Old Issues, Back Again

Commercial construction is predicted to grow beginning in mid-2025. That prediction came in the fourth quarter of 2024. We are now looking at two things that could change that prediction: tariffs and labor. According to Associated Builders and Contractors, the construction industry will need 454,000 new workers in 2025. But the industry could lose 14% of the workforce due to mass deportations. Few of these migrants are directly in the elevator industry, as we need skilled labor, but we are dependent on the general construction industry.  

Tariffs, however, can hit us in many ways — particularly those on steel and aluminum. We live and work in a global industry. Many OEMs have factories all over the world. Independent U.S. manufacturers use parts from China, India, Canada and Mexico. They are manufacturing in the U.S., which is desirable, but their costs are going to go up and so will ours. Higher prices could threaten demand for new projects. For more on this important subject, see the article by Don Gelestino, The Impact of Consolidation and Globalization on the U.S. Market. It highlights how dependent we are on the rest of the world.

This month, we have a regional look at New York, the number one “elevator city” in the U.S. We have four articles from that area and two features:

• Grand Central Madison Sidewalk Lift by John C. Linsley. Gillespie Corp. details the story behind a large project 10 years in the making.
• Operating and Growing an Independent Company in a Consolidating Market by John Mezzo. The author gives a fascinating look at how mergers, acquisitions and private equity affect safety, technical expertise and even cost.
• Defined by NYC by Kaija Wilkinson. ELEVATOR WORLD’s senior associate editor catches up with Vantage Chief Commercial Officer Justin Tomasino, who says he is “optimistically bullish on the commercial construction market.”
• Lifting NYC by Michael J. Ryan. The Peelle Co. has provided labor and elevator components for many of NYC’s most iconic buildings including One World Trade Center, the Empire State building and Hudson Yards.
• A Standout Landmark by Brendan McShane. This feature is on the building known as the Spiral on Manhattan’s far West Side. It offers unique office space and was elevatored by Otis.

Our cover feature is The Power of Collaboration by Peter Wilk with the cover picture by Ola Wilk. The 14th Street metro station has been transformed into a fully accessible, welcoming transit link that greets 13,000 riders a day.

The focus topic this month is Suspension Means and Materials, with three articles:

• High-Speed Elevator Machine Design and Development by Hongliang Liang. An investigation into rope life and bearings future.
• Building Suspense by Kevin Brinkman. NEII’s director of codes highlights some changes in the code regarding suspension means.
• Artificial Intelligence Embedded Image Process-Based Fatigue Life Determination on Wire Ropes Subjected to Bending Loads by Mohsen Seyyedi, Adem Candaş and Erdem İmrak. The name says it all!

Of course, there are many other articles in this book, including management advice by Vong Keovongsa and a great interview with National Association of Elevator Contractors’ new president, South Jersey Elevator’s Bill McGrath. We also cover a great event in India, ISEE 2024 by Vijay Pandya. This was the International Sourcing for Elevators and Escalators held for the second time in Mumbai, reinforcing India’s position for innovation. Lastly, we review the much-anticipated 2025 edition of the Elevator Industry Field Employees’ Safety Handbook, which is available now. 

This is a great book that we worked hard on just for you. Please let me hear from you anytime at ricia@elevatorworld.com.