Elevator World

Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. Today’s podcast news podcast is sponsored by Matot Dumbwaiters & Lifts: www.matot.com

STERILIZING TECHNOLOGY UNDERGOES TEST ON U.K. ESCALATOR

The Airstair escalator handrail sanitizing device developed by Oxonox has been installed as a test inside an escalator at Manchester Piccadilly in the U.K., The Construction Index reported in June. The device works by extracting oxygen and nitrogen from the air to produce plasma particles, which are then applied onto the handrails. The plasma is said to kill and prevent 99.9% of hidden viruses, such as the pathogen that carries COVID-19, and dangerous bacteria. During use, the Airstair continually coats the handrails with the particles, which are applied each time the handrail goes around. The Airstair’s function means escalators do not have to be switched off during the day for cleaning, so passengers are no longer inconvenienced by shutdowns.

Image credit: courtesy of Oxonox

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Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. Today’s podcast news podcast is sponsored by Matot Dumbwaiters & Lifts: www.matot.com

TKE ACQUIRES FLORIDA-BASED ACCURATE ELEVATOR

TK Elevator (TKE) announced on June 18 that it has acquired Accurate Elevator, a longtime vertical-transportation contractor that has provided services in the Florida Keys for many years. Based in Marathon, Florida, Accurate Elevator has focused on new installation, modernization, preventive maintenance and repair services for commercial and residential buildings. All employees from Accurate Elevator will stay on with TKE, including John Babbe, previously president and owner. He will now take on the role of operations manager. His wife, Donna Babbe, will serve as office manager. The acquisition is the fifth North American company purchase for TKE in 2021. In May, the global OEM announced it had acquired Albany Elevator in Albany, New York, and three elevator companies based in Ontario, Canada.

To read the full transcript of today's podcast, visit: elevatorworld.com/news

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Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. Today’s podcast news podcast is sponsored by Matot Dumbwaiters & Lifts: www.matot.com

MONGRAIN ADA-COMPLIANT ELEVATORS INSTALLED AT LIRR STATION

A trio of Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant elevators manufactured by Mongrain Vertical Transport and installed by Mid-American Elevator Co. were unveiled on June 16 by the NYC Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) at the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) Floral Park Station on Long Island. Part of the LIRR Expansion Project and overall MTA accessibility efforts, the elevators together cost roughly US$10 million, which MTA observes is less than similar subway-system projects that involve moving stairs, utilities and even entire mezzanines. "This value was achieved by following the design-build project delivery system, where projects are bundled to improve efficiency and reduce costs," MTA stated. 3TC was the general contractor for the project, which provides one elevator each between the street and three platforms at the historic station, dating to 1878 and serving nearly 3,000 customers each day.

Image credit: courtesy of MTA

To read the full transcript of today's podcast, visit: elevatorworld.com/news

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Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. Today’s podcast news podcast is sponsored by Matot Dumbwaiters & Lifts: www.matot.com

KONE WINS 71-ESCALATOR ORDER FOR LUOYANG, CHINA, METRO

KONE has won an order for 71 escalators for the first phase of Metro Line 2 in Luoyang, China, the company announced on June 17. Luoyang opened its subway system in March, placing Line 1 into service. The new, 18-km-long Luoyang Metro Line 2 will cover a north-south route serving 15 stops and connecting the city’s two major existing transportation hubs: the Luoyang Railway Station and Luoyang Longmen High-Speed Railway Station. Metro Line 2 will also serve several other busy centers in the city, including the National Peony Garden, sports centers and museums. Luoyang, known as one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China, is located in the country’s central Henan province. KONE will provide six stations with 71 TransitMaster™ escalators. In addition, the contract includes two years of standard maintenance. The Metro Line 2 project, under development by Luoyang Rail Transit Group Co., is expected to be complete at the end of 2021.

Image credit: courtesy of KONE

To read the full transcript of today's podcast, visit: elevatorworld.com/news

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Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. Today’s podcast news podcast is sponsored by elevatorbooks.com: www.elevatorbooks.com

OTIS’ MARKS RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS CED LEADERSHIP AWARD

Judy Marks, president and CEO of Otis, joins five leaders who include Moderna Chairman and co-founder Noubar Afeyan and CVS Health President and CEO Karen S. Lynch in receiving Committee for Economic Development (CED) 2021 Distinguished Leadership Awards. Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, CED is a nonprofit public-policy center. Award winners were selected based on corporate citizenship and business stewardship, and are to be recognized during a gala event in NYC in October. In the past year under Marks' leadership, Otis launched its Commitment to Change social-justice initiative, joined the Paradigm for Parity Coalition, started its Made to Move Communities STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education program, and stepped up donations of personal protective equipment, service and funds in light of the pandemic. This year’s awards honor leaders and companies “that have demonstrated exceptional leadership in very challenging times, including defeating the pandemic, ensuring economic recovery that provides equal opportunity for all Americans and building a more civil and just society," CED said in a press release.

Image credit: courtesy of CED

To read the full transcript of today's podcast, visit: elevatorworld.com/news

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Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. Today’s podcast news podcast is sponsored by elevatorbooks.com: www.elevatorbooks.com

EW 2021 PHOTO CONTEST: HIT US WITH YOUR BEST SHOT

If you’ve ever wanted to show off your artistic side, your chance has arrived with the ELEVATOR WORLD 2021 Photo Contest, with its ninth-annual version now open for submissions. Are you a vertical-transportation expert? Froilan Robas used his knowledge last year to win with an elevator photo. Know where to find a great machine or component? Mohammed Muhsin grabbed a first-place award. Got an eye for an awesome skyline or tall building? Greg Riegler does, and proved it with his photo of Taipei 101. The complete roundup of 10 categories is Elevators (Commercial), Elevators (Private Residence), Escalators & Moving Walks, Historical & Legacy Equipment, Machines & Components, City Skylines & Tall Buildings, Who Reads EW?, Industry Art/Illustrations, Hoistways and a new category, Projects in Action, which allows you to showcase your construction/repair or manufacturing team at work. Note, the Industry Art/Illustrations category can be any type of art or illustration, including, but not limited to, hand-drawn, painted and computer-generated images that are original and relevant to the industry. So, do you have ideas for some great shots? Send us your best and you may well win one of many great prizes and be published in EW!

To read the full transcript of today's podcast, visit: elevatorworld.com/news

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Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. Today’s podcast news podcast is sponsored by elevatorbooks.com: www.elevatorbooks.com

LONDON’S CANARY WHARF BECOMING MORE RESIDENTIAL

As Canary Wharf visionary Sir George Iacobescu has stepped down and handed the reins to new boss Shobi Khan, it appears that the vision for the Isle of Dogs will be more residential than it has been in the past, Building reported on June 11. This London financial center has a reputation as a place people commute to, work long hours in and then escape from. The streets of the glass and steel district are noticeably quieter on weekends. According to the source, Khan seems to be spreading the message that, to continue to thrive, the 97-acre estate, with its 16.5 million ft2 of office and retail space, needs to provide homes and communities in addition to places in which to work, eat and drink. The move toward residential is already becoming more visible, most notably with Landmark Pinnacle, which, at 239 m, is Europe’s largest residential building. The scheme, developed by Chalegrove Properties and designed by Squire and Partners, will feature 752 flats. Other additions include Wood Wharf, adding nearly 6 million ft2 to the original estate with office space, shops, restaurants and community facilities; a build-to-rent development with 327 flats ranging from studios to three-bedroom apartments; Berkeley Homes’ South Quay Plaza development, which will add 1,300 apartments over the next few years; and the 766-flat Wardian scheme by Ballymore and EcoWorld, also due for completion soon. A masterplan designed by Allies and Morrison and Glenn Howells Architects calls for more than 3,600 new homes, 25% of which are affordable, along with a school and a general practice surgery. Buildings include 10 Park Drive, which was completed June 2020 and welcomed the first ever residents to live on the Canary Wharf estate itself.

Image credit: rendering by Fender Katsalidis via AECbytes

To read the full transcript of today's podcast, visit: elevatorworld.com/news

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Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. Today’s podcast news podcast is sponsored by elevatorbooks.com: www.elevatorbooks.com

MERDEKA 118 BECOMES TALLEST BUILDING IN MALAYSIA

Permodalan Nasional Bhd’s (PNB) Merdeka 118 tower has safely topped out with the completion of the final roof slab after reaching its peak at level 118, making it the tallest building in Malaysia, The Edge Markets reported on June 10. PNB said the tower will reach its full height of at least 644 m. Merdeka 118 is set to be the tallest building in Southeast Asia and will be the second-tallest building in the world. Among the tower's outstanding features is "The View at 118" observation deck, which will be the highest in Southeast Asia. It will also have the first and only Park Hyatt hotel in Malaysia, occupying the top 17 floors of the tower. KONE is supplying around 87 elevators and escalators for the project. The tower is currently 81% complete and is set for completion in 2022.

Image credit: rendering by Fender Katsalidis via AECbytes

To read the full transcript of today's podcast, visit: elevatorworld.com/news

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Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. Today’s podcast news podcast is sponsored by elevatorbooks.com: www.elevatorbooks.com

TKE CANADA OPENS TORONTO SOUTH BRANCH

TK Elevator (TKE) Canada has opened a new branch in Toronto South, the company announced in June. The branch, which will provide a range of vertical-transportation (VT) services, will represent the company’s 29th location in Canada. Located in Toronto’s Scarborough neighborhood, the branch includes more than 90 employees. The office is situated near the company’s International Technical Services Centre, a provider of third-party technical support for TKE’s repair teams. Leading the new branch is District Manager Rob Wagner, whose 35-years-plus of industry experience includes roles as VT technician, manager and consultant. He also previously served as president of two independently owned elevator companies.

Image credit: TKE

To read the full transcript of today's podcast, visit: elevatorworld.com/news

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Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. Today’s podcast news podcast is sponsored by elevatorbooks.com: www.elevatorbooks.com

URBAN ELEVATOR SERVICE OPENS LOS ANGELES OFFICE

Urban Elevator Service, LLC, a privately owned, union elevator contracting firm headquartered in Cicero, Illinois, recently opened an office in Los Angeles. Initially focusing efforts on Southern California, the new office is part of Urban Elevator's expansion into the California market through subsidiary Urban Elevator Service CA. The new office is being led by Dan McVey and Pete Kasper, elevator-industry veterans with more than 50 years' combined industry experience. Welcoming McVey and Kasper to the team, Urban Elevator CEO René Hertsberg says his company is "excited about the opportunity to bring our brand of world-class service to California."

Image credit: by David Mark for Pixabay

To read the full transcript of today's podcast, visit: elevatorworld.com/news

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