Proprietary Elevator Modernization Equipment

I have been to a few elevators with proprietary equipment in the last week.  Both where two car buildings about 10 floors.  One was a Schindler Elevator controllers and one was Fujitech Elevator controllers.  Both wanted quotes to resolve violations for some elevator mandated items that should have cost anywhere between $5,000 to $8,000 with market pricing.  The buildings got quotes over $10,000 from their current elevator companies in each case.  My opinion is that a building should get fair pricing to do their elevator work not less not more.

The issue a building will run into when they modernize their elevator system with proprietary equipment is that the company they choose to complete the modernization may be their only source for future maintenance.   This also leads into above market pricing for future needs as the company will know they have a building in a spot where it will be difficult to move companies for maintenance.

The story goes as such.  Building goes out for bid for elevator modernization, many buildings do not know much about elevator control systems or the difference between companies.   They get a reasonable bid from a OEM[Otis, Schindler, Fujitech, Mitsubishi, Kone, Thyssen] and they move forward with the project. After installation they find that maybe their maintenance agreement keeps going up in cost, OT calls are very expensive[$500.00 per hour], other items they need to address are above market price, etc.  They begin looking around for maintenance pricing and find there isn’t a lot of interest from independent companies or other OEMs in maintaining the equipment because resources are limited from the OEM for repairs and trouble shooting.

Both buildings where happy with the service mechanics and quality of work of the modernization, just not happy with the pricing.

How to avoid this?  If you are not working with someone you can trust for elevator services, hire an elevator consultant and let them know you do not want proprietary equipment.  Make sure your elevator consultant is qualified and does not receive preferred treatment from any one elevator company[if you have any questions on this call me]. Many OEMs will say their equipment is nonproprietary, this may not be true or true to the definition that you as a building owner are looking for.  You want a elevator control system that any one of the 30 or so elevator contractors around the Chicago land area can service, that they do not need a service tool and can readily get technical support.

Outcome of buildings with proprietary equipment – You will have other companies come and see there is no possibility of working with the building in the future and more than likely give you a higher price than they would give to a building where they would have the possibility of working with in the future.   One building I went to said a vendor came in saw the equipment was Fujitech and instead of measuring anything for this particular installation shined his flashlight in the pit and sent over a quote which was more than the OEM quote because they were not interested in doing the work at this building.  If you cannot get competitive bids for elevator work outside the maintenance agreement it puts you at a significant disadvantage. 

[this particular controller had its motor drive control & display removed so no one could work on the elevator controller, the CPU attached to it was locked out from anyone but the elevator company whom installed it]

Elevator maintenance on proprietary equipment – If you have proprietary equipment, many companies have personnel and tools to work on them, make sure you ask them questions if they have experience with your control system.  Some systems the elevator contractor can work on better than others if they are not the installing firm.

What is nonproprietary control equipment?  Smartrise Engineering, Motion Control Engineering, Virginia Controls, Vertitron Midwest, GAL Manufacturing among others.  If you have questions when going through the process, send me an email, call me, even if we are not bidding the project I will walk you through what you should know.   As an independent company we have an interest in making sure buildings are getting nonproprietary equipment installed by a reputable company. 

Any questions on elevator consultants - Email me and I can put you in touch with a few good consultants that will look out for your best interests.  There are many good ones and there are ones that you should avoid.

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