What makes elevators safe

Considering user behaviour and timely, efficient management maximise safety and customer satisfaction.

When it comes to escalators, safety becomes an important aspect depending on the type of installation. There are primarily two types of installations – indoor and outdoor. Almost 90 per cent of the escalator market in India consists of indoor installations that are free from issues of rodents and water logging. However, for the outdoor installations, drains are provided within the pit of the escalator. The escalators are also provided with sensors which trigger a cut-off mechanism for the motor when the water level rises above a certain specified limit preventing damage to the motors and equipment and consequential hazard to the users of the escalator. There is also an option of providing IP54 rated systems which improves the safety of the equipment from dust and water issues.

For safer experience
Schindler emphasises on end-user safety at all levels. The company’s elevators come with 2-hour fire rated landing doors as standard offering. In case of power failure, Schindler has an Automatic Rescue Device system in place, which takes passengers to the nearest floor. Usage of non-hazardous and 100 per cent recyclable material in the manufacture of products leads to better safety and health of users.
To support the customers during real-time scenarios Schindler uses Schindler FieldLink to access repair history, technical data, trouble-shooting guide, repair routines and more. Route optimisation reduces time for field technician to reach site. Real-time dynamic scheduling helps to identify and prioritise work with minimal disruption to operation. Schindler Remote Monitoring keeps a watchful eye on equipment round-the-clock.

“We are the only elevator company which does full load drop test, with 125 per cent of the carrying capacity, post installation to ensure that the product received by the customer is free from imperfections and installation issues and human errors,” says Deepak Jadhav, Vice President- Infrastructure and Top Range Division, Schindler India Pvt Ltd.

Safety can be maximised if escalators are designed keeping user behaviour in mind. For example, step up-thrust device stops the unit if an object becomes trapped between steps, thus helps prevent accidents involving buggies; double shoe brake system with dual circuit-brake compensate in the unlikely event of failures, thus ensuring a safe stop; skirt safety switch stops the unit if something gets trapped between the step and skirt thus helps prevent accidents with high friction footwear; safety curtains beside the balustrade, prevents people from falling over the balustrade etc. thyssenkrupp puts safety first and offers a wide range of escalators with best in class over 50 safety features, says Manish Mehan, CEO, thyssenkrupp Elevator (India).

Modern trends
“The impressive choice of high-quality materials and attractive colours are in vogue. They make a striking statement and enhance the escalator’s overall appeal. Furthermore, from the outer cladding and the decking to the balustrade glass and the handrail, every design detail can be made customisable,” says Mehan.

Schindler escalators come with a myriad of design offerings which include multiple handrail colour options, floor covers, step colours and finishes to choose from. Led lighting options are available for skirting, step gaps and balustrade fittings. A led outer decking direction indicator also comes as an additional feature which gives the escalator’s entry point a pleasant sense of welcome. Schindler escalators come with LED step gap lighting and LED comb lighting that provides easy visibility at entry and exit points. Even though the gap between steps and skirting is already minimised, there are skirt brushes which provide extra safety by avoiding entrapment, which is especially important for children with small feet and for passengers wearing loose footwear.

“We continuously improve the energy efficiency of our escalators. Our ECOLINE power management allows our customers to define whether the escalator should run at full speed during peak times or automatically slow down or even stop when there are no passengers. Schindler is committed to deliver quality by designing versatile products that meet the trending market requirements and offer customer satisfaction,” says Jadhav.

Recent innovations
Below are the significant advancements in thyssenkrupp elevator technology by Mehan:

With MULTI’s rope-free system, architects and developers are no longer restricted in their designs by concerns about elevator shaft height and vertical alignment. MULTI opens the door to design possibilities in all directions. It helps in reducing elevators’ footprint by up to 50 per cent while increasing passenger throughput. It is the world’s first rope-free elevator that moves multiple cars in a single shaft vertically and horizontally, and is set to revolutionise tall building construction.

TWIN elevator system uses less energy while transporting up to 40 per cent more passengers than conventional elevators. It consists of two cabs that operate in the same shaft independent of each other. Both cabs operate under the same intelligent group control system and are equipped with an innovative quadruple redundancy safety system.

Utilising the power of Microsoft Azure Internet of Things (IoT) technology, MAX makes it possible for an elevator to tell service technicians its real needs, including real-time identification of repairs, component replacements and proactive system maintenance. It is a game-changing predictive and pre-emptive service solution that extends remote monitoring capabilities to dramatically increase current availability levels of existing and new elevators.

ACCEL offers high capacities and high speeds for short distances, with no waiting times for passengers and low implementation costs. Passengers step onto the ACCEL at normal walking speeds, accelerate smoothly up to 7.2 km/h, or even 12 km/h for passengers who continue walking on the pallet band, and then decelerate to normal speed when leaving the system. ACCEL generates time savings of 70 per cent.

Schindler has launched the Schindler Ahead platform partnering with GE and Huawei. Schindler Holding and GE have formed an alliance where Schindler will leverage GE’s Predix Platform and GE’s proven digital industrial expertise in advanced analytics. Also, the partnership with Huawei Technologies is for the development of smart Internet-of-Things (IoT) components for a seamless connectivity of elevators and escalators. The new IoT connectivity solution is a crucial element of Schindler’s digital platform and will enable Schindler to better monitor, analyse and leverage data generated from its elevators and escalators, says Jadhav.

Jadhav explains what Schindler Ahead is set to offer:
Analytics and expert services
• Premier diagnostic and advanced analytics enable Schindler to predictively identify, analyse and resolve possible service issues before they occur.
• The closed-loop platform connects equipment, customers and passengers with the Schindler Contact Centre and technicians and keeps everyone informed.
• Technicians in the field are notified in real-time and have access to a comprehensive knowledge-based digital expert and assistant on the go.

Emergency and monitoring service
• 24/7 connection to Schindler’s Contact Centres with highly trained experts for professional assistance.
• Emergency calls via a reliable digital connection for voice and data.
• Permanent monitoring of equipment health status via Schindler’s Global Control Centre.

Active communication and powerful insights via action board
• Real-time insights to better operate and manage the building.
• Customisable reports on equipment status and performance.
• Event-based notifications via app, text messages or emails keep customers, passengers and technicians informed at all times.

Ready for future digital products and services
• Protection of investment with phase wise upgrades as required.
• Industry-first platform with over the air (OTA) update capabilities.
• Selection and personalisation of applications from the Schindler Ahead App Store for Smart Urban Mobility.

thyssenkrupp puts safety first and offers a wide range of escalators with best in class over 50 safety features.
Manish Mehan, CEO, thyssenkrupp Elevator (India)

Schindler is committed delivering quality by designing versatile products that meet the trending market requirements and offer customer satisfaction.
Deepak Jadhav, Vice President- Infrastructure & Top Range Division, Schindler India Pvt. Ltd.

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