Honolulu Airport To Receive Terminal, Upgrades

A draft environmental assessment from the Hawaii Department of Transportation in October 2012 detailed a modernization project for Honolulu International Airport totaling US$600 million. A new terminal, concourse, cargo facility and car-rental facility are among the proposed upgrades. The state described the modifications as providing “modern facilities to enhance safety and efficiency for passengers and employees.” They will also allow for the accommodation of larger airplanes. Work could begin in the second quarter of this year and is estimated to take four years.

Murphy Elevator Celebrates 80th Anniversary

Murphy Elevator Co. of Louisville, Kentucky (ELEVATOR WORLD, February 2012), celebrated its 80th anniversary in November 2012. Though the company’s actual founding date is December 29, 1932, the formal event was held the month before at the Seelbach Hilton in Louisville.

Eklund’s Hires and Promotes

Eklund’s, Inc. made several personnel changes in October 2012. In addition to its appointment of Jason Speicher as Northeast Regional director (ELEVATOR WORLD, December 2012), Joseph Eklund returned to Eklund’s/BCE Specialties as vice president of Operations for BCE Specialties, Eklund’s installation partner. After graduating from Austin College in Sherman, Texas, Eklund had worked at Eklund’s in marketing, purchasing and process improvement. He then departed the company to pursue his master’s degree in Business at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Following completion of his degree, Eklund spent three years in cargo and passenger revenue management for American Airlines before returning to Eklund’s.

Eklund’s newest designer is Dominique Indencia. Originally from the Philippines, Indencia’s experience includes holding a position as a draftsman in the furniture-manufacturing industry for five years in the Middle East and working in the technical side of the construction industry for six years in the Philippines. He has a Civil Engineering degree from Central Philippine University and most recently earned an associate’s degree from ITT Technical Institute in Computer and Drafting Design.

Heath Cunningham was promoted to Operations manager. In his new role, Cunningham is responsible for managing and improving Eklund’s manufacturing, engineering and coordination mainstay processes. He has been at Eklund’s for three years, during which time he has held the positions of Quality manager and Purchasing agent.

CET Completion Can Be Used For College Credit

Students of the National Association of Elevator Contractors’ Certified Elevator Technician (CET®) four-year  education program can now receive college credit toward advance standing at Wor–Wic Community College in Salisbury, Maryland. To receive the credit, a student must submit his or her CET Certificate of Completion with a grade of 85 or higher for each module. The student must be admitted to the college within three years of receiving the certificate. Once the college has confirmed the student’s completed work by reviewing the course transcript, the undergraduate can request up to 15 hr. of college credit at the institution. For more information, contact Faye Carter-Powell at phone: (770) 760-9660 or e-mail: faye@naec.org.

Elevator Services Group Announces Opening

In November 2012, Elevator Services Group (ESG), Inc. announced its opening in Woodstock, Georgia. ESG is an elevator and escalator consultancy with more than 75 years of combined experience in maintenance, modernization and inspection of elevators and escalators. The company is owned and operated by Teresa Z. and Alan Newton and their son, Phillip Long. ESG provides various services, including maintenance evaluations, contract management, modernization services and inspection services, among others. ESG consultants and inspectors are QEI certified, hold several individual jurisdictional licenses and are members of several industry-related associations.

For more information, contact ESG at e-mail: info@elevatorservgroup.com or website: www.elevatorservgroup.com.

Kone, Thyssenkrupp Elevator Receive Innovative Product Awards

Architectural Products Magazine has awarded KONE and ThyssenKrupp Elevator Americas its 2012 Product Innovation Award for the companies’ offerings, respectively. KONE received the award for its TravelMaster™ 110 escalator and EcoMod® escalator modernization solution. ThyssenKrupp Elevator Americas received the award for its Geared-to-Gearless modernization solution. A panel of 50 independent architects, interior designers and other industry professionals evaluate each product. Finalists are selected for leadership and innovation in attributes, qualities, functionality and performance.

Seattle Airport Renovation Includes Escalators

The North Satellite at Sea-Tac International Airport in Seattle is to undergo renovations, which will include the replacement of 42 escalators and installation of two new escalators. The project is expected to take place over the next seven years. According to Airport World, The Port Commission’s plan is to incorporate environmental initiatives into its projects to become a leading energy-efficient airport over the next 25 years.

Pittsburgh’s “Tower” Receives Eco-Structure Award

The 32-story Tower at PNC Plaza in Pittsburgh has received an Evergreen Award from Eco-Structure. The award is given to projects representing sustainability in building design, construction and operations. Currently under construction, the Tower is expected to perform beyond Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design’s Platinum standards. The project was recognized for its unique double-layer façade design, which employs controls that allow the building to adaptively breathe in self-regulating response to external conditions. As of November 2012, the Tower was expected to be completed in 2015.

Devon Energy Building Grand Opening

The 50-story Devon Energy Building celebrated its official opening in October 2012. According to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, the 844-ft.-tall tower was the tallest building completed in the country in 2012 when it opened. It reached its peak ahead of schedule in September 2011 (ELEVATOR WORLD, December 2011). Part of a 1.8 million-sq.-ft. complex in downtown Oklahoma City, it contains approximately 2,200 employees and contractors each day. It includes a 285-seat auditorium, a park, two restaurants, a coffee shop and the tower. Construction on the US$750-million building began in 2009.

CEA Announces New Board Members

The Chicago Elevator Association (CEA) announced its board members for 2012-2013 at its business meeting on November 1, 2012. The following will serve as CEA officers:

• Kevin Ryan – president
• Cornelius Walls – vice president
• Tom Przybyla – secretary treasurer

Snapcab to Appear on Tv Series

SnapCab has been selected to be a part of the TV series World’s Greatest!…. A film crew was sent to SnapCab’s Warrington, Pennsylvania, premises to gather footage for the company’s upcoming spot on the 30-min. show. The segment on SnapCab is to appear in February. Currently in its fourth season, World’s Greatest!… tours the world featuring behind-the-scenes footage and interviews of unique companies, products, people and travel destinations.

MEM Installs Modular Elevator in California

Modular Elevator Manufacturing, Inc. (MEM) began the installation of its Modular Machine-Room-Less (MMRL) elevator at a residential building/parking structure in Milpitas, California. The project is expected to be completed in June. The MMRL is a full-sized commercial elevator designed as a self-contained, freestanding unit that can be delivered to a jobsite and installed in one day. Most suitable for buildings taller than five stories, the MMRL eliminates the need for a separate machine room and requires less space. It is installed in MEM’s freestanding modular hoistway, which is often connected to the building the elevator is servicing, without having to share the same foundation.

GAL Installs Solar Array

Work was finished on elevator manufacturer GAL Manufacturing Corp.’s rooftop solar array in October 2012. The Bronx, New York, business now boasts one of New York City’s (NYC) largest commercial rooftop solar systems. The 237-kW array is comprised of 988 solar panels to help GAL save an estimated US$50,000 a year on utility costs and generate sufficient power to offset roughly half the building’s electricity usage.

“Going solar not only makes financial sense; it also has a positive effect on our local Bronx community,” remarked Paul Seifried, vice president of GAL. “We’re excited to be a pioneer in NYC, and we hope other companies will take advantage of the opportunity to go solar, save money and use cleaner energy.”

The system was designed and installed and will be maintained by MC Solar Development and SolarCity. A portion of project funds was provided by the New York State Energy R&D Authority.

Kone Ranked “Innovative” Company By Forbes

Forbes has ranked KONE among the top 50 innovative companies for the second consecutive year (ELEVATOR WORLD, November 2011). Though KONE is one of two companies in the engineering-services field, it is the only elevator and escalator company to be ranked in the top 50. Forbes uses its “Innovation Premium” ranking system, which measures the value the stock market has placed on a company due to expectations of future innovative products, services and new markets.

Naesa Hosts Wisconsin Symposium

On November 1-2, 2012, NAESA International hosted the State of Wisconsin’s annual Wisconsin Elevator Symposium in Geneva, Wisconsin. Considered by NAESA to have been “a huge success,” the event consisted of a day-and-a-half-long convention with more than 160 people and 18 vendors. Presentation topics included safety, escalator codes, items specific to Wisconsin state inspectors and more. A survey will be conducted in anticipation of planning and hosting the symposium again this year.

D & D Hires Uliano

Judy Uliano joined D & D Elevator Maintenance, Inc. on November 5, 2012, in the company’s Sales and Marketing Division. Uliano brings 25-plus years of industry experience to D & D, having most recently worked for ThyssenKrupp Elevator as an account manager on open order, repair and new-unit maintenance sales. Her industry history also includes Otis/Unitec and Electronic Controls, Inc. An active member of the National Association of Elevator Contractors, Uliano has served on several committees, as well as the association’s board of directors. She also holds membership in the Elevator Conference of New York and Building Owners and Managers Association.