The Bahama’s Atlantis resort proved an idyllic setting for IEES 2024.
The fifth annual International Elevator and Escalator Symposium (IEES) took place on November 12-13, 2024, at the 154-acre ocean-themed Atlantis resort on Paradise Island in the Bahamas, a setting that made the elite global event popular with vertical-transportation (VT) experts’ family members as much as the experts themselves. With crystal clear Atlantic Ocean surf, powdery sand, a waterpark, a marine habitat, a yacht-filled marina, myriad restaurants and world-class accommodations, Atlantis proved both a playground and sanctuary to which more than 100 elevator industry members from around the world convened for two days to listen to colleagues share their knowledge of the latest technology, data and research related to the symposium theme of “Consolidation & Globalization’s Impact on Maintenance and Safety.”
Organized and hosted by Elevator World, Inc. and Liftinstituut, the IEES and its technical committee accepted 17 papers this iteration, all of which were presented by their authors over the course of the two-day symposium. The papers examined the theme from many angles and provided a global perspective, as presenters hailed from the U.S., Canada, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Finland, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina and India. The question-and-answer sessions at the end of each presentation allowed for further discussion, as did the coffee breaks and meals scattered throughout the two days. It was an intimate event, and with many attendees already having working relationships with one another, there was a level of comfort that allowed for a free-flowing exchange of ideas. First-time IEES attendees were made to feel like old friends quickly, and this led to an interactive, enthusiastic crowd that was not shy about speaking up and sharing their own experiences.
In addition to the presentations, the symposium offered a trade show component with 12 exhibitors, including CEDES, Genemek, DateRemote, Solutions Engineering, ECI America, Lustre, ELGO Electronics, Fieldboss, Wittur, Liftkeeper, EW and Liftinstituut. The booths lined the walls of the conference room, so it was convenient for attendees to visit with each one during coffee breaks and at the beginning and end of the day. It also allowed exhibitor company representatives to fully participate in the IEES.
Day One
Held in one of Atlantis’ many state-of-the-art ballrooms, the IEES opened with registration and coffee, accompanied by high-energy music pumping through the large speakers. An immense, high-resolution screen served as the stage backdrop, wowing your author and attendees with its grandeur. Once attendees took their seats, Liftinstituut Head of Marketing Marjon Oosting, an IEES host since the event’s inception and one of two this year, welcomed everyone to the “breathtaking” Bahamas. “We are truly grateful for your participation,” she said, before welcoming her co-host, EW President and CEO T. Bruce MacKinnon, to the stage.
Elaborating on Oosting’s sentiment, MacKinnon said the IEES has always been a great mix of business and pleasure. He took a moment to recognize the work of the IEES steering and technical committees and acknowledged the leadership of Bulent Yılmaz, IEES organizer and regional director of Elevator World, Inc. “Elevator World could not do what we do globally, and especially in Europe, without him. He has an excellent work ethic.”
Oosting then introduced Liftinstituut CEO Marco Waagmeester, who provided a hearty welcome and expressed his interest in and experience with the event’s theme of consolidation and globalization. He asked:
“Does it benefit the customers, the employees and the environment? Does it help or hurt the local companies? Should we be worried? These two days we’ll explore and try to answer this.”
Waagmeester took a moment to call IEES organizer and Solutions Engineering Managing Director Suleyman Özcan to the stage. Like Yılmaz, Ozcan is instrumental to the success of the IEES and a dedicated VT professional, said Waagmeester.
Following the introductions and welcomes, it was time for IEES 2024’s first speaker, Donald Gelestino, president and CEO of NYC-based Champion Elevator, presenting on the “Pros and Cons of Consolidation & Globalization on the U.S. Market.” Gelestino gave a broad overview of the U.S. and global VT markets, focusing on emerging growth markets and defining what consolidation and globalization looks like for the VT industry. He said:
“It is a feeding frenzy right now in the U.S. There is a lot of consolidation. There isn’t as much in the U.K. and Europe. Consolidation means fewer, larger suppliers, increased pricing power and supply chain vulnerabilities. The benefits of globalization include cost efficiency, innovation and technology transfer and market expansion. There are some drawbacks, like code and regulation challenges, but sometimes a globalized mindset can help us do amazing things, like Schindler’s R.I.S.E, predictive maintenance and drone inspections, which will be happening more in the future.”
Charlie Slater, executive vice president, and Ryan Tkach, chief financial officer, both of St. Louis, Missouri-based ATIS, followed Gelestino, discussing “The Benefits of Inspection and Consulting Firm Consolidation.” They answered why a company might want to be acquired, particularly smaller companies and local firms. According to Slater, each group – from small local firms to regional, national and international firms – has its reasons for wanting to be acquired or finding benefit in such an arrangement. They each have different abilities and focuses. Slater and Tkach also touched on the macro trends shaping the industry, including complex regulatory requirements and technological advancements, including the fact that large firms develop proprietary technology, making it hard for smaller firms to make strides and keep up.
Following a lively question-and-answer period, the first coffee break ensued. Most attendees took time to visit the exhibitor booths and continue chatting about the two presentations, both of which captivated the crowd and sparked much discussion.
Once the group reconvened, Paolo Tattoli, technical expert in lift standardization and safety for the European Federation for Elevator Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EFESME), presented his paper on “The Influence of Consolidation on Workplace Safety.” Adam Braman, CEO of U.S.-based Helios Safety, followed, presenting “Integrating Safety into Realtime Operations.” Braman discussed the anatomy of a maintenance ticket, emphasizing that reviewing the job hazard assessment (JHA) is almost as important as doing the JHA. He said:
“The JHA is an effective way to remind and reinforce safety and the process, but the JHA should not be a static process. It should dynamically adjust based on changing conditions as more data is collected and analyzed.”
Lunch, held in an adjacent ballroom, was an elaborate American feast of hamburgers, hot dogs, corn on the cob, baked beans and salad. The main attraction, though, was the dessert table, overflowing with sugary delights, including carrot cake, key lime pie, apple pie, cookies and brownies. While some attendees hung around the lunch tables to chat, others took some time following the meal to get some fresh air before we reconvened for a full afternoon of presentations.
Five presentations were delivered in the afternoon, beginning with “From Local Inspection Standards to Worldwide Certification Methods, That’s a Challenge!” by John Van Vliet, managing director of Liftinstituut. He engaged the after-lunch crowd with an interactive survey throughout his presentation that kept us entertained and focused. Richard Lochin, director of Eleve8 Plus Ltd. in Trinidad and Tobago, followed. He welcomed all of us to the Caribbean before presenting his paper on “Elevating Safety and Maintenance Practices: How Training in Lift Technology Fundamentals Impacts Safety and Maintenance in CARICOM Nations Through Globalisation and Consolidation.” Fernando Lueje, general director of Wittur SA, and Alea Guillemi, strategy director, Guillemi Group, both of Argentina, presented “Innovating Design and Technology Solutions for Affordable and Reliable Maintenance in Developing Economies.” They also took a moment to express their excitement about the fact that IEES 2025 is set to take place in their home country.
Following a coffee break, Krishna Kumar Ravi, CEO of PAPL Corp. in India, discussed “Understanding Globalization in the VHT Industry – Focus on Maintenance,” and Gabriela Roivainen, senior expert from KONE in Finland, closed the day’s presentations discussing “Machine Learning Solutions for Monitoring Door Vandalism.”
The day finished with a drawing, the winners of which walked away with a bottle of Caribbean rum and a discount ticket to IEES 2025. Before we were dismissed, everyone gathered on the stage for a commemorative group photo.
Dinner that evening was poolside and laid back, conveyed perfectly by IEES organizers who came dressed in matching tropical Bahamian shirts personalized for the occasion. Champagne flowed early, and the light breeze and family-friendly atmosphere helped blur the delicate line between vacation and business. The food proved hearty and delicious and the cocktails refreshing. The festive night was capped by a captivating fire dancer and steel drum player.
Day 2
After a memorable evening together, everyone was ready to go bright and early on Day Two. The day kicked off with U.S.-based LiftAI’s CEO Rob Wurth and Christopher Short, former Southern Elevator CEO, presenting on “Targeted Elevator Maintenance Leveraging IoT: Achieving the Trifecta of Labor Efficiency, Profitability and Customer Satisfaction.” Short talked about how you grow a company and focused on the words he said matter most to customers: “Pride, integrity, trust and transparency.” The pair also talked about the challenges in traditional maintenance, including it being reactive, not proactive and having inconsistent reporting systems. Wurth said current maintenance models won’t work in the future, adding “IoT and remote monitoring augment traditional maintenance. IoT is not the end; it’s the means.”
Dominik Sachsenheimer, president of U.S.-based Maven Group, next answered “Why elevators?” in his presentation, titled “Private Equity Consolidation of the North American Elevator Service Since 2018.” He gave a history of merger and acquisition trends in the elevator industry, explaining what it is about the elevator industry that is appealing to private equity firms. There were plenty of questions for him during and after his presentation, proving the ongoing relevance of the topic.
Following the day’s first coffee break, three dynamic presentations engaged the crowd until lunchtime. They included:
- “The Approach to Maintenance in a Globalized World” by Ivan Ferrarini, technical expert in lift standardization and safety, EFESME
- “The Impact of Artificial Intelligence in the Elevator Industry” by Pankaj Prasad, CEO, Airwave
- “Digital Consulting and The Pursuit of Inspecting the Black Box” by Ray Eleid, CEO, Solucore, and Dr. Rina R. Wehbe, Dalhousie University
Following another stellar lunch and much mingling, the symposium was reconvened for its last three presentations:
- “How the Use of Machine Data Can Help Consolidate Elevator Maintenance Across National Boundaries and Different Codes” by Patrick Bass, CEO, CEDES U.S., and Dan Smans, president, Business Development, CEDES Netherlands
- “Operating & Growing an Independent Company in a Consolidating Market” by John Mezzo, president, Dynasty Elevator
- “Emergency Communication for All” by Kurt Schieszer, vice president, KP Elevator Consulting
A panel discussion moderated by Champion Elevator Chief of Operations Rob Masterson completed the symposium. The panel included Slater, Tattoli, Prasad and Van Vliet, and was met with many questions from Masterson and IEES attendees, allowing for a robust knowledge exchange before the closing of the 2024 symposium. A drawing for more Caribbean rum and IEES 2025 tickets took place before IEES hosts thanked attendees for their participation in the event, that, by all accounts, was a success.
The next IEES event is planned for December 11-12 at the Alvear Palace Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Its theme is “The Future of Vertical Transportation Safety.”
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