World’s Shortest Escalator: A Tiny Star on the Expo Floor

Secretary General of the China Elevator Association Zhang Lexiang recently used LinkedIn to show off some cool escalator photos from the 14th World Elevator & Escalator Expo, held in Shanghai in August 2020. Among them was the world’s shortest escalator by Suzhou Hansen Lift Co., Ltd., showcased atop a multilevel, circular platform resembling a futuristic wedding cake. According to Hansen, escalator and technology enthusiasts crowded around the display to “take pictures, research and negotiate.” Hansen says the unit, with a rise of 488 mm, is shorter than the one in Guinness World Records. Zhang also shared photos of a curvy escalator with colorful handrails displayed by Sydney Electric (Hangzhou) Co., Ltd., and a curved unit resembling a bridge (manufacturer unclear). When one of the commenters asked if a 32-m-long curved unit could be made, Wang Zhigang, vice president of Asia Business Development for Nidec Drives Systems, answered, “Everything is possible!”