Issue 2/2005
03/02/05
A Play on Light and Glass
Dr. Peter Lauer
When you think of Munich you will think of the Hofbräuhaus. But for many years now there has also been lift component manufacturer in Munich, Meiller Aufzugtüren GmbH, which really knows what it’s about. In Germany, wherever and whenever a lift takes you to the top, it may will be that the way into the lift is through a Meiller door. The range of doors offered extends from standard designs to tailor-made solutions of the highest quality. And as far as size, design and materials are concerned, the sky is the limit. Over half of the doors manufactured by the company are specially made for individual projects.
Category: Issue 2/2005
Posted by: Editor
Technology and architecture – whether in an ordinary residential building or a modern office block – can always be tailored to the needs and wishes of the architect, planner and user. “‘Can’t be done!’ is more or less unheard of when you talk to us.” explains the managing director of this very flexible company, Wolfgang Nothaft, convincingly.
The around 100-strong team in Munich doesn’t only offer doors, of course. Since the end of 2003 a new market-oriented acquisition system has been in place which provides added bonuses such as new materials, tried and tested in extensive trials and always of the highest quality, close liaison with customers, a design system which allows quick response to any changes requested by customers and the inclusion of the customer’s own ideas from the very first inquiry. Thomas Lernet, head of Design and Development, is quite open about the fact that around 30% of the ideas for a tailor-made design come from the customer. But then, of course, the customer can rely on the expertise Meiller provide to translate these ideas into practice in the design, construction and manufacture of the individual solution.
Versatility is one of the cornerstones of company philosophy at Meiller. From 2 to 6-panel sliding (telescope) doors, the standard product range includes a proven system for narrow lift shafts, very large, heavy-duty goods lift doors, up to revolving doors, sectioned sliding doors, glass doors meeting the specifications of the German railway authority (EBA), explosion-proof designs and dimensionally stable Thermolit® high-tech door sections for outdoor use. In the latter case great importance is placed on thermal conductivity to prevent deformation as a result of large changes in temperature, due to sunshine for example, which would affect reliability.
When our reporter visited the company’s works the impression he got was that practically any request could be granted with regard to the surface design of the doors and choice of materials. The surface can be galvanized or sheathed in stainless steel, for example, can be finished with a wood veneer, powder coated, finished with a special coating, or a pattern chosen by the customer can be etched or sandblasted onto the surface. The company is particularly versed in the use of glass, bringing light and transparency into the lift car. Modern architecture puts this to good use, so that by careful positioning of the lift within the building a view into and out of the building is granted which would not have been possible in former times.
It is in the design of modern office blocks in particular that light-admitting, elegant materials are sought after, and here glass is of course the natural choice for lift doors. Meiller are specialists when it comes to glass doors in lift construction and have put a lot of development work into this material – work that has been rewarded by success. Today, elegant doors with glass panels framed on all sides are manufactured just as easily as glass panels with door fittings or point-type suspensions. Glass is available in a choice of tints, and etching or sandblasting means that numerous elegant options are available, all of them providing a lot of light.
Meiller are the only lift manufacturers to offer the patented system OPTILIGHT®. Here the interplay of light and glass produces special effects, which are of course very popular with design-conscious architects. Equally available is the design PRIVALITE, where liquid crystals embedded in safety glass transform milky glass into transparent glass in a fraction of a second. These creative and innovative design possibilities add a light, playful touch, and for the user the mere use of a lift is often transformed into an eye-opening experience.
Despite the light, playful touch, the materials used are chosen for their ability to withstand high loads. It goes without saying that safety, too, is the top priority. Technically perfected high-performance and comfort drives, frequency-controlled of course, with alternating current motor or as controlled, high-power direct current drives provide virtually silent lift movement. Behind it all are years of experience and a dedicated management and staff. This was noticeable as our reporter was escorted round the company, and was very apparent again in the concluding discussion at the end of his visit.
Around 400 doors are completed every week at Meiller, and in the case of standard doors a time span of 4 – 6 weeks is usual from placement of the order to delivery. Where special designs are developed individually for the customer, how much longer the delivery time will be depends on the size of the project. A fully parameterized product catalogue, only available from Meiller, which is easy to use even for the technical layman, creates part geometries for the desired door, showing the front, side and top views. At the press of a button, this can be transferred to the customer’s own CAD system, and where required can even be revised. The architect, planner and lift manufacturer thus benefit from a considerable savings potential in the drawing up of the plans for the lift system.
Meiller systems prove their worth in particular for the extension and modernization of existing systems. Over the last few years this has become of increasing importance.
One special modernization concept which is offered is the GENIUS® roller door. It was developed specially for lift cars without an outer door. The big advantage compared with other concepts lies in the fact that only 125mm of extra room are needed at the sides of the car.
The new management has built its management concept on behavioral training and team spirit, a policy which has met with great success. The new company philosophy makes itself felt at all levels and takes effect right through to the consultations with the customer and customer service on the customer’s premises. The company’s objective is to secure the market position they have obtained still further, and this is an aim which they never lose sight of.
2/2005
