Innovations and New Technology in Elevators

An update on the latest elevator industry news

2017 was a busy year for the elevator industry. We’ve seen growth in construction and ridership as well as new innovations which could transform how elevators operate and how they are serviced. From smart and “green” elevators to elevators that are connected to the Internet, the strides being made are pretty amazing. Here is a summary of some of the top stories from the past year:

1. What’s so smart about smart elevators?

Much like smart phones and smart TVs, elevators are becoming more high-tech. As skyscrapers continue to rise to even more dizzying heights, elevator manufacturers must make adjustments in order to safely and quickly transport passengers. Smart elevators are among the new wave of advancement in our industry.

How do they work? A passenger pushes a button to set his or her destination and an indicator will direct them to a specific elevator that will transport him or her to that floor the fastest. This advanced routing is a more efficient way of moving passengers, especially during high-traffic hours in busy office buildings or hotels. These elevators can be programmed to operate differently at certain periods throughout the day.

According to BusinessWire, smart elevators will be making big strides in the market, with predicted growth of 12.7% CAGR in the next 8 years. “The global smart elevators market is expected to witness strong growth during the forecast period 2017 – 2025 due to flourishing construction and real estate industry post economic recession. Urbanization and rise in the number of new dwelling units in cities has made the real estate sector competitive. Builders are coming up with new projects and are offering automation and smart elevators as a part of amenities.”

2. Elevators on the Internet

Connectivity is the future of elevators. It won’t be long before Internet-connected elevators become more commonplace. A leading international company is already installing them.

According to TechCo, “The technology works by alerting companies to faults when they appear or are about to develop, enabling lift operators to save money and time on repairs.”

Sensors gather data about usage and other factors, which can affect wear and tear on parts and machinery. That information is then transferred to a cloud-based platform where it is processed and analyzed to predict when maintenance might be needed. Accurately predicting future problems could allow the elevator technicians to make repairs before there is a breakdown.

Another benefit is that companies would be able to service some aspects of elevators remotely, which can help save money and time when repairs are needed.

3. Virtual reality diagnostics

Another cool innovation is called HoloLens. In collaboration with Microsoft, a leading manufacturer is developing a virtual reality headset that might change the way mechanics do elevator repairs. These devices allow mechanics to diagnose a problem without climbing tens of floors or dangling in a lift shift. Once the mechanic puts the glasses on, he or she can use hand motions to go close-up and explore the engine and individual parts. The view can also be widened, allowing the mechanic to do a virtual “walk through,” looking for places where repairs or replacement are needed.

4. The continued trend toward green elevators

Interest in saving energy remains high in real estate and construction. Green buildings are designed to use less energy, and the trend has spread to elevators as well. How is an elevator classified as “green”? It relates to not only energy consumption, but also the materials, processes, and technologies used, as well as interior paints, flooring, control panels, lighting, and HVAC systems.

Elements of green elevators:

• Machine-room-less (MRL) technology with machinery housed directly in the elevator shaft

• Gearless traction design, which can use up to 80% less energy than hydraulic lifts

• Drive systems that that recover and regenerate energy

• Precision traffic control to cut down on elevators with fewer passengers (which use more energy)

• Computerized systems that reduce the number of light-load trips

• In-cab sensors and software that will “go to sleep” when occupied, turning off lights, ventilation, music and video

• Destination dispatch control software that batches elevator stop requests. This reduces the number of stops and even reduces the number of elevators required in a building

5. Destination controls

Calling an elevator is no longer simply pressing a button and waiting for it to arrive. According to Elevator Today, new, high-tech features “allow building managers to more intelligently group and assign passengers to elevators, move people more rapidly to their destination, adjust passenger flow in real-time and personalize touchscreens and kiosks.”

Elevators can be dedicated to high-traffic areas to more adequately answer passenger demands. Building managers will be able to control everything remotely from anywhere in the building.

6. The fastest elevators in the world

Cities all over the world are competing to having the tallest skyscrapers, and a similar race is happening regarding the speed of the elevators that serve them. The Shanghai Tower holds three Guinness World Records for the world’s fastest elevator, the tallest elevator in a building, and the fastest double-deck elevator. It travels at 67 feet per second. The elevator in the Guangzhou’s CTF Tower (1,739 feet tall) makes its trip from floor 0 to 95 in only 45 seconds.

Watch out for the Jeddah Tower in Saudi Arabia, through, which will become the tallest building in the world in 2019. That building’s elevators will use “ultrarope,” a carbon-fiber cable that has incredible lift power. It will enable the machine to travel over 33 feet per second, reaching the highest livable floor in 52 seconds.

These and other innovations in the world of elevators mean it’s an exciting time for our industry. We look forward to the next wave of emerging technologies, many of which will influence the daily operation of new elevators around the world.

Connections Elevator is committed to keeping elevators in South Florida up to code and running at peak performance. If your elevator is in need of repairs or it’s time for some modern upgrades, give us a call at 954-792-1234 or just fill out our online contact form.