Telus To Construct Calgary Tower

Canada

TELUS, one of Canada’s largest telecommunications companies, was set to begin construction on a 58-story tower in Calgary’s downtown core in August. The TELUS Sky tower, designed by Bjarke Ingels Group, will incorporate office, retail and 341 residential rental suites. The 750,000-sq. ft. building is expected to be completed by fall 2017 at an estimated US$400 million, according to The Calgary Herald. TELUS Sky will be neighbor to The Bow, Calgary’s tallest building and the 2013 Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat Best Tall Building Americas award winner (ELEVATOR WORLD, September 2013).

China

Xizi Otis Supplying 172 Elevators To Residential Tower

Xizi Otis Elevator Co., Ltd. is supplying 172 energy-efficient elevators to the high-end residential tower Phoenix, being built by Hebei Construction Group Co. in Cangzhou, the Shanghai Elevator Trade Association (SETA) reports. SETA describes the project as an “absolutely new high-class residence” in which developers invested approximately CNY6 billion (US$979 million). Xizi Otis, Otis’s Chinese subsidiary, is one of the largest suppliers of lifts, escalators and moving walks in the Chinese market.

Seta Launches Online Elevator Network

The Shanghai Elevator Trade Association (SETA) has partnered with elevator companies to launch an online information-sharing network that explores such issues as government oversight, maintenance feasibility and repair response times. The network brings together elevator companies, quality-control professionals, components providers, property managers, association members and developers “for the sake of exchanging information and data” to promote safety and proper oversight, according to SETA. As of July, representatives of more than 1,000 elevators were participating.

Shanghai Mitsubishi Inks 308-Elevator Deal

Shanghai Mitsubishi has signed an agreement with Sichuan Fulin Industrial Group Co., Ltd. to provide 308 elevators for 33 buildings in Mianyang, Sichuan, through 2016, the Shanghai Elevator Trade Association (SETA) reported. The deal includes six projects covering more than 1 million m2. The agreement, according to SETA, promises to strengthen Shanghai Mitsubishi’s position in Mianyang, and result in better products and services for customers.

Otis Subsidiary Unveils Small-Machine-Room Elevator

Xizi Otis Elevator welcomed hundreds of guests to a June event to debut its Gen2®-MR small-machine-room elevators, the Shanghai Elevator Trade Association (SETA) reported. The event, which had the theme “Space Innovation and Future Leading,” was held in Hangzhou, Zheijiang. The fact that Xizi Otis signed a contract to supply elevators to highly ranked development firm Nimble Group shows confidence in the outlook for Gen2-MR,
according to SETA.

Shanghai Edunburgh Elevator Unveils Research Center

In July, Shanghai Edunburgh Elevator Co., Ltd. opened its 40,000-m2, 21-story Global Research Center within the Caohejing Hi-Tech Park in Shanghai, the Shanghai Elevator Trade Association (SETA) reported. The center’s focuses are research, marketing and training. Described by SETA as a company that emphasizes safety and energy efficiency, Shanghai Edunburgh is also planning a high-tech business incubator.

AVIRE MOVES INTO EXPANDED FACTORY

Avire, provider of elevator safety and communications technology, has moved into a new Shanghai factory three times the size of its previous one. The move brings Avire’s light-curtain production capacity to more than 500,000 per year, allowing the company to better serve China’s quickly growing commercial, mixed-use and residential markets. “China has become the global center of the elevator industry,” stated Avire. “Sixty percent of the world’s new elevators are now built in China.” Located in Shanghai’s Minhang District, the facility includes an R&D lab focused on new products for growing markets in China and the Asia-Pacific region. Avire’s former factory opened in 1999 to produce TL Jones light curtains.

(l-r) Sales and Marketing Director Andy Harbidge, Halma China Director Martin Zhang, Chairman Nigel Trodd, Managing Director Paul Simmons, China General Manager Jonathan Hou, Manufacturing Director Jan Doubal and R&D Director Karl Westhead officially open the new production facility in June.

Tonogyong Elevator Establishes Test Tower

Tonogyong Elevator Manufacture Co., Ltd., has started building a 95.3-m-tall steel test tower in Xianyou County, China, the Shanghai Elevator Trade Association reported. The company invested approximately CNY120 million (US$19.6 million) in the project, which includes a practice basement for students and a 100-car parking lot. Construction is expected to be complete in February 2014.

Marohn Elevator Lands 72-Unit Contract

Marohn Elevator Co., Ltd., has won a contract to provide 72 elevators and escalators to the Heyday City development, according to the Shanghai Elevator Trade Association (SETA). Developed by Liaoning Xinhong Group, Heyday consists of nine buildings, including a high-end hotel, supermarket and business meeting hall representing 240,000 m2 on 57,000 ha. Small-room, machine-room-less and observation elevators, as well as regular and walking escalators, could be part of the project, said SETA, noting that Marohn passed a strict inspection before it was awarded the work.

Germany

Kleemann, Digigage To Partner At Interlift

KLEEMANN has teamed with DigiGage to present the winGage virtual window system in a moving cab at its booth at Interlift, to be held on October 15-18 in Augsburg. DigiGage is to launch the new in-building social network that runs on the DigiGage system and uses the elevator as its billboard. It can be managed from any Internet-connected device to use the elevator as a geographical-based social-communication tool.

As social networks have become the preferred communication method among people in today’s society, DigiGage’s network will use existing social networks such as Facebook, Google Plus and Twitter to enable the creation of a community among building tenants. This service will allow tenants to post on the DigiGage “window” inside the elevator. The post will be presented for a predefined, limited time, incorporating the name and profile image of the neighbor who posted it. Users have the ability to post directly to the crowd-located screen from any personal device, including smartphones and PCs. The network will be presented live at the KLEEMANN booth.

The DigiGage system (ELEVATOR WORLD, May 2011) provides a precise motion-based experience in real time, working independently from any of the elevator’s systems and requiring only an electrical outlet and Internet connectivity. Its artificial-intelligence algorithms control virtual-reality content that visually reflects the movement of the elevator, creating the sense of a window in a transparent elevator. This content can be wirelessly changed by the building manager at any given time through the dedicated DigiGage cloud.

India

Canny Providing Escalators For Delhi Subway

Canny Elevator announced in July that it won the bid for the Delhi Subway Project. The work will see Canny install 291 escalators. The Shanghai Elevator Trade Association noted this marks the second time Canny has cooperated with India’s public-transportation authorities. The project includes four subway lines (approximately 119 km long) connecting the main cities. Canny’s work will be performed during 2013-2015 in preparation for the overall project’s completion in 2016. At that time, Delhi Subway is to stretch 310 km and have 227 stops. An estimated 40 million passengers are expected to use the system daily.

Iqbal Presented Mediaguild Award

Mohamed Iqbal, ELEVATOR WORLD correspondent and managing director of Toshiba Elevators Middle East (EW, September 2013), was presented one of the Chennai Metro newspaper’s 12 MediaGuild 2011-12 Awards in August. A Tamil Nadu native, Iqbal is described by the paper as a “science writer and author of positive-thinking articles” and “a sure friend and guide for Tamils visiting [the] Middle East.”

Chennai Metro recognized Iqbal for “creating multi awareness on self confidence and in social services.” The newspaper cited his notable achievements, such as having worked on landmark Middle Eastern projects for Toshiba Elevators Middle East and his former employer, Mitsubishi Electric, as well as his regular contributions to EW and Daily Thanthi, a Tamil newspaper. The bilingual author is also a noted speaker and world traveler. Iqbal is no stranger to societal, literary and educational good-works awards, having been a 2009 recipient of the title “Samudhaya Sudar” (“Societal Flame”) by the governor of Chennai.

Ireland

Ilea Founded, Sees Growth

The Irish Lift and Escalator Association (ILEA) is a new organization made up of suppliers of passenger and goods/service lifts, stairlifts, residential lifts, lifting platforms, escalators, passenger conveyors, car-transporting lifts and related component parts. One of ILEA’s newest members is KONE, joining the founder members to promote safety and standards in the industry. The group has met regularly since its founding earlier in the year. Having met with the Health and Safety Authority of Ireland in June, it looks to schedule future events with government bodies and other related industries. For more information, contact ILEA at e-mail: info@ilea.ie or website:
www.ilea.ie.

Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur Focusing On Vandalism Prevention, Safety

Kuala Lumpur officials are getting tough on vandalism and taking a closer look at elevator safety as they move to replace 90 old public-housing lifts at a cost of MYR31.5 million (US$9.91 million) by 2019, the NewStraitsTimes reports. The city has also assembled a task force to try to determine the cause of a July accident in which a grade-school student was fatally injured while trying to exit. That elevator had been inspected less than two weeks prior to the July 17 accident and found to be in good condition, according to Mayor Datuk Ahmad Phesal Talib. “Lifts are generally upgraded after 10 years and replaced with new ones after 15 years,” the mayor said. Vandalism, he said, is the main cause of lift malfunction. Because of that, he is assigning 250 law-enforcement officers to monitor the 523 lifts at the 86 People’s Housing Project. He said last year the city spent MYR9 million (US$2.83 million) on elevator repair and maintenance and has MYR12 million (US$3.78 million) allocated for it this year.

North America

Naesa Offers Qei Certification Exams

Starting in October, NAESA International began offering QEI exams to individuals who meet QEI education and experience requirements. The dates and locations for available classes are:

• November 15, Vancouver, Holiday Inn & Suites Downtown, 1110 Howe Street
• November 18-22 (includes training course), Clearwater, Florida, Homewood Suites Hilton, 2233 Ulmerton Road

For more information or to download the Candidate’s Handbook, visit website www.naesai.org. Applicants must submit payment and required documentation at least four weeks prior to the start of each course.

Naesa Announces 013 Scholarship Winners

NAESA International has awarded its four annual scholarships to the children/grandchildren of its members. The recipients of this year’s US$3,000 Floyd J. Rommel scholarships are Katelynn King of Owensboro, Kentucky, daughter of Jeff King, and Alexander Larson of Port Tobacco, Maryland, son of Russell Larson. King will attend Murray State University to study Political Science. Larson will pursue an Engineering degree at the University of Maryland.

Recipients of NAESA Canadian Region CAD1,000 (US$970) John Steele Memorial scholarships are Alexander Chan of Toronto, son of Matthew Chan, and Amanda Rodrigues of Mississauga, Canada, daughter of Tenly Rodrigues. Chan plans to attend Eastern Michigan University to continue his award-winning diving record. Rodrigues will attend the University of Toronto to pursue a career in Clinical Research.

Dean McLellan, chair of the association’s Scholarship Committee, commented:

“The exceptional quality of the applicants for NAESA’s scholarships increases each year, making the committee’s task more and more difficult. We truly wish we could provide awards to each of the applicants, as they are all deserving of recognition.”

Philippines

Pair Of Luxury Residential Towers Planned

Vista Land & Lifescapes, Inc. is planning a pair of high-end, 25-story residential towers in Cagayan de Oro’s central business district. Plans for The Loop include a skywalk joining the north and south towers, a fitness center, adult and children’s pools, a lobby, a multipurpose hall, two floors of parking and penthouse sky gardens. Each tower will house 522 studio to three-bedroom units catering to mid- to high-income residents. The Loop joins Vista’s portfolio of more than 20 condominium projects in Manila, Davao City and Cagayan de Oro.

Russia

Stein Becomes Ctbuh Contributor

In August, St. Petersburg-based Stein Ltd. (located at 9-3 Ushakovskaya nab., 197342 St. Petersburg, Russian Federation) became a contributor to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), the Chicago-headquartered nonprofit. Stein, provider of large-capacity, machine-room-less (MRL) and gearless panoramic lifts for the passenger and industrial markets, was dormant for more than 80 years after the Russian government ordered its factory closed with the advent of World War I in 1914. It was reestablished in 1997. In 1998, Stein formed a partnership with Schindler that resulted in production of a large-load-capacity elevator (1800 lb.), variable-frequency-drive elevators and MRL elevators. Stein, which became an independent company in 2001, has since become a leader in Russia’s MRL market and gained international recognition. Its modernization of the lift in the circa-1870s Mertens Trade House building in St. Petersburg appears in the July 2009 issue of ELEVATOR WORLD.

Saudi Arabia

Kone To Supply Elevators At Reziza Tower

KONE has been hired to install five 2.5-mps MiniSpace® elevators at the Reziza Tower in Al Khobar. The project is expected to be complete in July 2014. The Riyadh office of Dewan Architects & Engineers designed and is supervising construction of the 18,000-m2 tower, which will have ground-floor retail, basement parking, four mezzanine floors and 28 floors of office space. Dewan said that, when finished, the tower is expected to be “an architectural landmark of the region.” KONE has performed previous work in Al Khobar, having supplied and installed six, 4-mps MiniSpace® and one, 1-mps MonoSpace® elevator at the 135-m Al Khobar Gate Tower in 2011 (ELEVATOR WORLD, January 2011).

South Korea

Hyundai Installs Double-Deck Units

Hyundai Elevator has received a contract to supply what it calls “the first double-deck elevator in South Korea.” The 4-mps unit joins four single-cabin elevators that also run at 4 mps and two escalators to be installed in the LG U+ office building. Hyundai Elevator’s HELIAS destination-selection system will control the elevators in an effort to maximize the building’s transportation efficiency and energy savings by grouping passengers having the same target floor into the same elevator.

Not only can double-deck elevators deliver passengers to two adjacent floors at the same time, in this case, one is expected to lower construction costs and offer more available floor space by reducing the size of the hoistway. An accompanying device enables the adjustment of the floor distance between the higher and lower cage up to 7 m to allow for more latitude in building design. The building is scheduled for completion in February 2015.

U.K.

Stannah Projects At Metro Stations

Stannah has installed at least 15 of the 36 escalators planned for a regeneration project centered around Birmingham New Street Station. The partnership of Network Rail, the Birmingham City Council, Advantage West Midlands, Centro and the Department for Transport, along with principal contractor Mace, are working on turning the station into a regional transportation hub for up to 250,000 passengers a day, up from its current 140,000-plus daily passengers. While the station remains open, up to 1,000 workers are onsite around the clock to ensure the second phase of the work meets the set targets. Completion is scheduled to come “well into 2014,” commented Stannah.

The regeneration of Reading railway station has been completed by principal contractor Costain/Hochtief. Work featured 14 custom Stannah hydraulic lifts to facilitate the easy movement of people and goods to every platform. At the station’s north entrance are two 20-person (1500-kg) passenger/goods lifts providing travel to the elevated bridge area. A third matching lift traveling three stops, with a capacity of 20 persons (1500-kg), is for staff use only and operated by a swipe-card system.

Reading’s passenger bridge features a series of five central hoistways running across the concourse. Each plinth houses two lifts: one exclusively for passenger use and a second that can also be used by staff with goods. The five two-stop, 16-person (1200-kg) passenger lifts travel 12.7 m to the platforms below. The five two-stop, 20-person (1500-kg) staff/goods lifts travel the same distance to and from service areas. An additional four four-stop, 16-person lifts are for staff use only and sit in the corner of the bridge for office staff. The Brackley branch of Stannah Lift Services holds a maintenance contract for the units with Network Rail.

Otis Installing Some Of London Tube’s Longest Escalators

Otis is preparing to install a pair of London Underground’s longest escalators, part of a GBP190-million (US$297.3-million), 100-unit contract. While the longest escalator in the system is 60 m, the pair being installed at Western Ticket Hall at Tottenham Court Road Station – at 50-m-plus – are not far behind. Lindsay Harvey, Otis president United Kingdom, Central and East Europe, said because of their length, the escalators will be fully assembled at the company’s European facility, split for delivery, then reassembled on site. Installation – which includes 57 units in the new Crossrail stations in central London – began in early 2013 and is expected to continue through at least 2014. According to Transport for London, there are 428 escalators in the system, each operating 20 hours a day. 

Worldwide

Ne Ranked Among Top Innovators Worldwide

For the third year in a row, KONE has made Forbes’top-100 list of most innovative companies worldwide, rising this year from 42 to 37. Among European companies, KONE is ranked 12th by the U.S.-based business magazine. In announcing the honor, Espoo, Finland-based KONE noted it was the first to introduce machine-room-less elevators in 1996. Its latest innovation is UltraRope™ (ELEVATOR WORLD, August 2013), a hoisting technology designed to allow elevators to travel as high as 1 km – twice as high as previously possible.