Elevator | Power & Motion Technology | By Samantha Lotz | Feb 02, 2015
RFR Holding LLC, in partnership with Green Oak, acquired the property at 285 Madison Avenue in 2012. Immediately following the acquisition, the property’s managing agent, RFR Realty LLC, initiated a project to reposition and revitalize the property by updating the interior infrastructure, along with its electrical and mechanical systems, while maintaining the building’s classic design. In addition to an entirely new lobby area, roof lounge, and floor renovations, 285 Madison required a modernization of all the elevator cabs and lifting systems.
The DC hoist motors for elevator operation were original to the 1929 construction, and the elevators themselves had not been updated for 30 years. The modernization included replacements of elevator platforms, buffers, door equipment, gearless machines, car controllers, and other mechanical components for improved operation. Cab interiors were upgraded to include new fixtures, ceilings, and glass sidewalls. Partnering on this project were Centennial Elevator Industries, Inc., one of New York’s largest elevator companies, Motion Control Engineering (MCE), an industry pioneer in elevator control, BOCA Group, a premier elevator consulting company, and Magnetek, Inc., a leading elevator drive designer and manufacturer.
Magnetek Elevator's installation of Quattro AC drives into 285 Madison’s elevator systems has resulted in faster floor-to-floor times, improved responsiveness, and qualification for gold-level LEED certification, along with additional energy-efficiency building credits. Magnetek’s green elevator drives contribute to more efficient operations, matching the building’s modern, streamlined design. Full building renovations were completed in early 2015, featuring a convenient direct-to-roof elevator for tenant access to the beautiful rooftop lounge.
SmartRise Engineering
SmartRise Engineering, Inc., a state-of-the-art, non-proprietary elevator control manufacturer, was in need of a suitable drive solution to power the machine room-less (MRL) elevators being modernized in three buildings across the United States. SmartRise chose to update the drives with Magnetek HPV 900 Axial Flux Permanent Magnet AC Motor Drives at each of the sites, which provided considerable performance, serviceability, and cost improvements.
Birmingham, UK
Magnetek visited the UK installation site of our HPV 900AF axial flux drive during the final commissioning process of a four-floor elevator control system at Priestley Wharf. Installed in 1997, the original control system suffered various failures and was eventually decommissioned due to high costs for spare parts. Concept Elevators sought to replace the poorly functioning control system and chose to utilize Magnetek HPV 900AF drive as a more cost-effective, quality alternative.
The existing DC Motor Generator controlled systems installed in the lift motors
in London's The Economist Building were inefficient, consuming 66kWh/day per lift. Also, an increasing number of breakdowns resulted in a higher level of maintenance support needed to keep the unreliable system operational. Also, sourcing replacement parts was an issue. Magnetek implemented the solution by installing three 85A Quattro AC Elevator Drives configured in permanent magnet motor control operating mode.
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