Construction continues to grow as we move into the last months of the year, primarily in manufacturing facilities and hotels. High-rise residential conversions have slowed, and rents continue to be high for half-full offices. Dodge Construction Network says that activity is still above historical norms, but market fundamentals have begun to weaken planning. Modernizations and innovations are where the money is now in the elevator industry.
According to Forbes, elevator installers and repairers have the highest wages in the construction industry, but we still can’t find enough of them. A recent article I read said that experts have been warning about the labor market for years, blaming baby boomer retirements, low birthrates, shifting immigration policies and changing worker preferences. Somehow, I just knew baby boomers would get the blame eventually! In states like Arizona, New York and Texas where megaprojects have broken ground, contractors find themselves competing for the same skilled workers.
What does this mean for our industry? Training is the most important thing we can do right now. Encourage young people (that includes immigrants) to come into the industry and use those near retirement (baby boomers?) to recruit and train them.
Speaking of modernizations, we offer a paper from the International Elevator & Escalator Symposium in Barcelona, Spain, The Challenges of Modernizations by Eduard Amigó. The author (from Fermator Group) addresses the growing need for modernizing elevators in China.
Our Features this month cover the globe, from China to Belgium, Egypt and Spain.
“A Heritage of Unsuspected Richness” by Jérôme Bertrand, Céline Chéron, Lauréline Tissot and Muriel Muret. Belgium, like many European Union countries, has a remarkable stock of historic lifts. The challenge to engineers is to assure their safety while preserving their beauty.
Hangzhou Metro Line 6. TK Elevator (TKE) in China took on the challenge of providing elevator and escalator service for one of the country’s largest metro systems — some 500 units across 36 stations — in two years.
“Rock”-ing It in Egypt by Kaija Wilkinson. An entire new city is rising near Cairo called the NAC (New Administrative Capital). With malls, skyscrapers and an airport, the new city expects to house 7 million, with many lifts needed.
Sustainability in Spain. Otis announced that all three of its Spain facilities achieved key sustainability certifications, including the new factory in Vigo, on our cover. Otis CEO Judy Marks signed the UN Global Compact to adopt sustainable and socially responsible policies.
The November issue focuses on Fixtures.
First up is From Fixtures to Software, an interview with Steve Reich-Rohrwig of MAD fixtures in Canada. He explores how the Internet of Things (IoT) could take elevator fixtures to a whole new level.
Spotlight on South Korea by Wilkinson reveals that OEMs there have received accolades for fixtures: TKE for its Color Index System and Otis for the Lifeguard Handrail and the Gen3TM Ambiance Series.
Following up on that, Wilkinson interviews Ji-Hyeon “Gilbert” Jeong, leader of Otis Korea Design Center, in Beauty and Safety by Design. He explains how both designs mentioned came about.
Our historian Dr. Lee Gray continues his series on EW through the decades in ELEVATOR WORLD’s Golden Anniversary. Usually, it would be embarrassing to be such a part of the story, but in this case, Gray’s articles are really a reflection of the evolving industry with EW recording it. This one highlights changes around the world — and inside the company.
We hope you enjoy this issue. Either way, I would love to hear from you at ricia@elevatorworld.com.
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