Known under multiple names like cherry picker, platform lift, zoom boom and scissors lift, the lift platform is used for applications in the construction and maintenance industries as well as by fire fighters and emergency workers trying to save lives. While most models are designed only to carry less than a ton, some specialty models have the capability of carrying more weight. The controls are situated both on the platform and at the bottom of the machine. This makes it convenient as only one person is needed to control a lift platform.

There are three categories of lift platform, namely the aerial device, scissor lift and hotel lift. Each category lists unique features that make them more suited for a specified range of applications within the intelligent lifting industry. The biggest difference between them lies in the form of drive mechanism used to propel the platform to a certain place. Other distinguishing factors are price, availability and manufacturers.

Aerial devices normally use hydraulic piston and either a diesel or gasoline motor to function. Nowadays, newly introduced smaller electric powered machine are increasingly gaining popularity as well. These are mostly used to clean windows and lift workers high up to perform their maintenance operations. Their close appearance to a crane and the presence of joints in their lifting arm create a distinction from other models. When they were first developed, they were largely used in orchards, and thus these units are also known as cherry pickers.

The distinguishing factor of the scissor lift is that it can only be moved vertically, which is done normally by a cross section of scaffolding that gets elongated to project the platform upwards. These units allow workers to reach a working area on higher ground by acting as a raising bridge. Operating these machineries could be done in many ways including hydraulic, pneumatic and mechanical. In some cases, depending on which type was used, this machine would be allowed to descend without power, as there would be ample hydraulic or pneumatic pressure. This would allow the operator to come down even during a power failure.

The hotel lift is a smaller mechanical unit that uses rack and pinion to extend. With a limited weight capacity, it too can be raised vertically, just like the scissor lift. These units are sometimes used as wheelchair platform lifts that allow the handicapped gain access to higher stories in any building.

Toyota continues to assert itself as an innovative leader in automotive hybrid technology with the launch of its new hybrid forklift – the GENEO-HYBRID. This 3.5 tonne, counterbalance forklift is designed to reduce C02 emissions by half. This is accomplished by using a 2.5 litre diesel engine, in combination with an electric motor and nickel-hydride battery, which cuts fuel consumption dramatically. Even with all of this efficiency, the ground breaking GENEO-HYBRID still offers excellent performance!

This innovative technology comes at a perfect time, when businesses around the world are trying to reduce their fuel costs and decrease their environmental impact and C02 emissions. Toyota’s hybrid line is a proven way for businesses to accomplish these goals, and this new forklift is an excellent example of how technology can work with the environment, or at least, begin to. The forklift’s dual engine uses half the fuel of traditional, similar heavy duty vehicles, yet offers performance equal to standard models, providing a significant savings to the owner and the environment. The power efficiency of the GENEO-HYBRID forklift is increased by recovering energy when the accelerator is released, as well as when the operator changes the direction of travel.

Toyota offers this hybrid as proof of its commitment to cutting edge technology, and customer satisfaction. Hybrid technology helps Toyota to adhere to their self-imposed philosophy of kaizen, continuous improvement, a philosophy of always trying to make things better, even when nothing is actively wrong. Toyota continues to investigate and pursue various alternative technologies in an effort to continually improve on fuel efficiency.

This outstanding vehicle uses unique dual technology – the drive system is powered by a Series Hybrid System, where the drive motor is run by electric energy, from the battery and generator. The load handling is powered by a Parallel Hybrid System, where a hydraulic pump receives mechanical energy from the diesel engine and the generator, and gets electrical energy from the battery. The battery is recharged simply by engine operation, with no need for plugging it in to charge. This makes it a great tool that can be used around the clock, from shift to shift. The GENEO-HYBRID was developed and is manufactured in Japan, and will be launched first into the Japanese marketplace.

NASA has held an annual contest called the Power Beaming Challenge since 2005. In this contest, the general public is asked to create a robotic climber to be used on a possible space elevator.

The space elevator project as NASA started with the idea of extending a cable, starting at the equator on Earth, thousands of miles into space. The rotation of the Earth would keep the cable tight by centrifugal force.

The contest required participants to design a robotic climber that could not only climb this cable, but could be powered by a wireless means.

NASA offered $2 million in prize money, to win a portion of this money, contestants had to meet one or both of the following two criteria:

To win the $900,000 in prize money, the crawler had to climb a test cable at a rate faster than 2 meters per second.

The remaining amount of $1.1 million, would be paid to a contestant who could design a crawler that could climb the cable at a rate faster than 5 meters per second. So far, no one has been able to achieve 5 meters per second.

On November 4th, 2009, the contest was held at Edwards Air Force Base, in Mojave California. A cable was hung from a helicopter, 900 meters in the air. This would serve as a testing cable for the climbers

The winning team, LaserMotive of Seattle Washington, not only accomplished the 2 meters per second goal, but surpassed that. Utilizing solar panels, and a ground based infrared laser, the climber achieved an average speed of 3.7 meters per second. The second attempt defeated the first, climbing the cable at a rate of 3.9 meters per second.

A space elevator is still just an idea, and is many years from implementation, but the results of this competition show that the technology is definitely possible. This same technology though, is expected to help in other applications. For instance, a lunar rover that normally wouldn’t be able to be powered in a dark, unlit crater, would be able to still be powered using this technology.

Mitsubishi Electric has been around for over 80 years. They have developed products that are used in space and office buildings. In 2009 the company made a group sale of 3,665.1 billion yen. They have now come up with an energy efficient elevator. The elevator will be installed in buildings starting in April.

Many businesses that reside in tall offices have been complaining about energy costs and wanted an energy efficient elevator. Mitsubishi Electric invented an elevator that will be in buildings shortly. The elevator is now being called a smart control system and can reduce energy used in offices by 10 percent. The elevator uses smart technology by prioritizing when the most people will use the elevator. It is going to have a “non-stop” feature which allows passengers to get to the floor they desire without having to stop at other floors on the way.

The elevator is going to save the most money during non-peak hours. It is going to take about 1.6 seconds more for someone to catch the elevator. That isn’t a very large number compared to how much energy is going to be saved in the long run. The elevator saves so much energy because it figures out which elevator would use the least energy to get to you and then your destination.

In the morning and afternoon (when most people are going to use the elevator) the elevator is going to run normally and isn’t going to use energy efficient methods. However, it will know that more people are going to use the elevator so it is still going to save some money by predicting how many people are going to use it.

The 1.6 added seconds isn’t a long wait time. Right now the average wait is 20 seconds so most people won’t notice a difference. However, businesses will notice a decent amount of money saved when they look at their bill. Right now there are only a couple models to choose from. Mitsubishi Electric has stated that they are going to come out with more models in the next coming years.

Mitsubishi Electric is predicted to have a higher gross income than last year and their stocks are also predicted to rise with the new technology.

From May to October 2010 the Shanghai World Expo will showcase exhibits on the theme of “Better City, Better Life.” With 55% of the world’s population living in urban settings, the focus will be on improving the quality of life for people with “dignity, good health, safety, happiness and hope.” (As manifested by the United Nations Habitat II document). Schindler is the company responsible for displaying those themes while moving the crowds of visitors in China’s National Pavilion, and on Expo Boulevard. This will be accomplished through the use of 94 escalator lifts and powered walkways.

The main exhibition space of the Chinese pavilion is a raised 484,000 square foot base, topped by a traditional Chinese roof of interlocking beams. The pavilion is accessed by ten Schindler escalators to lift people to the podium, and traversed by two moving walkways. Two of the escalators are 60 feet long.

Expo Boulevard is a kilometer long travelway on three levels which connects the Expo pavilion area with the Shanghai subway and abuts the Huangpu River. The boulevard will be the primary means by which people move around the site. Environmentally sound technology will be showcased along its length, including six large funnels which refract sunlight to the two underground levels, and collect rainwater. The boulevard is being equipped with 80 Schindler escalators to facilitate the movement of the anticipated 70 million visitors to the Shanghai International Exposition.

Other global events which have benefitted from Schindler’s expertise in moving people are: the Beijing Olympics (2008), the World Expo Zaragoza, Spain (2008), the Athens Olympics (2004) and the Sydney Olympics (2000).

The Schindler Group is headquartered in Switzerland, and was the first (1980) industrial western nation to join China in a joint business venture. Schindler China now has four factories, three training facilities and a research and development center. The Schindler Group provides mobility products in over 140 countries, and is the leading supplier of escalators, worldwide. They are the second largest manufacturer of elevators. Schindler is known for ecologically sound, safe and reliable products. More than 900 million people ride a Schindler mobility product every day.

The world’s tallest building would be useless without elevators capable of transporting people to the various floors.

When the developers of the world’s tallest building, Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, which is 828 metres (2,717 ft) high sought out hydraulic lift companies, they were seeking the company that could break records.

As a result, visitors to Burj Khalifa can now ride the world’s fastest elevator, an Otis SKYWAY double-deck, to the 124th floor observation deck known as “At the Top.”

A double-deck elevators refer to lifts with two passenger compartments which are stacked allowing passengers from two floors to embark or disembark simultaneously. Each passenger compartment can carry 12 to 14 people.

Located in buildings world-wide, double-deck passenger lifts significantly increase the capacity of the hydraulic lifts and eliminates the need for the elevators to stop at every floor dramatically increasing efficiency.

Another benefit of the double-deck hydraulic lifts is the elevators require less core space resulting in a more efficient use of the floor space.

It is estimated that Burj Dubai will become a place of home, work and leisure for approximately 12,000 people.

Burj Khalifa’s specially-designed and world-record-holding elevator is engineered to lift it’s passengers at 10 metres (1,969 ft) per second or roughly 64 km/hr (40 mph) accompanied by the sound of dramatic music. It descends at about 18 metres (59 ft.) per second.

Otis elevators in Burj Khalifa garnered two other world records including the highest landing at 638 metres (2,093 ft.) and the longest travel distance at 504 metres (1,654 ft.).

During a more than five-year-process, thousands of Otis employees were involved with the Burj Khalifa project from the early negotiation stages to the completion.

A total of 57 Otis elevators and 8 escalators are installed at Burj Khalifa. The lifts include 25 energy-efficient Gen2 passenger lifts and seven SKYWAY systems. The Gen2 units do not require machine rooms. Two of the SKYWAY lifts are the double-deck elevators which transport visitors to the observation deck.

If you would prefer to take the stairs, there are 2,909 of them from the ground to the 160th floor.

Hydraulic equipment is so well suited to emergency rescues that it has become the standard for a range of tools used to extricate people from damaged vehicles and ruined buildings.

Hydraulics work on the principle of transferring power through a liquid, usually oil, which is very incompressible, from one point to another. By decreasing the surface area at the working end, the power can be increased. This allows for a large work output compared to the pressure initially applied.

Rescue tools which use this principle fall into three main groups, spreaders, cutters, and hydraulic lifts. In actuality, most disaster situations require a combination of the tools to successfully effect a rescue.

Cutters act like large pincers which can cut through metal easily and safely. In contrast, saws create sparks which are extremely dangerous where gas and oil may be leaking. The noise of a saw can cause victims additional stress. Spreaders have a narrow nose which can be inserted in a small gap and used to spread or lift jammed, damaged or collapsed materials. These tools are compact enough to be handheld, yet the jaws can open to distances of six or more feet on some models. Power may be supplied from a generator or by battery.

Combination tools to perform both of these functions are found in almost every fire or rescue vehicle, and have become well known for the many successful rescues of people from wrecked vehicles.

However, in disaster situations, heavy objects often need to be lifted to find people trapped beneath rubble. In these cases, a progressive process must be applied, using all the hydraulic tools. Damaged materials may need to be cut out of the way, then an opening must be widened so that a hydraulic lift can be inserted into the space. Once a lift or lifting bag has been used to create a large opening, then the space may be stabilized by yet another tool, hydraulic struts, often made of aluminum.

Special training is required in both the use of the tools, and in lifting and moving damaged buildings and rubble.

Liftex 2010, the annual convention for Britain’s lift and escalator industry, returns to the ExCeL Convention Centre in south London on 12-13 May, 2010. Sponsored by the Lift and Escalator Industry Association (LEIA), Liftex has been a smashing success in years past, and looks poised to surpass itself this year.

Despite the worldwide economic downturn, the passenger lift and escalator industry has been doing steady business over the last year, and this healthy outlook for the field is reflected in the wide variety of companies that have already signed up to do exhibits at Liftex. This includes manufacturers of hydraulics and electronics, wire ropes, computerized elevator controls, elevator guide rails, motors, and many other lift and escalator components, both British and foreign. Hydraulic lift contractors and installers, architecture groups, health and safety organisations, and elevator and escalator trade publications will also be sending representatives to provide their own views on the opportunities and challenges facing the lift and escalator industry in the year to come. The convention organisers are also inviting trade groups in other countries to come and set up international pavilions to further facilitate the exchange of ideas and opportunities across national borders.

The ultramodern ExCeL Convention Centre will be equipped with the latest in technology for the convenience of attendees and to help facilitate interaction. This includes free wifi in the building, giant plasma screens for presentations and promotions, and an open “interaction area” where attendees can mingle and talk.

Liftex will also be providing entertainment for convention attendees. The organisers have rented the glass-walled “Symphony” boat for a nighttime cruise on the Thames, with fine dining, drink, and music while you enjoy the unique view of London from the river.

If you are interested in the UK passenger lift and escalator market, Liftex is a great opportunity to network, find sales opportunities, and learn about solutions to your lift and escalator needs. Mark your calendar now and make sure to attend!

Hydraulic lifts and cable systems are of the most basic technologies being put to use in urban transport systems. Both systems are a century in the works, and they have long been an industry standard for both passenger lifts and freight elevators, as they generate a great amount of force by manipulating rather weak pumps and pulleys. However, the drawbacks of these systems have been chronicled and widely accepted, and buildings designs looking for an optimum efficiency and aesthetic from their lift systems are rethinking the use of the simplistic designs.

All aspects of elevator design and production are being reconfigured. Advanced lift systems incorporate greater speed, braking control and efficiency, making for a faster, more comfortable ride while using less energy, reducing the carbon footprint of the building.

Many of today’s elevator systems make use of newer technology that eliminates the need for a large machine room by placing the lift’s motor either in a small cabinet or directly inside the elevator shaft. Additionally, destination-oriented systems increase the comfort and efficiency of passenger lifts: Instead of simple up and down buttons, the passenger selects their floor, and the designated elevator car appears to deliver the passenger to their destination in the quickest, most efficient manner possible.

With new technology comes new codes, and performance-based lift codes are being written to allow for these advancements in lift design to blossom. Without rewriting the intact code, the newly written performance-based code demands the same objectives without the old specifications. Safety, of course, is the primary concern, but without specific size and material requirements, lift designers have greater creative freedom designing the safest elevator possible.

The advancements we may see with an across the board acceptance of performance-based codes are already beginning to emerge: Mitsubishi has designed passenger lifts capable of a maximum speed of 540 meters per second, while Kone’s EcoDisk lift system places the motor inside the shaft, eliminating the machine room altogether and providing twice the efficiency of hydraulic lift systems. In the future, we may even see NASA assemble an elevator capable of propulsion to outer space.

Take a look at the bike escalator which is helping cyclists to take their bikes up stairs giving them better access in heavily populated cities where bikes are the popular means of transportation. 

The escalators are located in the metro stations at Tokyo and Kyoto and are very friendly to the environment; we hope it’s only a matter of time before we see this idea implemented to European cities.

The makers of the lifts say hilly cities can deter cyclists from using their bikes as often as they could, but the bike lift encourages more riding.