Traction Elevator Modernization – Indian Head Park, IL

 

In the late 1970s/early 1980s US Elevator installed a good amount of elevators in a complex in Indian Head Park, IL.  We have had the opportunity to modernize 4 so far in the complex and these last two were numbers 5 & 6.  This was a cool project because we not only replaced the elevator controllers, we also replaced the machines as they where worn to a point that refurbishment would not suffice.  

Existing elevator & project scope – We replaced the elevator controller, machines, fixtures and door operator. 

New equipment providers

Controllers – Motion Control Engineering

Door operators – GAL

Fixtures – Innovation Industries

Roller guides - SEES

Visual communication - Rath w/Kings 3 cellular & answering service

Elevator controller – The existing controller was a US Elevator controller with motor generators.  We installed Motion Control Engineering's elevator controls with a KEB F5 motor drive.

[Old US Elevator Traction Controller]

[New Motion Control Engineering Traction Controller]

Elevator fixtures – The US Elevator fixtures had been replaced with Innovation Industries fixtures. However when they were initially replaced, they did not account for the upcoming code changes[visual text & FEO]. That required us to install new fixtures during this most recent modernization which included a Rath phone, visual hardware and Kings III cellular & answering service. 

 

[New Innovation Industries car station with visual text capabilities]

Elevator traction machine – We removed the existing US Elevator machines and installed new Hollister Whitney traction elevator machines and Rope Grippers.

 

[Old US Elevator traction machines]

[New Hollister Whitney traction machines]

Machine room[see above] – Before the elevator modernization, we had the elevator controllers in the middle of the room which cramped mobility.  We installed the new controllers on the front walls of the machine room, which opened it up considerably.  

Roller guides – We replaced the existing US Elevator roller guides, which have welded rollers, with new SEES assemblies with replaceable rollers.

[Old US Elevator roller guides]

[New SEES roller guide assemblies]

Car ID tags – This is a very small piece of the modernization, but we now have to label each elevator with a 2” or larger car ID tag at the main fire floor and alternate landing.  The tags need to be on both sides of the door frame. 

Take away – The reality is that the older elevator equipment in this building was harder and harder to maintain, while the people who understand it at a high level are retiring.  If a building can get ahead of these challenges and plan to replace the equipment before it cannot be repaired, or before they have to call 3 or 4 companies to find someone who still can resolve controller issues quickly, is a great thing.  The building did wait a few years too long to get rid of the US Elevator equipment, but we are happy they did.

Team work– The sales person and the project team who finishes typically get the glory on a project.  In between the initial contract sale and the final acceptance are many other people who work on the project to make it successful.  From the truck driver to the engineer to the billing department to the assist when needed 14 Colley Elevator employees where involved in the project and we had tremendous team work on it.  Thank you everyone without you we would not have had such a successful delivery!  Let’s not forget our great material supplier participation!

Finishing touches – The project team did a great job on the finishing touches to this project.  Machine room painted, car tops cleaned and elevator pits painted.  Love seeing this!

If you have any questions or would like additional information feel free to contact me at CraigZ@colleyelevator.com or 630-766-7230 ext. 107.

Also check us out on Instagram @Colleyelevator see what we have been up to.