New-Age Visions and Futuristic Concepts

A look at Virgo’s Smart Lift and Mobility World 2024

In a constantly evolving global scenario where the rules of the game change on an almost daily basis, raising concept benchmarks to bring them in sync with tomorrow holds the key to the future. A new-age vision with a commitment to also raise industry benchmarks and quality levels and a future-ready blueprint formulated to take an entire industry forward at an accelerated pace is essential.

Virgo Communications & Exhibitions has accomplished all this and more with Smart Lift and Mobility (SLM) World 2024. This integrated, comprehensive offering, making its debut from March 1-3, 2024, at Bengaluru International Exhibition Centre (BIEC), Bengaluru, comprises an International Exhibition, Interactive Summit, dedicated Elevator Awards Ceremony and the Elevator Safety Run.

This dedicated platform will be a convergence point for the vertical-transportation (VT) industry and all those connected with it, including its direct and indirect customers, be it real estate developers, occupants or owners, experts involved with envisioning their placement and positioning like architects and VT consultants, building management system integrators, procurement initiators and facility supervisors or service providers.      

Conceptualized to showcase technological advancement, digital transformation and integration in sync with the updated time and trends, SLM World 2024 will focus on accessibility, inclusivity and sustainability. It is an exclusive platform, providing stakeholders from the VT industry and its related segments a rare opportunity to experience cutting-edge technologies, enrich their knowledge and competencies, receive accolades for their excellence and participate in extensive campaigns to raise awareness about elevator safety under one roof.

Raising the credibility factor even higher, Quality Council of India (QCI), National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB) and National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO) Karnataka are among the associations supporting SLM World 2024, with Council of Architects being the Knowledge Partners.

Reflecting the high credibility of events from the Virgo portfolio, SLM World 2024 has a distinguished advisory panel. Krishna Kumar Ravi, president and CEO, PAPL, a member of the esteemed panel, popularly known within the VT industry as “KK,” is also mentoring the event.

Sharing insights on the magnitude of SLM World 2024 and how it will benefit VT industry stakeholders across the spectrum, especially the Elevator Safety Run, KK said:

“It’s a very nice initiative by Virgo Communications, and I think SLM World 2024 is the need of the hour. The end user needs to know how to operate an elevator, how to ride in an elevator, apart from how to buy an elevator; PAPL is totally in support of this initiative. We will ensure that we participate in full strength and support the cause. I also request all elevator companies to join this very noble event and show their solidarity and support to the cause, which is educating the end user about the safety of the elevators.

“SLM World is a very innovative thought by Virgo Communications and a great initiative. It is not only bringing in elevator companies, but this event is also bringing builders and end users as visitors who may really like to interact with the elevator companies and see what new innovations and technology updates are happening in this industry.

“The SLM World 2024 edition is also having the Elevator Awards, which is a very interesting event. Apart from that, there are a lot of seminars, which will provide insights about elevator technology, new products and new initiatives by the elevator companies, as well. There are a lot of interactive sessions with other stakeholders such as the regulatory bodies, the standardization bodies, the Quality Council team and many other government bodies. The Elevator Safety Run is one of the highlights apart from the awards because it is a very noble act to bring awareness to the end users. I think I have never seen such a holistic approach to an expo, and I wish all the best to SLM World.”

The Advisory Panel also comprises other VT industry dignitaries including Amit Gossain, managing director (MD), KONE Elevators India Pvt. Ltd., and Jagadish Kumar, founder, L’Avenir Elevator Consultancy Pvt. Ltd., along with several prominent personalities from related sectors who have also spoken about the importance of having such a comprehensive and path-breaking event.

Ravikumar Sivaramakrishnan, assistant vice-president (VP) Projects (Airport Systems), Bangalore International Airport Ltd. (BIAL), underlined the significance of SLM World 2024 in creating elevator safety awareness among the industry and stakeholders. He said:

“You guys are doing such a wonderful job, and I applaud all the efforts you are putting in. We would like to have this event take place on a recurring basis. People will get more information and knowledge, which is very good and healthy for the industry.”

Sharing his expectations for SLM World 2024, he said:

“When we go for an exhibition, we always look for something that we have not seen: as in what are the new trends of equipment going to come in place, the new technological advancements which are going to influence existing things. Can we adapt that, can we retrofit those, because to replace them completely may not happen immediately. If there are certain add-ons that would enhance the technology, if the product can be improved much more, we could collect more data from the equipment and make use of it in a more efficient way. So, these are the things which we would like to see: what OEMs would display and any future trends coming up, which is going to really completely lead the industry in a more different way.”

Jatin Shah, MD — Technical Due Diligence, Colliers India, opined that SLM World 2024 is a platform where everyone can collaborate and learn from each other. He said:

“It’s a great idea to have everything coming in one platform, and I think the industry wants that, so it’s a great step. It’s great to have a conference of this nature; it’s been designed pretty well. It is going to be important for all kinds of people who are going to be touched by this important subject.”

Commenting on the inaugural Elevator Safety Run, which is designed as a simultaneous event to promote widespread awareness on a global scale, Shah said:

“It’s a great initiative, which will join everyone together. We will be working on a common cause: Safety is an important aspect; every life saved is important. As stakeholders in this industry, it is our duty to bring this awareness to the end user. This is a very important subject, and I’m very happy about this exhibition. This initiative is definitely a right step. We need to work together on this, and we all need to come together for doing this.”

Balakrishnan R., VP and head of MEP Design at Larsen & Toubro (L&T), emphasized:

“VT has been an important part of the projects since I joined L&T almost 27 years ago. The type of jobs we undertake are airports, metros, IT Parks and commercial spaces, residential and other special buildings like hotels and multi-use development shopping centers. VT is the key for moving people in all these locations, and we use different types of systems like travelators and escalators for passenger and goods movement. There is also a goods-cum-car lift for multi-use areas, so this event is a very important thing. We have seen that the need for VT has increased a lot. End users are not really aware of all the safety features that have gone into the system or what to do in case of emergency.”

Sharing his expectations for SLM World 2024, he evinced interest in developments taking place in the lift industry, technologies like AI and digitalization of things, how high-speed lifts can be implemented and manufactured, as well as reducing the lift delivery timelines. There also should be subsidiary units, which can handle the mid-size projects, and subsidiary smaller manufacturers that can deliver for such projects so that delivery times are improved because the demand is going to be huge, he said.

Describing SLM World Awards as a great move to recognize VT industry players, Balakrishnan declared:

“It is a very innovative idea, which was never thought of in the lift industry, and it will definitely motivate people. Recognizing that effort of moving people and for different categories, it’s a unique thing you have come out with. It will be a great idea, and it will be very well accepted. I think this will add great value.”

Consistently serving the elevator sector since 2007, Virgo is credited with launching dedicated trade fairs, technical forums, publications, virtual events, webinars and other initiatives in India, as well as in additional emerging international markets like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and South Africa. To learn more about this latest offering from Virgo, which reflects its well-established, immensely successful track record of accomplishing several “firsts” in the VT industry, visit slm-world.com.