Hydraulic elevator control modernization – Glen Ellyn, IL - US Elevator

 

We received a phone call from a building that was perfectly happy with their route person and not unhappy with the person they were dealing with in the office of their current elevator company.  They wanted a 2^nd opinion of their elevator equipment for modernization, we had a relationship with the property manager so they called Colley. The building had some "newer" US Elevator controls that are now obsolete.  As we went through the process of talking through the modernization the building gave us a shot at replacing the equipment.

Existing elevator & project scope – We replace the elevator controls, fixtures, wiring, door operators and valves.  After accessing the travel and speed of the car we did not want to put a submersible power unit in.  The building already had dry units so we pitched changing the valve, replacing all the victaulics and the pump and motors where in good condition so they could be retained.  The reason we didn’t replace the entire power unit was because the room was already too small and newer power units are larger than the ones they had installed.

Existing elevator machine room – We didn't have that many options with the existing machine rooms but the project team did a great job with making it work!

[Old elevator machine room]

[New elevator machine room]

New equipment providers

Controllers – Smartrise

Door operators – GAL MOVFR

Fixtures – Innovation Industries

Elevator controllers – The existing US controllers was the newer solid state they came out with prior to selling to TKE with three boards.  This typically is not the most user friendly system and fewer and fewer elevator mechanics are familiar with the system.   We opted to put a versatile backwards compatible Smartrise Engineering control system in.

[Old US Elevator hydraulic controller]

[New Smartrise Engineering hydraulic elevator controller]

Elevator door operators – We replaced the ECI door operators with GAL MOVFR II door operators and replaced all the hatch and door equipment while retaining the door tracks.

Elevator fixtures – We installed Innovation Industries hall and car fixtures which matched up well with the existing swing car panels.

[Old US Elevator car operating panel]

[New Innovation Industries car operating panel]

 

Take away – In this case we had a proactive building who was educated and understood that their existing equipment could cause a huge headache for them in the future.  It was great to see a building learn about their current equipment and want to be ahead of the problems that would inevitably manifest with the US Elevator control equipment.  Now the building has some great new nonproprietary elevator controllers and a fully nonproprietary elevator system.

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 11 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!

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.

Colley Cares – Colley Elevator gives back – 3rd Quarter

  

Earlier this year we committed to extend some of our charitable outreach, the more we sell, the more we donate. As a group we targeted 5 organizations to support in the 3rd quarter of 2021.   We will also continue to support the organizations we have supported for many years. Colley Elevator will be donating an additional $2,100.00 amongst the following 5 great causes  I have included how we got to know each of the organizations and why they mean something to us. Get to know the them and if you feel so inclined, give them a few bucks.  It is the giving season, if you are reading this blog, you probably are doing well enough to give a few bucks and you will feel good about doing it!

 Pillars Community Health website

Pillars Community Health – A healthcare organization that is committed to meeting the changing health and social needs of the western suburban residents.

Colley Elevator has been servicing buildings for Community Nurses out of La Grange, IL for the last 40-50+ years. Pillars and Community Nurses merged to form Pillars Community Health. Pillars Community Healthy is a phenomenal organization that you should get to know! I have a deep appreciation for everything they do day to day!

 

Ray Graham Association website

Ray Graham Association – Founded in 1950, Ray Graham Association serves nearly 2,000 people with disabilities and employ about nearly 350 people. Ray Graham enriches lives by empowering those we support and those who care for them to reach, grow, and achieve. Thank you for being a part of this life-saving and life-giving mission.

I got a phone call from a person who I dealt with at a facility for many years and he had a new gig at Ray Graham and wanted us to take a look at his elevator.  I walked in and saw the wonderful work the people at Ray Graham are doing and learned about their organization.  Before I even left the building I thought of them as one of our Colley Cares causes.  RG has a facility right by my house and I ride my bike by it with my kids frequently, now I know what they do.  Get to know them!

NEDSRA website

NEDSRA – Northeast DuPage Special Recreation Association improves the quality of life for thousands of people with disabilities each year by providing them with a variety of recreational and social programs. The programs are offered in partnership with eight park districts and three village recreation departments.

We had a phone call for an opportunity that was nearby. When we stopped in, we talked about what the organization does. In the end, we helped them out with their elevator and are now their service provider. It's been a pleasure getting to know this group which is doing wonderful things. One of our coworker’s family members has had great experiences with the service offerings that NEDSRA provides.

                                

Chicago Food Bank website

Greater Chicago Food Pantry – A united community effort working to bring food, dignity and hope to our Cook County neighbors.

Something we may take for granted is having a meal on the table. Some people cannot take that for granted and this is one of the organizations that is there to help them in their time of need. No one should go to bed hungry, go to school hungry or have to worry where their next meal is coming from. This is one of the organizations that Colley fundraised for last year and donated a few thousand dollars to.

 

American Cancer website

American Cancer Society – Simple mission – free the world from Cancer.

This group puts up the good fight and we all know people who cancer has touched.  Lets fund the group looking to eradicate the heartache this cellular mapping reproduction disfunction creates. 

Every quarter we will be choosing new organizations doing great things. If you have an organization that is doing great things and want to be considered, please email me at Craigz@colleyelevator.com. And if you have time to read this blog you have time to get your credit card and pick one of these great organizations to give a few bucks to. Some people are not as fortunate as you, give back, it will feel great!

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.

Community Association Institute of Illinois – CAI – Toys for Tots & Food Bank - It Starts With a Box!

 

We had a wonderful opportunity to help the Community Association Institute of Illinois (CAI) for two great causes; Schaumburg Township's  Food Pantry and Marine's Toys for Tots Foundation.  We got Team Colley together and collected a ton of toys and hundreds of pounds of food for the respective drives.  We had such a great response from Team Colley that it almost didn’t fit in one of our trucks for delivery to the local chapter of CAI in Schaumburg.  Our Cathy Hayat headed up the initiative!  Thank you Cathy!  While Colley Elevator has been around since 1908, it has always been the people who make the organization thrive and I am proud to say that we work with a lot of great ones with big hearts!   Great work Team Colley! Great work CAI!

If you are reading this and you or your company doesn’t have something going on to give back, it starts with a box and a toy or can of food. Spread the word, you will be surprised what you can do.  I thank my lucky stars to be part of such a great industry and company, some people do not get the same opportunity, lets help out and brighten up some holidays!

Community Associations Institute (CAI) is an international membership organization dedicated to building better communities. CAI has over 40,000 members and 64 chapters worldwide and provides information, education, and resources to homeowner volunteers who govern communities and the professionals who support them. We believe that by giving board members, managers, and homeowners the knowledge to better run their associations, they can turn “owners” into “neighbors,” increasing harmony, and leading to more prosperous, safer communities.

https://www.cai-illinois.org/

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.