NAEC National Association of Elevator Contractors Convention part 2

Today was the first day of the show where we get to interact with suppliers and see what’s new or meet new suppliers.  I received some great help from GAL on a controller issue that we have been encountering.  It was great to actually talk with the their tech people and look through the control system together and then call the mechanic who was working though the issues[he was actually onsite] to give him the information from the creators of the controller. Thank you GAL.

[Picture of the show floor]

 

A part of the show there are educational events. I went to a wire rope lubrication educational session provided by Brugg Wire Rope that reminded me of all the dynamics of maintaining suspension cables properly and it gave some great tips to help us do our job as a maintenance contractor better.  Motion Control gave a session on MRL hoist way requirements which is helpful as MRL’s are becoming more and more of a reality to independent contractors.  Alliance Elevator gave a talk on educating architects on MRL’s and their long term costs to building owners. 

 

[Portable rope lubricator prototype in closed position]

[Portable rope lubricator prototype in closed position]

 

 [Alliance Elevator presentation]

 

 [MCE presentation]

 

I got to see people I have spoken on the phone and emailed for years.  One example is I have been talking and emailing a person at Access Supply, I met him today.  I have been sending this guy requests on odd ball starter contactors and relays for years and he always comes through with a good solution.  It is great we get to find out who is on the other end of the phone because while we have a work relationship we also get to know the person on the other end of the phone over time.

NAEC had a program with several safety equipment providers that you got a stamp on  a card for each booth you went to that was participating.  With safety being more and more important in our industry this is a great tool to spread awareness.  EESF and Elevator Riders Club had a poker run by visiting different booths.  I so far have a great hand!  I also got to visit with the NexGen group for lunch which is a group of elevator professionals under 40.  While I was the 3rd oldest of the group there it was nice to see new faces pop up that are either in the business or getting a start in the business. I shared an Uber with two Peelle's[Peelle Freight Doors] one of which I spent time with on a NAEC event and the other who spent time with Colley on a difficult freight door installation at a petroleum plant.

Today was a great day at the show, after the show I got to spend time with other contractors and suppliers at different events.  I got to spend time with people from Boston, Sacramento, San Francisco, New York City, Texas as well as familiar Chicago folks. We all do similar work in different parts of the country and the knowledge that we share is what we can take home and make our companies better.  

 

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.