The world’s first composite passenger elevator will soon be available. It will likely be manufactured in Singapore.
The lift, unveiled on Wednesday (Jan 11) by Singapore Lift Company (SLC), is named the “8.” It uses lightweight composite materials and marks a departure from steel, a fabric traditionally utilized in elevators.
Established in August 2015, SLC is a three way partnership between local real estate developer Far East Organization, construction and engineering company Woh Hup and holding company Pronus (HK).
Composites include a wide range of materials, reminiscent of carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP), glass fiber reinforced polymers, and bio-based polymers. Given their relative lightness, high strength, and improved corrosion resistance, these materials have been utilized by a wide range of industries, including aerospace, deep-sea exploration, and even sports reminiscent of Formula 1.
For example, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A350 use lightweight carbon fiber composites, that are one-fifth the load of steel but no less than five times stronger, to switch aluminum alloys within the airframes of those aircraft.
It will likely be the primary time composite materials have been utilized in the lifts, but SLC managing director Alister Bennett says safety will likely be ensured.
“We want people to feel confident that composites are secure. They’re lighter, stronger, and the applications are amazing,” he said, citing the instance of aluminum honeycomb panels, that are utilized in each his limousine and his 787 Dreamliner.
“Aluminum honeycomb panels are typically used on flaps, which are raised on the wings when (the plane) is preparing to land, and that involves phenomenal atmospheric pressure,” he explained.
SLC also conducted tests, reminiscent of loading the elevator with 1,600kg of weight before it dropped into the elevator shaft. “We wanted to see if it would break. Ultimately, the cabin was fine,” Mr Bennett said.
The lift has already received concept approval from Liftinstituut, one in all the European organizations certifying lift and escalator systems. It is awaiting final approval from the organization, in addition to a certificate from Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority (BCA), which is predicted to be issued by the top of the primary quarter.
The company then hopes to have the elevator commercially available within the fourth quarter of 2017.
In the meantime, SLC will partner with local company Admiralty International to construct elevator cabins in Singapore.
Admiralty International director Chia Thien Fook told Channel NewsAsia on the launch: “We produce composite materials for boats utilized by the Singapore Navy, and people boats we built greater than 10 years ago are still in use. People normally think that since it’s plastic, it means it won’t be durable, but that is not true.”
LIGHTER, BIGGER AND EASIER TO INSTALL
A “simple lunchtime conversation” along with his father about the associated fee and time it will take to switch the escalators on the London Underground, also referred to as the Tube, inspired Mr Bennett to think about using composite materials in elevators and escalators. His father, Nigel Bennett, was the previous chief executive of Hong Kong-based elevator and escalator supplier Jardine Schindler.
He said: “On the London Underground, some escalators are very old and should be replaced of their entirety. Unfortunately, escalators are in-built long sections and need to be lifted by cranes. Parts of the station need to be demolished to switch them, and the development work takes months and costs thousands and thousands of kilos.
“So I started thinking, why not make a composite truss so we could fold it flat, carry it through the entrance and put it away.”
“It would save a tremendous amount of money and time.”
Similarly, in accordance with Mr Bennett, composite lifts will take less time to put in and require less labour and construction materials.
While it takes about five working days to put in a conventional elevator on one floor, a composite elevator requires only in the future of labor attributable to its relatively low weight of 150 kg. A standard elevator manufactured from steel with the identical load-bearing capability weighs about 1,500 kg.
“This eliminates the need for complex shaft structures and a significant amount of structural support in the form of concrete walls and steel piers… which are standard requirements in current elevator designs,” SLC noted in a press release.
Mr Bennett said the corporate goals to eventually speed up the method to 4 floors a day, which might mean a “significant increase in productivity” and an “industry breakthrough”.
“In addition to the cost and time savings, the easy installation of the elevator means that a specialist skilled workforce will no longer be required. Currently, there are about 61,000 passenger elevators in Singapore and only about 2,000 elevator technicians,” the press release added.
“With this innovation, any person can be trained and certified to install an elevator, which would reduce to some extent the labor issue for elevator installation and maintenance costs.”
Lightweight construction also signifies that composite elevators don’t require counterweights, allowing larger elevator cabins to be built.
“Traditional elevators have large counterweight sections that hang off one side… We’ve done away with that and by removing that section we now have all the space that was used for rails and weights to create the elevator car,” Mr Bennett explained, noting that the larger elevator will likely be an added convenience for disabled people.
“With a minimum turning circle of 1400mm, it is the only lift designed to provide a sufficient turning radius for wheelchair users. We want it to be a dignified and wheelchair-friendly lift.”
But the composite elevator falls short in a single respect. According to Mr. Bennett, SLC composite elevators won’t be suitable for tall buildings which might be greater than 20 stories tall.
“We initially set a target of eight (floors), which is why this launch is called 8. As we get better, we will work on going higher… but we will never be able to operate elevators at heights because the higher and faster you go, the heavier the elevators have to be,” he explained, noting that the high-speed elevators installed in Taiwan’s Taipei 101 skyscraper require several weights to be attached to the underside.
“Realistically, our elevators are the solution for low-rise buildings with less than 20 storeys, but for buildings with more storeys, a traditional elevator with weights may be necessary, otherwise the ride would not be comfortable.”
Source: Channel NewsAsia
