« Back to Facilities Management News Home
TIME magazine has named the MULTI elevator system by thyssenkrupp Elevator as one of its “25 Best Inventions of 2017”. Unveiled on June 22, 2017, to the public at the thyssenkrupp test tower in Rottweil, Germany, MULTI is the first and only elevator to be able to move both horizontally and vertically due to its revolutionary rope-less technology. The innovative elevator system offers dramatically expanded design and construction possibilities for architects, builders and urban planners.
MULTI, which will make its first commercial home in Berlin at OVG Real Estate’s East Side Tower by 2021, was chosen to be one of the “25 Best Inventions of 2017” because of its unique cable-free technology and how it will impact building design moving forward. MULTI requires fewer and smaller shafts than conventional elevators, and can increase a building’s usable area by up to 25 percent, offering additional revenue opportunities from the extra rentable/leasable space. This is particularly important considering current elevator-escalator footprints can occupy up to 40 percent of a high-rise building’s floor space.
“We believe MULTI is a genuine game-changer that will truly transform the way people move, work and live in our built environment,” says Andreas Schierenbeck, CEO of thyssenkrupp Elevator. “It will reduce waiting times for passengers and offer building developers more free floor space for additional revenues. MULTI is a key offering that truly represents a landmark revolution in the elevator industry.”
Instead of one cabin per shaft moving up and down, MULTI offers multiple cabins operating in a loop, much like a metro system inside a building. This results in a higher transport capacity – up to 50 percent – as well as reduced waiting times for passengers. MULTI also requires dramatically lower peak power – as much as a 60-percent reduction when compared to conventional elevator systems. This allows for better management of a building’s energy needs, and reduces investment costs in the power supply infrastructure.
“The inclusion of MULTI as one of TIME’s best inventions of 2017 is extremely rewarding and further validates our commitment to transforming elevators and building transportation,” says Patrick Bass, CEO of thyssenkrupp North America. “As cities continue to grow, and as buildings get larger and taller, city planners and architects face significant challenges in moving people quickly and comfortably to their destinations. MULTI will help them do this safely.”
