Elevator World

OTIS INTRODUCES NEW GEN2 AT CANNES TRADE SHOW

Otis introduced its New Gen2® elevator during the MIPIM international real- estate trade show taking place through today in Cannes, France. Available in Europe and built upon Otis’ original energy- and space-saving Gen2 system, the New Gen2 provides enhanced connectivity via a mobile app, elevator-landing dashboard and in-cabin screen. The CabCreateTM tool offers a greater array of design combinations – more than 400,000 in all.

LML DIRECTORS LAUNCH NEW BUSINESS IN AUSTRALIA

Richie Lobert and Dean Morgan, directors at LML Lift Consultants of Melbourne, Australia, have launched a new business, Vertical Ambition. The endeavor provides classroom and onsite training for the vertical-transportation industry. Courses include basic technical training for facilities managers; advanced technical training for professionals holding formal trade qualifications, such as electricians entering the industry who require specialized lift and escalator training; and training for new hires and administration, account management, sales and technical management.

GROUNDBREAKING FOR NEW BALTIMORE LANDMARK

A groundbreaking was held on March 15 for a 44-story apartment tower overlooking the Baltimore Inner Harbor that would serve as a new landmark for the city, Baltimore Fishbowl reports. Scheduled to be complete in March 2018, the US$160-million building is taking shape on the former headquarters of McCormick at 414 Light Street. Questar Properties is the developer of the project, set to include nearly 400 apartments along with amenities, such as a rooftop park, and retail.

http://www.elevatorworld.com/industry-news/march-18-2016/

ATIS MAKES SIXTH ACQUISITION SINCE 2015

ATIS Elevator Inspections, a subsidiary of American Testing & Inspection Services in St. Louis, has acquired CNY Elevator Inspections, which covers central New York State. It marks the sixth acquisition for ATIS since 2015. CNY has been led by Keith Robison and Jim Cosbey since it was founded in 2004. Tim Sauer, president and CEO of ATIS, said the acquisition provides ATIS a foundation upon which to grow eastward, and welcomed Robison, Cosbey and their staff to the ATIS team.

PAIR OF 70-STORY TOWERS GREENLIGHTED IN MELBOURNE

Authorities have given the green light to a pair of 70-story mixed-use towers in the central business district of Melbourne, Australia, to be known as Queens Place, Channel 9 News reports. Located at 350 Queen Street, the development will contain 16,000 apartments, 8,000 m2 of retail/office space and a supermarket. It is among the largest projects ever for downtown Melbourne. 3L Alliance is the developer, and construction will be done in phases to minimize disruption to its bustling surroundings.

LUXURY APARTMENT BUILDING COMING ONLINE IN NYC

Rental residences in The Easton, a 39-story building at 205 East 92nd Street in the Upper East Side of New York City (NYC), are scheduled to come online in May, New York YIMBY reports. The building was designed by Handel Architects and boasts amenities aimed at families, such as music rehearsal rooms for older children and parents, and community space on the top floor. Luxury residences dubbed "Tower Residences" begin on the 30th floor.

http://www.elevatorworld.com/industry-news/march-17-2016/

ORONA ACQUIRES FRENCH FIRM TO EXPAND SALES

Hernani, Spain-based manufacturer Orona has acquired Sealift Cote d'Azur, what it calls "the leading lift player in the Maritime Alps market.” Based in St. Laurent du Var, the company will continue to operate in lift maintenance contracting, repairing, retrofitting and replacing. It holds over 2,000 maintenance contracts and is the ninth Orona acquisition in France, where it now manages more than 22,000 maintenance contracts that generate more than EUR95 million (US$105.6 million) in revenue.

WILSHIRE GRAND, WEST COAST’S TALLEST, TOPS OUT IN L.A.

Those working on the Wilshire Grand Center, which at 1,100 ft. will be the tallest building west of Chicago upon completion, celebrated a milestone on March 8 with a topping-out ceremony at the site on the corner of Figueroa Street and Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Times reports. Otis and Prysmian are among companies providing the building's vertical-transportation system, and Turner Construction is the general contractor. Owned by Korean Airlines, the Wilshire Grand will house 900 hotel rooms and 400,000 sq. ft. of office space, and is scheduled for completion exactly one year from the topping out, on March 8, 2017.

UT: LOW OIL PRICES SLOW ELEVATOR DEMAND IN MIDDLE EAST

United Technologies (UT), parent company of Otis, said low oil prices have put the brakes on demand for products such as elevators and climate controls in the Middle East, Reuters reports. A UT official said customers are delaying delivery of products they already ordered, including air-conditioning, fire and vertical-transportation systems. He called the issue “widespread,” and UT has scaled back its revenue projections as a result.

http://www.elevatorworld.com/industry-news/march-16-2016/

HITACHI WINS 23-ELEVATOR ORDER FOR HYDERABAD HOTEL

Hitachi Elevator Asia Pte. Ltd. has been awarded a contract to provide 23 elevators to ITC Kohinoor, a hotel in Hyderabad, India, expected to open in 2017. The order includes eight 3.5-mps elevators, outfitted with earthquake detection sensors. The energy-efficient system will include features that reduce wait times and efficiently dispatch units. It is Hitachi's first order for this type of high-speed elevator in southern India. The order also includes four service and 11 machine-room-less lifts.

IN MEMORIAM: GEORGE A. KAPPENHAGEN

George A. Kappenhagen of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, passed away on March 8 at the age of 80. A registered professional engineer with the State of Ohio, Kappenhagen spent many years in the elevator industry with Westinghouse, then Schindler. He held positions in his native Cleveland, as well as in Illinois and New Jersey. Before retirement, he became a code consultant for North America and was a member of numerous committees. He was also heavily involved in Canadian standards development and achieved 27 patents for both Westinghouse and Schindler. Services were held on March 14 in Stroudsburg.

US$13.8 MILLION NEEDED FOR WMATA STATION ELEVATORS

The state of Maryland wants Montgomery County to provide an additional US$13.8 million to outfit the Bethesda Metro station, part of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) system, with elevators connecting the station with the new Purple Line, The Washington Post reports. The cost of the elevator portion of the project, part of a US$5.6-billion state contract, has doubled. If the elevators are not provided, WMATA passengers would have to walk several blocks to make their connections. County officials are considering the request.

http://www.elevatorworld.com/industry-news/march-15-2016/

AFD ANNOUNCES PROMOTIONS, NEW HIRES

AFD Industries Inc. President Dick Vinciquerra announced two promotions and two new hires. Canton, Ohio-based AFD promoted Noah Murphy, who has been with the company since 2006, from Operations manager to vice president of Operations, and Nick Wengerd, who has been with the company since 2008, from sales associate to vice president of sales. New hires are Adam Ruther, a 2008 graduate of Loyola University in Chicago, who will serve as controller, and Brandyn Eckhart, a 2015 graduate of Malone University in Canton, who will serve as a sales associate.

STM TO EMBARK ON ESCALATOR OVERHAUL

This summer, Société de transport de Montréal (STM) plans to start replacing 24 escalators and repairing 39 others, CBC News reports. Some of the units are more than 30 years old and have exceeded their useful life. In addition, spare parts are harder to find. Work on escalators in stations on the Blue and Orange lines is set to start in the summer, with the entire project scheduled for completion by the end of 2018.

BLAIN HAS TOLL-FREE NUMBER FOR U.S.

Blain Hydraulics, a control-valve manufacturer for hydraulic elevators, has introduced a toll-free phone number for the U.S.: (888) 429-7874. Technical support offered at the number is intended to help technicians and Blain’s growing customer base in North America looking for help or assistance. Support is available from midnight until 3 p.m. Central Time.

http://www.elevatorworld.com/industry-news/march-14-2016/

EKLUND’S HIRES BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT REPRESENTATIVES

Eklund's has hired Geoff Connus and Mack Pence as business development representatives. Based in Chicago, Connus will cover the Midwest. Connus most recently worked in sales and project management for a Chicago-based elevator cab company and has 14 years' experience in the construction industry. Janel Durko will continue to serve existing Midwest clients as she transitions to an expanded role that includes national promotion of the StreamLine cab-design line. Pence has joined the Northwest team and will share the region with Jacqueline Beruete. Pence will play a key role in managing recently awarded major projects.

CEA NIGHT AT THE RACES FUNDRAISER COMING UP

The Chicago Elevator Association (CEA) is planning its second annual Night at the Races CEA scholarship fundraiser at Maywood Park Racetrack in Melrose Park, Illinois, on May 14 at 6 p.m. The cost is US$60 per person, and all proceeds go toward providing funds to high-school seniors pursuing further education. CEA offers a minimum of four US$500 scholarships to any daughter, son, stepchild or grandchild of a CEA member in good standing.

ZIMBABWE ELEVATORS AILING

Zimbabwe Public Service Minister Prisca Mupfumira included information about the country's elevators during a recent report, and the news was not good, Newsday reports. There are 1,387 registered elevators in Zimbabwe, and 707 are out of service. Inspections found that only 521, or 38%, comply with safety standards. In 2015, three major elevator accidents occurred with two fatalities. Mupfumira stated the condition of the country's elevators is a direct result of its struggling economy.

http://www.elevatorworld.com/industry-news/march-11-2016/

Image © Zaha Hadid Architects and CTBUH

CHINA TALL BUILDING AWARDS

The China International Exchange Committee for Tall Buildings (CITAB) and Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) have announced award recipients for the inaugural CITAB-CTBUH 2016 China Tall Building Awards. The Overall 2016 Best Tall Building China Award will be presented at the inaugural China Tall Building Awards Dinner & Ceremony in Shanghai Tower in Shanghai on May 13. Those in the running are "Excellence Award" recipients Asia Pacific Tower & Jinling Hotel, Nanjing; Bund SOHO and Hongkou SOHO (Hainan Road Lot 10), Shanghai; and Wangjing SOHO, Beijing. Many other recognitions have also been announced. For more information on or to register for the event, visit website.

BRITISH MOTOR SPECIALIST, FRENCH CONTROL SUPPLIER PARTNER

Motor specialist Lafert Electric Motors Ltd. of Cheshire, U.K., and Autinor, a lift-control system supplier based in Avelin, France, have formed a partnership. Combined, the partners have equipment in more than 55,000 projects throughout Europe and beyond. Lafert brings a permanent-magnet, brake motor compatible with Autinor's lift project management, installation, web-based remote monitoring and maintenance services. Abder Sadouk, Lafert's product manager for Gearless Machines, said the partnership provides "an ideal package for architects, buildings engineers and lift installers based on proven products and local backup."

TRIO OF MIXED-USE TOWERS IN CALGARY

Intergulf-Cidex has demolished an existing structure at 9th Avenue and 11th Street S.W. in the West End of Calgary, Canada, where it plans to build a trio of mixed-use towers standing 150, 125 and 100 m tall, Skyrise Cities reports. Designed by NORR Dubai (Yahya Jan), the buildings feature slanted roofs inspired by the Rocky Mountains. The development includes a podium with retail and offices and 575 residential units, each with its own covered balcony. Delivery of what is being called West Village Towers is tentatively scheduled for 2018.

http://www.elevatorworld.com/industry-news/march-10-2016/

CHANGES AT THE TOP AS WITTUR/SEMATIC DEAL CLOSES

Walter Rohregger has resigned as CEO, and Daniel Wiest has resigned as chief financial officer (CFO) of Wittur Group as its merger with Sematic is expected to close on April 1. Both will remain associated with Wittur in advisory roles. Frank Schulkes, former CFO and executive vice president of GE Healthcare, has been named CFO. Overseeing the CEO office until a replacement is found are Schulkes and Sergio Biglino, Wittur's executive vice president for Asia Pacific, Marketing and Key Accounts Management, along with a subset of other senior managers.

SCHINDLER TO CUT 120 JOBS AT SWISS FACTORY

Schindler confirmed to ELEVATOR WORLD that it plans to cut 120 jobs at its factory in Ebikon, Switzerland, citing strong growth in Asia and high production costs in Switzerland, according to a report in swissinfo.ch. The Ebikon factory employs approximately 200 people, and the cuts would become effective by the end of 2017. Some of them will be achieved through internal transfers and early retirement. The plan is to transition the Ebikon factory into a design center.

GLITTERY GUITAR WOULD HOUSE HOTEL ROOMS IN FLORIDA

Leaders of the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, have proposed a 34-story, guitar-shaped building housing 800 hotel rooms, The Architects Newspaper reported. Seminole officials believe the building would fuel international tourism. It would serve as an expansion to the resort's existing property, and bring the total number of hotel rooms to 1,273 and add a nightclub, five restaurants and a US$100,000 swimming pool. No timeframe was given.

http://www.elevatorworld.com/industry-news/march-9-2016/

Image Copyright © KONE Corporation

CHANGES IN KONE BOARD, ORGANIZATION

Noud Veeger is leaving KONE on April 2 to pursue other interests. Veeger served as executive vice president responsible for Central and North Europe since September 2014 and was employed by the company since 1999. The search for his successor is in progress. In the interim, Klaus Cawén, executive vice president for Mergers and Acquisitions and Strategic Alliances, Legal Affairs, and Russia will head KONE's Central and North Europe area. In addition, KONE's internal management structure for two of its geographical areas will change on April 1. Pierre Liautaud, who has served as executive vice president for West and South Europe, as well as Africa since 2011, will also assume responsibility for the Middle East area. Neeraj Sharma, executive vice president since 2014, will continue to lead the renewed Asia-Pacific area, which includes other markets in the Asia-Pacific region, except for the Greater China area.

DEVELOPMENT SET TO RESHAPE CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOOD

Riverline, a development on 13 acres along the Chicago River in Chicago that includes five residential towers ranging from 380 to 600 ft. tall, promises to reshape the South Loop neighborhood starting in 2016, The Architects Newspaper reports. CMK Cos. of Chicago and Lend Lease Group of Australia are joining forces on the project, designed by Perkins+Will and scheduled to be built in phases over 10 years. The first phase includes 19- and 29-story residential towers and a series of townhouses. In all, Riverline hopes to add more than 3,600 residential units to the market.

WOMAN DIES AFTER BEING TRAPPED IN ELEVATOR FOR A MONTH

A middle-aged woman in Xi’an, China, died as a result of being trapped in an apartment building elevator for more than a month, apparently from starvation, various news outlets, including the Los Angeles Times, report. The building’s managers and elevator maintenance company are being blamed, and the case has been classified as negligent homicide. Instead of performing a visual check, maintenance workers are said to have shouted to see if anyone were inside the unit after shutting it down due to a malfunction, then leaving on a month-long break for Chinese New Year.

http://www.elevatorworld.com/industry-news/march-8-2016/

DAMAC POISED TO EMBARK ON MASSIVE AYKON CITY

Damac Properties plans to break ground by summer 2016 on a six-tower, mixed-use development along Sheik Zayed Road in Dubai covering 4 million sq. ft., Khaleej Times reports. Aykon City is set to include the 80-story Aykon Hotel and Residences, 63-story Damac Maison serviced hotel residences, a 60-story apartment tower, a 65-story office tower and a pair of 30-story residential towers featuring private automobile lifts. Also planned are swimming pools, restaurants and clubhouses. The development is a collaboration with Meraas Holding and is scheduled for completion in 2021.

CHINESE CITY LAUNCHES ELEVATOR OVERSIGHT RULES

In light of an annual 12% increase in the number of elevators in the city, Xiamen, China, has launched its first set of rules for elevator oversight, What's On Xiamen reports. Xiamen has more than 30,000 elevators, approximately 22,900 of which are passenger units. The new rules require annual inspection, a thorough overhaul every five years for elevators older than 15 years, designation of a person in each district to oversee elevators with unclear ownership, implementation of a fundraising system to maintain elevators and requiring property owners to display proof of compliance in elevator cars.

ESCALATORS ON TAP AT SUBURBAN MUMBAI STATIONS

Escalators and foot overbridges (FOBs) are among improvements in store for suburban Mumbai railway stations, The Economic Times reports. At Thane, which has seen "unprecedented" passenger growth, funds have been set aside for 15 escalators and an FOB. A railway official said 12 locations in six stations will receive escalators, which are among upgrades that include automated ticket-vending machines and new security systems.

http://www.elevatorworld.com/industry-news/march-7-2016/