Issue 2/2006
03/02/06
European Lift Congress Heilbronn 2006
Following the success of its launch last year, the European Lift Congress is due to be held for the second time on October 17th and 18th 2006 in Heilbronn. This year’s congress will be focusing on innovations and new technologies in the field of standard lifts. This sector particularly has seen a series of innovations over the past decade which have had considerable repercussions not only on lift technology itself but also on building design.
Category: Issue 2/2006
Posted by: Editor
MRLs (machine roomless lifts) have become an increasingly common phenomenon over the last ten years and brought about an unmistakable impact on the lift market. This development was just the first in a series of innovations initiated by the introduction of the European Lift Directive and the wide-ranging possibilities opened up by the New Approach, as well as the harmonization of the European lift market which coincided with it. In a series of lectures, the congress will set out to clarify the outline conditions for innovation and to highlight the areas in which further groundbreaking developments may be expected in the field of standard lifts.
The introduction of any innovation depends upon compliance with the Essential Safety Requirements of the relevant European directives and the achievement of the safety levels applicable to products designed in line with harmonized standards. This underlying requirement calls for on-going improvements and additions to the existing lift regulations in support of the process of technical development. Two of the contributions at the congress will be looking at currently planned amendments and additions to European directives and standards with relevance for lifts and at their various interpretations. A representative of NB-L will be providing information on the coordination of notified bodies and looking at topical issues relating to the application of European regulations.
Reports highlighting innovations and new technologies will be focusing on the fields of MRLs, lifts with reduced shaft head and pit, and platform lifts for users with restricted mobility. As well as a retrospective look at the past decade since the introduction of MRLs, other topics under discussion will include the use of belts as a means of suspension, design variants for gearless drive systems and new solutions with hydraulic drives for MRLs. On the topic of lifts with reduced head room and pit, information will be provided on the current status of the prEN 81-21 standard and on a new elevator system with reduced well dimensions. Reports on the subject of lifting platforms will consider the limitations of this particular lift design and the scope for its use in the standard lift market, as well as taking a look at the content of the prEN 81-41 standard and demonstrating an example of this type of system.
The Congress will be rounded off by a look at ISO activity in the field of lift standardization aimed in particular at helping to implement similar systems using the New Approach outside of Europe, and achieving worldwide harmonization of lift standards. The proceedings will be concluded by a talk on the use of PESSRAL in lift components and systems, with a view to building a bridge to the European Lift Congress 2008, which will be focusing on the fields of electric and electronic lift components. As on the last occasion, the Congress is being staged with the support of the European Lift Association ELA, the European Confederation of Organisations for Testing CEOC, the German Manufacturing Associations VDMA and VFA and the German Association of Technical Inspection Services VdTÜV.
Registrations are currently being taken on www.fh-heilbronn.de/tah.
2/2006
