Saehan Elevator (CEO Young-sun Son, hereinafter referred to as Saehan), a specialized elevator manufacturer, recently launched the Small Machine Room (SMR) elevator (model name: SMR-P01), which dramatically compensates for the shortcomings of machine roomless elevators (MRL).

In general, MRL is a method that is widely adopted in the field because it can be built one floor higher by eliminating the machine room on the top of the building, resulting in urban aesthetics and construction cost savings. However, there have been problems with installing the winding machine and control panel inside the elevator shaft and at the platform entrance.

In particular, it has been difficult to maintain the hoisting machine due to low accessibility when the operator performs inspection work, and the control panel installed at the entrance of the platform has also been a factor in increasing costs due to non-standard production, as the size and finishing material of the control panel varies depending on the platform design.

In response, Saehan's SMR built a separate machine room for the winding machine and control panel in the existing MRL structure, solving the difficulties of maintenance, manual movement, and operators at the same time.

"It is a new concept MR product that compartmentalizes a small machine room separately from the hoistway in the same space as the projection area and height of the hoistway of the MRL," said Son Young-sun. "The machine room can be accessed without going through the hoistway by creating a separate entrance outside the hoistway, and the machine room can be freely arranged on the left, right, side, and rear according to the building structure."

In particular, the machine room can be installed not only on the lowest and highest floors but also on the middle floor, allowing for greater flexibility in design, and the control panel can be standardized, eliminating the need to install additional safety devices for winding machine inspection or emergency batteries, significantly reducing production costs. In addition, the control panel is not exposed to the platform, reducing damage from external shocks and rainwater, and is shielded from the inside of the elevator and residential spaces, reducing noise relatively. 

Since its first installation at Songjeong Station at Gimpo Airport in 2011, about 100 units have been installed at subway stations such as Jeongwang Station, Dapsimni Station, Boseong Station, and Shingal Station, and are currently reflected in the architectural designs of more than 100 sites. Last year, it was selected as an excellent invention by the Korean Intellectual Property Office and was recognized for its technology and ideas as a recommended product for priority purchase by public institutions. In the future, the company plans to supply products centered on new stations of the Korea Railroad Facilities Corporation.

Meanwhile, Saehan will begin construction this month to build a new factory (pictured left) in Suwon Industrial Complex to expand the company's scale later this year. With the goal of achieving 30 billion won in sales in 2016, the company plans to actively sell SMR products and commercialize touch screen devices that can be remotely controlled and monitored.