News January 31, 2014 KONE CEO ALAHUHTA TO STEP DOWN After overseeing significant growth over the past nine years and the introduction of UltraRope™ at KONE, Matti Alahuhta has announced he will step down as president and CEO, effective March 31. Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Henrik Ehrnrooth is set to succeed Alahuhta as CEO on April 1, with Eriikka Soederstroem becoming CFO. Alahuhta, 61, has not yet revealed his next career move, although he said it will not be in a CEO role. He previously led Finnish mobile-phone manufacturer Nokia. AVIRE TO UNVEIL TWO PRODUCTS AT IEE EXPO Avire is to showcase two new products at Stand B19 at the International Elevator & Escalator Expo, to take place on March 20-22 in Mumbai: an optical slot sensor and emergency telephone. The sensor, from TL Jones, provides accurate lift leveling to millimeter-scale precision. It is designed to be resistant to dirt and debris thanks to a fully sealed IP65-rated enclosure. The product has high light immunity and repeatability, and the company considers it suitable for new or existing installations. Memco’s C100 emergency telephone can be surface or flush mounted, or installed behind the car-operating panel. It features integrated emergency lighting, a customizable text plate and pictograms that remain hidden until backlit. LIFT SOLUTIONS MOVES Lift Solutions recently moved into a new building in Lake Stevens, Washington. This move comes in the company’s 13th year of operation in the elevator industry and is only 1.3 mi. from its old office. The new building offers expanded office space, a larger conference room, improved phone service and room for growth. The company’s new address is 1806 South Lake Stevens Road, Lake Stevens, Washington 98258. Existing phone numbers remain the same, at toll free: (888) 277-8310 and phone: (425) 249-2512. 2013 HONG KONG CONTRACTOR RATINGS RELEASED On January 28, Hong Kong’s Electrical Mechanical Safety Department announced the availability of elevator/escalator contractor performance ratings from January to December 2013. Presented in a new format approved by the Lift and Escalator Safety Advisory Committee earlier in January, the results reflect what was found during 10,564 unit inspections during the past year. For details, visit the website. January 30, 2014 NYC’S BARIST TO CELEBRATE 40 YEARS Barist Elevator Co, Inc. is celebrating its 40-year anniversary on February 20. One of New York’s (NY) longest continually operating elevator installation, inspection, maintenance and repair companies, Barist has been a family owned and operated business since its inception. Richard Dalvano, Sr., who founded the company on February 20, 1974, has more than 50 years of industry experience and is also cofounder of the Elevator Conference of NY (ECNY). Barist remains an ECNY member and also belongs to the National Association of Elevator Contractors and the International Union of Elevator Constructors’ Local One. The company is NY City licensed, QEI certified, and OSHA accredited, certified, approved and bonded. THYSSENKRUPP ELEVATOR SAUDI CERTIFIED ISO 9001:2008 ThyssenKrupp Elevator Saudi Ltd. recently announced that it had been awarded ISO 9001:2008 certification. The company expects the internationally recognized quality certification to enhance its position in the Saudi Arabian market. NEW MIXED-USE TOWER GOING UP IN QUEENS, NEW YORK Construction started in January on 23-10 Queens Plaza, a 44-floor, 481-ft.-tall mixed-used tower in the Long Island City neighborhood of Queens, New York, New York Yimby reports. Property Markets Group released renderings, which show a sleek, minimalist building considerably taller than its neighbors. The latest plans include renovation of an existing warehouse into loft and parking space, and incorporation of residential and office units in the main tower. Designed by SLCE, the building is expected to be finished in 2017. January 29, 2014 EW OFFICES CLOSED The offices of Elevator World, Inc. will be closed on January 29 due to severe winter weather. They will reopen on January 30. NFPA SETS CONFERENCE & EXPO The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recently announced it will hold its next conference and exposition on June 9-12 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. More than 100 education sessions, hands-on training, networking opportunities and hundreds of product displays headline the event. There will also be a new “Sustainability” conference tract, addressing green building, alternative energy sources, and associated products/technologies. For more information or to register, contact the NFPA at website: nfpa.org/training/nfpa-conference-and-expo. QUATTRO REACHES INSTALLATION MILESTONE Magnetek, Inc. has announced that its Quattro® “green” energy elevator drive installed base recently reached 2,000 units worldwide. Quattro drives can save as much as 25% of energy consumption when compared to silicon-controlled-rectifier-based DC drives and as much as 45% of energy consumption over motor-generator sets in gearless DC installations. The company says Quattro AC saves 42% more energy versus non-regenerative AC drives in gearless AC applications. Additionally, many utility companies offer energy-saving rebate programs for reduced peak and average power demand and for clean harmonics. MAXTON EARNS SAFETY HONOR FROM NEVADA Maxton Manufacturing has earned Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) status from Nevada’s Safety Consultation and Training Section. Acceptance into SHARP means the company operates an exemplary injury and illness prevention program. Maxton benefits in the form of lower workers’ compensation costs and a two-year exemption from unscheduled OSHA inspections. January 27, 2014 CTBUH RELEASES “RESEARCH ROADMAP FOR TALL BUILDINGS” The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), in partnership with the International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, has released “Research Roadmap for Tall Buildings.” Covering 11 fields and 358 research topics, the report is designed to serve as a guide to assist in planning more efficient and sustainable cities. For further information, visit the CTBUH website. NEW JERSEY’S TALLEST RESIDENTIAL PROJECT BREAKS GROUND Ground was broken in mid January on the 720-ft.-tall, 69-story Urban Ready Living (URL) Harborside 1 apartment building in Jersey City, New Jersey, which, upon completion, will be the tallest residential building in the state, Multi-Housing News reports. Targeted for completion in 2016, URL Harborside is set to ultimately have a trio of towers housing more than 2,300 residences. Designed by Dutch architecture firm Concrete, the development overlooks the waterfront, where public spaces and stores are also planned. U.S. CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK POSITIVE Reed Construction Data recently released its “2014 Construction Economic Outlook” for the U.S. market. Overall construction is expected to grow over the next 12 months and is tracked in each state and more than 360 Metropolitan Statistical Areas. The outlook shows an improved construction economy spread throughout 80% of the country. Potential for expanding construction is seen in 41 states, plus the District of Columbia. A17 STANDARDS COMMITTEE MEETING IN NEW ORLEANS The A17 Standards Committee of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) plans to hold its spring meeting the week of May 5 at the Doubletree Hotel at 300 Canal Street in New Orleans. The event had previously been planned in Washington, D.C. For more information, contact Geraldine Burdeshaw of ASME at phone: (212) 591-8523 or email: [email protected]. January 24, 2014 SERAPID TO MOVE TO LARGER PREMISES Serapid Inc. is expected to move into a larger facility in February. Located in Macomb County, Michigan, just outside of Detroit, the existing manufacturing building was renovated before the lift manufacturer and supplier moved in, gaining 18,000 sq. ft. over its former location in the same county. This allowed Serapid to build both a sales showroom and R&D lab. The campus itself sits on 4 acres and is billed by the company as environmentally friendly. PHILADELPHIA TOWER WOULD BE ONE OF TALLEST IN U.S. Comcast Inc. announced it is planning a US$1.2-million, 1,121-ft.tall, 59-story skyscraper next to its 975-ft.-tall tower in Philadelphia, the Boston Herald reports. Outside of New York City and Chicago, it would be the tallest in the U.S. Designed by Norman Foster in glass and stainless steel, the mixed-use building would house the telecommunications company’s technology and engineering staff. Its construction is scheduled to start in summer 2014 and be complete by fall 2017. VOLPE AWARDED FOR JOURNALISM EXCELLENCE Maria Volpe was awarded the 25th Charlot prize for entertainment, cabaret, cinema and information in 2013. Volpe is perhaps best known to the elevator industry as Elevatori’s Public Relations and Marketing manager. Awarded by a jury of journalists from various newspapers, TV networks, etc., the prize was presented to Volpe for being an outstanding journalist for Corriere della Sera (Evening Courier), a daily Italian newspaper that has been published in Milan since 1876. January 23, 2014 EW ANNOUNCES ANNUAL ECO ISSUE The April 2014 issue of ELEVATOR WORLD is its annual “Eco Issue,” focusing on environmentally friendly vertical-transportation products, facilities and promotions. The magazine will receive bonus distribution at the International Association of Elevator Consultants Forum in Denver. The deadline for editorial contributions is February 17. To participate or for more information, contact the EW Editorial Department at phone: (251) 479-4514, ext. 30 or email: editorial@elevatorworld. LERCH BATES TO MANAGE UPKEEP OF 406 UNITS FOR RETAILER Los Angeles-based clothing retailer Forever 21 has hired Denver-based Lerch Bates Inc. to manage maintenance of 168 elevators and 238 escalators in 144 stores throughout the U.S. The three-year contract includes evaluation of service contracts with repair companies, as well as management of bidding for new service contracts, selecting new providers and reviewing invoices. QEI COURSE, EXAM FOR FLORIDA IN MARCH NAESA International will be holding a QEI training course and certification exam in Clearwater, Florida, on March 3-7. The organization encourages experienced elevator personnel with a desire to become QEI certified to apply through its website. PLANNED 650-FT.-TALL NYC BUILDING HAS FUTURISTIC LOOK Images of a 650-ft.-tall, 59-story, mixed-use tower planned on the site of former ice-skating rink Roseland Ballroom at 239 West 52nd Street in New York City (NYC) reveal a futuristic building with a metal or concrete façade, real-estate website New York Yimby reports. Designed by CetraRuddy Architecture, the building features undulating curves, and balconies hidden within its cladding. It is set to include lower-level retail topped by more than 400 apartments. A completion date has not been announced, but demolition is expected to start soon. January 22, 2014 MICROSOFT RESEARCH TESTS ELEVATOR AI Microsoft Research recently announced its primary focus is on artificial intelligence (AI), which includes applications for elevators. Called a “smart elevator” by The Next Web, the idea is for it to determine which floor a person entering an elevator wants to go, based on personal history and other factors. Sensors were placed in front of elevators to observe passenger behavior for approximately three months. Over that period, the AI system learned how passengers behaved and, reportedly, began to understand their intentions. After the training period, the learning portion was turned off, and the intelligent system could control the elevator and act on the user’s behalf. KONE TO SUPPLY 14 UNITS TO SYDNEY TOWERS KONE has been hired to supply 14 elevators to a pair of towers — a 47-story apartment building and a 32-story building housing upscale, long-term-stay units — under construction in Sydney, FINNBAY reports. In addition to system design, the order includes 11 MiniSpace™ units, five of which are able to travel 136 m from an underground parking facility to penthouse apartments. All units will be powered by the energy-saving EcoDisc® hoisting motor. The towers, forming Centrium Apartments, are scheduled for completion in late 2015. NEW LIFT CONTRACTOR RATING SYSTEM IN HONG KONG During its January 17 meeting, the newly formed Lift and Escalator Safety Advisory Committee (LESAC) in Hong Kong approved a new performance rating system for registered lift and escalator maintenance contractors. Designed to help building owners and managers select a high-quality provider, the system awards a green star to any contractor that has been in safety compliance during the past 12 months, as well as blue stars to rate quality of services. Hong Kong’s Electrical Mechanical Safety Department plans to adopt the new system at the end of January, pending verification of performance data, according to LESAC. RENDERINGS FOR PLANNED NYC TOWER REVEAL SLIM DESIGN New York City (NYC) real-estate website New York YIMBY posted renderings of a planned 920-ft.-tall residential tower overlooking Central Park, 220 Central Park South. Designed by Robert A.M. Stern, the development features a two-tower configuration consisting of a 60-story skyscraper and a 14-story tower sharing a private driveway. Described as “extraordinarily slender,” the development will feature a limestone façade. It is expected to be complete in 2016-17. Thanks with elevatorworld
Posted on: Sun, 02 Feb 2014 07:46:44 +0000
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