Improving All the Time

Wittur Group talks company plans, new products

In October 2023, during interlift 2023 in Augsburg, Germany, your author (AB) had the welcomed opportunity to talk with then Wittur Group CEO Tom Stephenson (TS) about some of Wittur’s expansion plans and new products as the company moves enthusiastically into 2024 and beyond. Not only did we sit and talk, but Stephenson, along with Corporate Marketing Communication Manager Carlo Ferrari, graciously toured ELEVATOR WORLD team members around the Wittur booth and explained in-depth much of what the company had on display. 

AB: As we are about to start 2024, what is the biggest news with Wittur Group? 

TS: We focused on the recapitalization of our balance sheet. When the deal closes, KKR will become the main shareholder and our current shareholder, Bain Capital, will retain a minority interest in the business. Wittur is going to move from one strong owner to another, and we will end up with one of the strongest balance sheets in the industry. This is a very exciting time, as it is such a fundamentally positive change, and it puts us in a really strong position to continue to grow the business.    

AB: Can you update us on how business is going in the Americas?

TS: Business is going particularly well in the Americas: The economy is doing well relative to the rest of the world. We just had a groundbreaking ceremony at our factory in Monclova, Mexico, for its 5,000-m² state-of-the-art manufacturing facility expansion. This is a shining example of innovation and technology in the elevator industry and is expected to bring numerous benefits to the local community, including economic growth and job opportunities. We will cut the ribbon in 2024, and we will be able to increase output of new products such as the SGV linear door operator and mechanism, which are already very well perceived in the market. South America is also doing well, with our Brazil and Argentina factories keeping busy. 

AB: Can you share a little about the new products you’ve brought to interlift 2023?

TS: Wittur is the only player in the elevator market to offer such a broad suite of product solutions – much more than doors. In particular, this year we launched a further extension of our service to customers in the field with ElevatorSense^®, an innovative platform designed to simplify the installation and maintenance of Wittur doors.

As is well known in the industry, elevator doors are by far the most exposed elevator component: 70% of emergency calls and related costs are due to door malfunctions. 

For this reason, Wittur has developed ElevatorSense. It is a smart hardware-software platform that offers multiple products in one; it is based on the latest sensors, artificial intelligence algorithms, Internet of Things technology and incorporates more than 50 years of Wittur experience in design and manufacture of elevator doors. It easily connects to the Wittur ECO+/MIDI+ door controller and analyzes door operation. Field technicians can consult the results via an easy-to-use app, which returns precise and timely information to solve any door installation issues, monitors elevator operations in real time, plans service intervention based on real data and increases the service level to customers by reducing downtime. 

After doing a test run with ElevatorSense, the technician receives a list of issues and clear instruction on how to solve them. When all issues are solved, a second test is performed, and when everything is fine, a certificate of correct installation is issued. ElevatorSense is an evolving product: New functions are being developed and will be available in the future. 

Next to ElevatorSense, we display a Wittur ready-to-install mechanical elevator package for residential installation, including the new VESTA car in a cladded version, the WCF06 sling, Augusta EVO car door and WBP-TR gearless drive with bedplate. On one side of the sling, we installed an electrically activated safety gear ESG, a high-performance product for top-quality elevator installations.

We also have our new OL20 overspeed governor and STW tension device on the other side of the sling. The OL20 is extremely compact and, when combined with the STW tension weight, it offers a lightweight and space-saving combination. It can be used for new installations and modernizations. 

That’s just a few of the products we’ve brought here. These and others on display are being visited consistently by interlift attendees, and we have our experts here, including Andrea Gorlezza, our managing director of Project Business and Field Services EMEA Division, to answer any questions and give demonstrations and explanations of our products. 

AB: How is interlift 2023 going for Wittur?

TS: You can feel and see the excitement here at interlift. Our booth is busy all the time. There is interest in all our new products, which shows we are hitting the mark, listening and anticipating our customers’ needs. It’s a good time for us now, and the next several years will bring so many new Wittur products to the elevator market. As you can see, Wittur is improving all the time.

About Tom Stephenson 

Tom Stephenson is the former CEOof the Wittur Group. Before joining Wittur in June 2020, he led various industrial organizations around the globe. Stephenson holds degrees in economics and international relations and is an INSEAD MBA.