Elevator World

Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. Today’s podcast news podcast is sponsored by elevatorbooks.com: www.elevatorbooks.com ALL SHANGHAI ELEVATORS TO HAVE EMERGENCY QR CODE A QR code that allows riders to alert authorities and maintenance workers when they are stuck inside a stalled elevator will be in use in all 270,000 elevators in Shanghai by the end of September, Shine reported on July 3. By scanning the “Shanghai smart elevator” code, riders can access basic information about the elevator, such as its location, to report problems. If trapped, they can alert authorities, property management staff and maintenance and repair workers by scanning the code and then entering the city's intelligent elevator-monitoring system. The system allows users to check the rescue process in real time and track rescue workers via their cellphones. "The whole process is visible, which will ease their anxiety while waiting," said Zhang Yusong of the Shanghai Administration for Market Regulation. Image credit: courtes

Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. Today’s podcast news podcast is sponsored by elevatorbooks.com: www.elevatorbooks.com TWIN CITIES ELEVATORS PREPARE FOR WORKERS' RETURN As workers return to downtown office buildings in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, observers say the way elevators are used is set to change, the Star Tribune reported on July 3. Social distancing stickers, tape marking standing areas and antimicrobial button covers were among the measures being taken. A touchless elevator is already installed in the yet-to-open, US$214-million Dayton’s redevelopment project inside the former Macy’s department store in Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis, according to a spokesperson for Chicago-based Telos Group, which is redeveloping the 12-story property. Other technology going into city elevators includes voice and cell-phone controls. to activate elevators. Some units have antimicrobial elevator button covers or hourly disinfection. Other measures include ultraviolet lamps, anti

Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. Today’s podcast news podcast is sponsored by elevatorbooks.com: www.elevatorbooks.com THYSSENKRUPP ELEVATOR TO RELOCATE GERMANY HEADQUARTERS thyssenkrupp Elevator announced it will move its headquarters in the first quarter of 2021 from Essen to Düsseldorf, the capital of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The OEM will occupy more than 9,000 m2 in the Wings Building, which is owned by Commerz Real and near the Düsseldorf International Airport. There will also be 500 m2 of outdoor space where colleagues can meet and exchange ideas. "The relocation reflects our independence as a global company,” thyssenkrupp Elevator CEO Peter Walker said. “Moreover, it provides us with the opportunity to create headquarters that are precisely designed to meet the criteria of a modern and efficient globally operating company, while giving us the chance to open up many new perspectives regarding the way of working for our employees." Image credit: courtesy by © O2 To read the full t

Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. Today’s podcast news podcast is sponsored by elevatorbooks.com: www.elevatorbooks.com LONDON SKYSCRAPERS FACE AN UNCERTAIN COVID FUTURE With many large corporations realizing working remotely saves money and doesn’t reduce productivity, office skyscrapers in London — both existing and planned — face an uncertain future in the COVID-19 era, The Guardian reports. Firms are downsizing or giving up their in-office staff, including insurer Lloyds of London, which closed its underwriting room in London’s Square Mile in March for the first time in more than 300 years. Lloyd’s plans to reopen it in August, but at only a fraction of capacity. Deloitte consultants predict office tower construction delays of up to six months, with completions scheduled for this year pushed to 2021. Observing that “behavioral science is unique to [the COVID-19] crisis,” Mat Oakley of property firm Savills says he is confident London’s office market will bounce back. The only question is when.

Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. Today’s podcast news podcast is sponsored by elevatorbooks.com: www.elevatorbooks.com SPECULATIONS, UPDATES ON REVISING ELEVATOR CULTURE The New York Times recently reported on “strict new rules to govern elevator culture,” with employers and managers apparently settling on supporting the following mandates: a maximum of four people per car, designated standing spots, masks, forward-facing positions and no talking. Elevator consultants are being hired to help plan the best way to get riders to their destinations at low risk. When the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officially weighs in, it is expected to recommend limiting the number of elevator riders (to an indeterminate number), arrows showing different paths to get on and off, masks and signs urging people to “not talk unless you have to,” according to Nancy Clark Burton, a CDC senior industrial hygienist. For escalators, it is to advise one rider every other step and hand sanitizer at the top

Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. Today’s podcast news podcast is sponsored by elevatorbooks.com: www.elevatorbooks.com STEPHENSON JOINS WITTUR AS CEO The Wittur Group has appointed Tom Stephenson CEO. Stephenson has more than 15 years' upper-level management experience and "a deep customer and product orientation within a global manufacturing context," according to Wittur. Prior to joining the company, Stephenson led various organizations around the world. In 2009, he became CEO of Dal Group Ltd., the largest conglomerate in Sudan. Prior to that, he was director of group revenue for Avis Europe. Most recently, Stephenson served as CEO at GZ Industries, a sub-Saharan Africa aluminum beverage can manufacturer. He holds a degree in Economics and International Relations from the University of Birmingham in the U.K., as well as an MBA from INSEAD. To read the full transcript of today's podcast, visit: elevatorworld.com/news Subscribe to the Podcast: iTunes │ Google Play | SoundCloud │ Stitcher │ Tu

Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. Today’s podcast news podcast is sponsored by elevatorbooks.com: www.elevatorbooks.com CORONAVIRUS DELAYS CHICAGO OBSERVATORY CONSTRUCTION Because it involves putting people in close quarters on elevators, including the tallest exterior glass elevator in North America, the US$185-million plan to build an observatory atop Aon Center, Chicago’s third-tallest skyscraper at 1,136 ft., has been delayed by coronavirus, the Chicago Tribune reports. Property owner 601W and tourist attraction operator Legends originally planned to start construction on Sky Summit this fall and open it in 2022. That has been pushed back nearly a year, with opening now planned in 2023. According to Aon Center General Manager Matthew Amato, the project is temporarily halted “in part to provide more time for a potential treatment or cure for coronavirus, and to see if any aspects need to be redesigned.” In addition to the exterior glass elevator, on the drawing board are a 9,000-ft2 pavilion and

Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. Today’s podcast news podcast is sponsored by elevatorbooks.com: www.elevatorbooks.com WAIVERS MAY NOT PROTECT BUSINESSES FROM COVID-19 LIABILITY Waivers don't necessarily protect businesses from COVID-19 liability, a litigation defense attorney says in a June 22 report by Canadian Underwriter. John Olah, whose expertise includes liability of ski resorts and hotels, said a waiver is only a part of the overall risk-mitigation strategy. Regarding the pandemic, Olah said even with a waiver, it is still “critical for commercial entities to act reasonably and appropriately in conjunction with the best medicine that we have, with best practices, whether it be wearing a mask, whether it be social distancing, whether it be cleaning on a regular basis.” Also, he said, a COVID-19 waiver must be drafted for the specific situation, rather than simply copying and pasting wording from an unrelated waiver form. Olah said the effectiveness of waivers won't really be known until the

Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. Today’s podcast news podcast is sponsored by elevatorbooks.com: www.elevatorbooks.com LIFT AI, MBTA EMBARK ON PILOT ELEVATOR-MONITORING PROGRAM In partnership with Newark, Delaware-based Liberty Elevator Experts, Internet of Things company Lift AI is starting a pilot elevator-monitoring program with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) under a two-year contract with two one-year options. The program will start with 10 elevators and, if deemed successful, be rolled out to additional elevators. The package includes set pricing for hardware and software and staff training for one year. If successful, the MBTA will use grant money to purchase additional remote-monitoring systems. Monitoring is set to start in a few weeks. MBTA tells ELEVATOR WORLD that, currently, elevator outages are reported manually as they are discovered, and the data is entered into a maintenance software tracking tool, which then publishes to the MBTA website and other digital ch

Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. Today’s podcast news podcast is sponsored by elevatorbooks.com: www.elevatorbooks.com PLAN INCLUDING ONE OF AUSTRALIA’S TALLEST COMMENCES Phase one of a multibillion-dollar plan that includes a 108-story tower that would be one of Australia's tallest is set to start construction in Southport, providing a boost to an economy battered by COVID-19, The Urban Developer reports. Developed by Azzura Investments and designed by Kris Kowalski Architects, Imperial Square calls for four towers, the smallest of which — the 18-story Regal Residences — represents phase one. It will include 145 apartments, a 200-room hotel and amenities such as an infinity pool, a gymnasium, an executive lounge and restaurants at 59-73 Meron Street. Construction of the supertall is at least five years away, but phase one will generate approximately 300 jobs in the meantime, a Southport city leader said. Image credit: courtesy of Azzura Investments To read the full transcript of today's podca

Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. Today’s podcast news podcast is sponsored by elevatorbooks.com: www.elevatorbooks.com THYSSENKRUPP WINS PAIR OF INDIAN AIRPORT CONTRACTS thyssenkrupp Elevator recently won two contracts to provide vertical-transportation equipment to airports in India. Fifteen elevators will serve a 40,000-m2 expansion at Pune International Airport. At the new, 77,500-m2 terminal at Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi Airport in Guwahati will be 25 thyssenkrupp elevators, 10 escalators and two moving walks. The OEM observes civil aviation has emerged as one of the fastest-growing industries in India, with passenger traffic reaching more than 199 million in fiscal 2020 and the nation poised to overtake the U.K. as the third-largest passenger market by 2024. thyssenkrupp equipment is in place at 20 Indian airports, and, with government efforts to increase the number of domestic airports from 103 to up to 200 by 2040, the company anticipates further opportunities. Image credit: courtesy by N

Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. Today’s podcast news podcast is sponsored by elevatorbooks.com: www.elevatorbooks.com REVAMPED CHICAGO SPIRE SITE PLAN APPLAUDED BY ALDERMAN Related Midwest has revised its US$1-billion plan for a pair of mixed-use towers on a long-vacant site at 400 North Lake Shore Drive in Chicago where the Spire, which would have been the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, was set to rise, CBS Chicago reports. After a plan that included 1,100- and 850-ft-tall towers atop a podium was rejected by 42nd Ward Alderman Brendan Reilly in 2018, Related presented a new plan calling for 765- and 875-ft-tall towers with ground-level retail and commercial space, along with underground parking. Designed by World Trade Center architect David Childs with Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the structures no longer include the podium, a 175-key hotel and 300 condominiums. The new mix includes 1,100 apartments and a 300-space parking garage. Related also agreed to improvements to DuSable Park

Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. Today’s podcast news podcast is sponsored by elevatorbooks.com: www.elevatorbooks.com OTIS NAMES CRAMER PRESIDENT OF AMERICAS GROUP Otis has named Jim Cramer president of Otis Americas, reporting directly to Otis President and CEO Judy Marks, the company announced June 17. "During his distinguished 34-year career at Otis, he has earned a strong reputation for his strategic thinking, customer focus and passion for creating an inclusive culture," Marks said. Cramer has been Otis Americas interim president since February, replacing Tom Vining, who left the company earlier this year. He joined Otis in 1986, serving in several branch and regional general manager roles across the U.S. Most recently, he was regional vice president of the U.S. Western Region. Cramer also serves on the National Elevator Industry, Inc. board of directors. Otis Americas employs about 15,000 people across 14 countries in North and South America, with manufacturing operations and service center

Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. Today’s podcast news podcast is sponsored by elevatorbooks.com: www.elevatorbooks.com OTIS CHINA TO PROVIDE NEARLY 300 UNITS TO METRO SYSTEMS Otis Elevator Co. (China) Ltd. has won contracts to provide 207 escalators and six moving walks to Chongqing Metro Line 9 and 85 escalators to the first metro line in Nantong. In Chongqing, Line 9 will pass through five urban districts covering 32 km and including 24 stations. The area has a population of approximately 9 million. Installation of the equipment is scheduled at the end of 2020. In Nantong, a city of more than 7 million on the Yangtze River, Otis equipment will serve a metro line spanning 38 km with 28 stations. The Nantong line is set to open in March 2022. Image credit: courtesy of Otis China 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 DELAYED ESCALATOR REPAIRS UNDERWAY ALONG PERTH RAIL LINE Work is underway to repair escalators at several stations of the Joondalup Line, a rail line that serves the northern suburbs of Perth, Australia, Perth Now reported on June 11. The work was needed after what the source called a "botched upgrade" left the escalators broken down for more than 18 months. Officials said a critical part was needed but replacements were not available until now. Work was underway on one escalator each at Glendalough and Stirling stations, which (to be completed by the end of June), and at Joondalup station (to be done by the end of August). Work underway on upward-traveling escalators at the Perth station was expected to be completed in early September, after which repair is to commence on the downward units. Further work was planned at four stations. Image credit: courtesy photo by Hollett.rb f

Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. Today’s podcast news podcast is sponsored by elevatorbooks.com: www.elevatorbooks.com ABU DHABI AIRPORT ELEVATORS GO TOUCHLESS As part of their efforts to help stem the spread of COVID-19, officials at Abu Dhabi International Airport have installed touch-free technology on 53 elevators at the facility, Gulf News reported on June 10. In partnership with Meta Touch, a U.A.E.-based startup, the airport developed and installed “Touch-less Keypad Technology,” which allows elevator passengers to wave their hand in front of a panel to indicate their desired floor or direction. “The installation of the new technology across our elevators is a significant development in ensuring the safety of all our guests and travelers," said Shareef Al Hashmi, CEO of Abu Dhabi Airports. He added that the technology was designed to be easily installed on any existing elevator. Image credit: courtesy via Gulf News To read the full transcript of today's podcast, visit: elevatorworld.com

Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. Today’s podcast news podcast is sponsored by elevatorbooks.com: www.elevatorbooks.com SUPER-SKINNY SUPERTALL ENVISIONED IN TORONTO An 87-story, 1,063-ft-tall mixed-use skyscraper designed by Swiss firm Herzog & de Meuron — its first in Toronto — is planned for what developer Kroonenberg Groep called "an iconic block" in the city's Yorkville neighborhood, The Architect's Newspaper reports. Developed in partnership with fellow Dutch real estate outfit ProWinko, the super-thin, glassy tower at 1200 Bay Street would house retail and offices on the first 16 floors with 332 condominium units above. Toronto-based Quadrangle is the project architect. The residences spread over 64 floors would be accessed by four dedicated elevators through a triple-height lobby on Bloor Street. If built, the tower would surpass one by Hariri Pontarini Architects planned in Toronto as Canada's tallest residential building. Image credit: courtesy of Herzog & de Meuron To read the full tr

Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. Today’s podcast news podcast is sponsored by elevatorbooks.com: www.elevatorbooks.com TELME TO PROVIDE 100-PLUS ELEVATORS FOR DUBAI PROJECTS Toshiba Elevator Middle East, LLC (TELME) has won a contract to supply and install more than 100 elevators for several projects in Dubai, the company announced on June 3. The deal, reached with Dubai-based developer Azizi Development, calls for 104 machine-room-less elevators for low- and mid-rise residential projects in Azizi Riviera, in Mohamed Bin Rasheed City’s Meydan One Area, and at Creek View Gate in Healthcare City. Under the contract, TELME will deliver 98 elevators for several low-rise residential buildings in Azizi Riviera — a multiphase project comprising 69 buildings — and six elevators, including 14- and 21-person-capacity units, for the 21-story, 728,815-ft2 Creek View Gate residential building, which is scheduled for completion in 2021. Reported by N. Noor Fathima Image credit: courtesy of luxhabitat.ae To

Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. Today’s podcast news podcast is sponsored by elevatorbooks.com: www.elevatorbooks.com NONESSENTIAL CONSTRUCTION SITES REOPEN IN NYC As part of New York State’s phase-one reopening plan, the NYC Department of Buildings (DoB) released new COVID-19 safety guidelines for property owners and contractors. The reopening of 33,556 nonessential jobsites was scheduled on June 8, with new required safety measures including visible signage, social distancing, availability and use of hand-washing and sanitation stations and limiting confined spaces, such as elevators and construction hoists, to one person at a time, unless the unit is at 50% capacity and all are wearing masks. The new DoB rules also require designation of an onsite safety monitor, and the department will conduct safety sweeps to ensure compliance. To learn more about the process, including the DoB transitioning many of its functions online, visit website. Image credit: courtesy Pexels for Pixabay To read th

Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. Today’s podcast news podcast is sponsored by elevatorbooks.com: www.elevatorbooks.com OTIS TO SUPPLY 133 ESCALATORS FOR AIRPORT PROJECT IN CHINA Otis China subsidiary Otis Electric Elevator Co., Ltd. has won an order to provide 133 escalators for the Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport Phase 3 expansion project, the company recently announced. The project will bring the total number of Otis Electric escalators and elevators at the airport to more than 200. The expansion is part of a push to improve the city's infrastructure as it prepares to host the 2022 Asian Games. Otis Electric has provided equipment and maintenance service for transportation facilities across China, including the Hangzhou Metro. It was also a key supplier to the 80,000-seat Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center. Image credit: courtesy of Otis To read the full transcript of today's podcast, visit: elevatorworld.com/news Subscribe to the Podcast: iTunes │ Google Play | SoundCloud │ Stitcher │