Hyprlift, Moline, NSF to Revive Historic Elevator Test Tower

Hyprlift, Inc.; the City of Moline, Illinois; and the National Science Foundation (NSF) are collaborating to convert the historic, 180-ft-tall Montgomery (later, KONE) elevator test tower into a hub for vertical innovation that will be used to test, certify and eventually commercialize Hyprlift’s next-generation elevator technology, the City of Moline announce d in a January 20 press release. The Silicon Valley-based startup approached the city seeking a location to test and certify its elevator systems and Moline offered the test tower, built in 1966 and unused since 2012 when KONE moved its operations. In exchange for tower access, the City of Moline became Hyprlift’s official commercial partner in the successful receipt of an NSF Technology Enhancement for Commercial Partnerships award, bringing federal investment directly to Moline’s riverfront. The collaboration is part of the larger Moline River Front + Centre redevelopment plan.