MEBS Completes World's First Spiral Escalator Renewal

Mitsubishi Electric Building Solutions Corp. (MEBS) announced on November 27 that subsidiary Mitsubishi Electric S.A. de C.V. (MELMEX) completed the world's first spiral escalator renewal at Liverpool department store at the Centro Santa Fe mall in Santa Fe, Mexico, in October. The modernization retained the original curved design while enhancing safety and energy efficiency. The unit is one of two spiral escalators delivered in Mexico by the company in 1992. Main parts replaced included the control panel, drive unit, safety devices, handrails, steps and interior panels. An automatic standby function was introduced, where a sensor detects the presence of users and automatically stops operation when they are detected. In addition, existing polycarbonate panels were replaced by glass panels, which are less susceptible to deterioration. Since MEBS first developed the spiral escalator in 1985, it has manufactured a total of 111 units, some up to 40 years old. Lessons learned during the Mexico renewal project will guide future projects.