NAEC 76th Elevator Convention - Houston, TX

 

I had the opportunity to attend the National Association of Elevator Contractors (NAEC’s) 76th annual convention September 17th to 18th. It was great to get back and see some old friends, meet new friends, sit through education, be involved with talking points and walk around and visit about 300 different vendors. With Illinois adopting the 2022 code, it was of particular interest to know what is on the horizon and how our vendors can support us.

 

What did I get out of it? On a regular basis I’m asked what do I get out of going to the convention or other NAEC events. I had a list of items from our office to look into since you can talk face to face with industry suppliers. Meeting people face to face is different than trading emails or even phone calls. Challenges that occur over the year can be discussed and resolved in a matter of minutes. The networking is wonderful, seeing friendly faces and talking to people that you email on a regular basis cannot be beat. What I get the most out of is seeing my peers from independent contractors and seeing what is going on in their area and what they are doing and what challenges they are facing.

 

9/17/25 – Wednesday – I caught an early flight in and ran over to catch the IUEC presentation of some code updates for 2022.  My goal was to get around the whole convention and see all of the booths.  I had to run quick.  But!  I found a lot of cool stuff!

[Show floor with my favorite Laura photobombing]

[More show floor]

[IUEC code update]

[IUEC code update]

[Adams DLM solution]

[Argus DLM solution]

[Friends at CJA]

[We won another Ellie - Thanks Elevator World!]

[New EMS Freight controller]

[Didn't know these guys existed - good connection]

[New GAL controller]

[Hyperion solution to Westinghouse single brake]

[Just cool!]

[New MEI controller]

[Thanks for having me at the party!]

[How Texas is this?]

[Thank you sponsors!]

9/18/25  – Thursday – I went to the awards breakfast, it was packed! I ran through the rest of the floor which I did not get to the day before I flew out.

 

[Packed awards breakfast!]

[ECI Boards]

[WE needed a pit flood solution - ECI]

[ECI relay tester - we bought one]

[Our friends at Innovation]

[Met our new KTech friends]

[F5 will be obsolete - replaced with F6 soon]

[VC traction controller - color coded - if you're not color blind]

[I still don't like IOT]

[Safety gear]

[Canton - how cool is this?]

[Cool to see someone else is pressure testing]

[Imperial - Congrats on the Ellie!]

[Goodbye Texas]

Why you should go – If you're in the elevator industry, this is THE show to attend where you can meet the best in the business, exchange ideas, get challenged, and come back to your company with new ideas, see new products and be a better elevator person.

2026 Convention – Chicago, IL - Yes its coming to our home.  Gary Who?

2027 Convention – St. Louis, MO – Hey! Gary got one too! 

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.

One Step Closer To Door Lock Monitoring In Illinois

The Elevator Safety Review board met today at the International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) Local 2 Headquarters in Chicago Ridge. Though the A17.1 2022 code has not been approved yet by the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR), the board is proactively addressing concerns that the new code will create once adopted.

Many of the items discussed at the meeting were procedural and dealt with changes to elevator inspection forms. Some questions and comments addressed specific language and how it would be  interpreted once the code becomes the law of the land.

Most of those discussions centered on Door Lock Monitoring (DLM). For Colley customers, this means the following:

What is Door Lock Monitoring?  It is a system that prevents an elevator from moving unless its doors are fully closed and locked. It monitors the position of an elevator’s car doors and prevents automatic operation if any door issues are detected, such as with the door's wiring, locks, contacts or the system being on bypass mode. 

How will Door Lock Monitoring be tested? That is the million dollar question at the moment, though it will become part of the annual category 1 (CAT1) no load safety test. 

All elevators will be required to have testing guidelines onsite which is not a problem for new elevators, but older ones may lack the documentation.

Industry-wide it will likely mean higher fees from both the elevator inspection companies as well as labor costs. Most in the industry seem to agree that 2 mechanics will be needed for door lock monitoring inspections and those inspections may take an additional hour. For reference, CAT1 tests on hydraulic elevators usually only require 1 mechanic and 1 hour to perform.

Some older elevators, especially those with controllers pre-2000 won't even have the door lock monitoring feature. Those elevators will need modernizations.

Will Door Lock Monitoring be required on my elevator/conveyance?  All freight and passenger elevators that have power operated doors which are mechanically coupled to landing doors will need this feature. If a door can be pulled closed, for example on freight elevators, it does not need door lock monitoring as the doors cannot close on their own.

Door Lock Monitoring will have no grandfathering in this code edition - all elevators that require door lock monitoring MUST HAVE IT. Tentatively the grace period for those without is January 1, 2029.

If you have any questions or would like additional information please contact us.

Elevator 101 - Oak Brook, IL - 10/7/25

Calling all property managers.  Colley Elevator is offering continuing education credit to learn about elevators.   You can learn about one of the biggest head aches buildings have and fulfill your CEU requirement.

Join us Tuesday, October 7th at 11:00am for Elevator 101. In this lunch and learn workshop, we'll be discussing:

•    DOOR LOCK MONITORING 

•    Types of elevators

•    Governing codes & certification requirements

•    Common elevator violations

•    Fireman's service exercise & hoist way access

•    Testing requirements

•    Obsolete equipment

•    Maintenance agreements

•    Modernization projects

Elevator 101 is approved by CAM & Community Association Managers International Certification Board (CAMICB) to fulfill continuing education requirements for the CMCA® certification. This course is approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit.

Lunch will be provided.

Pinstripes

7 Oakbrook Center

Oak Brook, IL 60523

TUESDAY OCTOBER 7TH 2025

11:00 am

 

RSVP to Cathy@colleyelevator.com – Space is limited.

 

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.

NAEC Elevator convention & exposition - Houston, TX

 

We are about 3 weeks away!  This is a great place to see new products, get some continuing education, meet new people see old friends and talk elevators.  Colley Elevator has been a participating member of the NAEC since the 1950s.

 

 

2025 CONVENTION & Expo – Houston, TX

September 15 - 18, 2025

 

Monday, September 15

7:00am - 2:30pm

Golf Tournament (8am Shotgun Start)

7:30am - 5:30pm

Registration Open

8:00am - 5:00pm

Exhibitor Move-In

3:00pm - 5:00pm

United In Deed

5:30pm - 6:30pm

First Time Attendee Reception

6:30pm - 8:30pm

Welcome Dinner Reception

 

 

Tuesday, September 16

7:00am - 5:30pm

Registration Open

7:45am - 9:00am

Opening Breakfast

8:00am - 5:00pm

Exhibitor Move-In

9:15am - 10:15am

General Business Session (NAEC Members Only)

10:30am - 11:30am

Contractor Member Session (NAEC Contractor Members Only)

10:30am - 11:30am

Supplier Member Session (NAEC Supplier Members Only)

10:30am - 11:30am

Associate Member Session (NAEC Associate Members Only)

11:30am - 1:00pm

Accessibility & Residential Open Committee Meeting

1:00pm - 2:00pm

Education Session: From Reactive to Proactive: How IoT Data is Transforming Elevator Service Delivery & Creating New Sources of Revenue

1:00pm - 2:00pm

Education Session: Elevator Industry Safety Codes: Everything You Want to Know, 2025 Edition

2:15pm - 3:15pm

Education Session: Elevator Maintenance Reimagined: Implementing Task-Based Preventative Maintenance Strategies leveraging IoT for enhanced equipment care, sales opportunities, and The Customer Experience!

2:15pm - 3:15pm

Education Session: AI in the Elevator Industry

3:15pm - 4:30pm

Education Session: Women in Motion: The Five Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace

3:30pm - 4:30pm

Education Session: Tuckman’s Model & Team Development

3:30pm - 4:30pm

Education Session: Making an MCP, Elements Code Compliance

5:00pm - 6:30pm

AEMA Meeting

 

 

Wednesday, September 17

7:00am - 5:30pm

Registration Open

7:00am - 8:00am

Women in Motion Networking Breakfast

9:30am - 5:00pm

Exhibits Open

10:00am - 11:00am

Education Session: The Impact of Consolidation and Globalization on The U.S.A. Market

10:00am - 11:00am

Education Session: Educate Your Technicians with Code Knowledge to Make Them Your Best Salespeople While Making Elevator Equipment Safer

11:15am - 12:15pm

Education Session: Elevating Safety: Culture, Code, Collaboration and Best Practices in the Elevator Industry

11:15am - 12:15pm

Education Session: From Risk to Readiness: Navigating Code Shifts for Elevator Communications

1:15pm - 2:15pm

Education Session: Safety & Code Compliance when Installing Elevator Cab Shells & Interiors

1:15pm - 2:15pm

Education Session: Residential Winding Drum Gearbox Life and Safety

2:30pm - 3:30pm

Education Session: Safety on the Job for Field & Sales Team Members

2:30pm - 3:30pm

Education Session: In-House vs. Outsourcing: Strategic Decisions for Manufacturers and Mid-to-Large Businesses

4:00pm - 5:00pm

Elevator World's Ellie Awards

4:00pm - 5:00pm

Education Session: Safety Absolute #4: Lockout/Tagout & Controlled Circuitry

5:00pm - 6:30pm

After Lift Reception

7:00pm - 8:30pm

Elevator and Escalator Safety Foundation (EESF) Reception

8:30pm - 10:30pm

NexGen Reception

 

 

Thursday, September 18

7:30am - 3:00pm

Registration Open

7:45am - 9:15am

Awards Breakfast

9:30am - 3:00pm

Exhibits Open

10:00am - 11:00am

Education Session: Turkish Elevator Industry

10:00am - 11:00am

Education Session: Diving Into the 2025 Field Safety Handbook - Jeopardy Edition

11:30am - 12:30pm

Education Session: The World of a VRC and going deeper and looking at the steel!

11:30am - 12:30pm

Education Session: Understanding Automatic Door Operation in Residential Elevators

12:00pm - 1:30pm

NexGen Keynote Luncheon (by invitation)

1:00pm - 2:00pm

Education Session: Modern drive concepts in the elevator - Interaction of components and digitalization

1:00pm - 2:00pm

Education Session: Ensuring Safe Communication in Elevators

3:01pm - 9:00pm

Exhibitor Move-Out

7:00pm - 9:30pm

Dregs Party

 

For industry newbies to our experienced professional this is a great place to learn and network. 

For more information - https://www.naecconvention.com/

A big thanks to the NAEC for all of the hard work putting the show on, we appreciate it and you do not get enough thanks!

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.

Vote Colley Elevator for Elevator Worlds 2025 Best Contractor – North

 

Colley Elevator is excited to announce we have been nominated for Elevator Worlds 2025 Best Contractor – North award once again.  We brought the Ellie home in 2019. 2020, 2022 & 2024.   We would like to keep the Ellie back to the Chicagoland area so please place your vote for Colley Elevator.  You can vote once a day from each device you have. 

Voting takes place 8/1/25 to 8/11/25

https://elevatorworld.com/contests/the-ellies/the-ellies-2025-voting

For those at Colley Elevator who work tirelessly to be a different elevator company and do great things for our customers, let us know you support us fighting the good fight!

Thank you Elevator World for having this contest and letting us give it a go for the 2025 year.  It is a lot of fun to participate! 

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.

Hydraulic Elevator Modernization – Highwood, IL

 

This is a pretty typical modernization we recently completed.  Each year as safety codes and regulations change, our work with gets a bit more complicated and more involved with other trades.  This building needed a new fire panel and a lot of associated fire work in addition to our semi vanilla elevator modernization.

New equipment providers 

Controllers – Alpha Elevator 

Door operators – GAL MOVFR

Fixtures – Innovation Industries w/Rath camera

Power unit – MEI w/Maxton valve

Visual communication – CAT 5 line[building supplied & Towne Monitoring]

 

Elevator controller – The existing controller was a Schumacher controller with 3 solid state boards.  We are replacing it with a more user friendly Alpha Elevator Controller which not only has replacement parts available, but also technical support for any company that calls.  

 

[Old Schumacher Elevator controller]

 

[New Alpha Elevator controller]

Elevator door operator – The elevator had MAC door equipment which we replaced with a new GAL MOVFR II door operator and new MAC hatch equipment.

 

[Old MAC door operator]

[New GAL MOVFR II door operator]

Elevator fixtures – We installed Innovation Industry's hall and car fixtures to replace the original buttons.  The car station was an integral, which means it is one piece which integrates into the wall, so we had to be extremely precise with our measurements.

 

[Old car station]

[New Innovation car station w/Rath Phone]

[Old hall station]

 

[New Innovation main landing hall station]

Machine room layout – Our new machine room layout creates a nice, clean and professional environment. 

[Old machine room layout]

[New machine room layout]

Turnkey – The building wanted a turnkey project and we had great partners to complete the fire alarm and electrical components.

[Old mainline disconnect]

[New main line disconnect]

 

Visual communication - VAM – We had an electrician pull a CAT 5 cable to our machine room for visual communication and we engaged Towne Monitoring for the answering service.  Rath Smartview was our camera partner on this project.

Take away – We encourage building owners to take a proactive approach to equipment replacement. When equipment gets 20-30 years old, and a building’s expectations are that the elevators are to run reliably, it is a good idea to start planning when it should be replaced.  

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! Let’s not forget our great material supplier participation!  A special shout out to our patient building through the whole process.

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.