Hydraulic Elevator Modernization – Arlington Heights, IL

We had the opportunity to work with a great group of condominiums in Arlington Heights, IL on the last of 12 elevators in their complex to get modernized.  Over the past 20 years the buildings have done one elevator every year or two.  This was their final one.

Existing elevator & project scope – We replaced the elevator controller, fixtures, door operator, hydraulic power unit and cylinder.  The original package provider was ESCO and had all original equipment, less the valve which was changed 15-20 years ago.  This elevator had served the building well since 1971.

New equipment providers 

• Controllers – Alpha Elevator 
• Door operators – GAL MOVFR w/GAL car and hatch
• Fixtures – Innovation Industries
• Power unit – MEI w/Maxton valves
• Cylinder - ITI

Machine room –  The new machine room layout opens up the space and a fresh coat of paint makes it look even better.

[Old machine room layout]

[New machine room layout]

Elevator cylinder – The existing elevator had a single bottom, ESCO Elevator cylinder from 1971. We replaced it with a new ITI Hydraulik piston and cylinder.

[Old ESCO elevator cylinder]

 

[New ITI Hydraulik cylinder w/PVC protection]

Elevator controller – The existing elevator controller was an ESCO Elevator from 1971 with several types of relays.  These relays had become problematic and replacements were getting harder and harder to find. 

[Old ESCO relay logic elevator controller]

[New ALPHA solid state hydraulic elevator controller]

Elevator fixtures – We installed Innovation Industries hall and car fixtures to replace the original ESCO buttons. The new fixtures have emergency communication failure, visual communication, access, fireman’s recall phase I & II and position indicators in the car and at the 1^st floor landing. 

[Old ESCO elevator COP]

[Old ESCO elevator COP]

[New Innovation Industries COP - moved to strike jamb]

[Old ESCO hall push buttons]

[New Innovation Industries main floor hall station]

Hydraulic power unit – We removed the ESCO dry power unit and replaced it with a Canton submersible power unit. The older Maxton valve was replaced with a Maxton UC4 valve. Aside from being a new component, it has the added benefit of being accessible while standing up, instead of being near the ground.

[Old ESCO power unit with a Maxton valve retrofit]

[New Canton Elevator power unit with a Maxton Valve]

[New Maxton valve]

Door operator & door equipment – We replaced the GAL MOD door operators with GAL MOVFR IIs and the hatch equipment was replaced with new GAL equipment.  Besides the benefit of new equipment, the top of the car got a make over. What a difference in how it looks!!  Fresh! Clean!

[Old car top & GAL MOD door operator]

[New car top & GAL MOVFR II door operator]

Visual and messaging (VAM) communication - The building gave us an internet line to the elevator's machine room and we used Towne Answering service for emergency communication. They do a great job for us answering our elevator emergency phone and visual calls. After the project was completed, we passed inspection with flying colors.

[Visual communications by K TECH and answered by Towne]

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 for when it should be replaced.  This elevator ran for 55 years and had some hiccups along the way, but all in all was a good running elevator for a majority of its career.  We ran a little close to the sun on this one but we made it.

Team work– The sales person and the project team who finishes, typically get the glory on a modernization project. In between the initial contract sale and the final acceptance are many other people who work on it to make it successful. From the truck driver to the engineer to the billing department to the assist when needed, 16 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!

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.