number of new lifts installed globally each year (875,000) and that roughly 20% of those are in Europe. Poland’s part in this figure is significant, with 5,200 such units.

Lamalle also explained that many innovations will soon be covered by the new EN 81-20 and 81-50 (ELEVATOR WORLD, June 2014), and that it will facilitate further innovations in the coming years. As far as the lift and escalator portfolio, the “ELA Roadmap” offers industrial and accident statistics. ELA also continues to work on the Safety Norm for Existing Lifts (SNEL), with the SNEL White Paper now endorsed by the European Lift Components Association and European Federation for Elevator Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises.

 The second seminar, formed by three panels, was held on October 23 covering the subjects “Financial,” “Technological” and “Legal.” The event ended with the third and final day of the exhibition, which was open to the public. Participants looked forward to its next iteration, to take place on October 18-20, 2016.