Hitachi Elevators and Escalators 日立エレベーターエンジニアリング | |
---|---|
Founded |
1924 (elevator and escalator division) |
Based in |
Tokyo, Japan |
Website |
Hitachi Elevators and Escalators (Japanese: 日立エレベーターエンジニアリング) is a division belongs to the Japanese company Hitachi Ltd. based in Tokyo, Japan, which manufactures elevators and escalators.
History
Hitachi's elevator and escalator division was established in 1924. In 1966, Hitachi expanded their elevator and escalator businesses outside Japan, in Hong Kong, and later in Singapore in 1972. In 2009, an elevator test tower G1 Tower was completed in Ibaraki Prefecture, which currently the tallest elevator tower in the world at height of 213 meter.
G1 Tower
The G1 Tower is an elevator test tower built by Hitachi and was completed in 2010, as part of Hitachi's 100th years anniversary. It is located in the site of Mito Works in Ibaraki. It has 10 floors in total; 9 floors above ground and a basement floor. It is currently the tallest elevator testing tower in the world with a height of 213 meter.
Elevator fixtures
- Main article: Hitachi Elevator Fixtures Guide
Notable installation references
Main article: List of Notable Elevator Installations of Hitachi Elevator
Accident and controversy in Indonesia
Ratu Plaza elevator downfall accident
On November 16th, 2007, a 1980s service elevator located in Ratu Plaza office Tower in Jakarta had its suspension ropes broke, causing the elevator car falling down from the lower ground to the basement floor (it was reported that the car falling down from six meters high). Four people were injured.
The building management was told to be responsible for this accident. Police were inspecting the physical look of the elevator and all of the building's equipment.[1]
National Monument elevator breakdown controversy
From 2002 to 2004, a Hitachi elevator in the National Monument (Monas), Jakarta, has gained a controversy among local tourists and has been reported several times by local news due to frequent breakdowns and entrapment. On July 8th, 2002, the elevator malfunctioned and trapping passengers inside. Another incident also happened on March 23rd and May 2nd, 2004, causing people from the observation deck to evacuate using a narrow and dark emergency stairwell.[2] The elevator which has been in operation since 2004, has been fully modernized and repaired and it is now no longer having malfunction problem.
On May 5th, 2004, the regional parliaments of Jakarta has a debate over a deviation of tender licensing products of the Hitachi elevator. Some of them said that they use the licensing products from China, while some said that they use licensing from Japan, causing controversy.[3]
Trivia
- Hitachi has a subsidiary company called Guangzhou Guangri Elevator Industries Co. Ltd. based in Guangzhou, China (it has another name called Guangzhou Hitachi). It was established in 1996 and their latest products are branded as Hitachi.
- The Chinese elevator manufacturer Shanghai Yungtay Engineering was established from a joint-venture investment between Hitachi and Taiwan Yungtay Engineering.
- Their escalators were also sold in the United States and Australia, but they have been discontinued possibly due to safety reason.
- An example in the United States can be found in the Starks Building in Louisville, KY.
- Few examples in Australia are found in 24-32 Hughes St in Cabramatta and Spotlight Campbelltown, Sydney.
- Like Mitsubishi elevators in Thailand, Hitachi also has a manufacturing plant in Thailand, located in Amata Nakorn Industrial Estate Phase 9, Chonburi.
Gallery
Logos and nameplates
Others
Notes and references
External links
- Official website (global site)
- Official website (Hong Kong)
- Official website (Singapore)
- Official website (Thailand)
- Official website (India)
- Guangzhou Guangri official website
Major elevator and escalator companies | |
---|---|
Full list of companies | List of elevator and escalator companies |
Operating | Fujitec • Hitachi • Hyundai • Kone • Mitsubishi Electric (Shanghai Mitsubishi) • Otis (Otis Electric • Sigma) • Schindler • TK Elevator • Toshiba |
Defunct | Dover Elevators • Express Lift • Orenstein & Koppel • Thyssen • thyssenkrupp • Westinghouse |
Other companies | Third-party elevator maintenance companies |