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CNAccording to the report of Lianhe Zaobao, the elevator industry is constantly seeking breakthroughs. A joint venture company has successfully used composite materials to build elevators, which is 10 times lighter than conventional steel elevators, and passenger capacity has increased by about double.
The elevator named “8” is the world’s first passenger lift built using composite materials. Composites are lighter and stronger, and will not corrode, so long service life can be as long as six or seventy years.
The Singapore Lift Company (SLC), a joint venture between the Far East Organization, Woh Hup and the holding company Pronus (HK), unveiled the world’s first composite elevator at the Fullerton Hotel yesterday.
Alister Ja Bennett, managing director of SLC, said that using composite materials is not new. Boeing 787 Dreamliner and some BMW series cars have used this type of material in the construction process, but they use composite materials. Building an elevator is a pioneering move.
“The advantages of composite materials include lighter and stronger…Compared to steel, composites do not corrode, so the longevity of composites can be as long as 60 or 70 years with proper repairs.”
The weight of the composite elevator “8” is 150 kg, which is about 10 times lighter than a conventional elevator weighing about 1,500 kg. General elevators can only carry about six people, but “8” carries 11 passengers and weighs about 825 kilograms.
Bennett said that the traditional elevator T-shaped steel rails need a support point every 1.5 to 2 meters, otherwise the rails will bend, so the elevator shaft needs a cement wall or a steel frame, so that the elevator rail bracket has a bolt on the place.
“Once we redesigned, ‘8’ does not need to use this more complicated elevator shaft and supporting frame, and the ‘8’ is lighter, so we don’t need to install a counterweight. That way, the saved places allow us to Expand the space of the elevator car.”
In addition, the “8” elevator car will have a turning diameter of at least 1.4 meters to allow the wheelchair to have enough turning space. The “8” is currently mainly targeted at low-rise flats, but it can be expanded to 20-storey buildings in the future.
Bennett also mentioned that traditional elevators take five to seven days to install a floor, but the “8” installation process will be shortened to an elevator that can be installed at least one floor per day without the need for heavy equipment or welding. . “This will increase the work efficiency of employees and help reduce overall construction expenses.”
It is expected to start selling in the third quarter of this year
The “8” elevator design concept has been approved by Liftinstituut, the European safety certification body for elevators and escalators. Bennett disclosed that they have already begun negotiating with the Construction Bureau about the “8” certification. Next, they will also appoint an authorized elevator inspector to conduct the relevant review. “We plan to complete the certification in March and start selling this elevator in the third quarter of this year.”
Bennett said that they intend to produce “8” elevators locally and also hope to cooperate with local colleges and universities to develop skills for the design and engineering of elevator components and the overall composite industry.
When interviewed by the spokesman of the Far East Agency and Hehe Construction Company, they said that “8” has the potential to meet the challenges of high costs and limited human resources faced by the local construction and construction industry. They will also assess the feasibility of adopting “8” in development projects in the future.