Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. This week’s news podcast is sponsored by elevatorbooks.com: http://www.elevatorbooks.com

NEW CEO, CFO AT GAL, HOLLISTER-WHITNEY AS GGC SALE CLOSES

Golden Gate Capital’s (GGC) v of a majority stake in GAL Manufacturing Corp., GAL Canada and Hollister-Whitney closed on June 26, and a new CEO and chief financial officer (CFO) for the three companies were introduced on June 27. Mark Boelhower is CEO, and Angelo Messina is CFO. Both have significant elevator-industry experience, Boelhouwer as former owner of Oracle Elevator, a GAL customer, and Messina as former CFO for Otis. GAL is confident the additions will be “very good for our customers, as well as our employees.”

HARMAR RECOGNIZED BY LOCAL CHARITY

Accessibility manufacturer Harmar Mobility, LLC of Sarasota, Florida, received the Hero of Freedom Award, its highest, at the Wheelchairs 4 Kids Heroes Appreciation Lunch on June 21. Harmar has supported the charity by significantly reducing the cost of providing wheelchair lifts for vehicles and installation services, consulting and fundraising for it since mid 2016. The nonprofit provides wheelchairs, in-home assistive technologies and other products and services not covered by insurance to qualifying families, and organizes events for them to attend. Madeline Robinson of Wheelchairs 4 Kids said Harmar's assistance had helped it reach 75 children so far.

NEW TALLEST RESIDENTIAL TOWER FOR ROTTERDAM’S CITY CENTER

Rotterdam, the Netherlands, is expected to soon have a new tallest residential tower in the form of the V8 Architects-designed, 150-m-tall Cooltoren, ArchDaily reports. Designed to complement "the post-war urban fabric of the district and embody Rotterdam's historical double-layered characteristics — the low rise and the skyline," Cooltoren will have a trio of crowns, each featuring balconies, which, at the middle and top, wrap around the façade. There will be a total of 50 floors with approximately 280 apartments in the Baan Quarter. Construction is expected to start sometime this year and be complete around 2019.

REVISED TWO-TOWER RESIDENTIAL SCHEME FOR BRISBANE

Developer Land and Homes Group has submitted a revised plan for a residential development in the Fortitude Valley suburb of Brisbane, Australia, consisting of 26- and 37-story towers containing nearly 500 apartments, landscaped public space, retail and amenities, brisbanedevelopment.com reports. The old plan had a series of at least five tightly spaced buildings. Designed by Rothelowman, the new design has an enhanced podium with greenery spread throughout, natural ventilation to promote sustainability and enhanced streetscaping, slated for a site at 44-100 Barry Parade.

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

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AUSTRALIA’S LARGEST-EVER LIFT MODERNIZATION IN MELBOURNE

Rialto Towers, an iconic 251-m-tall office property at 525 Collins Street in Melbourne, Australia, is undergoing a major upgrade that includes the largest lift modernization ever undertaken in Australia, according to Whitfield Rose Pty. Ltd., which handled design specifications. Otis is providing equipment for the elevator modernization, set to conclude in 2021. Existing technology in 38 elevators will be replaced with new gearless AC technology, and speed will be increased. Energy-monitoring equipment is included in Whitfield Rose's specifications to measure energy consumption before, during and after the project. Special lighting features with colors that change depending on lift position, season and weather will be added to elevators serving the 55th-floor restaurant. Woods Bagot designed the modernization, which will add more than 6,000 m2 of space.

 

42-STORY “VERTICAL VILLAGE” PART OF CHINA PLAN

A 42-story "vertical village" that will serve as regional headquarters for one of China's largest electronics companies, OPPO, is part of a major mixed-use development in Chengdu, China, designed by a team led by London's Gianni Botsford Architects, Architects' Journal reports. Vertical construction is set to start in September. Located in the Singapore-Sichuan high-tech innovation park, the 100,000-m2 development will also have a low-rise portion with retail, a hotel and spa. The tower's design is punctuated by voids with spiral stairs, rather than elevators, aimed at promoting interaction.

 

NYC’S SECOND-TALLEST, ONE VANDERBILT, MARKS MILESTONE

One Vanderbilt in New York City’s (NYC) East Midtown neighborhood marked a milestone on June 23 when its first, 20-T. steel column was installed, 6sqft reports. At 1,401 ft. tall, the office structure will become NYC’s second-tallest building. SL Green Realty and AECOM Tishman are helping deliver the Kohn Pedersen Fox-designed project, which brings more than 1 million sq. ft. of office space with column-free floors and floor-to-ceiling windows to a full square block bound by Madison and Vanderbilt avenues and East 43rd and East 42nd streets. The project includes approximately US$220 million in transit and infrastructure improvements, which are expected to be complete by 2020.

Image courtesy of zuhloo.de:

http://www.zuhloo.de/amazing-and-beautiful-sceneries-of-australia-25-pictures/amazing-and-beautiful-sceneries-of-australia-25/

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Bay State Elevator has announced that Courtney Gabis is joining the company’s sales department, where she will be responsible for developing elevator modernization opportunities and pursuing large maintenance accounts. Gabis joins Bay State from KONE, bringing a background that includes print and digital marketing campaigns. She also has extensive expertise related to local and state code compliance, Bay State said. Her 12-plus years of industry experience began at thyssenkrupp, where she designed solutions for customers looking to upgrade their vertical transportation capabilities.

 

Hong Kong Economic Journal reports objects believed to be baby-stroller wheels got stuck between the steps of an escalator linking Mass Transit Railway’s (MTR) Diamond Station and a shopping center in Hong Kong on June 26, resulting in flying debris that injured a 37-year-old woman’s foot. She was transported to a hospital, and an MTR spokesperson said the maintenance contractor has been notified of the issue. MTR urged passengers traveling with strollers to use lifts, rather than escalators, to prevent such malfunctions.

 

Curbed Chicago reports a 27-story tower with approximately 370 residential units and ground-level retail on the Chicago lakefront received a US$45-million construction permit in June, paving the way for its construction. Planned for many years on the former Cuneo Hospital site at the corner of Montrose and Clarendon, Eight Eleven Uptown is being developed by JDL and was designed by local firm Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture. The approximately US$125-million project is being funded in part by tax increment financing. The structure is also set to include parking for more than 270 vehicles.

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KINGS III ACQUIRED BY PRIVATE EQUITY FIRM

Kings III Emergency Communications of the Dallas area has been acquired by Rockbridge Growth Equity, a Detroit-based private equity firm. The deal closed on June 20. Rockbridge stated Kings III was an attractive opportunity due to its in-house design, engineering, manufacturing and emergency-dispatch departments. Kings III CEO Dennis Mason said the alliance "represents an exciting new chapter for Kings III, one best described as an unparalleled opportunity for accelerated growth." Kings III has approximately 23,000 customers across the U.S. and Canada, including those who use its systems in elevators.

TALLEST BUILDING WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI OPENS

Amid a light show and parties, developers of the Wilshire Grand Center in Los Angeles celebrated the opening of the tallest building west of the Mississippi River on June 23, U.S. News and World Reports says. The 1,100-ft.-tall, 73-story building bests the old record-holder — the nearby US Bank Tower — by more than 80 ft. With its glass-and-steel crown designed to represent Yosemite's Half Dome, Wilshire Grand is the first modern skyscraper built in L.A. that does not have a flat roof. Instead, Wilshire Grand has a special landing platform and a dedicated elevator for firefighters. The building houses an 889-room InterContinental Hotel, 350,000 sq. ft. of office space, retail outlets and several restaurants. It is one of several new skyscrapers opening in or planned for L.A., which has witnessed a downtown renaissance in recent years.

RESIDENTS MOVE IN TO DOWNTOWN CHICAGO TOWER

Optima Signature, a 57-story residential tower at 220 East Illinois Street in the Streeterville neighborhood of downtown Chicago, is welcoming its first residents, Curbed Chicago reports. It joins its sibling, Optima Chicago Center. Optima Signature houses nearly 300 units and is approximately 20% leased. Despite stiff competition in Chicago's residential rental market, developer/architect David Hovey is confident Optima Signature's location near Michigan Avenue and amenities, such as a gym and indoor and outdoor pools, will make the property appealing.

Image courtesy of usnews.com:

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/california/articles/2017-06-23/tallest-building-west-of-mississippi-river-opens-in-la

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EFESME ELECTS NEW SECRETARY GENERAL, APPOINTS TREASURER

The European Federation for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (EFESME) elected Luciano Faletto secretary general and appointed Massimo Bezzi treasurer during its general assembly in Brussels on June 15. A lift-industry expert familiar with the standardization process, Faletto has represented EFESME since its inception through participation in working groups and technical committees at the European and international levels. Bezzi is president of ICM Lift Components, headquartered in Italy, as well as a member of Elevator World, Inc.'s board of directors. Bezzi serves as vice president of EFESME, which thanked outgoing Secretary General Giuseppe Iotti and Treasurer Bruno Venditti for their service.

NEW RESIDENTIAL TOWER FOR NYC’S HUDSON YARDS

Renderings of the second residential tower in the New York City (NYC) mixed-use development Hudson Yards, the 33-story One Hudson Yards, have been revealed, showing a red-stone-and-glass façade rising out of a podium, ArchDaily reports. The design is by Davis Brody Bond with interiors by Andre Kikoski Architect. The structure is set to rise next to Hudson Yards’ striking centerpiece, Vessel by Heatherwick Studios. It follows in the steps of residential building 15 Hudson Yards and will house approximately 180 apartments and an array of amenities, including an 82-ft.-long pool, bowling alley and children's play room.

IAEC-NY FUNDRAISER ANNOUNCED

The International Association of Elevator Consultants New York Region (IAEC-NY) will be hosting its 24th annual fundraiser on the rooftop of the Dream Downtown, located at 355 West 16th Street, New York, New York 10011, on August 24. Proceeds benefit the Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation. Reservations are US$360 per person, a slight increase over the previous iteration that enables an expanded menu. For more information or to RSVP, contact IAEC.

Image courtesy of archdaily.com:

http://www.archdaily.com/873075/renderings-revealed-for-new-residential-building-at-hudson-yards-in-new-york

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THYSSENKRUPP DEBUTS MULTI AT NEW GERMAN TEST TOWER

thyssenkrupp hosted a live demonstration of MULTI, the world’s first ropeless, horizontal/vertical elevator system, at its new 246-m-tall test tower in Rottweil, Germany, on June 22. Approximately 200 guests, including developers, architects and engineers, attended. The company also announced its first MULTI customer, OVG Real Estate, which plans to install several of the systems in its “new Berlin landmark,” East Side Tower. Among those in attendance were ELEVATOR WORLD Managing Editor Angela C. Baldwin and Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat Executive Director Antony Wood. Likening it to a “metro system inside a building,” MULTI, according to thyssenkrupp, results in reduced energy consumption, space savings and faster, more efficient travel within buildings.

 

GERMAN FIRM EXPANDS ELEVATOR BELT PRODUCTION

German rubber and plastics engineering company ContiTech A.G. expanded production of polyurethane elevator belts at its plant in Dannenberg, Germany, to meet growing demand, RubberNews.com reports. ContiTech employs approximately 360 people at Dannenberg, where it produces components and systems for the automotive and elevator industries. The company claims its three-stage extrusion process to produce its belts, which replace conventional steel cables, is unique in the world. ContiTech said it intends to continue to focus on R&D as it grows its elevator-belt business.

 

LU-VE ENTERS MILAN STOCK MARKET

Fabio Liberali, chief communications officer of LU-VE Group, announced the company is now listed on the Milan stock market at h8.30, Palazzo Mezzanotte, Piazza Affari, Milan, Italy. Founder and President Iginio Liberali said “LU-VE is a lucky venture" and that he has planned it since 1986, adding that, since then, LU-VE evolved into a “pocket multinational company.” He said, “The move to the MTA market will be a further boost to provide a higher added value to customers using our machines and components.” The Italian group is in the field of the production of ventilated appliances and heat exchangers for the refrigeration, air-conditioning and cooling industrial process.

Image courtesy of thyssenkrupp:

http://testturm.thyssenkrupp-elevator.com/en/

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FUJILIFT WINS ORDER FOR NEW LEBANON MALL

Fujilift tells ELEVATOR WORLD it has won an order for 10 elevators and 28 escalators for Centerfalls in Lebanon, "the first and biggest designer outlet resort in Lebanon," offering designer-outlet shops, restaurants and services. It is being developed by SIDCOM and Design International, and was designed by Alain R. Stephan Architects. Centerfalls is scheduled for delivery in May 2018. The news comes on the heels of Fujilift's announcement that it had opened a factory in Mkalles, Lebanon, with an annual capacity of 1,000 units.

ATLANTA’S TALLEST RESIDENTIAL BUILDING ON TAP

What promises to be Atlanta's tallest residential tower, a 53-story glass structure designed by Perkins+Will, is planned as part of the 4.5-acre, mixed-use development Opus Place in Midtown, the Robb Report reports. Construction on No. 2 Opus Place is expected to start in the fall and wrap up by 2020. It will contain approximately 220 residences with floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the Atlanta skyline and surrounding park. New York-based Champalimaud designed the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design-certified interiors.

INSPECTOR HURT WHEN LEG GETS CAUGHT IN ESCALATOR

A project inspector was injured after he slipped and got stuck in an escalator on June 17 at the Chickpet Metro station in Bengaluru, India, The New Indian Express reported. The man, 32, was part of a crew from a private company working on the escalator. He and another inspector were riding the escalator down with its foot plates open during a test for technical glitches when he slipped. His right leg got caught in the escalator and was fractured as it continued to move. Other workers at the scene shut off the power supply and stopped the escalator, and the man was taken to a hospital for treatment. Another inspector said the workers had taken precautionary measures, and that the man slipped despite holding onto a support bar.

42-STORY GARMENT DISTRICT HOTEL ALMOST FINISHED IN NYC

Hotel Noy, a 42-story, 474-ft.-tall structure at 310 West 40th Street in the Garment District of New York City (NYC), is set to join approximately 10 high-rise hotels across from the Port Authority Bus Terminal close to Times Square, with its exterior nearly complete, New York YIMBY reports. The developer is Helm Management Inc., with Nobutaka Ashihara Associates as design architect. Hotel Noy will rise above five 32- to 35-story neighbors that meet the sidewalk with low-rise podiums. In NYC, it will be one of the tallest hotels and become part of what is the city’s highest concentration of hotels on a single block.

Image courtesy of robbreport.com:

http://robbreport.com/shelter/homes-for-sale/residences-tower-over-atlantas-hottest-district-2717342/

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OTIS CHOSEN FOR SRI LANKAN TOWER

The Pearl Group of Hotels has unveiled its newest project, the Pearl Grand Tower Hotel. It will be in the center of Colombo, Sri Lanka's commercial district and surrounded by many other luxury developments. Aitken Spence Elevators, exclusive distributor for Otis elevators in Sri Lanka, will install and maintain 10 Otis high-speed elevators, serving up to 42 floors at up to 3.5 mps. Included are Otis SkyRise™ high-rise, high-speed gearless traction elevators that conserve energy, and the company's CompassPlus™ destination-management system, which uses interactive keypads and destination input.

SCS PROMOTES GM, VP

SCS Elevator Products Inc. of Red Wing, Minnesota, has promoted two employees. David Muelken has become general manager, in which role he will oversee strategic planning, ensure development of programs to pursue targeted goals and objectives, and direct management of key functions of members of management. SCS said Muelken became familiar with all areas of the business during his prior position as operation manager. Mark Munson was promoted to vice president of sales. He will manage customer accounts and expand and secure new business. Munson will also develop new products with the support of other employees. He previously held the position of sales manager.

RENDERINGS RELEASED FOR CHICAGO CONDO TOWER

ArchDaily reports that renderings have been revealed for 1000M, a new, 832-ft.-tall skyscraper planned for Chicago’s historic Michigan Avenue. The 74-story luxury condominium tower will feature a blue-green glass curtain wall subdivided with metal horizontal spandrel panels and a metallic mesh crown hovering over a rooftop terrace. Construction is expected to begin in 2018, with some site preparation work already in progress. The building is scheduled to open in 2021. 1000M is being designed by JAHN, a practice helmed by prolific Chicago architect Helmut Jahn.

Image courtesy of archdaily.com:

http://www.archdaily.com/873821/helmut-jahn-designed-skyscraper-to-rise-on-chicagos-historic-michigan-avenue

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OTIS ELECTRIC SUPPLYING 230 UNITS TO CHINESE METRO

Otis continues its strong relationship with Wuhan Metro in China with Otis Electric Elevator Co., Ltd. winning a contract to supply a total of 230 elevators and escalators to lines 11 and 21, as well as service. This brings the total of Otis units on the Wuhan Metro to more than 1,000. Line 11 is the 11th project for which Wuhan Metro selected Otis, which began working with the system in 2004. Otis elevators and escalators are now used on lines 2, 3, 4 and 7, as well as the Airport Line. Both expected to open in 2018, Line 11 is projected to be the longest in the system, and Line 21, also known as the Yangluo Line, will span 35 km to connect Hubei Province's main port and the Yangluo Economic Development Zone.

NYC SKYSCRAPER TOPS OUT IN QUEENS

A 54-story, 598-ft.-tall residential skyscraper at 43-22 Queens Street in the Long Island City neighborhood of Queens, New York City (NYC), has topped out, New York YIMBY reports. The structure, for which TEI Group is providing the vertical transportation, is slated for completion by the end of the year. Rockrose Development is the developer, and SLCE is the architect. The building, which incorporates the six-story former Eagle Electric Manufacturing facility into its base, will have 790 rental units with amenities.

DOWNTOWN DALLAS GETTING TALLEST BUILDING SINCE 1987

A 45-story, US$150-million apartment tower, the tallest building to be built in Dallas since 1987, is planned next to I.M. Pei's iconic Fountain Place office building on the north side of downtown Dallas, The Dallas Morning News reports. Designed by Austin, Texas-based Page Southerland Page Inc. to complement Fountain Place with angled cutaways and shimmery green glass, the approximately 370-unit building is being developed by Chicago-based Amli Residential, which is no stranger to the area. Construction is expected to take approximately two years.

Image courtesy of The Dallas Morning News:

https://www.dallasnews.com/business/real-estate/2017/06/01/striking-new-downtown-dallas-skyscraper-will-tallest-decades

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COLUMBIA HIRES MANUFACTURING DIRECTOR

Jeff Linot has been appointed as Columbia Elevator Products Co., Inc.'s director of manufacturing, a newly created position. He joins Columbia with decades of experience in industrial engineering, most recently serving as the engineering/tooling manager for Harper Trucks. In his new position, he will be working closely with newly appointed Chief Operations Officer Kenneth D. Hendrickson, identifying areas for improvement in processing efficiencies, capacity, energy and environmental systems. Linot says he will focus his efforts on “achieving production targets, including output and lead time, maintaining quality, improving efficiencies and eliminating waste, while driving safety in all manufacturing and operations processes.”

R&D TAX CREDIT FOR ELEVATOR 3D PRINTING

OEMs that utilize 3D printing would be wise to take advantage of an R&D tax credit in the U.S. of up to 13% of eligible spending, 3DPrintBoard.com reports. Embraced by companies like Otis and France-based Sodimas 3D printing has been used in prototype development and training, and has been shown to reduce production costs and turnaround time. The R&D Tax Credit was enacted in 1981 and made permanent by President Obama in 2015. Businesses can use it to offset income and payroll taxes.

NORTHAMPTON SYMPOSIUM ADDS WORKSHOP

A workshop has been added to the second day (September 21) of the Seventh Symposium on Lift and Escalator Technologies since details were originally announced (ELENET 680). “Systems Engineering Approach Bridging the Gap Between the Theory and Industrial Practice” led by Stefan Kaczmarczyk and Rory Smith will introduce the University of Northampton’s MSc Lift Engineering program and how it addresses the issues of lift technology at a deeper level, reflecting on the issues underpinning national and international codes and standards. Those registering by June 30 will receive an early booking discount of GBP30 (US$38). For hotel reservations at the Highgate House, call (44) 0-1604-731731 and quote “event reference 173715.”

Image courtesy of KONE:

https://www.kone.us/Images/kone-design-collection-book_tcm25-18776.pdf

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