Virgo successfully pulls off pioneering initiative.
March 20 marked the successful conclusion of Global Lift & Escalator (GLE) Expo 2021 Virtual, India’s first dedicated virtual business conclave-cum-expo for the vertical-transportation (VT) industry. With seven panel discussions and seven presentations by 34 speakers, as well as 35 exhibitor stalls to visit over three action-packed days (March 18, 19 and 20), it provided a rare opportunity to engage with industry leaders and gain expert insights on a single platform.
With thousands of visitors repeatedly attending the virtual show from 73 countries and praise from VT industry members across the globe, GLE Expo 2021 Virtual was the latest in a series of pioneering initiatives by Virgo Communications and Exhibitions Pvt. Ltd. The intensity and industry engagement witnessed during the event proved that Virgo’s latest endeavor — reflecting its commitment to support the VT industry at all times, even amidst an unprecedented crisis like the ongoing pandemic — achieved its objective.
G. Raghu, director, Virgo Communications and Exhibitions, emphasized:
“Virgo has had a global association with the VT industry for the past 17 years, fostering a closely knit community within the elevator and escalator industry since 2004. We introduced VT trade fairs in this country, organizing India’s first in 2007 and extending the concept beyond borders with GLE Expo in 2015. At a time when normal travel and meetings will take time to start, astutely identifying that, for the near future, activities will continue to be conducted in virtual mode, Virgo adapted the trade fair to a digital platform, making this essential business growth medium available to anyone, anytime, anywhere. With GLE Expo 2021 Virtual, we have facilitated VT industry revival and growth through a technology-driven universal gateway offering new-age opportunities.”
Sharing the keynote address at the online inauguration, Anitha Raghunath, director, Virgo Communications and Exhibitions, said:
“Technology and virtual platforms are playing a key role in the ‘new normal,’ and at Virgo Communications and Exhibitions, we strongly believe it is important for all of us to understand technology and leverage it to the best of our advantage to enhance our reach and growth. GLE Expo 2021 Virtual is yet another in a long list of firsts by Virgo, providing easy access to key markets across the world on a virtual platter, enabling exhibitors to explore a new business medium. With many years of goodwill in the industry, GLE Expo 2021 Virtual adds yet another concept to our portfolio.”
The visitor experience was hailed for being on par with that of physical exhibitions with virtual stalls, live video streaming, downloadable brochures, product details, chat and video options.
Visitors and attendees were able to interact with VT stakeholders from around the world safely and comfortably from their offices or residences using preferred devices. GLE Expo 2021 Virtual eliminated geographical boundaries, thereby enabling industry players to recoup the revenues lost due to the pandemic and find the best business solutions amidst the ongoing crisis. The visitor experience was hailed for being on par with that of physical exhibitions with virtual stalls, live video streaming, downloadable brochures, product details, chat and video options.
“The Right Step at the Right Time”
Leaders offer feedback.
Leading dignitaries from across the globe shared messages and best wishes on the occasion. Here are a few of them.
“I would like to express my sincere excitement about the first-ever GLE Expo 2021 Virtual. This event, as well as the webinar, is being held in India but serves the global elevator industry. Elevator World is proud to be partnered with Virgo Communications on this event. And due to the pandemic, it really seems appropriate to offer an alternative to a physical event. This event brings the industry together through a virtual exhibition that includes OEMs and component manufacturing leaders. Virgo Communications has developed an impressive three days of webinars with a perfect lineup of speakers, panelists and moderators. The webinar is full of leading experts in the lift industry, as well as architecture, real estate and construction professionals. It is my hope that the industry will see this venture as a valuable and productive way to connect in this new world we’re dealing with.” — T. Bruce MacKinnon, president and CEO, Elevator World, Inc.
“One of the positive things to come out of the pandemic was people embracing virtual meetings and online networking. This expo is a right step at the right time. The GLE Expo 2021 Virtual is a mega virtual event for the elevator and escalator industry, delivering the same effect as exhibitions of the past did.” — Uday Kulkarni, director, Utopias
“In the current uncertain environment, virtual platforms have kept businesses going. I am happy to be associated with the GLE Expo 2021 Virtual and, as a moderator, I am looking forward to interaction with industry stakeholders and experts.” — Krishna Kumar Ravi, president and CEO, PAPL
“GLE Expo 2021 Virtual is a welcome move. The last 12 months have been very challenging for our industry. But over the last few months, there have been positive signs of recovery, and it is imperative that we bounce back quickly. This expo is a very good step in that direction. It allows people in the industry to be in touch with each other, and get to know what is happening in a very safe environment.” — Suraj Thodimarath, managing director, Asia-Pacific region, Wittur; president, Elevator & Escalator Components Manufacturer Association of India
“I would like to extend my wishes to the GLE Expo 2021 Virtual. This is an ideal opportunity and has been receiving excellent response from all over the world. Conducting the panel discussions and presentations addressing the key concerns and challenges is creating an excellent opportunity to look towards the future, to cultivate ideas and to build bridges for more productive collaborations.” — Dr. Shobha Yaduraj, founder and president, Karnataka Elevators Manufacturers and Association
Highlights of the Conclave
by Divya Mistry
To enhance knowledge takeaways and enable formulation of a blueprint for the future, informative webinars and panel discussions were conducted concurrently with the expo. Focusing on key industry topics especially relevant at this juncture, discussions and webinars were led by senior leaders of the vertical-transportation (VT) industry and related sectors, such as real estate and architecture. Many critical aspects, which usually remain unaddressed, were thoroughly analyzed.
By planning and conducting this on such a massive scale, Virgo Communications gave the industry serious food for thought for contemplating the way forward. This initiative was conceptualized as a harbinger of change. It is envisaged that the deliberations and discussions held over three days will go a long way toward improving the future of the industry with positive implications for its stakeholders and end users.
Day 1: March 18, 2021
Panel discussion 1: 11.30 a.m.-12.30 p.m.
“Reviving the Market in 2021: Expectations for the VT Industry”
Moderator: Uday Kulkarni, founder, Utopias
Panelists: Prakash Shah, director, finance, sales, marketing and business development, Hiranandani Constructions Pvt. Ltd.; Ramakrishnan Sankaran, senior vice president of business operations, K Raheja Corp; Sebi Joseph, president, Otis India, who also oversees operations in Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka; Ashok Ramachandran, CEO and president, Schindler India
Key Takeaways
Real estate is seeing positive growth now, and signs of revival are visible. Collaboration between the elevator and real estate industries is necessary to accelerate this growth. Transparency is key to this collaboration. The different needs of consumers also need to be addressed, and it is important to understand — and make others understand — that an elevator system is not a product, but a project. A cultural change in the mass mindset needs to be made via awareness discussions held by elevator companies. Technology, too, will play a key role going forward. We need to adapt to and include new technology. However, for some time, we will see both touch (traditional) and touchless (modern) technology in elevators.
Panel discussion 2: 2-3 p.m.
“Price Challenges in the Current Economy”
Moderator: Krishna Kumar Ravi, president and CEO, PAPL Corp.
Panelists: Shakir Ahmed, managing director, Fujitec India Pvt. Ltd.; Manish Mehan, CEO and managing director, TKE (India) and TKE (Bangladesh); B.S. Kumaraswamy, managing director, Monteferro India Guiderails and Elevator Parts Pvt. Ltd.; V. Jagadish Kumar, principal consultant and director, L’Avenir Consultancy Pvt. Ltd.
Key Takeaways
Pricing has always been a challenge in this industry and will continue to be. The industry has been greatly impacted by COVID-19, but trying times inspire solutions. The elevator industry is dependent on the real estate industry. Going forward, mutual support between these two industries will be necessary to grow and sustain growth.
Presentation: 3.30-4.15 p.m.
“VT Equipment and Parametric Architecture”
Presenter: Thiyagarajan Rajagopalan, senior associate director, DPA Consultants, India
Key Takeaways
Parametric architecture has immense scope to create free forms, while also ensuring efficiency. Software like Revit, Grasshopper, etc., are useful in conceptualizing and designing stable structures that can be made from different materials. When it comes to elevators, VT calculations can be carried out using such software, so there is little-to-no counter productivity during a project due to changes in briefs. There is also immense scope to design free-form towers utilizing new software, as such software can bring innovations in terms of the way and direction VT systems function.
Panel discussion 3: 4.30-6 p.m.
“Importance of Project Management from a VT Point of View”
Moderator: Uday Kulkarni, founder, Utopias
Panelists: Satish Bhujbal, retired director (projects), Kalpataru Ltd.; Vikraman B. Pillai, senior vice president (projects) Lokhandwala Infrastructure and director (projects), Lokhandwala Kataria Construction Pvt. Ltd.; Jatin Shah, managing director, technical due diligence division, Colliers International India; Amit Maitra, founding partner and managing director, Lerch Bates Pvt. Ltd. India
Key Takeaways
Making the right decisions at the right time is important to keeping project schedules on track. A team that consists of a strong project manager with a VT consultant acting as an arbitrator will help ease and manage the process. In addition, being able to effectively use various software by training those who use it is necessary today. As an industry, it is crucial for all stakeholders across the elevator and real estate sectors to work as a team to carry the project forward and avoid getting into a blame game.
Day 2: March 19, 2021
Panel discussion 1: 10.30-11.30 a.m.
“Importance of Exclusive Codes in VT Products for Infra Projects”
Moderator: Krishna Kumar Ravi, president and CEO, PAPL Corp.
Panelists: Sivaramakrishnan Ravikumar, assistant vice president, airport systems (projects), Bangalore International Airport Ltd.; R. Balakrishnan, general manager and head of MEP Design – EDRC, L&T Construction; Abhijit Dandekar, director, supply chain, quality & product safety – South Asia Pacific, Otis; Rajesh Bywar, director, new equipment business operations, KONE India
Key Takeaways
We need to have a common standard in India for infrastructure projects. Safety and accessibility, especially, should be considered and covered extensively. For large-scale infrastructure projects, we need more mandatory codes, rather than optional standards. Going forward, long-lasting sustainable designs are going to be necessary.
Presentation: noon-1 p.m.
“Optimization of VT for Buildings”
Presenter: Krishna Kumar Ravi, president and CEO, PAPL Corp.
Key Takeaways
A standard approach to VT design includes understanding the purpose of the building, as every building and its developer’s needs are different. Area consideration is a crucial aspect in establishing occupancy. An estimation of the right user population ensures an optimal specification. Considering the correct judgment criteria and exceeding it when required ensures optimization.
Presentation: 2-3 p.m.
“How Intelligent Should an Elevator Be?”
Presenter: Mayank Desai, vice president, new installation-sales, TKE (India)
Key Takeaways
Data and tech-driven solutions like MAX and AGILE offer long-term solutions and are more profitable and in line with the “new normal.” MAX allows technicians to remotely access, analyze, monitor and control elevators using data codes and the Internet of Things. This ensures a significant reduction in breakdowns and timely maintenance. Using AGILE can help in areas like destination control, kiosk design and security. It reduces travel time by assigning the right elevators to passengers based on the estimated time to destination as soon as the person swipes their card at the entrance lobby.
Panel discussion 2: 3.30-4.30 p.m.
“Elevator Safety at the Site and For the People”
Moderator: Uday Kulkarni, founder, Utopias
Panelists: Sarvesh Javdekar, partner, Vilas Javdekar Eco Homes, Pune; Sudheer Soman, retired general manager, Quality and Environmental Health and Safety, Otis India; Susan Marcus, general manager, key accounts, Otis India; Rajagopalan Renganathan, senior vice president, field quality & excellence, Schindler India
Key Takeaways
Since human lives are involved, safety is non-negotiable. There is a tendency of various segments to go overboard in safety provisions and incidents, especially in the media. So that must be addressed. Situational handling is important. Integration of new technology and new innovations is necessary to reduce time and increase safety during installations and when using elevators. Educating end users and agencies, like fire and police departments, about safety is needed from elevator companies. Going forward, it is important to have the developer and elevator industry come together to come up with initiatives and steps to create safer industries.
Presentation: 5-6 p.m.
“M&A in the VT Industry”
Presenter: Dr. Paresh. M. Kariya, director, PAPL and AIQ India
Key Takeaways
Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the VT industry are different, as there are hundreds of independent service providers. Plus, it is a labor-intensive, rather than capital-intensive, industry. Currently in India, very few M&A transactions have happened in the past five years, but there is immense scope for opportunities. Three overarching principles applicable throughout every phase of the M&A process are discipline, prudent decision-making and having integrative leadership. It is important to think for the long term and know that results take time. So, having a great deal of discipline is the key to avoid costly mistakes.
Day 3: March 20, 2021
Panel discussion 1: 10.30-11.30 a.m.
“Challenges and Opportunities of Procuring ‘Made in India’ Components”
Moderator: Krishna Kumar Ravi, president and CEO, PAPL Corp.
Panelists: Arun Panchal, vice president, product development & product lifecycle management, TKE (India); V. Muralidhar, chief financial officer, Fujitec India Pvt. Ltd.; Anurag Gupta, managing director and partner, Arkel Electronic India Pvt. Ltd.; Subramania Bharathiyar, strategic marketing manager/elevators, Inovance
Key Takeaways
Made-in-India products are being welcomed by more and more people. But, it is important to get these components certified by specific, third-party authorities. There is also a need to have certain mandatory codes and standards to ensure that quality and safety match international standards. Small and medium-sized enterprises, especially electronics suppliers, should be supported by the government. Additionally, the government should recognize the elevator industry as an employment generator. Government support is required through initiatives and schemes, which will help the industry supply elevators that are at least 90% made in India.
Presentation: noon-1 p.m.
“Mobility Solutions: Home Lifts, Platform Lifts, Stairlifts — Innovation and Technology”
Presenter: Aniket Javalkar, director, Bright Elevators Technologies, Indian distributor for Lehner Lifttechnik GmbH.
Key Takeaways
Mobility solutions go beyond just catering to handicapped people: They are ideal for senior citizens, and are among luxury offerings for homes and public spaces. A wide array of options is available for specific requirements like platform lifts, stairway chairlifts and stair climbers. These can be customized to effectively fit into the layout of a space. Elevator companies are the first point of contact for such solutions. So, training employees of these companies will help bring more innovations to people and bolster the companies’ profiles.
Panel discussion 2: 1.30-2.30 p.m.
“Developing a Skilled Workforce: Challenges and Opportunities”
Moderator: Uday Kulkarni, founder, Utopias
Panelists: Shakir Ahmed, managing director, Fujitec India Pvt. Ltd.; Garima Dhamija, cofounder, Salto Dee Fe (SDF) Consulting; Suresh Kalathur, deputy managing director, Mitsubishi Elevator India Pvt. Ltd.
Key Takeaways
VT industry training has evolved in the past decade. It has become more organized, with in-house training given to fitters. There is also an increase in the need for technicians to have soft skills to improve customer service. But, there is much room for improvement. Imparting training and conducting sessions or courses in colleges can help boost the VT industry’s image and act as a catalyst to bring more informed and skilled people to the industry.
Presentation: 3-4 p.m.
“Standard Fire Rules Across India”
Presenter: Abhijit Dandekar, director, supply chain, quality & product safety – South Asia Pacific, Otis
Key Takeaways
Clarity on the standard rules for fire regulations is still lacking. Lack of communication to fire personnel, misunderstanding of rules and lack of awareness among all stakeholders, including the end users, have resulted in accidents. Therefore, standard rules are required to ensure safety and procedures in not just fire lifts, but regular elevators and escalators. Compliance with Indian standards needs to be made mandatory at a central level.
Presentation: 4:15-5:15 p.m.
“Elevator Industry as a Preferred Employer”
Presenter: Sheetal Shah, chief people officer, Schindler India & South Asia
Key Takeaways
At the moment, the VT industry has a lot of challenges, including questions on how to explain that it is a great industry in which to work. Safety concerns, the lack of a glamour quotient and even changing expectations of the workforce dissuade people from joining the industry. The three main focus points should be improving company culture/building a strong employer brand, identifying the right candidates and reaching out to them, and, finally, engaging with the target market and building a good relationship with them. As an industry, we need to work toward creating a diverse and inclusive environment. We need to be more open-minded and communicate effectively.
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