Manufacturer Says ‘Rope-Free’ Elevator System Could Revolutionize Buildings Industry

Manufacturer Says ‘Rope-Free’ Elevator System Could Revolutionize Buildings Industry
ESSEN, Germany—German manufacturer ThyssenKrupp claims to have developed the world’s first “rope-free” elevator system. The company says its MULTI elevator technology could enable several cabins to move vertically and horizontally in the same shaft without any cables by using a direct-drive mechanism—similar to a subway system—running in a constant loop. The elevator system uses the inductive power transfer technology of magnetic levitation trains. The company says the system could increase shaft transport capacity and reduce the elevator footprint by up to 50% each. Also, in its release, the company states “Several cabins in the same shaft moving vertically and horizontally will permit buildings to adopt different heights, shapes, and purposes.” ThyssenKrupp expects the first MULTI unit to begin test runs by 2016.