THIRD-GENERATION ELEVATOR MAN RETIRES AFTER 53 YEARS
THIRD-GENERATION ELEVATOR MAN RETIRES AFTER 53 YEARS
Don Ruempler, Pittsburgh district manager for Eastern Elevator Sales and Service Co. (EESSC) in Windber, Pennsylvania, has retired after 53 years in the industry. Ruempler's career began in 1964 with Otis, for which he worked until 1992. From 1992-2004, he worked for General Elevator, which was acquired by thyssenkrupp. He then went on to work for EESSC until his retirement this year. Ruempler is a third-generation elevator man: Both his father, Harold F. Ruempler, and his grandfather, Harold E. Ruempler, worked for Otis, from 1946-1992 and 1922-1972, respectively. Mark E. Berkey, EESSC general manager, observed their careers total 146 years, representing "quite a legacy!"
INDIAN RAIL OFFICIALS REQUEST HUNDREDS OF NEW ESCALATORS
India’s Central Railway (CR) and Western Railway (WR) are requesting hundreds of new escalators to replace foot overbridges (FOBs) and prevent tragedies like the Elphinstone stampede in which 23 people died, NYOOOZreports. CR currently has 22 escalators and WR, 32. CR plans to install 52 escalators by June 2018, Divisional Railway Manager S.K. Jain says. WR is installing 18 escalators and has asked the Railway Board for an additional 80. In all, CR is seeking permission to install 214 escalators in Mumbai. In addition to new escalators, CR also plans to build 12 new FOBs, and authorities are pushing to have luggage weights drastically reduced after an audit found passengers' heavy luggage hindered FOB traffic and contributed to the stampede.
MICHIGAN ELEVATOR COMPANY RECOGNIZED BY LOCAL CHAMBER
Elevator Service Inc. (ESI), headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, was recognized by the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce as the EPIC Veteran Owned Business of the Year in October 2017. Founded 30 years ago as strictly an elevator service provider, ESI today provides custom, nonproprietary elevator systems for commercial, residential and government clients. It also offers maintenance, repair and testing. Twenty-five percent of ESI’s employees are veterans of the U.S. military. Nate McFadden, ESI’s president and owner (and former U.S. Marine infantry officer) tells ELEVATOR WORLD 2017 has been the company’s best year yet, and that next year “already looks really strong with significant prospects for regional and national growth.”
30-STORY APARTMENT TOWER A WRAP IN EMERGING MELBOURNE AREA
Gravity Tower, a 30-story apartment building in the up-and-coming Fisherman’s Bend district in Melbourne, Australia, is complete, putting it at the forefront of a construction boom expected to last several decades,Urban Melbourne reports. Developed by Blue Earth Group and designed by Plus Architects with an angled, louvred façade that acts as a sunshade, Gravity Tower has 144 residential units, podium parking and a rooftop dining/communal area. Construction began in 2013, and the property topped out in March. Plus Architecture Director Ian Briggs says it is exciting to be part of a precinct that will be “integral to the future development of Melbourne’s inner city.”
