Proprietary Vs. Nonproprietary elevator systems

Buildings owners rely on the elevator professionals to install and maintain reliable equipment.  When we work with buildings on new installation projects or modernization there are two different types of control equipment you install; Proprietary equipment and non-proprietary equipment.  Proprietary equipment is equipment that the original equipment manufactuer[OEM] typically can only support.  Non-Proprietary equipment is equipment that many companies can support because product support is readily available to any elevator professional.  Typically your larger multinational companies such as Otis, Thyssen, Kone, Schindler, Fujitec, Mitsubishi install their own control equipment which would be considered proprietary.  While the quality of the equipment is on par with open market equipment[nonproprietary equipment] you typically have a significant reliance on the company who installed the equipment.  If Elevator Company A[OEM] installs your elevator system, you most likely will have a heavy reliance on them in the future for elevator maintenance.   If everything goes well Elevator Company  A does a fair job and there are no issues other than they may charge you a premium for maintaining the system.  If everything does not go well you are stuck dealing with one company for a resolution. If Elevator Company A is not making money with this account or you do not have a critical mass of business for them, you may not get the response you would like.  With non-proprietary equipment it gives the building owner more flexibility on whom to work with.  If Elevator Company B[independent elevator company] installs the equipment and things do not go well, in the Chicago area you can call 30 other companies to find someone who will find a resolution and give you what you are looking for.  It is our opinion that it is in the best interest of the building owner to work with a company who will install a Motion Control Engineering, Smartrise, Virginia Controls, Elevator Controls or other non-proprietary control systems which are as reliable as the OEM provide proprietary equipment and you will have flexibility in the future if you have to make decisions on a elevator maintenance professional.

 

We maintain a considerable amount of proprietary equipment, the issue is we have a difficult time getting product support.  99% of the time there are no issues and there are quick resolutions and everyone is satisfied.  Even when we have a 99% success rate on working on proprietary equipment if there is a decision to be made I encourage building owners to reduce their liability on relying on one vendor and make decisions that allow future flexibility for the elevator service.

 

If you have an questions or would like information from Colley Elevator you can go to www.colleyelevator.com, email Craigz@colleyelevator.com or call 630-766-7230.