OTIS ADDING NINE PREMIUM UNITS IN HAIKOU, CHINA
OTIS ADDING NINE PREMIUM UNITS IN HAIKOU, CHINA
Otis Elevator (China) Co., Ltd. will provide nine "super double-deck elevators" for Haikou Twin Towers. "Super double-deck" technology automatically adjusts the height between the cars in the double-deck configuration to give architects more freedom to plan diverse floor heights. The under-construction towers are each to rise approximately 428 m above the city's new Central Business District to become the new high-rise landmark on Hainan Island, an international tourism destination off the coast of southern China. Part of modernization efforts of the entire city of Haikou, China, they are to provide 720,000 m2 of mixed-use space for more than 20,000 people and attract at least 3 million tourists each year, China Plus reported. The South Tower is to be complete in 2020, with the North Tower wrapping up in 2023.
JONES JOINS ORACLE AS DIRECTOR OF ACQUISITIONS
Oracle Elevator Co. has named Craig Jones director of acquisitions. Jones brings extensive experience in leading organizations through strategic growth initiatives, mergers and acquisitions, and expanding into new market territories.
Prior to joining Oracle Elevator, Jones worked as a consultant with E Squared Management, a company he co-founded and served as vice president of Client Strategy. He has held executive leadership roles with Albany International, a subsidiary of ASSA ABLOY, a Swedish door and lock company that provides automated entrance and security solutions, and also worked for thyssenkrupp Elevator as national director of sales in the Vertical Express Division across the U.S. and Caribbean markets. In a news release, the company said, “The addition of Craig to Oracle’s senior leadership team affirms the company’s commitment to expanding [its] geographical footprint through aggressive acquisition strategies.” Oracle is headquartered in Tampa, Florida, and is a leading independent provider of elevator maintenance, repair and modernization services across the U.S.
EHC’s ADRAIL PICKS UP MAJOR CUSTOMER
Oshawa, Canada-based EHC Global, Inc. recently gained a major client for its patented ADRail™ escalator handrail film when multinational athletic shoe and apparel manufacturer New Balance began advertising on vertical-transportation equipment at the Sports Experts flagship store in downtown Montreal. The advertising campaign, launched on January 25, uses ADRail graphic film installed by technicians directly over the escalator handrails in the store. ADRail, designed for short-term advertising, branding and safety campaigns on escalators and moving walks, does not affect the performance or service life of the handrail. To date, EHC and its global network of licensees have completed more than 2,000 installations worldwide.
TOWER PLANNED AS PART OF NORTH SYDNEY METRO STATION
Transport for NSW (New South Wales) is seeking approval for a 42-story office tower atop the planned Victoria Cross metro station in North Sydney, ArchitectureAU reports. The application asks for a maximum height of 168 m and maximum gross floor area of 60,000 m2. The design, by Bates Smart, calls for a glazed tower formed of stacked, stepped volumes and allows for several "sky gardens." It would include a podium using "Y" columns to create a lobby, station entrance and concourse that would leave the public space open, allowing for unimpeded foot traffic.
OSHA RELEASES, PROMOTES TOOLBOX TALKS
OSHA launched a safety-awareness campaign called "Construction Focus Four” in March. Running through June, it focuses on falls, strikes, electrocutions and caught-in/between hazards, which it estimates could save 631 lives each year. The focus for June is "Caught-In:Between Hazard Toolbox Talks," which address several pertinent hazards to the elevator industry. The training series consists of lesson plans on each of the hazards. Each lesson plan was developed based on specific learning objectives. Tests are provided to measure each student’s knowledge of the lessons’ learning objectives. However, testing is not required and must not be counted toward required student contact hours.
