ONE of the world’s most environment-friendly elevators has just been commissioned at the Fujairah City Centre.

The state-of-the-art Gen2 elevator system – which is also featured on prominent projects such as the Burj Khalifa in Dubai – was installed by Otis Elevator Company, a leading global specialist in elevators, escalators and moving walkways, under a contract that covered the supply, testing and commission of the elevator system as well as two escalators for the project.

According to Bora Gulan, area director, Turkey and Middle East, the contract period was short for both the delivery of equipment and installation, requiring Otis to start work on the project last December and complete it last month. Nevertheless, the company has successfully risen to the challenge, having partnered with the consultant and contractor in order to agree on an optimal timeline.

Gulan says the company is well-positioned to anticipate and address almost any such challenges, as it can draw on more than a century of experience and as the world’s only elevator provider to successfully install equipment at a height of 828 m at the Burj Khalifa, the world tallest building.

“Otis is proud to have a long-standing relationship with MAF Properties in the retail segment. Its products have been chosen for the Mall of the Emirates followed by Mirdiff City Centre and now the Fujairah City Centre,” he says.

The Otis Gen2 elevator system at Fujairah City Centre the is the latest innovation and award-winning product from Otis and offers energy savings up to 50 per cent. The product is part of a company-wide initiative to minimise the environmental impact of the firm and its products. Gulan says the key to the Gen2 elevator’s “green” success is in the belts. The polyurethane-coated steel belts provide for a more compact, energy-efficient machine. These flexible belts also make the Gen2 machine 70 per cent smaller and up to 50 per cent more efficient than conventional geared machines, he says.

“This frees up valuable building space and reduces operating costs. In addition, the Gen2 system’s flat belts and gearless machine do not require any additional lubrication, eliminating the need for storage, clean-up and disposal of hazardous waste,” says Gulan.

Today, Otis’ advanced Gen2 elevator system is part of landmark buildings like the Burj Khalifa, where Otis has supplied and installed 73 elevators, including 22 energy-efficient Gen2 elevators.

“We are proud to set the direction for our industry and look forward to bringing innovative, energy-efficient products and services to our customers in the Middle East for years to come,” he says, adding that the company continues to set precedents for reliability and safety throughout the industry.

Otis Gen2 systems are designed to minimise environmental impact by optimising the size, materials and weight of components. The systems are also designed for an efficient shipping process with reduced packaging, and more than 95 per cent of the materials used in Gen2 are recyclable. The new generation of elevators offers LED lighting that last up to 10 times longer than conventional lighting. When combined with an auto-shut-off mode, LED lighting becomes up to 80 per cent more energy efficient than conventional lighting, Gulan says.

Since it established a presence in the Middle East in 1967, Otis has remained committed to providing the safest, most reliable solutions possible. Otis is directly represented in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain. In Qatar, Oman and Yemen, it operates through agents.

The company claims to have been the first to have installed an elevator, escalator and a moving walkway in the UAE, where it has offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Al Ain, all of which are electronically connected for instant communication. Otis is the recipient of the Dubai Quality Appreciation Award in 2003 and 2009.

Commenting on the UAE market, Gulan says: “Although the construction boom has slowed within the UAE, Otis sees strong growth opportunities in this important market.”

He adds that in mature markets where new construction activity has slowed, Otis has seen a strong demand for maintenance and modernisation services. “In fact, Otis’ modernisation services have been selected by iconic buildings around the world, including the Empire State Building in the US. Further, service now represents more than 60 per cent of Otis’ annual revenues,” he says.

Green initiative

In addition to improved products and services that reduce energy consumption and offer optimum performance, Otis has implemented energy-saving manufacturing processes that minimise waste and help reduce water and energy usage. Its Teda Manufacturing Centre in China is the world’s first “green” elevator factory. Advanced technologies in use at this Gold-level Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (Leed)-certified location reduce energy usage by at least 25 per cent compared to conventional design and manufacturing methods.

In line with this strategy, Otis last year launched ‘The Way to Green’, which spans every aspect of the company’s operations, from design and manufacturing to products end-of-life recycling.

“Designed to significantly enhance the company’s commitment to environmental protection and sustainability, The Way to Green encompasses improved products and services that reduce energy consumption and offer optimum performance, as well as energy-saving manufacturing processes that help reduce the company’s environmental impact,” he says.

Gen2’s polyurethane-coated steel belts ... 50 per cent more efficiency.

Successes

Worldwide, Otis successfully completed more than 30 acquisitions in 14 countries in 2011 and aims to continue to pursue acquisitions and make strategic investments, particularly in the emerging markets. The company has just announced a realignment of operations in the Gulf region, Asia and Europe to support this focus.

The company has been associated with a number of landmark structures like the Eiffel Tower in Paris (France), the Burj Khalifa, CN Tower in Toronto (Canada), Bitexco Financial Tower in Vietnam, Lotte World Tower in Seoul (South Korea) – with 46 elevators and escalators, including 16 Gen2) – Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) and the Shanghai World Financial Tower in Shanghai (China).

Otis was selected for its green products for projects such as Kohinoor Hospital in India – Asia’s first and the second hospital in the world, to be awarded Leed Platinum certification; Los Angeles International Airport in the US and the Vodafone D2 corporate headquarters in Dusseldorf, Germany. It is currently involved with Kohinoor Square located in Mumbai, India, where it will supply and install 63 elevators and escalators. The project will include one of India’s tallest office buildings and is currently pursuing Leed Platinum certification from the Indian Green Building Council.

Otis will also provide 21 elevators and 47 escalators to the World Trade Center Port Authority Trans-Hudson (Path) Transportation Hub in lower Manhattan, New York.

Its recent project-win list also features Glasgow Subway (UK), where it will replace all 28 escalators on the network as part of an overall enhancement project by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT). The modernised escalators will better enable the subway to meet the demands of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

At the Empire State Building, Otis will fully refurbish and modernise the building’s 68 elevators, as part of a contract which also stipulates a 10-year maintenance period. The elevator upgrade and maintenance – the final component of the building’s $550-million re-building renovation and modernisation programme – will deliver improved speed, energy efficiency and passenger experience.