http://www.elevatorworld.com/industry-news/industry-october-7/
OTIS ADJUSTS OUTLOOK FOR MALAYSIA
Otis expects to see slower growth in Malaysia in 2016 as a result of the weakening Malaysian ringgit in relation to the U.S. dollar putting the brakes on construction, The Malaysian Insider reports. Malaysia is a market driver for Otis, which, according to company officials, has enjoyed double-digit growth in the country for the past five-plus years. The value of Otis' Malaysian market is slightly less than US$100 million. Otis is confident in the market over the long term, to the point it plans to build a training center in Bangi, Malaysia, that will train approximately 200 people per year. The company did not give a timeframe for construction.
MASSACHUSETTS SEES ELEVATOR INSPECTION RATE IMPROVE
Massachusetts has seen its elevator-inspection rate improve from 69% in March 2014 to 87% in October 2015, thanks in part to more and better-paid inspectors, the Boston Herald reports. Salaries in 2015 improved by 20% to US$70,200, and the state has added six inspectors and plans to add more to its roster of 61 after approving a US$1.8-million budget increase. Massachusetts currently has approximately 40,000 elevators. An online permitting system is also credited with helping keep better track of units.
EMPORIS SKYSCRAPER AWARD GOES TO BEIJING LANDMARK
International data provider Emporis has awarded Zaha Hadid-designed Wangjing SOHO, a trio of 118-, 127- and 200-m-tall buildings on the outskirts of Beijing, its 2015 Skyscraper Award. Emporis cited the complex's energy efficiency and soft, fluid shape as reasons for its selection. Runners up, in order, are: Bosco Verticale in Milan, by Boeri Studio; Tour D2 in Courbevoie, France, by Agence d'Architecture Anthony Béchu and ATSP; One World Trade Center, New York City (NYC), by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill; Leadenhall, London, by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners; Burj Mohammed bin Rashid, Abu Dhabi, by Foster + Partners; Soyak Kristal Kule, Istanbul, by Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, Has Mimarlik One57, NYC, by Atelier Christian de Portzamparc and Frank Williams & Partners; Infinity, Brisbane, Australia, by DBI Design; and KKR Tower, Kuala Lumpur, by GDP Architects.
POTENTIAL MANUFACTURER FLAW FOUND AFTER NYC FATALITY
New York City (NYC) investigators found a potentially dangerous manufacturer flaw in a specific brand of elevator involved in an incident on October 2 in Brooklyn, New York, in which a 37-year-old Israeli man was killed, NY Daily News reports. The brand operates in 60 NYC buildings. Owners of the buildings have been advised by the city to operate the units manually until they have been examined by an independent inspector and deemed to be safe.
