As part of the exhilarating town-centre redevelopment project currently in the works in Bingley, West Yorkshire, the Stannah Group has recently installed an outdoor moving walkway. The Stannah Group is a long-standing, family-owned company dedicated to providing quality stairlifts to its customers. The newly-installed moving stairway takes customers and their shopping trolleys back and forth from the car park to the Co-operative Food Store and the shopping centre effortlessly. The Co-operative Food Store boasts and 11,500 square foot space while the shopping centre located beyond is a newly built 5Rise design. The shopping centre cost an estimated 5 million pounds, and opened in December of 2009.

This new walkway is lit entirely by LED lights, which are the most eco-friendly light choice available. These lights help shoppers to travel safely between the car park and the shopping centre. As an additional safety measure, the wheels of the trolley lock into the bed of the moving walkway, which ensures that customers will be safe at all times.

This exciting new walkway is part of a master plan to revitalize the towns of Keighley, Bingley, and Shipley. The aim of the plan is to focus on improving the core of each town. This will help to provide the best environment possible for both residents and visitors alike. The plan focuses on three main components, which are development, transport, and environmental projects.

The current shopping centre is part of the original Myrtle Walk Shopping Centre. This shopping centre was marked for demolition by the developers; however, most of the buildings were able to be regenerated, and additional space was built on to the existing structure. The library was also relocated to a space within the centre. The hope of the developers and those associated with the town-centre redevelopment project is that this shopping centre will act as a catalyst and boost the next phases of the project.

The moving walkway installed by the Stannah Group replaces a flight of steps that was difficult for many pedestrians to maneuver. The flight of steps was uninviting to visitors as well. This new stairway provides the most direct route to the car park from the shopping centre, making it very convenient for shoppers.

Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city is to be supplied with 339 escalators and elevators for their newly developing major subway system by Schindler. The 22km Kadikoy-Kartal line would provide an important travel system for the Asian half of the city that is highly populated.

Booked last year, this contract covers 272 escalators and 67 elevators that are to be installed in the 16 stations along the Kadikoy-Kartal line. These installations are expected to be completed by the end of 2010, after which the system is to be handed over to the city officials at the end of March 2011.

The lengths of these escalators range between three and twenty meters and are constructed with special features and materials like stainless steel landing platforms and balustrades that protect the structures from the elements. While most of the doors are installed with glass balustrades, some of them have steel on one side and glass on the other side.

This new metro line would provide a transport system for their mostly populated region, namely the Asian half of the city. It would make their commute safe, clean, effective and with less delay. This line would also serve as a connection to the European side of the city, where most of the jobs are situated.

The Turkey General Manager at Schindler, Mete Zadil is pleased and honored to work with contractor Avrasya Metro Grubu on this massive transportation assignment. He believes that the Kadikoy-Kartal subway line would aid and enhance mobility and help the people gain access to occupations and services located at the other side of the Bosphorus strait.

Istanbul accounts for 27% of national GDP and has a population of 13 million. The new line being constructed is part of a major expansion project that aims to reduce congestion within Istanbul and improve their transport system. In the past, Schindler has supplied escalators for the main airport in Istanbul and for stations at another metro line that runs under the Bosphorus.

With their headquarters in Switzerland, the Schindler Group is regarded as the leading global mobility provider. Present in more than 140 countries, this company specializes in the design, manufacture, installation, service and modernization of elevator and escalator systems for almost all types of buildings. They support the sustainable urban development by providing safe, reliable and ecologically friendly mobility solutions.

Icknield, a special needs school for severely learning disabled children, ranging in ages from three to nineteen, seems to have overcome a small, logistical playground design problem that was poorly implemented at inception. Stannah, a local company that has long since supported the school, had successfully raised money from local businesses to give the school its current Cognitive Learning Specialist status, supplying the funds necessary to remedy the problem. The status gave them an additional funding of £300,000 in total over the next 3 years.

When Stannah asked if there might be any other help it could offer, this poorly architected playground problem, a storage cabin that prohibited free access to a marked pathway in the playground where the children traversed on their bikes, on foot, or in wheelchairs, was mentioned. The problem could be solved by simply moving it just 90 degrees to stand alongside the track instead of in the way of it, making life easier for the special needs students and the caring staff.

Gary Woods, Stannah Premises Maintenance Manager, had previously considered several ways to ameliorate the problem, but was overcome with obstacles each time. In the first place, the cabin was exceptionally heavy, weighing 2.2 tons empty and 4 tons full. The weather was also uncooperative, and snow made the situation seem almost impossible to rectify. Stannah came to the rescue with the kindness and help of a father and son team, Brian and Jim Bailey, contracting suppliers for Hannah who run Meon Valley Crane Hire, the crane being the very piece of equipment necessary to solve “the smallest of problems.” Along with some minor tree pruning provided by Stannah’s maintenance team to make room for the new positioning of the cabin, with precise direction to relocate the suspended structure, it was finally placed perfectly.

The “smallest of problems” revealed the smallest of treasures, and a lost teddy bear was found in this concerted effort that became the happy mascot of the whole endeavor. It is clear that these special needs children and young adults are considered a very important part of the community, not only by the special needs staff, but by many others who contribute their time and efforts on their behalf. They are the ones who turn the tides of problems that seem insurmountable to “the smallest of problems.”

The 2009 GOOD DESIGN award has been awarded to KONE Design because of the sleek, and creatively designed, appearance of their KONE Design Signalization Series. The KONE Design company is the first and only escalator and elevator company to have ever been given a GOOD DESIGN award in the past 60 years, and they have proved worthy of the award.

First founded back in 1950, GOOD DESIGN is now renowned everywhere, and has even become the most recognized award for design in the whole world. The GOOD DESIGN awards are given by The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies as well as the Chicago Athenaeum. The GOOD DESIGN awards are meant to highlight the greatest new designs and the best design innovations for graphics and for products which were created between 2007 and 2009.

Anne Stenros, Vice President of Design for KONE has been quoted as saying: “We are very proud once again to have received this award for our latest innovative design concept,” and “The new KONE Design signalization series represents a new perspective in modern elevator design. It is a bold jump from standard stainless steel signalizations to a new world of colors and unique graphics, which can match any kind of cabin design.”

First developed and launched in 2009, the KONE Design Signalization Series offers both durable technology and contemporary design. This Series of designs has been built to last for many decades. The panels of these designs can be modified very easily simply by changing the design or the color of the faceplate, adjusting it to fit your wants and your needs. The signalization panels will also enable the integration of the guiding information on the panel, this brings the usability to a whole new level, and this will also allow localization to accommodate the specific regulations and functions of various regions and all across various countries.

KONE received their very first ever GOOD DESIGN award back in 2008 for their innovative KONE FourSeasons™ design concept, that award made KONE the first escalator and elevator company to ever receive such a prestigious award.

Forklift trucks are an essential part of any warehouse operation. They perform heavy lifting quickly and efficiently. Many companies that use these indispensable machines employ entire fleets of forklift trucks, spending thousands of dollars to do so. The forklift business is rapidly growing, as many more businesses recognize the benefits of using these machines.

Along with playing a vital role in any warehouse operation, forklift trucks can also be extremely dangerous if not properly operated. Each year about 8,000 forklift truck accidents are reported, and about ten of these accidents are fatal. Many of these accidents could have been prevented if the proper safety measures were in place.

One of the most important safety measures that can be taken is to make sure the operator of the forklift is competent to drive the machine. All companies should make certain that forklift operators have been trained for the job, are familiar with the vehicle’s controls, and adheres to the rules of the company. It is recommended that prospective forklift operators earn a Certificate of Basic Forklift Truck Operator Skills. This certificate can be obtained by completing a course on the subject at a qualifying location. Drivers should also be sure to check that all components of the machine are in working order before attempting to operate it. Doing this can prevent many unnecessary accidents from happening. Letting an untrained operator drive a forklift can be compared to allowing someone without a driver’s license to operate a motor vehicle.

By working together and following safety rules, many forklift truck accidents can be prevented. This also helps to protect employees and customers, as well as any visitors that may be in a warehouse. When used correctly, forklift trucks provide an indispensable service to warehouse workers. These machines are able to complete the work of multiple men in a timely manner and with minimal effort. In order to function at the highest quality, it is important that these powerful machines be maintained properly by their operators. By following safety measures and workplace regulations, businesses can be assured that they are receiving the most productivity from their forklift investments.

Broward County prosecutors have dropped all charges against a Sunrise Florida man after reviewing an elevator surveillance tape.

22 year old Joshua Daniel Ortiz was charged with felony battery on a law enforcement officer.

The incident started when Ortiz and a group of friends were getting into an elevator at 200 SW First Ave. They were heading to a parking garage after a night out when acquaintances of Ortiz’s began fighting in the lobby.

Police were called to the scene to break up the fight.

The police claim that upon arriving, Ortiz began yelling at the officers from the elevator. Officer Dereck Lade, of the Fort Lauderdale police department, said in his official report that Ortiz walked up and stood nose to nose with him. Lade said that he shoved Ortiz back, and made an attempt to take Ortiz into custody.

Lade stated that as he tried to take Ortiz into custody, Ortiz assumed a fighting stance, with both fists clenched, and his body bladed.

Ortiz ended up with a broken nose during the arrest.

The event caused many inconveniences for Ortiz. Ortiz said, “They were just sitting there watching my life go down the drain with those charges. I’ve been going crazy thinking my life is over.” The incident delayed Ortiz’s enrollment in college.

That all changed when prosecutors reviewed the tape. The surveillance footage showed 3 officers, Derek Lade, Stefan Silver, and Steve Smith, aggressively rush and beat Ortiz. The charge of felony battery was then downgraded to a misdemeanor resisting arrest charge.

Prosecutors again reviewed the tape, and dropped all charges.

Sgt. Frank Sousa, the department’s spokesperson, insisted that it was not a beat down, and said that the Fort Lauderdale Internal Affairs investigators found nothing wrong in the video, noting that no policy or procedural violations were found .

Sousa also said that the video clearly showed Ortiz making a movement toward the officers.

Ortiz said that the claims made against him by the officers were completely false, and that they were simply on a power trip.

Stephen Melnick, Ortiz’s defense attorney, said that the officers lied in their reports to justify their actions, unaware that the entire incident was being taped.

Electric service lifts are commonly used pieces of technology that transport food in restaurants, tools in construction areas, and even cars. They provide a quick way to move items from floor to floor, making chores and life easier. Service lifts were modeled after the dumbwaiter, an ancient piece of equipment that has neither lost its appeal nor its purpose.

The first dumbwaiter can be dated back to around 200 BC but historians believe they were in existence further back. The Romans are the first known users of the dumbwaiter to aid in their expansive architecture. Some resemblance of a dumbwaiter has now been tracked in nearly every culture from the Far East to the West.

The earliest version of the dumbwaiter was powered by the strength of the person using it. Ropes were looped around a pulley or sometimes even a rafter. The rope was pulled, the bucket/shelf moved, and objects were transported both up and down. As more advancements were made on the dumbwaiter, animals or water were used to provide the manpower.

With the emergence of the 19th century came the emergence of safety precautions surrounding the dumbwaiter. Dumbwaiters were becoming something of a staple in the homes of the wealthy, but were less than perfect. The mechanism often broke causing an out of order dumbwaiter and many broken or messy deliveries. Steam powered and advanced hydraulic dumbwaiters started being developed in addition to the safety brakes that prevented it from crashing down in case of a broken cable. The eighteen hundreds also brought the first electric dumbwaiter, but it would be decades before these would appear in a domestic setting would swap the manual for the electric version. However, electric dumbwaiters were present in business buildings and ships.

Manual dumbwaiters were incredibly popular in the early 20th century. As cities were expanding upward as opposed to outward, dumbwaiters made apartment living easier and the shipment of goods a breeze. Not only are dumbwaiters a welcomed addition to domestic life, they are also an essential part of the economic sphere in terms of making companies, factories, and businesses work more efficiently

Despite the thousands of years of history associated with the dumbwaiter, the same basic concept is still popular and efficient. The addition of safety measures and electric power has only added to their undeniable appeal. With the ability to avoid having to lug heavy or cumbersome items up many floors, work can be done more quickly and safely.

SPAR International, a global retail network has named Toyota Material Handling Europe UK, LTD as Supplier of the 2009 year. The SPAR International yearly Suppliers’ Round table was held in Amsterdam on November 19, 2009. The yearly event gives out two awards, Supplier of the Year and another award for non saleable products.

The Managing Director of SPAR International, Gordon Campbell, said, “The service level that SPAR International has enjoyed from Toyota Material Handling Europe played a major role in this year’s award.”

His praise of Toyota Material Handling in Europe was impressive. Gordon Campbell said further, “Toyota won because it has increased its business with SPAR steadily over the past couple of years and topped it with this year’s super performance.” To further justify their selection of Toyota Material Handling in Europe as the Supplier of the 2009 Year, Gordon Campbell finished his praise by saying, “Toyota has distinguished itself with high quality products, backed up fast, reliable service and excellent communication between our organizations.

The organization known as SPAR International is a chain of wholesalers and retailers that joined in 1932 and do business in 33 countries as SPAR, EUROSPAR, INTERSPAR and SPAR Express.

The organization and its stores which number over 12,600 in 33 countries attract at least 10 million customers per day and do more than L27 billion in gross sales per year.

In response to their award from SPAR, Jonathan Morris, Toyota Material Handling in Europe’s Director responded by effusive appreciation for the award with these words: “We are very honoured to be recognized as Supplier of the Year by SPAR International. Toyota Material Handling Europe is dedicated to being a reliable business partner – particularly in today’s challenging market. Our relationship with SPAR underscores the benefits of such a partnership – for our customers as well as our organization.”

SPAR and its chain stores is now the biggest food retailer in 35 countries with more than 20,000 stores worldwide. SPAR was founded in the Netherlands in 1932 and now has stores in European countries as well as South Africa, Asia and Australia. Its principle form of doing business is to procure bulk discounts from wholesalers and suppliers.

This is the worlds shortest escalator located at the Kawasaki More’s department store in Japan.  With a vertical height of just 834mm the escalator was even certified by the Guinness Book of Records in 1989.

What you don’t see in this video is there are another set of stairs just after you get off the escalator.

This is a tale about an encounter I had while on holiday recently. While I was relaxing at a bar, I made the acquaintance of a really cute blonde. We hit it off – when she found out that I was from Manchester, she went crazy. She loved Mancunians. We spent a couple of hours chatting and drinking, and had a really great time. When it was time to leave, I managed to convince her to walk with me – my hotel was pretty close to the bar. Turns out that stoplights are a great place to sneak a few kisses. My blonde cutie agreed.

By the time we got to the hotel, we were on fire from all the passionate kissing. We stumbled towards the elevator. This particular elevator had a clear glass back to it and you could see the entire interior of the hotel through it. The room I was staying in was on the third floor, so I pressed “3.”

When the elevator doors closed, I put my hand behind her neck, tugged at her hair and pulled her as close as possible. We started kissing again, and these kisses put all those previous kisses to shame. All of a sudden, right when it started getting really intense, the elevator pinged. We had reached the third floor, but since we were having such a good time, I hit the elevator button for floor ‘19’ – the highest floor in the hotel.

We lost ourselves in each other as the elevator chugged steadily upwards. Not only did we lose ourselves, but also we lost our ability to notice anything outside of our little kissing circle. Without our noticing, the elevator had gone up all the way to the 19th floor and back down to the lobby.

She put her leg around me and went for my neck. I leaned back to give her better access, opened my eyes a little and looked through the glass wall of the elevator. In front of us there was a security guard and three people staring at us. I started laughing, causing the blonde to cease her assault on my neck and look through the glass wall. She started laughing as well, along with the three people. However, the security guard was annoyed.

I hit the ‘3’ button and the elevator took off with us still laughing. This time, we went straight to the room. What a spectacular and hilarious night!