Elevator World

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

NAEC SHARES POSITIVE NEWS FROM EVENT HOST CITY NEW ORLEANS

The National Association of Elevator Contractors (NAEC) shared positive news from New Orleans, host city of the 2021 NAEC Convention & Exposition on October 4-7 and where Hurricane Ida struck on August 29. Event venue the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center did not sustain significant damage and has electricity; the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport is operational, with full flights expected to resume on September 5; and most of the city expects to have power fully restored by the end of next week. Regarding COVID-19, NAEC continues to adhere closely to national, state and city mandates. The association relayed a message from New Orleans & Co. President Stephen Perry, who said the city’s flood-protection system designed after Hurricane Katrina worked as intended, with homes and businesses not taking on water. He continued: “There was no need for rescue operations in New Orleans. Media reports that Ida was New Orleans’ ‘second Katrina’ are not accurate. We are extremely grateful for the investment made in our system by the nation. It worked. Our hearts go out to people in surrounding parishes who sustained much more significant damage.” Expo attendees will have the opportunity to make donations to those impacted by the storm to “help show their appreciation for the hospitality already shown to us by the wonderful people in New Orleans.” NAEC said it would also like to acknowledge that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the CET program, and that it is “able to host events like this because of so many innovators and volunteer leaders — including ELEVATOR WORLD — who were instrumental in creating elements of the program.” For more information about the expo, visit the show website.

Image credit: via Magnolia New Orleans

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

NAEC PROVIDES COVID, IDA UPDATES AHEAD OF NEW ORLEANS EVENT

In response to questions and concerns about COVID-19 cases in New Orleans, the National Association of Elevator Contractors (NAEC) believes it can safely hold its planned, in-person 72nd Annual Convention and Exposition, David Smarte, the association’s Global Education & Safety Officer, said recently. “We wanted to reassure you that we are closely monitoring the situation and will always be making decisions in the best interest of our members’ health and safety,” Smarte said. He noted that attendance registration numbers are “well ahead” of numbers in NAEC’s last in-person meeting: 878 this year, compared to 517 in 2019. He said the organization is considering several safety precautions, including widening aisles, possible mask mandates and sanitizing protocols. Smarte said “vaccination rates continue to soar in NOLA,” and he assured members that NAEC will keep them informed of the situation. In addition, NAEC provided an update on the effects of Hurricane Ida, which struck New Orleans on August 29. The association said that, while the storm impacted many in the city and surrounding areas, it has learned the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center has power and that the rest of downtown is coming back online, as well. “We are hoping everyone in the state of Louisiana is as safe and healthy as possible, given the circumstances,” NAEC said. The convention and expo will be held October 4-7 at the Convention Center. For more information, visit the convention website.

Image credit: courtesy of NAEC

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

ZANZIBAR LOOKS TO GET AFRICA’S SECOND-TALLEST SKYSCRAPER

Developers AICL Group and Edinburgh Crowland Management Ltd. hired NYC- and Dubai-based architecture firm xCassia to design the 70-story Zanzibar Domino, a glittering, swirl-shaped structure set to take shape on a man-made island in the semi-autonomous Indian Ocean archipelago of Zanzibar over the next four years, The Citizen reports. If built, it would be the second-tallest tower in Africa, behind Egypt's 78-story Iconic Tower, which will have a KONE vertical-transportation system. It would also house the largest hotel in East and Central Africa. The US$1.3-billion plan incorporates a marina for yachts and tourism vessels, 560 residential units, a 360-key hotel and event venues that can be accessed by helicopter, boat or bridge. Crowland CEO Emmanuel Umoh described the development as a "strategic socioeconoic project that leverages prosperity, people and the planet."

Image credit: courtesy of xCassia

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

SCHINDLER TO PROVIDE 180 ESCALATORS FOR INDIAN METRO

Schindler has been selected to deliver 180 escalators for stations on two new routes that are part of Bangalore Metro Rail Corp.'s Phase 2 project in southern India, which will integrate Bengaluru's (also known as Bangalore) metro network with other transport systems and eventually connect Kempegowda International Airport with the city's IT district, Construction Week Online is among outlets to report. Scheduled for completion by 2026, the project includes both elevated and underground stations and is aimed at relieving traffic congestion and providing transportation to the IT district. The order consists of 140 escalators for the new Yellow Line connecting Bengaluru and Electronic City (which is among India's largest IT parks) and 40 escalators for the new Pink Line north-south route through the city. The escalators will assist in transporting an additional 370,000 daily passengers.

Image credit: by Ashwin Kumar for Wikipedia

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

CHAMPION ELEVATOR NAMES HOLTZMAN SAFETY MANAGER

Champion Elevator Corp., with corporate offices in NYC, named Gary Holtzman safety manager in August. He joins President Don Gelestino and Executive Vice President Joseph Corrado in striving "to create an industry-leading health, safety and environmental program." Holtzman is an experienced business executive with a diverse background in construction safety, loss control, community planning, design, manufacturing and production. He previously was safety director at construction company Katerra, where he was responsible for developing, implementing and evaluating organizational safety programs with an eye toward practical application in the field. He helped build teams of "high-performing safety officers," and is OSHA-certified in safety and health standards for construction. Holtzman holds a BS in business administration from Boston University's School of Business.

Image credit: courtesy Champion Elevator

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

DEMOLITION COMPLETE TO MAKE WAY FOR BILLIONAIRES’ ROW SUPERTALL

Demolition of structures at 41-47 West 57th Street in Midtown Manhattan to make way for a 1,100-ft-tall, mixed-use supertall designed by OMA and developed by Sedesco is complete, New York YIMBY reports. In exchange for rezoning to allow greater density and height, the developer agreed to provide two new Americans With Disabilities Act-compliant elevators at the 57th Street subway station located 250 ft to the east. As long as the rezoning is greenlit, the structure will total 443,098 ft2, housing 119 residential units, a 158-room hotel and a 10,212-ft2 restaurant. At this height, it would rise 96 ft higher than Christian de Portzamparc's One57. If the rezoning is not approved and square footage is downsized to 385,706, the tower "would nonetheless still deliver a bold visual impact on the Billionaires' Row skyline."

Image credit: courtesy of OMA

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 SOUTH KOREA FACTORY ACHIEVES ISO 14001 CERTIFICATION

On the heels of announcing its factory in São Bernardo Do Campo, Brazil, achieved ISO 14001 certification for environmental management systems, Otis announced on August 19 that its Incheon, South Korea, facility has done the same. The milestone brings Otis closer to its ESG (environmental, social and governance) goal and brings more than 90% of its factories worldwide into ISO 14001 compliance. Opening its doors in mid-2019, the Incheon facility is staffed by employees who “actively collaborated on activities such as integrating the requirements of our robust [environment, health & safety] management system and conducting environmental impact assessments of each department.” Through this, the team was able to recycle an additional 30% of total waste in the near term.

Image credit: courtesy of Otis Korea

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

KONE NAMES BECKLEY TO LEAD AMERICAS FINANCE

KONE has named Anthony Beckley senior vice president-finance for KONE Americas, the company announced on August 20. Beckley brings more than 20 years of financial experience, including responsibilities over profit and loss and general management. He also has held roles in financial transformation leadership. He has worked in complex industrial companies across the globe, including in China, Morocco and five years in Mexico. In his position at KONE Americas, he will be responsible for business in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Beckley holds a Bachelor of Science in accounting from Hampton University, a Master of Business Administration from the Ohio State University and is a Certified Public Accountant. He will report directly to KONE Americas Executive Vice President Ken Schmid.

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

GIANT LIFTS FOR UPSCALE APARTMENT TOWER IN DHAKA

A pair of machine-room-less lifts was supplied by Giant Lifts Ltd. for Ventura Properties' Eden Roc, an upscale apartment tower on Road 82 in the Prime Diplomatic Zone of Dhaka, Bangladesh, Giant Managing Director and CEO Saiful Islam said. Manufactured by China's Sword Elevator Co., Ltd., the 13-stop, 680-kg-capacity elevators have a top speed of 1.75 m/s. Housing nine residences, the 10-story Eden Roc is outfitted with an environmentally responsive screen façade, a fire-protection system and a sky garden with a barbecue area.

Image credit: courtesy of Ventura Properties

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 and Material Lifts: www.matot.com

ONLINE 2021 LIFT & ESCALATOR SYMPOSIUM PLANNED IN SEPTEMBER

Organizers of the 2021 Lift & Escalator Symposium recently announced that, due to the ongoing pandemic situation, the event will be held online on September 22-23. The symposium has scheduled speakers from Hong Kong, Australia, the U.S., the Middle East and the U.K. There will also be two panel discussions on modernization and safety. Space is limited, so attendees are encouraged to register as soon as possible. Visit the event website for further information and to register.

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

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