PROVIDING efficient elevator solutions for what is expected to be the world’s tallest dedicated hotel tower is a challenge that calls for extensive expertise. Dubai-based ETA Melco not only rose to this challenge but also added value to installations to provide users with optimum ride quality and comfort.

The joint venture company between Dubai-based Emirates Trading Agency (part of ETA Ascon Star Group) and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Japan, has supplied 36 high and low-speed Mitsubishi elevators serving the towers and podium areas of the JW Marriott Marquis, Dubai project.

In addition, it has also provided four escalators for the shopping arcade and eight dumbwaiters serving the restaurants.

“We have ensured utmost ride quality as per Mitsubishi’s standards and have supplied specially designed panoramic elevators that offer stunning scenic views of the Sheikh Zayed Road, picturesque Palm Island and sprawling Business Bay,” says G Ramabhadran, project manager.

The passenger and service elevators serve up to 75 levels. He points out that safety was a key issue that was addressed when installing the 24 high-speed elevators, which was entirely carried out adopting the false car procedure, eliminating the need for scaffolding. “Eliminating the scaffolding effectively removes the numerous associated safety hazards, providing a safer environment that allows the installers to concentrate on ensuring quality work,” he explains.

“Considering the height of the building, stage-wise installation had to be adopted for the high-speed elevators so that we could progress with our work in tandem with the building construction; 17 elevators were installed in multi-stages and the remaining seven elevators were installed using the single-stage,” he adds.

The company has supplied 22 guest elevators, including 16 high-speed elevators with speeds ranging between 5.0 and 6.0 m per second; and 14 service elevators including eight high-speed elevators with speeds of 5.0 m per second. Work on the project commenced in January 2009 and is scheduled for completion this month (October).

Commenting on one of the major challenges faced while executing the project, Ramabhadran says: “Transporting the traction machines – each weighing five tonnes – to the machine rooms on the top of the towers using the tower-cranes was a big challenge. To add to the challenge, these machines had to be hoisted through a narrow passage throughout the building – which required close guidance as they were winched up.”

This had to be done to synchronise with the slab casting as otherwise the machines could not be hoisted into the machine rooms.

Another important part of the execution was distributing and storing hundreds of guiderails (5.0 m in length, weighing 150 kg per piece) at different levels. “We kept distributing the heavy guide rails to the designated floors while the building construction was progressing. The plan was to facilitate the erection team to minimise the hoisting process of rails and restricting the same to just five floors at any given time, which proved to be a lot safer and also time-saving,” he says.

The elevators being installed at the JW Marriott Marquis have a number of noteworthy features including forced floor stop operation, CCTV camera inside the cabin, a special VIP operation to cater to the presidential suites, card reader operation for hotel guest floors, and 100 per cent coverage of wi-fi and 3G network inside elevators from the bottom to the top floors.

Ramabhadran states that it has been a unique experience working with Emirates, the client; JW Marriott, the hotel operator; Archgroup, the lead consultant; and Brookfield Multiplex, the main contractor. “The entire project team has worked tirelessly, complementing and supplementing each other’s efforts till the objectives were met,” he says.

He continues: “As subcontractor for the vertical transportation systems, we were always under the radar as the project progressed to new heights. In all our activities, we were fortunate to have the support of the entire project team and it has been a good team work.

“We were very keen to gain the trust and appreciation of the entire project team and we have not disappointed the team since all the stipulated units were handed over (for initial construction use) as per the original commitments. Now we are on the verge of concluding the final handing over of the entire vertical transportation equipment.”

The completion of JW Marriott Marquis is another important milestone in ETA Melco’s tradition of being associated with Dubai’s many landmark projects. One such recent project was the Dubai Metro project (both Red and Green lines), for which the company supplied and installed on time, a total of 652 units. The company is also carrying-out service support to Dubai Metro on a 24/7 basis. Other prestigious projects include 23 Marina, Index Tower, Jebel Ali Free Zone projects, Al Ghurair Centre, Novotel Hotel, Bay Square and numerous other mixed-use towers.

It has also to its credit several key projects in Abu Dhabi including the IPIC (International Petroleum Investment Company) headquarters, Sowwah Square, Meena Plaza, Golf Garden, Royal City Season Hotel, Bawabat Al Sharq commercial and residential complex, Abu Dhabi International Shooting Club, residential, leisure and commercial compound, JW Marriott, Mafreq Dialysis Centre, Al Ain Mall and Mushrif Mall.

In Qatar, its projects include Barwa Commercial District, Barwa Commercial Avenue, Barwa City and Ministry of Interior developments.

ETA Melco provides end-to-end solutions like consultation and design support for architects, consultants, designers and project owners for vertical transportation requirement, apart from its core activities of supply, installation, hand-over, maintenance, repair and modernisation of Mitsubishi elevators, escalators, auto-walks and dumbwaiters.