Issue 2/2005
03/02/05
European Lift Congress Heilbronn – June 28 and 29, 2005
In just a few months – on June 28 and 29, 2005 – the “European Lift Congress Heilbronn” will be taking place for the first time in Heilbronn. This assembly of professionals was announced at the end of 2004 in some trade journals and by various organizations. Preparations have moved forward in the meantime and the program has now been finalized. The Heilbronn Technical Academy and everyone involved in organizing this meeting are proud to present attendees an interesting program (Tables 1 and 2) featuring renowned speakers.
Category: Issue 2/2005
Posted by: Editor
In just a few months – on June 28 and 29, 2005 – the “European Lift Congress Heilbronn” will be taking place for the first time in Heilbronn. This assembly of professionals was announced at the end of 2004 in some trade journals and by various organizations. Preparations have moved forward in the meantime and the program has now been finalized. The Heilbronn Technical Academy and everyone involved in organizing this meeting are proud to present attendees an interesting program (Tables 1 and 2) featuring renowned speakers. And thanks to support by the European Lift Association – ELA, the European Confederation of Organizations for Testing, Inspection, Certification and Prevention – CEOC, and the two German manufacturers’ association – VDMA and VFA, along with the association of the German technical inspection services – VdTÜV, the congress promises to be a rousing success.
Participants will be welcomed during opening ceremonies by Prof. Georg Clauss (General Manager of the Heilbronn Technical Academy), Prof. Gerhard Peter (Dean of Heilbronn Technical University), Helmut Himmelsbach (Mayor of the town of Heilbronn) as well as Luc Rivet (General Secretary of the European Lift Association – ELA). The congress will be opened and the topics to be discussed will be introduced by Dr. Gerhard Schiffner (STC Lift Consulting, Germany), who drafted the concept for the meeting and has assumed responsibility for overseeing the content. Harald Riekeles (VDMA, Germany) will explain the fundamentals of European regulations and directives in the kick-off speech. Riekeles was, through the end of 2004, reporting officer for the CEN and in this function he was among those responsible for correct implementation of the European directives in European Standards. He will discuss the essential elements in the directives as per the new approach, the interplay of these directives with harmonized standards, and the processes used in drafting and editing European directives.
Participants will be welcomed during opening ceremonies by Prof. Georg Clauss (General Manager of the Heilbronn Technical Academy), Prof. Gerhard Peter (Dean of Heilbronn Technical University), Helmut Himmelsbach (Mayor of the town of Heilbronn) as well as Luc Rivet (General Secretary of the European Lift Association – ELA). The congress will be opened and the topics to be discussed will be introduced by Dr. Gerhard Schiffner (STC Lift Consulting, Germany), who drafted the concept for the meeting and has assumed responsibility for overseeing the content. Harald Riekeles (VDMA, Germany) will explain the fundamentals of European regulations and directives in the kick-off speech. Riekeles was, through the end of 2004, reporting officer for the CEN and in this function he was among those responsible for correct implementation of the European directives in European Standards. He will discuss the essential elements in the directives as per the new approach, the interplay of these directives with harmonized standards, and the processes used in drafting and editing European directives.
Ian Fraser (European Commission – DG Enterprise and Industry) will be telling listeners about the basic content and applicability of the directives relevant to elevators; he will also discuss current questions and revisions of these directives. He is the official responsible for the Lifts Directive within the Commission. Fraser will examine the current status of the revision of the Machinery Directive, in which the demarcation to the Lifts Directive will be modified; additional minimum requirements for elevators are also to be set down in the Machinery Directive. Further, he will report on the preparation of guidelines for applying the Lifts Directive and options for revising that directive. In the first speech discussing innovations Jochen Müller (ThyssenKrupp Elevators, Germany) will introduce the new “Spirit” MRL lift, distinguished in particular by its optimized hoistway dimensions.
Boguslaw Piasecki (Urzad Dozoru Technicznego, Poland) will illustrate the way in which European regulations are implemented in the new EU member states, using his home country as the example. As the representative of a notified body, he closely followed the introduction of the regulations which went into effect in May 2004 and is familiar with problems encountered in daily use. Coordinating the notified bodies in Europe is a matter of major importance in the implementation of European regulations. Frank Tegel (Liftinstituut, Netherlands), the chairman of the coordination committee under the NB-L Lifts Directive, will provide insights into the organization and operation of this group, the procedural recommendations it has prepared, and timely topics from recent meetings.
Pierre Bianchini (Kone, Belgium) will elaborate on the organization of the CEN TC 10 technical committee; he chairs this group, which is responsible for all European standards covering lifts and escalators. He will review the basic content of the standards for lifts and the status of further development of the EN 81 series of standards; when doing so, he will explain the process employed when drafting a new standard. Dr. Horst Ermer (Mistral BST, Switzerland) will discuss in his lecture on innovations how the elevator shaft can be kept free of smoke in case of a fire. On the basis of practical tests with simulated fires he will demonstrate how positive-pressure ventilation can be used to keep smoke out of protected areas.
Boguslaw Piasecki (Urzad Dozoru Technicznego, Poland) will illustrate the way in which European regulations are implemented in the new EU member states, using his home country as the example. As the representative of a notified body, he closely followed the introduction of the regulations which went into effect in May 2004 and is familiar with problems encountered in daily use. Coordinating the notified bodies in Europe is a matter of major importance in the implementation of European regulations. Frank Tegel (Liftinstituut, Netherlands), the chairman of the coordination committee under the NB-L Lifts Directive, will provide insights into the organization and operation of this group, the procedural recommendations it has prepared, and timely topics from recent meetings.
Pierre Bianchini (Kone, Belgium) will elaborate on the organization of the CEN TC 10 technical committee; he chairs this group, which is responsible for all European standards covering lifts and escalators. He will review the basic content of the standards for lifts and the status of further development of the EN 81 series of standards; when doing so, he will explain the process employed when drafting a new standard. Dr. Horst Ermer (Mistral BST, Switzerland) will discuss in his lecture on innovations how the elevator shaft can be kept free of smoke in case of a fire. On the basis of practical tests with simulated fires he will demonstrate how positive-pressure ventilation can be used to keep smoke out of protected areas.
The morning of the second day will concentrate on the presentation of new standards and those now in preparation. Giovanni Varisco (ECD Lift, Italy), who is active in – and also chairs – many European standardization groups, will introduce elevator standards now pending publication and will explain their fundamental content and concepts. Christian de Mas Latrie (Otis, France), who also actively participates in many European working groups, will discuss other standards currently being drawn up, now available as draft versions and to be published in coming years. Between these two speeches will be the third innovation lecture, showing how new standards can be implemented in technical innovations. The “MOSIS” modular hoistway information system, upon which Enrico Marchesi (Schindler, Switzerland) will report, is a good example of this.
The last section of the program deals with the safety of lifts already in place in Europe. Michael Savage (Schindler, Great Britain) will explain the rules and processes found in EN 81-80 – sometimes also referred to as “SNEL” – which play a major role in national efforts to increase the safety of elevators in service. Savage is the chairman of the European working group which is drafting the EN 81-80 and is also a member, and in several instances chairman, of many other CEN and ISO groups. Luc Rivet (ELA, Belgium) will inform listeners about the various procedures used for national implementation of the SNEL in the member countries and when doing so will provide a survey of the increase in safety of existing lifts in Europe. In the final innovation talk Luciano Faletto (S.A.L.A. Consulting, Italy) will describe a new drive unit for MRL lifts, distinguished by improved accessibility for maintenance and emergency rescue.
The speeches will be held primarily in English but, just like the subsequent discussions, will be simultaneously translated into German and English. The congress addresses operators, public authorities, manufacturers, planners, testing organizations and all other interested parties which deal with elevators and the standards applicable to them. Germany’s proximity to the new EU member states and the candidate countries makes for an excellent opportunity for participants from those areas to attend. Moreover, participants from the new and candidate countries are being offered a reduced conference fee. The accompanying exhibits will allow attendees to gather information on innovative elevator components during the breaks. Finally, contacts made and discussions held during those breaks and the evening’s joint event will help to further clarify any items which might not have been covered in detail.
The event will take place at Heilbronn Technical University, with which the Heilbronn Technical Academy is affiliated. Heilbronn is a regional business center in southern Germany, located between Frankfurt and Stuttgart. The automotive and auto supply industries are typical to the town and its environs. The region is also an important trading center and Heilbronn lies in one of Germany’s largest wine-making areas. The surrounding region offers many attractive opportunities for excursions and tours.
The event will take place at Heilbronn Technical University, with which the Heilbronn Technical Academy is affiliated. Heilbronn is a regional business center in southern Germany, located between Frankfurt and Stuttgart. The automotive and auto supply industries are typical to the town and its environs. The region is also an important trading center and Heilbronn lies in one of Germany’s largest wine-making areas. The surrounding region offers many attractive opportunities for excursions and tours.
Information on the congress:
www.fh-heilbronn.de/TAH
www.fh-heilbronn.de/TAH
Tourist information for Heilbronn:
www.heilbronn-marketing.de
Information on the business region:
www.heilbronn-franken.de
2/2005
