Mitsubishi Electric Saudi Limited (Melsa) says its hi-tech Elenessa machine-room-less elevators have been a major hit in Saudi Arabia.

''Elenessa, named to mean 'elevator and renaissance',  is not just an architect's delight, but also a user's dream,'' says a Melsa spokesman. ''It offers improved ride comfort, freedom of layout and a universal design that suits both low-rise and medium-rise buildings.''
Mitsubishi, the company behind the technology, says that the elevator  was the result of  the company's success in miniaturising key elevator equipment.

''The installation of a gearless traction machine, a compact PM motor and slim control panel - 98-mm-thick in case of rated load 630 kg to 1,050 kg and now located on the shaft sidewall in the hoist-way - have eliminated restrictions faced by designers on elevator placement and arrangement,'' the spokesman says.

''By supporting the vertical elevator reaction loads on to the guide rails, the need to factor in load stress to the building structure has been eliminated. The gearless traction machine with the PM motor is packed with cutting-edge technology, such as Mitsubishi's stator-core structure and built-in double brakes. This optimised motor design dramatically reduces the level of torque ripple and harmonic noise, making the ride smoother, quieter and more comfortable than ever before.''

Established in 1980 as a joint venture  between Mitsubishi Electric Corporation of Japan and Omar Kasim Alesayi and Company of Saudi Arabia, Melsa commenced operations with the supply, installation and maintenance of elevators, escalators and moving walks. With its head office at Riyadh, Melsa has set up offices in all the major cities of Saudi Arabia.

The company, which has ISO 9001:2000 certification, has also won international acclaim for its work at the Al Faisaliah Centre, Riyadh, where it installed 67 units. This project was ranked first among the world's best projects by the international elevator magazine The Elevator World in 2001.

Elenessa includes many features designed to reduce the need for maintenance such as double brakes. When maintenance is necessary, the control panel is easily accessible from the maintenance platform on top of the elevator cage.

A smart door system monitors floor conditions to ensure fast, safe door opening and closing. A high-performance chip is said to enhance the door's sensitivity, so that the door operation suits the precise conditions at each stopping floor. The elevator also has a load detector that makes the doors reopen when abnormal pressure is applied.

Melsa sales have increased considerably in the last few years largely due to the quality of its people and total sales in Saudi Arabia have crossed the 7,000-unit mark. The company's commitment to after-sales service has resulted in more than 4,000 units coming under its comprehensive maintenance care.

Elenessa has already been installed at the Jeddah Towers of Jeddah, King Abdul Aziz Civilisation Centre of Al Baha, Arcade Commercial Centre of Riyadh, Al Otair Residential building of Riyadh, King Fahd Mosque of Hail, Marriott Hotel of Riyadh, Beach Restaurant of Jeddah, Azizia Panda Hyper Market of Riyadh, car parking building of Madinah and the Abdul Kareem Al Turki building of Makkah.'

Melsa's quality assurance plan also includes an intensive maintenance programme immediately after installation, which ensures a trouble-free performance in the long run. In addition, field quality assurance (FQA) engineers from Japan frequently visit sites to assess the quality of the firm's installations and maintenance.