Passengers start and end their journey with TKE solutions.
Metro systems are one of the most important means of transportation across the globe, with millions of people relying on these services to safely meet their commuting needs. Elevators, escalators and moving walks are widely used in metro stations, and these mobility solutions must be safe, reliable and high performing to constitute the first and last mile of each passenger’s commuting journey. TK Elevator (TKE) has a proven track record in supporting transportation infrastructures, with its products and solutions widely used in airports, metro and railway stations, and other transportation hubs worldwide.
Seventy meta200 elevators serve 36 stations across the new line.
In China, TKE is the only supplier of escalator and elevator equipment and related service procurement for the first phase of the Hangzhou Metro Line 6, one of the country’s largest metro systems, as well as the second phase of Line 6 and the Hangzhou-Fuyang intercity railway project. TKE believes the proven quality, reliability, service and price of its velino escalator and meta200 elevator series, alongside its work on Lines 1 and 4 of the Hangzhou Metro system, have made the company a trusted supplier.
The Challenge
High volumes of passenger traffic and extensive round-the-clock usage are two key characteristics of metro systems, requiring the mobility solutions used in stations to be reliable and optimized for heavy duty applications.
One of the major challenges of a large-scale installation with many sites operating at the same time was project management. The total installation period for more than 500 units across 36 stations was just over two years, coordinated to align with the construction timeline of the metro service itself. Smaller challenges included the installation of three escalators with a parallel lift height of 20.26 m, and six escalators with a lifting height of 18.6 m.
The Solution
To date, TKE has supplied and installed a total of 540 units for the new line and 975 units for the entire Hangzhou Metro system. Challenges relating to oversized and parallel escalators were overcome at the preliminary survey stage by ensuring that the necessary manpower and logistical arrangements were in place to deal with the necessary multi-section transfers prior to installation.
In terms of project management, TKE’s China team developed a highly efficient workflow with the client that included regular exchanges relating to on-site emergencies, maintenance and best practices. Communication between the client and involved parties was further enhanced by TKE’s choice to set up chat groups on the WeChat instant messaging platform, making round-the-clock, timely responses to all customer and partner enquiries possible.
TKE also supplied moving walks for the Hangzhou Metro.
TKE velino escalators were customized to the Hangzhou Metro system’s specifications.
Strategic Value
In the case of the Hangzhou Metro system, which serves a ridership of more than 500 million annually, TKE supplied elevators and escalators manufactured and fitted according to bespoke specifications. Attention was paid to every detail, down to the custom color of the 13 royal blue escalators installed at East Railway Station. TKE believes its ability to customize its mobility solutions allows the company to replicate its success across any metro system in China and around the world.
The city of Hangzhou hosted the Asian Games, a continental multi-sport event held every fourth year, on September 23 through October 8. Hangzhou — and its metro system — received an estimated 20 million domestic and foreign visitors during that period. TK Elevator prides itself as a solution provider of choice for infrastructure projects across the Asia Pacific region and globally.
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