Ground Broken On Poughkeepsie Walkway Elevator

Construction on a 21-story elevator to take passengers to the Walkway Over the Hudson from Hudson River’s Poughkeepsie, New York, side began in June. The project is to cost US$2.8 million, and, per ELEVATOR WORLD’s previous report, involves an 8- by 10-ft. elevator cab framed with glass and supported by a 220-ft.-tall steel tower (EW, March 2013).

Walkway Executive Director Elizabeth Waldstein-Hart commented on the Walkway State Park upgrade:

“It means that seniors, the handicapped and those who just have limited mobility for whatever reasons will have more direct access to the waterfront. . . . One of the primary goals in funding and constructing the elevator was to give more access to the walkway, but also to allow the 500,000 people a year who use the walkway a chance to come down and start enjoying the Hudson River.”

Though the project has been postponed multiple times since its announcement in 2010 (EW, November 2010 and September 2011), it is expected to be completed this fall.

Emergency-Phone Provider Appoints Software Manager

   Emergency phone provider Kings III, headquartered in Coppell, Texas, has announced that David Mann has been named Operational Software manager. Mann has 28 years’ experience and has worked as a consultant, where he provided a range of design, implementation, organizational and operational support to emergency-communications stations.

Lerch Bates Appoints Project Manager

Lerch Bates Inc. announced in July that Tim O’Brien had joined the company as project manager in its Chicago office. In his new role, O’Brien provides technical consulting services to architects, building owners and facility operators on material-handling systems, and collaborates on materials management, elevator and façade-access consulting services. He manages automated logistics solutions for the healthcare industry, as well as for commercial construction projects through the application of various automated material-distribution systems.

  Prior to joining Lerch Bates, O’Brien served as an application engineer for Swisslog, where he provided consultation, engineering and estimates for the sales and installation of healthcare pneumatic-tube systems. He has also worked as an estimator and project engineer for Mortenson Construction, providing detailed estimates and on-site project management for commercial construction. He holds a BA in Journalism from Southern Illinois University.

“Wino In Tenino” Raises Money For Eesf

The third-annual “Wino in Tenino” was hosted on July 20 at the home of NAESA International Executive Director Dotty Stanlaske and her husband, Bob, in Tenino, Washington. An increase in attendance to more than 40 people helped the event raise US$1,100 (also an increase) for the Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation (EESF). Wine from the local Scatter Creek Winery was served, and proceeds from the bottles sold for guests to take home also contributed to the charity amount. Food was also provided. A guessing contest and silent auction rounded out the activities.

Pflow Industries Promotes Ohlinger

PFlow Industries, Inc. has promoted Kurt Ohlinger to Inside Sales technical specialist, reporting to Inside Sales Director Joe Dziadosz. Ohlinger has worked at PFlow 16 years and has managed the order process for Cartveyor™ shopping-cart conveyors for the last 10. His new role consists of estimating, reviewing specifications and quoting special projects. Based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, PFlow manufactures and sells vertical reciprocating conveyors for moving materials in the manufacturing, warehousing, distribution and retail industries.

Psi To Distribute Tri-Tronics Products

Parts Specialists, Inc. (PSI), of Posen, Illinois, has announced it has signed a deal to stock and distribute Tri-Tronics® elevator door control products. Tri-Tronics is based in Tampa, Florida. “The strategic partnership will allow the elevator industry to obtain these products from an elevator-specific supplier at competitive prices,” PSI General Manager Glenn Duncan said. For more information, visit website: www.partsspecialistsinc.com.

Eklund’s Redesignates Branches, Hires

Eklund’s has redesignated its branch offices to better illustrate a U.S. presence on a national level. “Dallas/Fort Worth or ‘Texas’” is now called “Eklund’s South/Corporate Headquarters & Manufacturing Facility.” “Baltimore/Washington or ‘Maryland’” is now called “Eklund’s Northeast/Manufacturing Facility.” “Las Vegas” has become “Eklund’s West,” “Chicago” is now “Eklund’s Midwest,” and “Houston” was rebranded “Eklund’s Southeast.” According to the company, it is “now positioned to serve clients from coast to coast more efficiently and effectively.”

Changes at the company also include three new hires. Justin Bird joined Eklund’s as a designer this spring. As a member of the design team at Eklund’s South, Bird creates drawings of custom elevator ideas. After receiving his BS in Engineering from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas, he spent a year as a technical support engineer at a fabrication company in Weatherford, Texas. Bird was also an assistant to a building engineer for two years.

BCE Specialties, Eklund’s’ installation team, has included Scott Adamson as Operations Manager for Eklund’s/BCE Northeast. A project manager for more than 12 years at several construction companies in Oklahoma City, Adamson now oversees elevator cab/interior installations. He graduated from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma, with a BS in Construction Management.

The newest addition to Eklund’s Northeast is Ngoc Le. Part of the metal shop since May, Le is an experienced welder. He has worked in the vertical-transportation industry for five years and was previously employed by EMCO Elevator in Capitol Heights, Maryland.

New Nec Available, Website Launched

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has released the 2014 version of NFPA 70®, National Electrical Code® (NEC®) in both print and digital formats. It is available in PDF and through the National Fire Codes® Subscription Service All Access and at www.elevator books.com. In addition to publishing the code, NFPA offers companion resources and education to help professionals learn how to understand and apply the latest code. These include the 2014 NEC Handbook, pocket guides for residential and commercial applications, e-books and an app.

 Additionally, the website necconnect.org was launched to provide members of the electrical community and others interested in electrical issues with news, information, tips, learning resources and networking opportunities related to the NEC. The website is intended for use by installers, contractors, designers, engineers, code enforcers and policymakers for all things related to the NEC. Participants can engage with others who share an interest in electrical safety. The NEC sets the standard for safe electrical installations in homes, businesses, industry and institutions.

Kings Iii Taps Stables

 Emergency  phone provider Kings III announced in August that it hired Joe Stables as Business Development manager over the New York and New Jersey areas. Stables has more than 10 years’ experience, including senior medical sales representative at Forest Pharmaceuticals, where he was recognized for being in the top 5% of the sales force. “Stables’ greatest strengths are his relationship-building skills and ability to use sales data to formulate effective business plans,” Kings III stated. Headquartered in Coppell, Texas, Kings III is a full-service provider of emergency communications systems such as those in elevators.