Elevators and escalators, once reserved for only the largest or most elite buildings, have now become essential components in daily life, particularly in urban centres characterised by modern, towering structures. This shift is helping India’s elevator and escalator segment continue on a robust growth trajectory. Several factors contribute to this growth in demand, including urbanisation marked by a growing population with an increase in disposable income, the expansion of high-speed metro projects and other infrastructure, a rise in office spaces and commercial establishments and an ageing population in need of safe, vertical transportation. As the industry expands, it becomes paramount for companies to comprehend the dynamics of the customer base, and the underlying catalysts propelling the market’s expansion.
Manufacturers are continuously trying to find ways to increase the production of elevators with innovative technological features. Advancement in technology is one of the major factors hoisting the market growth. Rapid urbanization, commercial construction, and upgrading infrastructure of industrial and residential spaces are other major factors aiding the country’s market growth. Along with the adoption of digital transformation, using cloud-based solutions is also fuelling and responsible for the market growth in India. These factors are expected to hoist the market growth for the India elevator market. Amit Gossain, MD, Kone Elevator, India & South Asia, says, “Several recent developments in elevator technology have been geared towards improving efficiency, safety, and sustainability, especially in high-rise buildings.”
He lists out some of the recent developments:
*Destination Control Systems: DCS optimizes elevator efficiency by grouping passengers with similar destinations into the same cabins. This reduces travel time and congestion.
*Ultra-high speed elevators: Manufacturers are constantly pushing the limits of elevator speed. Some of the latest elevators can travel at very high speed.
*Energy efficiency: Elevator manufacturers are reducing the environmental impact of high-rise buildings. This includes regenerative drives, LED lighting, and efficient motor systems.
*Emergency evacuation systems: This may include elevator shafts designed to withstand extreme conditions or alternative power sources for emergency operation.
*Smart elevators: IoT is being integrated into elevators to enable predictive maintenance, remote monitoring, and personalized user experiences.
“Kone UltraRope is highly resistant to wear and abrasion. Elevator downtime caused by building sway is also reduced as carbon fiber resonates at a different frequency to steel and most other building materials. Kone UltraRope has a long lifetime – at least twice that of conventional steel rope – and thanks to the special coating, no lubrication is required in maintaining it.
Looking up
Recent advances focus on key areas like safety, improved passenger experience, data-driven maintenance, connected technology, and creative aesthetics. Sebi Joseph, president, Otis India, says, “Sensors and cloud connectivity allow real-time monitoring of an elevator’s performance, enabling predictive maintenance and reducing equipment downtime, meaning fewer service interruptions and a safe, reliable ride for passengers. Otis has introduced the new Gen3 digitally native elevators in India, powered by the Otis ONE IoT digital platform, which provides connected intelligence that monitors elevator health and performance in real-time, 24/7. Customers prefer lifts with attractive aesthetics. Otis offers the Ambiance range, featuring customizable design elements to match the building’s style to enhance the value of the property.”
High traffic, infrastructure projects require advanced passenger and freight elevators to deliver increased transport capacity; reduced space requirements; enhance safety; improved energy efficiency and greater durability and recyclability. Manish Mehan, CEO and MD, TK Elevator India, says, “Quality elevator systems are designed with advanced features to ensure maximum reliability, efficiency, and durability in such projects. In addition to improving overall transportation for passengers including people traveling with children, these systems are specifically aimed at meeting the accessibility requirements of those with mobility challenges like the elderly and wheelchair users. Vibration in elevator can be reduced by improving the car’s mechanical characteristics and wind noise can be lowered by introducing a streamlined car structure. Careful, professional installation, as well as high quality performance from key components (like the machine, inverter, car and guide rails) are essential for a comfortable riding experience.”
Moving smoothly
Elevators and escalators need to accommodate large volumes of people efficiently. This often involves designing systems with higher capacities and faster speeds to reduce waiting times and congestion. Gossain says, “Installing multiple elevators and escalators helps distribute passenger loads and provides redundancy in case of individual unit failures. This ensures continuous operation and minimises disruptions to passenger flow. Designing elevators and escalators with wide entrances and exits allows for smoother passenger flow, reducing bottlenecks during peak times.”
There is a growing demand for smart and energy efficient elevators. Mehan says, “The Smart elevator technology uses software and microprocessor-based controls instead of electromechanical relays, allowing elevators to automatically enter sleep mode, shut off lights, air conditioning, and video screen when it is empty. Agile Destination Control is one of our key offerings to make this possible. Agile is designed to work with new installation or modernisation projects, enabling elevators old or new to be deployed more intelligently and flexibly, and saves energy consumption by optimising elevator deployment during peak and non-peak hours.”
Real-time, 24/7 monitoring of equipment health and performance helps maintain a smooth passenger flow. Joseph says, “The new Terminal 2 at Kempegowda International Airport welcomes 25 million passengers a year. Here, Otis India supplied 107 energy-efficient units that are integrated with building management systems to help people move smoothly and safely through the busy airport. The Statue of Unity is another busy site that relies on optimising the flow of more than 12,000 visitors daily. Equipped with state-of-the-art technology systems and escalator units, modern elevators offer a swift, safe and seamless ride to the viewing gallery. Otis installed two SkyRise elevators with a small footprint ideal for the statue’s interior, with speeds of 4 meters per second.”
Make less noise
Mechanical design improvements are key, optimising gears, motors and components to minimize noise and vibration at the source. High-quality materials, precision manufacturing and vibration dampers all play a role. Mehan says, “Having said that, our elevators are equipped with the important safety features such as good quality door safety devices, buffer devices in shaft pits, ropes, safety brakes, over speed governor, automatic rescue device, emergency lighting and communication systems, emergency alarm switches, emergency power systems, emergency call and evacuation systems as well as fire protection systems to ensure the safety of the elevators as well that of the riders.”
TK Elevator offers maintenance service through a customisable approach which they call prescriptive maintenance solution. Offered through a variety of service agreements, prescriptive maintenance solution ensures a consistent, proactive, and predictable process their customers can rely on. In addition, they offer maintenance and modernisation solutions for not only TKE branded elevators and escalators, but also have the capabilities to service and modernise third party products.
Gossain says, “Implementing scheduled maintenance programs ensures that elevators and escalators undergo regular inspections, lubrication, and adjustments according to manufacturer recommendations and industry standards. Maintenance schedules are typically based on factors such as usage, age, and environmental conditions.”
Capturing and analyzing data from smart elevators is changing how maintenance is planned. Joseph says, “Elevators equipped with sensors constantly monitor performance through machine learning and computer analysis. Through predictive maintenance, potential issues can be identified before they escalate, and preventative actions can be taken to maintain safe operations. Remote servicing is another advantage offered by Otis’ smart range of Gen3 Nova elevators. Technicians can now use custom apps and smartphones to receive real-time data from the elevator’s sensors. This allows them to troubleshoot and diagnose problems remotely, reducing the need for on-site visits.”
Service factor
In India, elevators can run solely on solar power. This latest elevator technology innovation boasts up to 50 percent per year of energy savings compared to a conventional model. The new elevator can run on solar energy, power from the grid, or a combination of both.
epending on the configuration and available sunlight, it is possible to run the elevator solely on solar power. Solar panels are placed on the rooftop of the building to create power for the elevator. The energy captured by the solar panels can be used immediately, stored in batteries, or even re-sold to the grid. It offers a unique advantage of storing power during a power outage, thus making it safer to travel in than a conventional one.
One of the major problems faced is the generation of greenhouse gases in the construction industry, which uses heavy elevators to transport loads and others. This has an indirect relation to energy consumption. According to VIATechnik LLC, buildings consume about 40% of the world’s energy, and elevators account for up to 10 percent of building energy use. More the consumption of energy, more usage of natural resources such as biomass, coal, and others. Which tends to have a high carbon footprint. To reduce carbon footprint in the construction sector, smart and innovative elevator systems must be used with innovative features such as Regenerative Drive Systems, efficient in-cab sensors & computerized control systems, and others to minimise power consumption and make the construction sector greener.
