http://www.elevatorworld.com/industry-news/november-9-2015
THYSSENKRUPP PRESENTS WORKING MULTI MODEL IN SPAIN
ThyssenKrupp presented a working model of MULTI, what the company calls “the world’s first ropeless elevator system,” at its Innovation Center in Gijon, Spain, on November 5. The 1:3 scale model consists of a pair of 10-m shafts and four cabs powered by linear motors, enabling horizontal movement through the use of exchangers that change shaft configuration. The technology is based on the magnetic levitation train Transrapid, and includes a multilevel brake system and inductive power that transfers from shaft to cabin. By incorporating numerous self-propelled cabs running in a loop, transport capacity is increased by up to 50%. Since MULTI requires smaller shafts than conventional systems, a building’s usable area can be increased by up to 25%. The next step is for a full-scale, operational system to be built in ThyssenKrupp’s new test tower in Rottweil, Germany, scheduled for completion by the end of 2016.
XIZI OTIS RENEWS CONTRACT WITH BUSY CHINESE RAIL HUB
A four-year maintenance contract between Xizi Otis and Beijing South Railway Station has been renewed as part of Xizi Otis' "Back-Home Inspection Program," launched in 2014 and providing complimentary maintenance for Xizi Otis escalators and elevators in China. Covering 110 Xizi Otis escalators, the contract includes counseling and support for railway station officials in an effort to enhance the equipment's reliability and safety. Beijing South Railway Station covers approximately 320 m2 and is one of China's busiest transit hubs.
22-STORY APARTMENT TOWER FOR CAMBRIDGE
Boston Properties has confirmed plans to build a 22-story, 274-apartment tower with ground-level retail at 88 Ames Street in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the Boston Business Journal reports. Scheduled to open in 2018, the US$140-million development promises to revitalize an area currently dominated by a parking-garage entrance and loading dock. Boston Properties is also pursuing office and multifamily projects in other parts of Cambridge, such as Kendall Square.
