Nippon Otis Modernizes Elevator at Major Japan Dam

Nippon Otis overcame challenging conditions to successfully modernize the elevator at Kurobe River Fourth Power Plant of Kurobe Dam, one of Japan’s largest dams, Otis announced in July. The plant generates electricity by pulling water from Toyama Prefecture’s Kurobe Dam deep in the mountains. The dam was completed in 1963 to supply the electricity to support Japan’s post-war economic growth. Nippon Otis experts had to plan carefully to meet unique challenges on the elevator dam project. The 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake impacted the project, as the trolley train originally planned to transport equipment and materials could not be used. Instead, Otis teams had to use an inclined railway with significant size restrictions. Poor reception made communications difficult. Still, the team completed the project successfully, continuing a relationship in which Nippon Otis has helped ensure vertical transportation at Kurobe Dam for nearly 90 years, Nippon Otis President Patrick Yeung said.