Elevator World

Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. Today’s podcast news podcast is sponsored by Matot Dumbwaiters and Material Lifts: www.matot.com NEII AGAIN PROVIDING CORONAVIRUS UPDATES National Elevator Industry, Inc. (NEII) is again providing updates on the coronavirus on its coronavirus resources page, including a spreadsheet of jurisdictional restrictions and information on current requirements, mandates and policies in jurisdictions throughout North America. Information about face-mask and proof-of-vaccination requirements in various states and provinces is included. NEII states it is “continually striving to provide the information that is most critical to the building-transportation industry.” Anyone who has feedback or suggestions of what they would like to see in the future many contact NEII at email. Image credit: by Gerd Altmann for Pixabay To read the full transcript of today's podcast, visit: elevatorworld.com/news Subscribe to the Podcast: iTunes │ Google Play | SoundCloud │ Stitcher │ TuneIn

Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. Today’s podcast news podcast is sponsored by Matot Dumbwaiters and Material Lifts: www.matot.com CHAMPION STRENGTHENS N.J. PRESENCE WITH PAIR OF ACQUISITIONS In 2021, Champion Elevator Corp., with headquarters in New York, Connecticut and New Jersey, strengthened its N.J. presence with a pair of acquisitions: Independence Elevator Co., a company led by Amy DiPaolo that serves customers in N.J. and northeastern Pennsylvania; and Payton Elevator Co., established in 1967 by Maureen, Tom and (past company president) John Payton in Closter, N.J. DiPaolo has assumed the role of senior vice president, New Jersey operations, at Champion. John Payton now helps guide Champion's N.J. operations. With approximately 270 employees, Champion services more than 4,260 residential and commercial units. The company said the acquisitions "enhance Champion's position as a valuable partner to building owners as a leading independent alternative to the multinational elevator companies."

Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. Today’s podcast news podcast is sponsored by Matot Dumbwaiters and Material Lifts: www.matot.com KONE BEGINS ESCALATOR WORK AT VIRGINIA METRO STATION KONE began the installation of four new and more durable escalators at the Pentagon City Metro Station in Arlington, Virginia, on August 16, Patch.com reports. Both entrances to the Pentagon City Metro Station will need to be closed at different times during construction, with the east side of South Hayes Street being the first. Crews will tear down and replace the two escalators at each entrance simultaneously so construction can be completed quicker. The project is expected to take nine months. Pentagon City is the sixth station to receive new escalators in connection with Metro's seven-year, US$179-million escalator replacement project, providing 130 new escalators in total. The project is funded through Metro's Capital Improvement Program, which receives dedicated funding from Maryland, Virginia and the District

Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. Today’s podcast news podcast is sponsored by Matot Dumbwaiters and Material Lifts: www.matot.com FOUNDATION WORK BEGINS ON COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY TOWER Excavation and foundation work are underway for a 34-story tower on the Manhattanville campus of Columbia University in New York City, New York YIMBY reports. Machinery and crews were recently seen putting together numerous pilings across the plot at 600 West 125th Street. Designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop and developed by the Trustees of Columbia University, the 391-ft-tall tower will yield 175,000 ft2, with 142 residences for graduate students and faculty members. Amenities include a 150-bicycle storage room, a fitness center and two lounges on the second and sixth floors with adjoining outdoor terraces and storage space. Eco-friendly and sustainable elements are expected to be included in the design, including stormwater retention, optimized equipment efficiency and an enhanced Clean Construction program. C

Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. Today’s podcast news podcast is sponsored by Matot Dumbwaiters and Material Lifts: www.matot.com CONTACTLESS DEVICE MAKER NEONODE REPORTS ON SALES Neonode, a Stockholm, Sweden, designer of contactless touch devices for elevators and other uses, saw revenue of US$1.7 million for the quarter ending June 30, Yahoo Finance reported August 11. The company’s Touch Sensor Modules (TSMs) “offer an intuitive and safer user experience,” said Neonode CEO Dr. Urban Forssell. The TSM has proven popular in Asia, with Forssell saying more than 70% of sales were to that part of the globe in the first and second quarters. The CEO said Neonode has “numerous development and pilot projects underway for elevators plus an array of public space kiosks,” including airport self-check-in and retail self-check-out locations. While Asian customers “are leading the way,” Forssell said, TSM is gaining interest in Europe and North America. He added that the company is continuing to recruit expe

Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. Today’s podcast news podcast is sponsored by Matot Dumbwaiters and Material Lifts: www.matot.com AFD INDUSTRIES ANNOUNCES NEW PRESIDENT AFD Industries, in a press release on August 10, announced Brandyn M. Eckhart as its new president. Eckhart earned an associate degree from Chabot College in Hayward, California, and a bachelor’s degree in communications from Malone University in Canton, Ohio. He has been with AFD since 2016, starting out as a sales representative and being promoted to national accounts manager in 2018. In addition to his new position, he will assume the role of president of LMG Industries, a subsidiary of AFD in Hammond, Indiana. To read the full transcript of today's podcast, visit: elevatorworld.com/news Subscribe to the Podcast: iTunes │ Google Play | SoundCloud │ Stitcher │ TuneIn

Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. Today’s podcast news podcast is sponsored by Matot Dumbwaiters and Material Lifts: www.matot.com TKE, SRI LANKAN FIRM WIN MALDIVES AIRPORT CONTRACT DIMO, a Sri Lanka-based conglomerate with a range of engineering companies, including vertical-transportation (VT), has won a project to supply, install and maintain elevators, escalators and moving walks at the Velana International Airport in Malé, capital of the island nation Maldives, Adaderana Biz reported on August 10. Working with its partner, TK Elevator (TKE), DIMO’s contract calls for the installation of 23 elevators, 14 escalators and four moving walks. The VT will be installed in a new international passenger terminal building with more than 78,000 m2 of space capable of accommodating up to 7.5 million passengers per year. DIMO and TKE entered into their partnership in 2018, when DIMO became sole distributor, installer and service provider in Sri Lanka and Maldives for TKE VT equipment. DIMO built its VT tea

Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. Today’s podcast news podcast is sponsored by Matot Dumbwaiters and Material Lifts: www.matot.com TELME CEREMONY MARKS MILESTONE FOR SAFETY Toshiba Elevator Middle East (TELME) held a ceremony August 5 at the company’s Dubai office to celebrate reaching 5 million hours with no lost-time incidents for the period March 2012 to March 2021, the company announced. TELME Managing Director M.J. Mohamed Iqbal, in a statement to greet the gathering, congratulated the company’s Health, Safety and Environment executives, general managers, safety officers and technicians for their roles in maintaining safe workplaces. “Managing safety is never an easy task, and unless everyone has 100% committed involvement, and dedicated management exists, it is almost impossible to get good results,” Iqbal said. The ceremony concluded with a cake-cutting and a company pledge taken by all in attendance. Image credit: courtesy of TELME To read the full transcript of today's podcast, visit: 

Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. Today’s podcast news podcast is sponsored by Matot Dumbwaiters and Material Lifts: www.matot.com TKE LANDS 122-UNIT VT CONTRACT FOR QUITO METRO SYSTEM Quito, Ecuador, is building its first metro transit system, and TK Elevator (TKE) has been awarded the vertical-transportation (VT) contract for the first line, the company announced on August 6. Known as Line 1, the project will include 15 stations and is expected to handle 400,000 passengers in the first year. TKE will provide 122 units — 76 of its tugela-model escalators and 46 of its synergy elevators — for the system. Each tugela, featuring glass balustrades and stainless-steel cladding, will be capable of transporting up to 7,300 passengers per hour, while a single synergy can carry 13 riders at 1 m/s per trip. Renato Medrado, manager of Special Projects for TK Elevador Latinoamérica, praised the transit development, saying, “For TK Elevator, it is gratifying to be part of … a channel for accessible transporta

Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. Today’s podcast news podcast is sponsored by elevatorbooks.com: www.elevatorbooks.com MASPERO PROVIDES SIX LIFTS FOR REVAMPED MONTE CARLO BEACH Italy’s Maspero Elevatori built six lifts for the redevelopment of Larvotto Beach in Monte Carlo in the Principality of Monaco, the company announced. Maspero collaborated with project architect Renzo Piano Building Workshop to design the lifts, four of which are panoramic. Since mid-July, the units have helped move people from Promenade Princesse Grace Avenue to Larvotto Beach, the only public beach in the principality. Maspero Elevatori Managing Director Andrea Maspero observes the company has produced several custom solutions for Renzo Piano, the most recent being elevators for GES 2, a new art museum in Moscow. For the Larvotto Beach project, the four panoramic, sea-facing lifts incorporate materials able to withstand the harsh marine environment. Mechanical parts, brackets and the car sling are AISI 318L stainless ste

Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. Today’s podcast news podcast is sponsored by elevatorbooks.com: www.elevatorbooks.com INSTALLATION OF “MAKE IN INDIA” VT EQUIPMENT AT KANPUR BEGINS The installation of elevators and escalators in nine Metro Stations in India has begun, The Times of India reported on August 4. A total of 27 escalators and 33 lifts are being installed in stations on the stretch of Priority Corridor between Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and Moti Jheel lake. All of the vertical-transportation equipment used in the project is “Make in India,”, having been manufactured in Chennai, and the escalators feature “crawling mode,” which allows them to run at two different speeds and stop to conserve energy. The first escalator was installed at the concourse level of the IIT Metro station. Image credit: from http://murshidabad.net/history/places-topic-places-zone-three.htm To read the full transcript of today's podcast, visit: elevatorworld.com/news Subscribe to the Podcast: iTunes

Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. Today’s podcast news podcast is sponsored by elevatorbooks.com: www.elevatorbooks.com OTIS BRAZIL FACTORY ACHIEVES ISO 14001 CERTIFICATION Otis' manufacturing facility in São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil, achieved ISO 14001 certification for environmental management systems, a milestone that "supports the companywide ESG (environmental, social and governance) goal," Otis announced in July. The OEM is targeting 2025 for all its factories to be ISO 14001-certified, and the Brazil certification brings the worldwide compliance total to more than 80%. Located near São Paulo, the factory spans more than 20,000 m2 and includes a 47-m-tall elevator test tower, technical training center and customer showroom. The site received the certification only six months after beginning the audit process, "a testament to its robust environmental management system" that includes rainwater collection and wastewater reuse systems, LED lighting and changes to shipping and packaging material

Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. Today’s podcast news podcast is sponsored by elevatorbooks.com: www.elevatorbooks.com COUNCIL TO GRANT PLANNING CONSENT FOR EDGE LONDON BRIDGE TOWER The Southwark Council resolved to grant planning approval for the EDGE London Bridge tower, Pilbrow & Partners reported in July. Developed by Dutch-based EDGE and designed by Pilbrow & Partners, the building will be located at 60­-68 St. Thomas Street next to the London Bridge Station. It will be the most sustainable office tower in London, achieving BREEAM Outstanding and WELL Platinum accreditations. The tower’s envelope allows daylight inside the building while limiting heat loss in the winter and overheating in the summer. A timeline for construction and completion is not available. Image credit: courtesy of Pilbrow&Partners To read the full transcript of today's podcast, visit: elevatorworld.com/news Subscribe to the Podcast: iTunes │ Google Play | SoundCloud │ Stitcher │ TuneIn

Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. Today’s podcast news podcast is sponsored by elevatorbooks.com: www.elevatorbooks.com KONE PHILIPPINES PROVIDES SANITIZING SOLUTIONS KPI Elevators, Inc. (KONE Philippines) will outfit the yet-to-be-constructed Senate building in Taguig City and PRC Building in Pasay City, Philippines, with sanitizing solutions such as elevator air purifiers and self-disinfecting escalator handrails, addressing hygiene concerns people have about public spaces, BusinessWorld reports. The KONE Elevator AirPurifier helps improve air quality within elevators and reduce pollutants, germs, and odors; and the KONE Handrail Sanitizer for escalators has a chemical-free cleaning solution that uses ultraviolet rays to reduce pollutants and germs. DX Class Elevators, meanwhile, use non-toxic, anti-stain, and anti-fingerprint materials that decrease the need for maintenance and cleaning. The company has also outfitted Okada Manila in Parañaque City, Powerplant Mall in Makati City, One Lakeshore

Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. Today’s podcast news podcast is sponsored by Franz: www.hellofranz.com ORACLE ELEVATOR ANNOUNCES NEW PARENT COMPANY NAME Oracle Elevator announced in July that its parent company has rebranded to Elevated Facility Services Group (EFS). In addition to Oracle, EFS supports several leading regional brands in the elevator and escalator maintenance, repair and operations sector, including EMR Elevator, Premier Elevator and Premier Oracle Elevator. Together, these companies represent the largest independent, non-union provider of contractually based maintenance, repair and modernization services for all major brands of elevator equipment. In November 2020, Oracle Elevator, enjoying several years of strong growth, merged with Premier Elevator, a dominant company in Atlanta and surrounding markets. Arlington, Texas-based EMR Elevator joined the group in May 2021, which helped solidify EFS's position in Texas. As a combined organization, Tampa-based EFS brings together mor

Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. Today’s podcast news podcast is sponsored by Franz: www.hellofranz.com NYC’S DYNASTY ELEVATOR NAMES HOLGUIN PROJECT EXECUTIVE Dynasty Elevator, headquartered in Manhattan, has named Amelia Holguin project executive supporting service, modernization and new construction projects. An experienced elevator professional, Holguin brings a vast amount of knowledge and experience to her current role. Working at companies in both the NYC metropolitan area and the Dominican Republic, she has overseen elevator installation, engineering and project execution. Holguin holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo and is OSHA 30 and Site Safety certified. Image credit: courtesy of Dynasty Elevator To read the full transcript of today's podcast, visit: elevatorworld.com/news Subscribe to the Podcast: iTunes │ Google Play | SoundCloud │ Stitcher │ TuneIn

Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. Today’s podcast news podcast is sponsored by Franz: www.hellofranz.com SOUTHEAST ELEVATOR ACQUIRES GULFSIDE ELEVATOR Southeast Elevator, headquartered in Ft. Pierce, Florida, has acquired Gulfside Elevator and Cab Interiors LLC, based in Naples, Florida, Maven Group, LLC, which facilitated the deal, announced on July 27. Acquiring Palm Beach Lifts in May 2021, 26-year-old Southeast Elevator manufactures, installs and services residential and commercial elevators. Southeast Elevator states it believes the fact it manufactures most components for its home elevators at its Ft. Piece headquarters sets it apart from competitors. This latest acquisition expands its presence in the South Florida market. Southeast Elevator CEO Tim Fischer welcomed Gulfside President John Andrews and his team to the company, and Andrews thanked Maven for "seamlessly transferring their unique knowledge of the M&A market for commercial elevator companies to this transaction in the residentia

Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. Today’s podcast news podcast is sponsored by Franz: www.hellofranz.com TKE TO ACQUIRE VANCOUVER-BASED CITY ELEVATOR TK Elevator (TKE) announced on July 23 it signed an agreement to acquire City Elevator, founded in 2004 and providing elevator service and maintenance through more than 75 employees in the Vancouver, Canada, metro area. The deal is set to become effective on July 29. TKE has a strong presence in the metro Vancouver area, including providing equipment and service to some of the most prominent and modern downtown office towers. "As the urbanization boom extends west to cities like Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver, it is critical to have the best technicians, tools and technologies to keep building transportation systems safely operating,” TKE North America President and CEO Kevin Lavallee said. The City Elevator acquisition will help toward that goal. 2021 has been a brisk acquisitions year for TKE as, in addition to City Elevator, it acquired three ele

Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. Today’s podcast news podcast is sponsored by Franz: www.hellofranz.com KONE DESCRIBES STRONG HALF YEAR, REMAINING CHALLENGES In a financial report covering January-June 2021, KONE described strong financial performance and market recovery as it continues to navigate global supply-chain and pricing challenges. Orders grew by 16.2% in that timeframe to EUR2.41 billion (US$2.8 billion), and sales by 11% to EUR2.81 billion (US$3.29 billion). President and CEO Henrik Ehrnrooth said activity remains high in China, and pointed to the U.S. as a particular highlight. Strong orders demonstrate the success of KONE's "efforts to capture recovery-driven opportunities." He said he was especially pleased to see maintenance business rebound to pre-pandemic levels. However, Ehrnrooth said, the global supply-chain environment remains challenging, with materials and sea freight costs rising "dramatically." In particular, a shortage of semiconductors is impacting all businesses that

Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. Today’s podcast news podcast is sponsored by Franz: www.hellofranz.com TKE TO EQUIP STOCKHOLM METRO STATIONS WITH 44 ESCALATORS TK Elevator (TKE) has won a multimillion-euro order from AB Storstockholms Lokaltrafik to equip Stockholm metro stations with 44 heavy-duty victoria escalators, TKE announced on July 22. The 110-km-long system, also known as the tunnelbana, is world-famous for its paintings and sculptures that attract hundreds of thousands of visitors a year, in addition to its nearly 1 million daily riders. One of the largest escalator infrastructure projects ever awarded in Sweden, work is expected to start in 2022 and last several years. TKE, which already maintains 500 elevators and escalators within the metro, is also providing the first 10 years of maintenance for the new escalators. The units will have rises ranging from 4 m to more than 26 m, and speeds between 0.65 m/s and 0.75 m/s. The escalators include several passenger-safety features, includ