Nearly 180 Companies Display at Russian Elevator Week

Moscow event had strong international flavor, as 19 countries were represented in vendor lineup.

Russian Elevator Week 2017, held on April 25-27 in Moscow, proved to be a big draw for the international building-transportation industry, as 179 companies put their equipment and services on display at the VDNH Exhibition Center Pavilion 75. More than 5,400 visitors attended the expo, which saw participation from 19 countries.

Among the elevator and escalator gear on display were high-tech innovations, modern accessibility solutions, updated safety systems and premier cabin designs. It was all taken in by professionals in a number of industries, including construction, municipal planning, hospitality, parts distribution and inspection/certification.

The opening ceremony was presided over by a lineup of government and industry dignitaries, including:

• Sergey Stepashin, chairman of the Public Council at the Russian Ministry of Construction
• Andrey Chibis, deputy minister of the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade
• Mikhail Ivanov, director of the Department of Machine-Tool Building and Investment Machine Building, Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade
• Victor Tishin, president of the Russian National Lift Union
• Lexiang Zhang, general secretary of the China Elevator Association
• Michael Gubisch, Vice President of VFA-Interlift E.V.
• Kim Ho Il, chairman of the South Korean Elevator Business Board
• Dmitry Mikhailov, first deputy general director, JSC VDNH
• Maks Vaksman, first president of the Russian National Lift Union
• Vadim Sokov, chief state residential inspector for the Moscow Region

Stepashin opened the event by welcoming all guests to the seventh Russian Elevator Week, pointing out that the project has been going on for about 15 years. He said it is a very important event for the nation, adding “Our country leads Europe in the number of multistory apartment buildings, and it’s important that those buildings have comfortable, convenient and safe elevators.”

Chibis echoed those sentiments, noting that the quick replacement of elevators within the framework of regional capital repair programs is a priority project. In the past three years, he said, 18,000 elevators have been repaired or replaced. “Our people will get modern, safe, comfortable elevators and improved quality of life, and the lift industry will get new potential growth,” he added.

Mikhailov pointed to positive trends in the structure of Russian Elevator Week. “I’m happy to mention that, in spite of the complicated current economic situation, the Russian Elevator Week exhibition has shown positive growth and development. This year, we see a 20% increase in the number of the participants.”

Prominent companies were among exhibitors that set up displays inside the hall. Among them were foreign market leaders KLEEMANN, Vega, Wittur, Shanghai Mitsubishi Elevator Co., Orona and Mogilevliftmash. The largest Russian companies took part, as well, including Moslift, KMZlift, Scherbinka Elevator Plant, Evroliftmash, Parnas Enterprise, SIB Lift, Neiron, Chelyabinsky Liftostroitelny Plant “Witchel” and Cheboksary Elevator Plant Elbrus. At a nearby open area, exhibitors put on demonstrations of special-purpose vehicles and equipment designed to free entrapped passengers.

Many of the exhibitors presented operating samples of equipment specially for the event. Among the exhibits were demonstrations of major repair programs, presentations of a variety of elevator cabins, voice-control systems and technical solutions for accessibility lifts. JSC Moslift, a leading elevator-service company in the Commonwealth of Independent States and Eastern Europe, had one of the largest exhibits. Visitors to the Moslift booth saw innovations for a barrier-free, accessible environment, including a unique elevator called the “Leader,” designed to comfortably accommodate wheelchair users and people who are vision or hearing impaired.

The business program of Russian Elevator Week has traditionally been devoted to global issues of industry development and technical problems. The 2017 event dealt with many issues affecting the Russian elevator sector, including funding for capital repairs to equipment in apartment buildings and other housing. Among other key presentations were technical seminars focused on assessing and assigning professional qualifications for those who work in the industry.

Another tradition of the event is a presentation of awards to participants. For Russian Elevator Week 2017, the winners were:

• Best elevator: Scherbinka Elevator Plant
• Best program for capital repairs in the housing sector: Karacharovskiy Mehanicheskiy Zavod
• Innovations in lifting and handling equipment: Mogilevliftmash
• Innovations in elevator control systems: Neiron and E-Lift
• Innovations in control systems for elevator operation and dispatch communication: Lift-Complex DS
• Creation of a barrier-free environment in buildings and city constructions: JSC Moslift
• Imported elevator components: European Elevator Machines and Firma Podiy

The winner for best exhibit was KLEEMANN, recognized for the architectural concept of the booth, as well as presentations by company representatives.

The next Russian Elevator Week is planned for June 18-20, 2019.