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Otis builds new global R&D center in Shanghai

By Song Yingge | May 11, 2016, Wednesday | Online Edition

Elevator maker Otis announced in Shanghai yesterday to establish a global research and development center in Shanghai.

The Shanghai Engineering R&D Center facility will support development of new technologies for use in elevators for versatile market segments, delivering higher efficiency and smaller footprints, as well as industry-leading safety, comfort and convenience for passengers, according to Otis, a unit of United Technologies Corp, during the 2016 World Elevator and Escalator Expo held in Shanghai.

Part of the facility, a new test tower planned at around 270 meters in height will be built in Shanghai. It is expected to be the tallest above-ground test tower in the world upon completion by the end of 2018.

“Building our new test tower and R&D Center in Shanghai underscore our continuous commitment to satisfy customers in China and around the world,” said Otis President Philippe Delpech. “This is a strong example of how we are investing to accelerate innovation and technology development for our next generation elevators and service.”

Also yesterday, the company introduced a self-climbing elevator named Skybuild at the expo. Installed at the beginning of a building’s construction, it is able to climb one floor at a time as the building rises and move people up to 50 percent faster than conventional elevators for builders to complete high-rise projects faster while reducing costs.

The SkyBuild elevator will be a standard option in the company’s expanded line of global, fully integrated suite of high-rise solutions.

Otis, a leader in safe elevator technology, has supplied products for some iconic high-rise buildings, such as the 828-meter Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the world’s tallest building, and 599-meter Ping’an Financial Center in Shenzhen, one of the highest in China when completed this year.

As the world’s largest elevator market, China is among the most significant markets for Otis’s global business. But slowing growth in demand has been seen in China since 2014, when elevator production rose 12 percent year on year to 700,000 units, moderating from the pace of 18 percent in 2013.

In addition, domestic elevator makers have grown fast, posing challenges to foreign brands. Shenyang Brilliant Elevator has lifted its domestic market share by 20.1 percent in 2014 from 9.1 percent in 2010, and Suzhou-based Canny Elevator raised its proportion from 3.7 percent in 2010 to 8.5 percent in 2014.

Under these circumstances, Delpech said it will cope with the new reality in China by seeking more opportunities via technology innovation.

The four-day exhibition will go on stage until May 13 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai.

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