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OTIS commercially successful Gen2™ system wins technology award
Farmington, Conn., February 13, 2001 – Not only is the revolutionary Gen2™ elevator system from Otis seeing broad commercial success across Europe since its introduction last year, but its coated steel belt technology now also has the stamp of the prestigious Industrie Forum Design Award for 2001. Otis is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX) Otis’ coated steel belt, produced by ContiTech Antriebssysteme GmbH, Hannover, exclusively for the Gen2 system, placed first among more than 100 other entries in the Industrie Forum (iF) Ecology Design Award competition. The coated steel belt design also earned the highest honor in the Industry category of the iF Product Design Award competition that included 1,320 products from 700 companies in 30 countries. Otis’ Gen2 system, which offers a range of important benefits thanks to the “enabling” coated steel belt technology, has sold more than 2,000 units in its first year on the market. The product increased Otis’ market share and made the company a leader in the machine room-less market, which barely existed three years ago. The Gen2 elevator has been particularly successful for Otis in countries such as Germany, the Netherlands and Finland. “The Gen2 elevator has enhanced Otis’ leadership in the industry, and the machine room-less configuration, enabled by the coated steel belt, is the key to its success in Europe,” said Tom Saxe, program director, mid-rise products. “We are pleased to share this honor with our supplier ContiTech.” Instead of the heavy and rigid steel cables traditionally used in traction elevators, the Gen2 product employs polyurethane-coated steel belts. Each belt is 3mm thick and 30mm wide and contains 12 small, extremely high-tensile strength steel cords. The flexibility and better traction of the coated steel belt vs., conventional cables result in a more efficient transfer of power from the machine to the car, making the Gen2 product a more compact elevator system. The more flexible coated steel belts enable Otis to use a permanent magnet gearless machine that is some 70 percent smaller than the traditional geared machines typically used in these applications. The smaller machine size allows architects to eliminate the overhead machine room for more flexibility in design. The elimination of the machine room in turn means a less complex construction process for general contractors, and more rentable space for building owners. In addition, the highly efficient gearless machine reduces the building’s overall energy consumption and lowers energy costs over the long term. |
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