Lift Report

This year’s Congress will be focusing on lift regulations, on sustainability, safety and technical innovation. This broadbased catalogue of issues will ensure that European Lift Congress Heilbronn 2010 there is something to interest all comers. In the field of lift regulations, visitors will have the opportunity to glean the latest information on the planned revision of the Lift Directive, and also get information on the first practical experience with the new Machinery Directive. There will be in-depth reporting on the on-going revision of EN 81-1 and EN 81-2, of particular interest given the anticipated availability of the revised draft standards in the autumn of 2010.

On the subject of sustainability, congressgoers will have the chance to hear the results of the E4 project concluded in the spring and the consequences for implementation of energy saving potential in the lift industry. As lifts and escalators can make a substantial contribution towards the reduction of carbon emissions, this issue will continue to pose new tasks and challenges to the industry in years to come. In this context, there will be increasing pressure in the future on both lift producers and building operators to provide life cycle assessments for their business activities and products in order to verify their environmental management credentials. Using a practical example, there will be a detailed presentation on execution of the assessment and its integration into company processes.

Alongside environmental protection targets, the issue of sustainability also encompasses social objectives designed to impact positively on the way we live and interact together. One of these objectives in the European Union is the achievement of accessibility for all, including the disabled, to every aspect of public life. One of the contributions due to be presented to the Congress will look at the progress of these endeavours, which are also benefitting from the support of a new UN Convention on Disability Rights, and also at the scope for improvement in the technical field.

The issues of safety and technical innovation are closely linked, as safety can only be achieved with the backing of suitable products. The lectures dealing with this subject area will be considering topical issues of safety in new and existing products. The contributions dealing with technical innovations never fail to meet with a particularly lively level of interest at the Congress. Lift technology continues to develop to an ever more advanced level, and the European Lift Congress provides the ideal platform for participants to find out about the very latest developments. The planned contributions will be dealing with such wide-ranging topics as systems designed to prevent unintentional movement at lift stops, advanced control technology, new developments in the field ofsuspension systems and energy-saving lift systems. The accompanying exhibition will afford guests an opportunity to experience innovative products and services at first hand and receive advice and information from the exhibiting companies represented.

Once again in 2010, the Technical Academy of Heilbronn will be hosting an attractive evening program which will afford congressgoers the opportunity to socialize, exchange news and views and also become better acquainted with the attractions of the Heilbronn Region. The city of Heilbronn with its friendly, welcoming ambience nestles in a charming landscape of vineyards and castles which attracts many visitors to return and even stay to enjoy a few extra days of vacation in the area. The wine harvesting period known locally as “Golden October” is a particularly attractive time to enjoy visits to the surrounding countryside.