Elevator World

KONE TO OUTFIT METRO STATIONS, TOWERS IN CHINA

KONE continues to win significant work in China, including contracts to provide 129 units to the expansion of the metro in Zhengzhou, 111 elevators to Nanjing Kingfine Center in Nanjing and 38 elevators to the Diwang International Fortune Center Building Complex in Liuzhou. Involving 10 stations, the metro contract consists of 109 TransitMasterTM escalators and 20 Monospace® elevators. Kingfine Center consists of a 168-m-tall office building, four residential towers and a retail podium, for which KONE is supplying 28 Minispace® and 23 Monospace elevators, along with 60 TravelMasterTM escalators. That project is scheduled for completion in early 2017. For the Liuzhou development, scheduled for completion at the end of 2016 and consisting of a trio of residential towers, KONE is supplying two MonoSpace and 36 MiniSpace elevators.

DIETZ PROMOTED BY LERCH BATES IN L.A./LAS VEGAS MARKET

Lerch Bates Inc. has promoted Ken Dietz from project to regional manager in the Los Angeles/Las Vegas market. Dietz was hired at the new local office in 2013, and prior to that, had handled several significant projects in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. He has nearly 16 years of experience, including a stint with Otis. He holds a BA from Norwich University in Vermont and a JD from Western New England University.

TWO-TOWER DALLAS DEVELOPMENT LOOKS AT 2017 COMPLETION

Ground was scheduled to be broken on January 15 on an Uptown Dallas project consisting of a 34-story apartment tower and 20-story office tower in which PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) will be the anchor tenant, The Dallas Morning News reports. The HKS-designed, US$250-million development is scheduled for completion in late 2017 and entails PwC moving from its current downtown location. It is being developed by Trammell Crow Co. in partnership with Metropolitan Life Insurance and includes approximately 250 apartments, 500,000 sq. ft. of office space and retail overlooking Klyde Warren Park.

ACCIDENT RENEWS SUPPORT FOR NY ELEVATOR SAFETY ACT

An accident on New Year’s Eve 2015 in which a 25-year-old man lost his life as a result of trying to exit a stalled elevator cab in a New York (NY) City apartment building has renewed support for the Elevator Safety Act, an NY law first proposed in 2011-2012 that would require licenses and training for elevator mechanics and for a state body to oversee safety, DNAinfo New York reports. The bill, sponsored by state Sen. John J. Bonacic, has strong support among elected officials and safety activists but has never been brought to the floor for a vote. Proponents believe it could help prevent accidents such as the one that occurred on New Year’s Eve.

http://www.elevatorworld.com/industry-news/january-12-2015

STONE INDIA/SHENYANG BRILLIANT BEGIN JV

Stone India Ltd., a major supplier of railway brake systems, current collection systems and other engineering products for Indian Railways, has entered into a joint-venture (JV) agreement with Shenyang Brilliant Elevator Group Co., Ltd. of China. The 50/50 JV sets up a foray into the growing elevator and escalator market of India. Part of the business-diversification strategy of Stone India, it is to help introduce advanced, high-speed technology for elevators and escalators best suitable for high-rise buildings and other commercial applications in India -- particularly in the eastern portion of it, where Stone India is headquartered.

SIX BROOKLYN RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS PROGRESSING

Six residential towers in the Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park development in the Prospect Park neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, are progressing nicely, Brooklyn Daily Eagle reports. The buildings are situated on 22 acres that include the Barclays Center and run the gamut from "affordable" rentals to multimillion-dollar, for-sale units. Primarily being developed by Greenland Forest City Partners, they include 461 Dean Street, the world's tallest modular building, designed by SHoP Architects and housing approximately 360 market-rate and "affordable" rentals within 32 stories and 615 Dean Street, a 26-story, Kohn Pedersen Fox-designed building with 245 "affordable" apartments. In all, the six towers will bring more than 1,800 units online.

CTA TACKLES 20-YEAR ADA ACCESSIBILITY PLAN

New, replaced or repaired station elevators and escalators are part of Chicago Transit Authority’s (CTA) new 20-year plan, the CTA Strategic Accessibility Program, to make its stations 100% accessible and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant, ABC 7 Eyewitness News reports. Noting ADA compliance has improved under Mayor Rahm Emanuel from 66-70%, CTA observes that 46 of its 146 stations still lack elevators. Achieving 100% compliance will be time consuming, CTA notes, due to funding and engineering challenges to equip stations that are, in some cases, close to 100 years old.

NOT THE FIRST TIME NEW YORK MINE ELEVATOR HAS STALLED

A salt mine elevator in Lansing, New York, where 17 workers were trapped 900 ft. underground for 45 min. on January 6 has stalled before, although no one has ever been injured as a result, USA Today reports. The elevator, one of three on site, stopped when no one was aboard on January 2. There have been 21 problems reported with the hoists since 2013. Miners have been evacuated at least 10 times since 2013 due to stoppages that were caused by issues ranging from a loose screw to an out-of-line beam, which early reports indicate was the cause of the most recent incident. Authorities are currently investigating.

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

OTIS SELECTED FOR TEXAS CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL EXPANSION

Otis has been hired by W.S. Bellows Construction Corp. to provide 18 elevators for a 19-story, 640,000-sq.-ft. expansion being built atop the existing six-story Texas Children's Hospital in Houston. Continuing a relationship that includes maintaining the hospital's approximately 100 elevators, the contract consists of six SkyRiseTM, six Gen2®, three gearless service, two gearless patient and one trauma elevator with helipad access. Work is underway, and the project is scheduled for completion by 2018.

LOY IS KONE’S NEW MALAYSIA MANAGING DIRECTOR

KONE has appointed Edward Loy managing director of Malaysia. He will replace Lim Chong Hoe, who is supporting Loy during the transition until Hoe’s retirement on January 31. Loy has a wealth of management experience internationally, coming from Saint-Gobain Construction Products, where he held various senior management positions for over 10 years, including regional managing director for Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. Loy holds a degree in Commerce (Economics and Accounting) from The Australia National University. KONE Executive Vice President of Asia Pacific and Middle East Neeraj Sharma said Loy's experience promises to bring a new dimension to KONE's growth strategy in the area.

CHINESE ELEVATOR MANUFACTURERS VOW SAFER PRODUCTS

Ten major elevator manufacturers in China are vowing to produce safer products as part of a campaign the country's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine launched on December 6, 2015, China Radio International reports. The campaign was prompted by a rash of elevator accidents in 2015 that included 46 fatalities. According to the administration, problems stem from overcrowding, using units past their prime, failure to maintain equipment and cutthroat competition in what is still the world's largest market.

EGYPTIAN GOVERNMENT TAKES REINS ON “NEW CAIRO”

After a plan to partner with a real-estate mogul from the U.A.E. fell apart, the Egyptian government has taken the reins on building the first phase of a new capital city to ease crowding in Cairo, Reuters reports. The development is set to contain multiple skyscrapers and, ultimately, an airport as big as London's Heathrow and a building as tall as the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The government is courting a mix of public and private investors, who would invest first and reap profits from the sale of the properties later. Government officials report infrastructure is already taking shape on approximately 10,000 of what is hoped to be 190,000 acres.

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

KONE STRENGTHENS D.C. PRESENCE WITH ACQUISITION

KONE has strengthened its position in the Washington, D.C., area with the acquisition of Capital Elevator Services, a service, repair and modernization business headquartered in Waldorf, Maryland. Capital's customers are located in greater Washington, D.C., northern Virginia and suburban Maryland. Larry Wash, executive vice president of KONE Americas, called the region a key market for KONE and said the company is excited about welcoming Capital's employees and customers.

38 ESCALATORS EACH FOR INDIA’S WESTERN, CENTRAL RAILWAYS

In an effort to reduce fatalities resulting from people crossing rail tracks in India and ease traffic flow, Western and Central Railways are installing 38 escalators each that will provide access to foot overbridges at more than 30 stations, the Mumbai Mirror reports. More than 3,000 people died in Mumbai last year trying to cross the tracks. Each new unit will be 1 m wide, climb 6 m and have a capacity of 9,000 passengers per hour. Western Railway expects eight of its new units to be operational within two months and is in the process of purchasing another 10. Central Railway expects five of its new escalators to be operational by June, with the remainder going into service by the start of the next fiscal year.

WARSAW SPIRE APPROACHING FINISH LINE

Construction of the 220-m-tall, 100,000-m2 Warsaw Spire office tower in the city's Wola district is hastening its pace, with assembly of its glass façade and an expected completion date in May 2016, The Warsaw Voice reports. It will be the largest office complex in terms of area in Poland and the country's tallest building. It was designed by Belgian firm Jaspers Eyers Architects and is situated on nearly 1.5 ha of public space. Schindler provided the vertical-transportation system.

EW MIDDLE EAST TO DEBUT AT LIFTECH EXPO IN CAIRO

Copies of Elevator World, Inc.’s newest magazine, ELEVATOR WORLD Middle East, will be available at the third iteration of LIFTECH Expo, planned for January 21-24 at the Cairo International Exhibition & Convention Centre (CIECC). Organizers describe the event as a great opportunity to network, discover the latest technologies, learn about advertising opportunities and connect with new suppliers, all under one roof. The 58,000-m2 CIECC is among the most modern exhibition halls in North Africa.

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

WRETMAN TO LEAD ALIMAK’S COMMUNICATIONS & IR

Alimak Group has chosen Sofia Wretman to lead its Communications & Investor Relations (IR) divisions, effective February 1. She has more than 10 years of experience, including serving as senior consultant at one of the largest communications agencies in Sweden, Hallvarsson & Halvarsson. She will replace John Womack, who has been holding the position on an interim basis since March 2015. Alimak CEO Tormod Gunleiksrud described hiring Wretman as "a natural step in enhancing communication with all our stakeholders, especially following our initial public offering on Nasdaq Stockholm last year."

GMV INDIA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HONORED

GMV India Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of GMV SpA, was recently honored by the Indian Society for Industry & Intellectual Development with the Rashtriya Udyog Sanmaan Puruskaar with a Gold Medal for the company's rapid growth and subsequent contributions to the economy. GMV India's Executive Director Santosh R.S. was also honored by the society with the Young Entrepreneur with Gold Medal award. The presentations took place at the Vithal Bhai Patel House in New Delhi on December 16, 2015, and were attended by numerous heads of state.

NEW “COMMERCIAL BAY” FOR AUCKLAND

A 39-story office tower is the centerpiece of an Auckland, New Zealand, waterfront development, which will be named Commercial Bay for the original trading hub located there, Radio New Zealand reports. Developer Precinct Properties reports the office portion, PWC Tower, is more than 50% preleased, and the development is set to include approximately 100 shops. PWC Tower is scheduled for completion in mid 2019, and the stores are expected to open by October 2018. The tower will be the tallest in the central business district, and the project is the most expensive retail development the city has ever seen.

http://www.elevatorworld.com/industry-news/january-6-2016

FATAL ELEVATOR ACCIDENTS AT SEA, IN NYC

Authorities are investigating a series of fatal elevator accidents that occurred in the waning days of 2015, one aboard a Caribbean cruise ship and two in New York City (NYC) apartment buildings. On December 27, a cruise ship employee died while working on an elevator on a ship, various news agencies, including CNN, report. The ship was returning to Miami from a three-day Caribbean cruise. In NYC, an 81-year-old tenant of a NYC Housing Authority (NYCHA) building succumbed to injuries he sustained on Christmas Day when he tripped and fell in a unit that was not level with the floor, NY Daily News reports. The NYCHA is now considering installing suspension-rope arresters in its more than 3,000 elevators to help prevent such accidents. Also in NYC, a 25-year-old man lost his life as a result of becoming crushed by an apartment building elevator that starting moving after being stuck, aol.com reports.

CONSTRUCTION FORGES AHEAD ON MILWAUKEE OFFICE TOWER

Construction is forging ahead on Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co.'s US$450-million, 32-story office tower in downtown Milwaukee, BizTimes reports. Northwestern Mutual projects the building's atrium to be wrapped in glass in early 2016, and the structure to top out during the first half of the year. The 1.1-million-sq.-ft. building is scheduled to open in 2017. Approximately 500 workers are currently on site, and that is expected to ramp up as completion nears.

QUEENS EYED FOR APARTMENT HIGH RISE

Artimus Construction is eyeing 147-20 94th Avenue in the Jamaica section of Queens, New York City, for a 26-story apartment building with ground-level parking, New York YIMBY reports. The primarily industrial area has been coming to life with several hotels, such as a 27-story Hilton Garden Inn, in the works. Jamaica boasts easy access to Manhattan via trains and to John F. Kennedy International Airport via AirTran. Designed by GF55 Partners, the building would include approximately 380 residential rental units, 20% of which would be “affordable.”

http://www.elevatorworld.com/industry-news/january-5-2016

HUEBNER NAMED LERCH BATES REGIONAL MANAGER

Lerch Bates Inc. has named Doug Huebner regional manager for Arizona and New Mexico. His duties include vertical-transportation analysis and design, contract preparation, maintenance evaluation and due-diligence execution. Huebner previously was a strategic account executive and general manager at Otis and a branch manager at KONE. Notable projects in which he was involved include Chase Tower Chicago, Intel's national facilities and Renaissance Square in Phoenix. He holds a BS in Business Management from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and is a member of the Buildings Owners and Managers Association.

COLOMBIA VERTICAL-TRANSPORTATION MARKET FOCUS OF REPORT

A report available from Researchmoz examines the vertical-transportation market in Colombia from 2015-2019. During that time, the market is expected to grow at a modest-yet-steady rate of nearly 5%, fueled by factors such as increased construction in response to a rise in tourism. More than 80% of the Colombia market is handled by big OEMs such as KONE and Schindler, with smaller vendors primarily handling service and maintenance. The report also looks at trends such as the rising popularity of machine-room-less elevators.

ECNY EDUCATIONAL SEMINAR FOR MEMBERS COMING UP

The Elevator Conference of New York (ECNY) is planning an educational seminar, “Code Update for ASME A17.1 Safety Code for Elevators & Escalators,” for members only that fulfills annual QEI certification requirements. A total of 10 hr. for 1.0 CEU will be provided during two one-day seminars offered in a joint venture with NAESA International on March 15 and 16 from 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. at Bruno’s on the Boulevard, 88-25 Astoria Boulevard, Jackson Heights, New York 11369. Coffee breaks and lunch are included in the registration fee of US$250 per person, and the deadline to register is February 18. For more information email: [email protected].

CHILD INJURES ARM IN ESCALATOR ACCIDENT IN COLOMBIA

A two-year-old boy’s arm sustained cuts as a result of it becoming stuck in an escalator tread at a mall in Barranquilla, Colombia, on December 26, the Latin Correspondent reports. Although local authorities stated the mall’s escalators are not up to legal safety standards, mall officials said the accident was due to negligence on the part of the boy’s father. Video footage shows the man losing his balance while carrying his son on his shoulders, causing the boy to fall.

http://www.elevatorworld.com/industry-news/december-31-2015/

Check out the Editor's Overview for the January 2016 issue.

TEI GROUP TO INSTALL 12 UNITS IN BROOKLYN

TEI Group has been awarded a contract with TF Cornerstone to install six gearless traction and five hydraulic elevators, and one materials lift at the new TF Cornerstone apartment building being built in Brooklyn, New York. TF Cornerstone is constructing the 25-story complex at the downtown site. It will contain 714 units, 143 of which will be considered "affordable." The project will total 599,375 sq. ft., including 546,480 sq. ft. of residential space and 30,000 sq. ft. of retail space on the lower level.

EXTERIOR ELEVATORS TO DISTINGUISH PARIS TOWER

Exterior elevators are among features that will distinguish the 140-m-tall, 32-story Trinity Tower in the La Défense business district of Paris, The Construction Index reports. Scheduled for completion in late 2018 and expected to start construction in early 2016, the building was designed by Paris firm Crochon Brullmann + Associés for client Unibail-Rodamco. Comprised of a pair of offset blades, it will have gardens and balconies on every level and aim to achieve the highest environmental certifications. The main challenge of construction, being overseen by Vinci Construction France, will be building in such a densely populated area overlooking multiple lanes of expressway traffic.

SAN DIEGO IN MIDST OF CONSTRUCTION BOOM

Downtown San Diego is undergoing a construction boom, with more than 60 projects valued at US$6.4 billion under construction, approved or in the early planning stages through 2020, The San Diego Union-Tribune reports. Since 2009, residential development has been a major driver, with 1,248 units completed in 2015 and an additional 8,106 in the works. Urban-focused retailers have their eye on San Diego for expansion. Office development has been comparatively slow, but some developers believe there will be demand for higher-end office space, and they plan to deliver it.

HADID-DESIGNED SKYSCRAPER PITCHED IN MELBOURNE

Architecture's "queen of the curve" Zaha Hadid is proposing a 54-story, mixed-use skyscraper in the Central Business District of Melbourne, Australia, that would include more than 400 apartments, 118,000 sq. ft. of retail and 60,000 sq. ft. of office space, the Architect's Newspaper reported. Its sculptural, tapered design would create open space at the bottom that would be used for a public, ground-level plaza. A connection between Collins Street, where the tower would be located, and Francis Street, is also planned. Developers hope such public improvements will lead to the project's approval, despite it pushing size and height limits.

http://www.elevatorworld.com/industry-news/december-30-2015/

ALIMAK WINS ORDERS IN ALGERIA, SAUDI ARABIA, TURKEY

During the first and second quarters of 2016, Alimak Group plans to deliver construction hoists and work platforms to clients in Algeria, Saudi Arabia and Turkey totaling approximately US$1.18 million. The new orders are an indication of Alimak's increased focus on emerging markets. With 22 sales offices and more than 60 distributors worldwide, Alimak opened new locations in Algeria, Kenya and Lebanon in 2015, and reports it is seeing increased demand in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and parts of South America.

KONE SELECTED FOR SINGAPORE MODERNIZATION PROJECT

KONE has been selected to modernize the vertical-transportation system of the 28-story GSH Plaza in Singapore's Central Business District, a mixed-use building that features more than 250 offices. Eleven elevators are being outfitted with efficient EcoDisc® hoisting machines, regenerative drives, new doors and signal systems. Post-modernization, the units will travel at speeds of up to 6 mps. In addition, two S MonoSpace® elevators and two TravelMasterTM 110 escalators are being installed. The improvements promise to help position the property as Class A office space.

NEW VERTICAL TRANSPORTATION FOR INDIAN RAILWAY DIVISION

Indian Railway managers have awarded contracts for 17 additional escalators and are finalizing contracts for 11 lifts to be installed at stations in Thiruvananthapuram on the southern tip of India, The New Indian Express reports. The first new escalator is expected to go into operation at the Alappuzha Station in February. There are now 11 escalators and three lifts within the division, and the new units are among efforts to improve the travel experience for passengers.

WMATA REPLACING THREE STATION-ENTRANCE ESCALATORS

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) announced elevator contractor KONE is scheduled to start an approximately two-year project to replace a trio of 20-year-old entrance escalators at the Waterfront Station on January 18. Part of ongoing work KONE is performing to replace more than 120 of the system’s 500-plus escalators by 2020, the Waterfront escalators will be replaced one at a time in order to minimize passenger inconvenience, and work will primarily take place at night.

http://www.elevatorworld.com/industry-news/industry-news-for-december-28-2015/