Gen2 Core to meet the needs of affordable housing segments

A majority of the Indian residential segment have buildings that are less than 6 to 7 storeys high. The Gen2 Core offers this segment an elevator that is environmentally responsible.

Late 2016, Otis announced the launch of the Gen2 Core, an energy efficient elevator designed to meet the needs of the Indian mass and affordable housing segments. With a speed of 0.7 metre/sec and options of machine-room or machine-room less arrangements, this elevator is ideal for low-rise residential buildings.

Built on Otis’ flagship Gen2 technology platform, this latest product – Gen2 Core offers an upgrade from traditional rope-geared systems to the permanent magnet gearless-belted technology. The Gen2 Core uses Otis’ patented, flexible polyurethane-coated steel belts, the ReGen regenerative drive, which captures energy that is normally wasted during braking and feeds it back into the building’s electric grid, compact gearless machine and pulse monitoring system.

Explaining how this technology is going to impact the construction industry Sebi Joseph, President, Otis India say, “A majority of the Indian residential segment have buildings that are less than 6 to 7 storeys high. The Gen2 Core offers this segment an elevator that is environmentally responsible. As India continues to urbanise we need to look at sustainable solutions, and the Gen2 offers just that through its energy saving and space conservation features.”

He adds, “Affordable homes make up almost 90 per cent of the demand for homes in India and this has become one of the focus areas of Otis. Otis already has been deploying Gen2 technology in elevators for high-rise buildings since 2010 and the Gen2 Core elevators are built on this technology platform.”

The current housing deficit in India stands at 19 million units and 95 per cent of this deficit is around the economically weaker sections and low income group segments. This segment is likely to get a boost as the government is aiming to provide housing for all by 2022.

“Affordable homes do not just mean the cost accessibility of the home, but also lower operational and maintenance costs. Sustainable features are keys to any affordable housing project. This product offer environmentally responsible elevators for low-rise buildings across the country especially into tier-1 and -2 cities,” he states.

Demand for green elevators
As urbanisation drives the increased need for housing, the need for smart and efficient technologies to support growth will become a must. In the case of elevators, this means working with increasingly complex technology. “There is an increasing demand for ‘green’ elevators, such as Otis’ Gen2 elevator with ReGen drive, which captures energy that would otherwise be wasted by the elevator and feeds it back into the building’s power grid. The Otis Gen2 elevator and ReGen drive combine to reduce energy consumption by up to 75 per cent under normal operating conditions, compared to conventional systems with non-regenerative drives. Otis’ flagship products, the Gen2 range, are focused on efficiency while providing environmentally responsible features and benefits. Otis has sold more than 500,000 Gen2 elevators worldwide since its launch,” informs Joseph.

As for existing elevators, they can be made energy efficient by adding the Variable Frequency Drives (VF drive) in the door system and elevator control system. VF drives regulate power and help with optimising energy usage.

ReGen drives can additionally be fitted to an existing system. And auto-fan and auto-light switch off operations can also be adopted and LED lights can be used to replace tube lights inside the elevator car.

“Otis is also working on developing ‘smart’ elevators. A smart elevator is a connected elevator capable of communicating with passengers, building manager’s service staff and other building systems to improve the passenger experience and elevator performance, especially through improved elevator maintenance,” he infomed.

The company thinks that the next developments in elevator technology will leverage this digitalisation. Existing Otis technologies such as the CompassPlus destination management system, which constantly evaluates real-time passenger traffic to improve flow and travel time in busy mid- and high-rise buildings, are the start of this trend.

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