Hydraulic elevator control modernization – Arlington Heights, IL

15 years ago we modernized 3 buildings in a 5 building complex with new controllers, door operators, power units and cylinders.  We went to the 4^th building and quickly got shoo’d away because they had a great OEM service provider. We always wondered how the other 2 buildings where doing in the complex.  Well… We finally got the call about 6 months ago to come look at one of other building’s equipment.

[Elevator machine room - Before]

[Elevator machine room - After]

Existing elevator & project scope – The existing elevator was a Dover installed in 1964, this building definitely got their money’s worth from the system.  The building had started to have issues with the overall reliability and functionality of the elevator system and was ready for a change.

New equipment providers

Controller – Smartrise Engineering

Power units – Existing MEI w/Maxton UC4 valve

Door operator – GAL MOVFR

Fixtures – Innovation Industries

Hydraulic elevator controller – The 1964 Dover elevator controller was in fair condition for being 57 years old but had some serious critical issues occurring from time to time.

[Dover Elevator controller - Before]

[Smartrise Elevator Controller - After]

Door operators – The elevator had a GAL MOVFR I with all the old GAL car and hatch equipment on it prior to the modernization and replaced with a GAL MOVFR II.

[GAL Door operator - Before]

 

[GAL Door operator - After]

[Car top & GAL Door operator - Before]

[Car top & GAL Door operator - After]

Elevator fixtures – This pit got lip stick, the hall stations where replaced with ADA compliant hall stations 10+ years ago.  The car station was replaced with a Adams car station at the same height as the old Dover car station.  We installed some great looking Innovation Industry push buttons with all the code required bells and whistles.

 

[Adams car operating panel - Before]

[Innovation car operating panel - After]

[Adams hall station - Before]

[Innovation hall station - After]

Disconnects – There is WBO[Work by others] that is required when we replace an elevator controller.  This is typically electrician work but should be guided by the elevator contractor.  In this event we flagged some aluminum wire and no ground.  The electrician replaced the aluminum wire and gave us a great earth ground!  ALUMINUM WIRE = BAD! REPLACE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!  Aluminum wire can cause reliability issues and cause your components to burn out, unless it is properly maintained, which in most cases no one maintains their aluminum wire properly.

[Elevator disconnect w/alluminum wire - Before]

[Elevator disconnect w/copper & auxilary contact - After]

Take away – This is a hydraulic elevator control modernization that was long overdue, the building was having serious headaches with the equipment reliability.  The building had done some work over time but the major components where original. The condominium board was having a lot of feedback from the other unit owners, it was time. We had a great project team in for the modernization who did a great job on this piece of history.

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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. 

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