Projects around the World

OEMs, consultants awarded an array of contracts.

Schindler to Outfit China’s Tallest Building

Schindler continues its success in China with a contract to outfit the 660-m-tall Ping An Finance Center in Shenzhen with 33 7000-series double-deck elevators. Upon completion, the 115-story retail/office tower will be the tallest in China. Elevator traffic will be managed by Schindler’s PORT technology.  Installation commenced in December 2013 and is scheduled to wrap up in April 2015. Stated Schindler China President Jackie Han:

“It is an honor to have been chosen to participate in the creation of such a historic landmark. Being involved from the beginning has allowed Schindler to play an integral role in the project planning, and we look forward to working together with the Ping An Group in a partnership of excellence for years to come.” 

Global Tardif in Saudi Arabia

Global Tardif recently announced that ThyssenKrupp Elevator awarded it a contract for 20 custom machine-room-less elevators for the “iThra – King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture” project in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. The development is an initiative of Saudi Aramco Oil Co. to promote cultural development. Construction, to take place on the site of Saudi Arabia’s first oil well, is scheduled for completion in early 2015.

City Lifts in Chennai Projects

City Lifts (India) Ltd. is supplying energy-efficient elevators for the Bay View high-rise residential project being built in Chennai, India, by Hiranandani Realtors Pvt. Ltd. Expected to be the tallest building in the city when complete, it is also to be home to Chennai’s fastest elevators, said City Lifts. The company will supply four 5-mps elevators with 41 stops in seven or fewer months. Also, it will equip the Edina project (in the same complex) with four 2.5-mps elevators. Work on the second job is to be completed in four or fewer months. Both projects are part of Hiranandani Upscale on Old Mahabalipuram Road.

Alimak Hek providing hoists for Istanbul mixed-use project

Alimak Hek, Swedish manufacturer of rack-and-pinion lifts for materials and personnel, is providing four hoists capable of lifting 2 mT and reaching 150 m in height to the mixed-used Emaar Square development in Istanbul. Alimak Hek rented the hoists to a contractor for 22 months through its Turkish distributor, Atilla Dural Mumessillik Insaat Turizm Tic Ltd. Scheduled to be finished in phases from 2015 to 2017, Emaar Square is comprised of 1,000 apartments, 40,000 m2 of office space, more than 400 stores, a 178-room hotel and a six-level underground parking garage.

Ontario-Based KJA to Oversee Upgrade of 500 Units

Toronto-based KJA Consultants Inc. has been hired by the Ontario government to oversee the upgrade and modernization of 500 elevators within its property portfolio over the next three-and-a-half years. Work will consist of basic upgrades, such as installation of car-top protection to complete replacements of outdated systems.

New Mumbai Airport Boasts 47 Escalators, 73 Elevators

The T2 terminal at Mumbai’s newly rebuilt Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport was inaugurated in January, and it boasts not only aesthetic features such as art exhibits and unique architecture, but also equipment designed to ease traffic flow, such as 41 moving walkways, 47 escalators and 73 elevators, various news agencies reported. Its tallest escalator reaches 11.6 m, making it the tallest in the country. Indian consortium GVK led the massive rebuilding effort. Designed by Chicago-based Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, the architecture firm behind the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the facility covers 439,203 m2. It had been scheduled to open in February.

Volpe Wins Award for Journalism

Maria Volpe was awarded the 25th Charlot prize for entertainment, cabaret, cinema and information in 2013. Volpe is perhaps best known to the elevator industry as Elevatori’s Public Relations and Marketing manager. Awarded by a jury of journalists from various newspapers, TV networks, etc., the prize was presented to Volpe for being an outstanding journalist for Corriere della Sera (Evening Courier), a daily Italian newspaper that has been published in Milan since 1876.

ISO 9001:2008 Certification for ThyssenKrupp Elevator Saudi

ThyssenKrupp Elevator Saudi Ltd. has announced its award of ISO 9001:2008 certification. The company expects the internationally recognized quality certification to enhance its position in the Saudi Arabian market. Mohamad Jaber, general manager of the company, said to its employees:

“We should all be proud of receiving this important internationally recognized certification, which is a true indication of your dedication and commitment to taking ThyssenKrupp Elevator Saudi [toward] continuous growth and prosperity. We shall now strive and spare no efforts in living [up] to the obligations this certification brings on us for applying and maintaining the quality standards we proudly achieved in obtaining the ISO 9001:2008 certification.”

Publications Provide Insight

“World Elevators” Study Looks at 2017, 2022

A new study by The Freedonia Group, “World Elevators,” analyzes the global market for elevators (including passenger and freight types), escalators and moving walkways, and associated parts, such as controls, doors, sensors, and power-transmission equipment, which are sold separately. It also covers demand for installation services and modernization services. Historical data (2002, 2007 and 2012) and forecasts for 2017 and 2022 are provided for elevator supply and demand by type and market (including residential and nonresidential) for six regions and 18 major national markets.

Among the highlights of this extensive report include a forecasted 6% rise in annual world demand, the prediction that the U.S. will outpace most high-income countries, expectations that equipment demand will outpace services and the anticipation that the machine-room-less elevator market will continue to gain market share. More than 40 global companies are mentioned, including Hitachi, KONE, Otis, Schindler and ThyssenKrupp Elevator. For more information or to purchase, visit website: www.elevatorbooks.com.

CTBUH Releases “Research Roadmap for Tall Buildings”

The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), in partnership with the International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, has released “Research Roadmap for Tall Buildings.” Covering 11 fields and 358 research topics, the report is designed to serve as a guide to assist in planning more efficient and sustainable cities. For further information, visit the CTBUH website: www.ctbuh.org.

KONE Sustains Worldwide Momentum

Large orders keep Finnish elevator giant busy.

Acquisition Strengthens Stake in Saudi Arabia

KONE has strengthened its stake in the Saudi Arabian market with the acquisition of an additional 10% of KONE Areeco Ltd., bringing KONE’s shares to 50%. KONE has held a 40% stake in KONE Areeco since 2007. It purchased the additional shares from United Industrial & Trading Co. As a result, Areeco became a subsidiary of KONE on December 31, 2013. With approximately 700 employees, KONE Areeco is handling several major projects in Saudi Arabia, including the King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh and the King Abdulaziz International Airport and Headquarters Business Park in Jeddah. It completed work on the Makkah Royal Clock Tower Hotel in Mecca in 2012.

63-unit Contract for Tianjin Skyscraper Awarded

KONE has won a contract to supply 63 energy-efficient units to the Tianjin Noble Winland IFC office complex, a 300-m-tall tower and adjacent retail podium in Tianjin Binhai New Area, China. Scheduled for completion in late 2016, the main building will have 38 MiniSpace™ elevators, some traveling at speeds of up to 7 mps; four DoubleDeck elevators; and four TravelMaster™ escalators. The podium will have nine KONE elevators and eight escalators. KONE’s E-Link™ traffic-monitoring system will serve to ease traffic flow throughout both tower and podium, KONE states.

Company to Supply 45 Elevators for London Mixed-Use Project

KONE has been awarded the contract to install 45 new elevators for Nova, Victoria, a new mixed-use development in the heart of London’s West End. The urban project is being developed and contracted by London-based Land Securities for commercial, residential and retail use. It is to be located on an island opposite Victoria Station and is part of the overall revitalization of the area.

KONE’s work will entail 43 MonoSpace® 700 elevators with an “A” grade in energy efficiency according to the VDI 4707 classification, as well as a TranSys® elevator and ProSpace™ disabled platform. The project’s residential element, Nova Building, will feature 10 glass-backed panoramic elevators. The elevators will be fitted with KONE’s Polaris® destination-control system and E-Link™ remote-monitoring system. The first phase of construction is expected to be complete in April 2016.

Liuzhou, China, Developers Order 40 Units

KONE has landed a contract to provide and service 36 elevators and four escalators at the Liuzhou Diwang International Fortune Center in Liuzhou, China. The four-building, mixed-used development includes a 303-m-tall, 72-story tower which, upon completion at the end of 2014, will be the tallest in Guangxi Province. In addition to a 10-year maintenance contract, the order is comprised of 15 MiniSpace™, 13 3000 MiniSpace, eight 3000S MonoSpace® elevators and four TravelMaster™ escalators.

Vancouver Approves City’s Third-Tallest Building

The “architectural excellence” of the Burrard Gateway tower in downtown Vancouver prompted city leaders to approve the building, despite the fact that it will exceed, by 50 ft., a 500-ft. height limit, The Vancouver Sun reported. The height limit was implemented several years ago in an effort to preserve views of the North Shore. Designed by IBI Architects, the tower boasts a white-concrete, waffle-like façade and will stand more than 50 stories tall and house residences. Once completed, it will be the city’s third-tallest building after the 659-ft.-tall Shangri-La tower and the 61-story, under-construction Trump Tower. The project is also comprised of a 13-story curved glass commercial building, designed by Bing Thom, and a 35-story building, also designed by IBI, which echoes the design of the main tower. Construction is expected to start in 2015.

Asia Looks at Safety Issues

Tokyo Earthquake Preparation for Elevators

According to The Japan Times, local governments in the Tokyo area are taking precautions for elevators in the case of an earthquake in the city. Stockpiling drinking water in elevators and equipping them with portable toilets are among the measures being taken to aid the estimated 17,000 people who could be entrapped in the city’s units if a magnitude-7 earthquake struck the area.

At least 84 of the city’s 150,000 elevators entrapped passengers as a result of the March 2011 Tohoku Pacific Earthquake (ELEVATOR WORLD, May 2011). Some were not rescued until at least 9 hr. had elapsed. At least one ward has begun equipping elevators with water, blankets and “emergency boxes,” and another plans to equip 160 units with the boxes by April 1. Finally, a government panel anticipates many people could be stranded near the tops of high rises without water and electricity if elevators cease functioning in a natural disaster. It recommends the stockpiling of food and drinking water for these, whom it has dubbed “upper-floor refugees.”

600-Plus Shanghai Apartment Elevators Fail Safety Tests

More than 600 apartment elevators in Shanghai failed safety tests performed by the Municipal Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision and will need to be repaired or replaced, Shanghai Daily reported. By July, the bureau plans to issue a safety standard and hopes apartment residents will contribute to an elevator-maintenance fund, since public funding is scarce. An official told the newspaper that of the faulty lifts, 117 need maintenance, 106 renovation and 393 a complete overhaul. Shanghai has approximately 160,000 elevators, more than any other Chinese city.  

Transitions

Gschwendtner Succeeds Bialy as Otis Director of Worldwide Codes

Otis has tapped Dr. Gero Gschwendtner to assume leadership of Otis worldwide codes. Gschwendtner succeeds Lou Bialy, who retired on December 31, 2013 (ELEVATOR WORLD, February 2013). In addition to his current duties as director of Escalator Engineering and Codes, Gschwendtner is responsible for implementing worldwide code strategy and overseeing global code organizations. Gschwendtner has 17 years of industry experience and has served on the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) EN 115 escalator code committee for the past 12 years. In 2009, he was elected committee chairman. He holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Vienna.

Brand Named Finance Director at Amalgamated Lifts

John Brand has been appointed Finance director at Kent, U.K.-based Amalgamated Lifts Ltd. “John has invested a lot of time in Amalgamated Lifts, and this has not gone unnoticed,” the company stated. “His appointment to support Peter Edler, Simon Smith and the rest of the management team will only enhance, develop and move the business forward.”

Organizations, Events Bring Professionals Together

Chinese Association Established

The Elevator Industry Association of Zhejiang Province was established in Zhejiang, China, on December 8, 2013, according to the Shanghai Elevator Trade Association. The province has more than 40 elevator manufacturing companies and more than 200 elevator-parts manufacturing enterprises, particularly in the thriving and popular Ningbo region. At the end of 2012, there were more than 223,400 elevators in the province, the output volume of which is expected to exceed 120,000 units.

China Elevator Association Secretary Zhang Lexiang said the Zhejiang elevator industry has a long history of production, having made rapid development in technological innovation, promotion and product quality. With governmental help, Zhejiang has come to be considered one of China’s major elevator manufacturing bases. Intended to help actively build bridges between government and elevator companies in the province, the new association is expected to promote cooperation and exchanges among members, and actively present suggestions to promote technological progress and industrial resource integration.

New European Small-Business Group Meets

Small Business Standards (SBS) is a new European organization established on October 25, 2013. The group’s goal is to defend small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in standardization. European national organizations and such Europe-wide bodies as the European Federation for Elevator SMEs (EFESME) make up SBS.

  Brussels played host to SBS’s first general assembly on December 13, 2013, where it elected the following board of directors, which had its first meeting on January 9:

• Gunilla Almgren, president
• David Amadon
• Massimo Bezzi (of EFESME)
• Gerard Bobier
• Gerhard Lanz
• Fabio Massimo
• François Roubaud
• Christoph Schneider
• Karl-Heinz Schneider
• Riccardo Viaggi, treasurer

 Additionally, EFESME appointed two of its technical experts in SBS’ first round of expert nomination. Giuseppe Iotti and Luciano Faletto were selected, respectively, in the CEN/TC 10 and in the ISO/TC 178 working groups. EFESME commented on the work of the new organization:

“SMEs face more obstacles to participate in the standardization process, and for this reason, since its drafting, our association committed itself to this project to ensure appropriate representation for SMEs in the standardization process at [the] European level.”

Canny: CeMAT Asia 2013 Reflects Growth in China

Strong attendance at the CeMAT Asia 2013 trade show in Shanghai in October 2013 reflects the strength and potential of China’s lift industry, particularly in the Changjiang Delta, Canny Elevator reported. The event, hosted by the Shanghai Lift Committee and Hannover Milan Exhibitor Co. at the International Exhibition Centre, attracted approximately 70,000 visitors. Domestic brand-name lifts will be more and more important in driving urban construction, Canny pointed out, noting that its 7-mps high-speed unit has become a top domestic seller. This year’s CeMAT Asia is scheduled October 27-30. For more information, visit www.cemat-asia.com.