India, Middle East among areas seeing activity.

MEKC Begins Operating South Korean Elevator Plant

Mitsubishi Electric Corp. subsidiary Mitsubishi Electric Korea Co. (MEKC) began operating a new US$27-million factory in the Incheon Free Economic Zone of South Korea on March 1. Including an R&D center and a 95-m-tall test tower, the facility is expected to expand current production capacity by two-and-a-half times, to 4,000 units annually. The R&D center is taking over key sales, engineering, development, manufacturing, installation and maintenance functions from Inazawa Works, Mitsubishi Electric’s mother factory in Japan. The new, 19,070-m2 factory employs approximately 120.

In response to demand for high-rise, high-speed elevators in  the Middle East and Association of Southeast Asian Nations countries, Mitsubishi Electric plans to introduce competitively priced elevator models that travel at up to 360 mpm, supplanting those that travel at 240 mpm. In South Korea, MEKC plans to respond to increasing demand from the low- to mid-rise market. The company expected new elevator and escalator installations in South Korea to reach 26,000 units in the fiscal year that ended in March and remain stable.

Housing, Infrastructure Projects Propel VT Sales in India

Demand for housing and infrastructure is expected to result in increased sales of elevators and escalators in India, of 7% and 66%, respectively, this year, The Hindu reported, sharing insight gathered at the recent International Elevator & Escalator Expo 2018. Accounting for more than 80% of domestic elevator demand, the residential sector will be favorably impacted by a lower Goods and Services Tax on affordable-housing projects. Schindler India Managing Director Uday Kulkarni observed elevator sales are expected to increase from 56,000 last year to 60,000 this year. Driven by demand from metros and railways, escalator sales are expected to increase “sharply,” from 1,800 last year to 3,000 this year, he said. Otis India President Sebi Joseph said a commitment to increasing the pace of urbanization through metro, railway and airport expansion promises to fuel growth. Ramesh Nair, CEO of Country Head JLL India, agreed that residential will be a driver but added that new commercial concepts like co-working space will be, as well. He stated that approximately 20% of overall demand is expected to stem from such development by 2022.

Indian, Japanese Firms Partner on Gurgaon High-Rise Project

Sumitomo Corp. of Japan and India’s Krishna Group have come together as Krisumi Corp. on the first phase of a 5,000-home development in Gurgaon, India, Global Construction Review reported. The source said Sumitomo is the first Japanese corporation to build condominiums in India. Phase One will consist of a pair of 35-story towers on a 2.1-ha site containing 433 units. Scheduled for completion in 2021, the towers are designed to attract middle-class buyers in what is described as an emerging city in the Delhi Capital Area, where office buildings and high-rise condominiums are proliferating.

DMRC Seeks Private Partners to Care for Phase IV VT Equipment

Delhi Metro Rail Corp. (DMRC) is seeking private companies to service, maintain and clean the approximately 285 lifts and 340-plus escalators that are part of the Phase IV expansion connecting the suburbs to the inner city, DNA India reported in March. Companies selected under the public-private partnership will sign a 37-year lease and be required to provide services to the vertical-transportation (VT) equipment from 4 a.m. to midnight each day. The DMRC has also been decorating lift shafts in stations along the upcoming Majlis Park-Shiv Vihar corridor with artwork as part of an ongoing beautification effort.

Alimak BMUs for Chinese City’s Tallest Building

Qingdao CONSON Development Group has selected Alimak Group’s CoxGomyl building maintenance units (BMUs) for the Haitian Center, three towers in Qingdao, China, housing hotels, a commercial center, a museum and apartments. At 369 m, or roughly 111 stories, one of the towers will be the tallest in the city. The order covers design, manufacturing, installation, testing and commissioning of seven sets of BMUs valued at approximately US$5.8 million. Though this is Alimak’s first order from Qingdao CONSON, the company believes its extensive track record of BMU installations on buildings taller than 300 m in China played a big role in the decision. Other vertical-transportation companies involved in the Haitian Center include Lerch Bates Inc., which designed the vertical and horizontal transportation system. Completion is anticipated by the end of 2019.

Mitsubishi Electric Spiral Escalators Part of Big Kuwait Order

A pair of Mitsubishi Electric’s proprietary spiral escalators are part of a 133-unit order for The Avenues, one of Kuwait’s largest shopping centers with more than 800 stores. Joining 69 elevators and 64 escalators, the spiral escalators “lend an atmosphere of architectural elegance and sophistication to the large atrium of the mall’s ‘Prestige’ luxury-shopping district,” Mitsubishi Electric said. Each spiral escalator carries up to 27 passengers at a speed of 60 mpm. Operated by Mabanee Co. S.A.K., The Avenues held its soft opening in February.

US$163-Million Contract Let for Aykon City Tower

Damac Properties has awarded a US$163-million contract to China State Construction Engineering Corp. for the main construction of a tower at its Aykon City master development (ELEVATOR WORLD, May 2016), ConstructionWeekOnline reported. The work has already begun on the Dubai high rise, to include 53 residential floors, two basements, a ground floor and 10 podium levels, in addition to a dedicated lifestyle and entertainment level.

Site preparation is complete, with main construction work estimated to use more than 11,000 T. of steel and 94,682 m3 of concrete. The 372,000-m2 Aykon City plan consists of residences, serviced apartments, a hotel and office space on Sheikh Zayed Road near the Dubai Canal.