| Schlieren Aufzügefabrik AG | |
|---|---|
 | |
|
Founded |
1895 (Zürich, Switzerland) |
|
Acquired by |
Schindler Group (1960) |
|
Status |
Defunct |
Schweizerische Aufzügefabrik AG, Schlieren-Zürich was an elevator manufacturing division of Schweizerische Wagonsfabrik AG in Schlieren-Zürich (SWS), a Swiss railway wagon manufacturer. It made elevators and escalators.
History
The company was founded in 1895 as Firma Geissberger & Cie, then four years later it became known as Schweizerische Wagen- und Wagons-Fabrik AG, based in Zurich. Just one year later, the company moved its base back to Schlieren, and in 1901, the company changed its name again to Schweizerische Wagonsfabrik AG in Schlieren-Zürich (SWS).
SWS began making elevators after it took over Aufzüge- und Räderfabrik Seebach AG (ARSAG) in 1917. It adopted North American elevator technologies of using traction sheaves instead of rope drums, which made Schlieren the first elevator manufacturer in Europe to use sheaves for normal passenger and freight elevators. In 1928, the company changed name to Schweizerische Wagons- und Aufzügefabrik AG, Schlieren-Zürich which they started manufacturing their own elevators. In 1936, Schlieren delivered its first escalator to the Netherlands[1].
In 1957, Schlieren developed the Monotron elevator drive which allowed the elevator to travel directly and stop on a floor regardless of how heavy the car load is. A year later, the company supplied and installed elevators for the Atomium in Brussels, Belgium, which was considered to be one of the most advanced elevators in Europe at that time[2].
In 1959, Schlieren invented "Aconic" (stands for " anti-Contact-Electronic"), a semiconductor based and transistor-controlled elevator technology without moving parts. It was the first fully transistorize controlled elevator system in the world. One of Schlieren's Aconic elevator installations was installed at the laboratory of Technischen Universität (Technical University) of Delft in the Netherlands in 1969 which was a quaduplex elevator group system. However, the elevators were later modernized by Schindler[3].
In 1960, SWS was acquired by Schindler Group and was integrated into Schindler as a subsidiary company after Pars Finanz AG, the holding company of Schindler, had purchased 30% of the share capital of SWS. After the integration, Schlieren's elevator division focused on making standard elevator doors and cabins as well as elevator maintenance and service until 1985 when SWS was absorbed by Schindler and subsequently defunct.
Notable products
Variotron drive
The Variotron drive was launched in 1952 and was the first electronically regulated elevator in the world. Elevators were accelerated and decelerated continuously and the speed was controlled based on a precisely prescribed program.
Monotron drive
Schlieren introduced Monotron drives in 1957. It allowed elevators to travel and stop directly at a floor regardless of how heavy the car was loaded.
Aconic
Aconic (stands for "anti-Contact-Electronic") was an advanced elevator system with semiconductor technology and transistor controls. It had no moving parts. This system was claimed to have silent ride, longer lifespan and worked quickly without wear and tear. It was also claimed to be moisture and dirt-proof. Aconic was the first elevator system in the world to use transistors as its control system. It was launched in 1959.
Econom
Econom was Schlieren's standardized elevators. It was made available in 1961.
Notable installations
- Main article: List of notable Schlieren elevator installations
Elevator fixtures
- Main article: List of Schlieren elevator fixtures
Notable past overseas distributors
| Company/distributor name | Country(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| China Engineers Ltd. | British Hong Kong | 1950s-unknown |
| Thomas-Schmidt | Denmark | Often known as TS-Schlieren [4] |
| Valmet | Finland | Often known as Valmet Schlieren |
Trivia
- Farsta-Terassen in Stockholm, Sweden had a lot of Schlieren elevators with automatic doors and were high-speeds. Schlieren's solution to Westinghouse's Selectomatic or Express's DMR were to use transistor controllers (known as Aconic, see "Notable products" section above) to control and move their more advanced elevators in office towers. They became very rare nowadays. Out of all transistor-controlled Schlieren elevators being made, there is one turned off elevator being left inside Farsta-Terassen. The fate for this elevator is uncertain, as it is one of the most rare models, and could be extinct with this remaining one being modernised.
- Schindler's Dynatron elevator drive, developed in 1965, was based on Schlieren's Monotron drive.
Gallery
Nameplates
Notes and references
- ↑ SCHLIEREN Fahrtreppen - Museum Wagonsfabrik Schlieren (German)
- ↑ Das Atomium und sein Schlieren-Aufzug - Photo album on Schlieren's official Facebook page
- ↑ Schlieren Aufzüge Technische Universität in Delft - Photo album on Schlieren's official Facebook page
- ↑ Thomas-Schmidt merged with Danish elevator company Lifton and became TS-Lifton for a while. Later, Kone took over Lifton and became KONE-Lifton before it was defunct.
External links
- Schlieren Aufzuge - Museum Wagonsfabrik Schlieren
- Historic Schlieren site (Archived)
- Museum Wagonsfabrik Schlieren official Facebook page
- Schlieren article on Wikipedia