Give us an overview of your team and global reach.
Our team is diverse and strategically located in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Auckland, London and New York City. This gives us first-hand experience of changing global practices, standards and technological innovations.
Every member of the team has spent their entire career working in vertical transportation. Many have held senior positions in the world’s largest vertical transportation manufacturers, in all aspects of the business, and are considered experts in their field.
Where do you see the greatest opportunities for vertical transportation right now?
From an outsider’s perspective, the vertical transportation industry could be considered somewhat slow moving, however we’ve seen some truly game-changing innovations in the last 20 years. These include:
- the initial introduction of destination control from Schindler
- two lift cars running independently in the same shaft with TK’s TWIN
- the potential of multiple cars in one shaft with TK MULTI
- the introduction of new suspension medium in the form of coated steel belts from Otis and carbon fibre belts from Kone.
These technologies have had a significant impact on the built environment –improving gross floor area to net lettable area ratios, reducing energy consumption and minimising space requirements – all while allowing the next generation of super-tall buildings to become a true reality.
I see the next game-changing innovation as lift component monitoring. Currentlly, maintenance of lift systems is still heavily reliant on technician attendance. As monitoring technology evolves, with sensors added to more components, there will be unlimited opportunities for building owners to view their real-time lift performance, monitor the condition of the elevator systems in their buildings and, ultimately, request a service visit to rectify faults before they occur. This will improve end user experience with better reliability and availability.
What’s the most exciting thing happening in your team right now?
The changing nature of urbanisation needs innovation across many disciplines in the built environment. As the appetite for super tall buildings and vertical cities grows, vertical transportation becomes, perhaps, the most important building service to respond, demanding creative and robust solutions.
We’re currently growing our team with new consultants in Auckland, Melbourne, London and New York City. The knowledge and skills these individuals bring put us in a strong position to respond to these growing opportunities in vertical transportation.
Why vertical transportation?
I didn’t really seek out a career in vertical transportation, but I did have a keen interest in electronic and electrical systems which led me towards an apprenticeship with Glasgow City Council as a lift mechanic.
I was hooked from the first day, fascinated by the 1950s and 60s relay-based control systems that were driving the lift systems. Days were never dull, as anyone who works in the lift industry can confirm – ‘lifties’ are an interesting bunch!
From those early days, I’ve enjoyed every role I have held, gained a Masters of Science in Lift Engineering and worked on some truly amazing projects with NDY. It’s been an excellent career to have fallen into!
What professional relationships do you value the most?
Working with like-minded people who value the improvements new technology and innovations can have on a project.
What does Making Spaces Work mean to you?
To me, Making Spaces Work is about how users will interact with the vertical transportation systems. It’s about more than meeting project objectives like delivering a solution that meets the minimum waiting time or capacity requirements.
It’s about innovative solutions like face-to-face emergency calling in public buildings where trapped passengers are shown a video image of the person answering their call to reduce anxiety levels or the incorporation of touch screen tenant directory screens to allocate passengers to lift cars.
It’s these little things that show understanding of the user experience and really improve a space.
