Vertitron Midwest - Non proprietary elevator control systems – 2019 Series

This is the first in our series of non-proprietary elevator control systems. We spend a lot of time educating building owners on the benefits of working with a control system that has open architecture and anyone can service. Thank you to Vertitron Midwest for being a part of our series!

Colley Elevator experience with VMI - Colley Elevator has a long history with Vertitron, now called Veritron Midwest.  In our market we have a lot of Vertitron control systems put in 1980’s to 1990’s.  Vertitron is now owned by Minnesota Elevator, who is known as a regional contractor but nationally known as a premiere elevator package provider.  Last year Colley partnered with MEI to do a tearout of an entire Otis LRV elevator and install a MEI package with Vertitron control system w/the Reflex leveling system at the MCA[Museum of Contemporary Art].  We love these guys!

What is the company’s philosophy on non-proprietary technology?

Non-proprietary equipment can be translated into many meanings, to Vertitron non-proprietary means equipment that allows the user to install and service the elevator giving the ability to get standard operating information without requiring any special tools or equipment.

What competitive advantage/strength does your control system have versus the competition?

There are several great controller products on the market today, a few main differences that set us apart from the others are.

1.    Reflex leveling system: With the Reflex we are able very our slowdowns based on oil temp, acceleration and position in the hoist way. The result is quicker floor to floor times, saving energy, wear on equipment and most of all the end user gets to their destination quicker.

2.    Valve setup: When paired with the Reflex we offer an onscreen tool that gives the mechanic accurate data needed for setting the valve properly with ease right in the machine room.

3.    On screen help: We offer an on-screen help mode that allows the users to define features, I/O, functions and faults using the on-screen menu.

4.    Support: We want our customers to prevail when using our products, to help with this we offer comprehensive support to our customers from the quoting process through the install and service in the future, we take care of our customers.

 What markets do you service[low rise, mid rise, high rise, material lifts, etc]

We  offer controllers for the low rise hydraulic market, featuring Passenger, Freight and Residential as well as Remote controls including our phone app. also offering many common replacement parts.

[Standard hydraulic controller]

What is your controller’s primary platform[PLC, Microprocessor, etc]?

Our controllers are a microprocessor-based platform.

What do you like most about the Chicago market?

It is a very diverse market.  A large number of both Hydraulic and Traction elevators.  Also, many of the multi-national elevator contractors have a presence, as well as several strong, local, Independent elevator contractors.

What challenges do you have in the Chicago market?

Probably the biggest challenge is knowing what code is in affect based on whether the job is located in the Chicago city limits or outside the city limits.

What are some marquis, challenging or fun projects you have done in the national market and more importantly the Chicago market?

One of the most recent fun and challenging projects that we’ve worked on is the Appello+ phone app. The project continuously is evolving based on customer needs, the funnest/ challenging part is talking with customers to better understand their needs and finding solutions for those needs.

What is on the horizon for the company?

We are always working to improve our current products with the end user in mind. One of our big projects for 2019 is our microprocessor based residential control.

Anything additional that makes your company unique, fun facts, etc.

We are known for our products and service as well as Control Freaks logo which really signifies our people with their dedication and passion to the elevator industry and controls.

How do I see more? http://vertitron.com/ they have some really good information and Utube videos of their products.

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 Elevator year end party

On Saturday we had our company year-end party at Top Golf – Naperville, IL.  We have over 60 people at the party and collectively 381 years of experience working at Colley Elevator.  We had several 5 year, 10 year and 15 year anniversaries to celebrate and recognized some of the people who have been around longer that are a part of the fabric of Colley Elevator.

We had a quick congregation, had dinner, had some quick top golf instruction then raffled over 23 items ranging from gift cards, White Sox tickets, Black Hawk tickets and a signed Chicago Bears Dick Butkus Jersey.  One of the more unique features of the evening was hitting golf balls into the snow.

It was great to have people meet each other’s significant others, people who came before them and are retired, and other people who all work at Colley that don’t get to have interaction on a regular basis because we are on modernization projects, work in the office or on a maintenance route.  As the year goes by it is great to catch up if only for a few minutes here or there and hear about families and what they have been up to outside of elevators in a laid back atmosphere.

It takes a team to keep the 111 year old company going from the person who answers the phone to the person executing the repair or installation.  We appreciated everyone coming out and taking the time to come together!

Next week will be our first installment of non proprietary controllers.

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.

Non proprietary elevator control systems – 2019 Series

This is the first in a series of blogs about non-proprietary elevator control systems.  We will be featuring a different non-proprietary elevator control manufacturer each week.  I am pretty excited about this group of blogs and would like to thank everyone who has or will be helping out with supplying me with information for this series.   Some of the content in this blog is a rebroadcast of the 5/13/18 blog.

What is the big deal about non-proprietary control systems?  This is potentially the difference of being stuck and not stuck with one service provider.

Definition of proprietary - As an adjective, belonging to ownership; owned by a particular person; belonging or pertaining to a proprietor; relating to a certain owner or proprietor. Proprietary refers to ownership or characteristics relating to ownership.

What proprietary means to an elevator owner?  This means that the XYZ company who installs this equipment owns the ability to disseminate service tools, technical support and parts for the elevator system.  Legally the elevator contractor has to supply parts for the elevator system but they do not need assist in troubleshooting or sell the diagnostic system[even if the diagnostic tool technically belongs to the elevator owner when they purchase the elevator].

Examples of proprietary elevator systems – Otis, Kone, Schindler, Thyssen Krupp[to name a few].

Definition of non-proprietary - not registered or protected as a trademark or brand name; generic.

(especially of computer hardware or software) conforming to standards that are in the public domain or are widely licensed, and so not restricted to one manufacturer.)

What non-proprietary means to an elevator owner?  It means that anyone and everyone that is qualified to work on elevators has access to software, diagnostic systems & technical support.  More flexibility with an open architecture plan.

Examples of non-proprietary elevator systems – MCE, Smartrise, GAL, Vertitron Midwest, Virginia Controls, Elevator Systems, Elevator Controls among others.

The true essences of a Non Proprietary Control System should answer YES to every one of the following questions:

• Does the warranty transfer from service provider to service provider during the coverage period?
• Does the controller manufacturer offer free technical support for the life of the system?
• Does the controller manufacturer offer the same replacement part price to the original installer as well as any subsequent maintenance company?
• Does the controller manufacture offer warranty on parts sale to any maintenance company?
• Does the controller manufacturer offer to take back or restock parts if the part was not part of the problem?
• Does the controller manufacturer offer free factory training?
• Does the controller manufacturer offer feature upgrade and modification requests to any subsequent maintenance company?
• Does the controller manufacturer offer software upgrades to any subsequent maintenance company?
• Does the controller manufacturer provide onsite trouble shooting to any maintenance company?
• Does the controller manufacturer provide call history of the project subsequent maintenance company?
• Does the controller manufacture provide repair services to any maintenance company?

[Read the affidavit some interesting questions when considering buying a controller]

[Will the control company you choose put their name on this document?  If they will not perhaps you should ask some more questions.]

When you are making a purchasing decision for your elevators take some time to get these answers or send this to the control manufacturer the company is choosing to use to see what answers or lack of answers you get.  Your elevator investment is one of the largest building capital expenditures, you should have confidence you are making a good decision.

*Thank you Jeff Yeager from MCE for sending me some great information to get this series going.

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.

Year in review Colley Elevator Blog – 2019 Elevator Blog

I would like to say thank you for everyone that has been a part of Colley Elevators 2018, we had a great year!  We have eclipsed out 110^th year as an independent elevator company which is something that everyone past and present should be proud of.  Day to day we battle machines, multinational corporations & strive to educate building owners that there are good independent elevator contractor options.

This year we saw our maintenance portfolio grow from 1300 elevators to over 1500.  We started an Instagram account with over 340 followers.  We completed over 75 modernization and new construction projects. We added 2 service/modernization teams.  My term as NAEC president was completed.  We have quite a few new team members getting good experience under their belts.  We had a lot of growth over all as a company.  I am proud to be a part of this group of people who are carrying the Colley Elevator torch to year 111.  I often say from the person who answers the phone to the elevator technician who executes and everyone in between, it takes a team to complete everything we do as a company.  I get excited each time our warranty period ends and a building signs a maintenance agreement for the elevator we turned over.  That is telling me we are doing a great job from start to finish that the building wants to have a long term relationship with Colley.

Learning should be an everyday event for everyone. The main goal of the blog is to provide education and information to colleagues, building owners, consultants and elevator riders.  We had 46 blog posts, over 2,500 unique views in December[25% above last year] over 24,000 unique views this year, 73,968 since we began in March of 2014.

1/1/18 – Year in review Colley Elevator Blog – 2018 Elevator Blog

1/7/18 - Colley Elevator’s end of year get together

1/14/18 – Hydraulic freight elevator modernization

1/21/18 – NAEC Board of Directors mid year meeting

1/28/18 – Elevator modernization – Village of Carpentersville

2/4/18 – Elevator worker fatalities – Texas & New York

2/11/18 – Elevator maintenance – Building owner cooperation/exterminator

2/18/18 – Rockstar Energy – Elevator World – Craig Zomchek Profile

2/25/18 – CAI HOA Conference – Rosemont, IL

3/3/18 – Elevator modernization Downers Grove Park District – Downers Grove, IL

3/10/18 – Hydraulic elevator cylinder replacement – What we found underground

3/18/18 – Chicago elevator maintenance – Good looking work

3/25/18 – Old elevator controllers – ready for replacement

4/1/18 – City of Chicago Firefighters emergency operation elevator mandate

4/8/18 – Elevator industry consolidation

4/15/18 – Traction elevator modernization – long overdue

4/22/18 – NAEC Spring Conference – Carlsbad California

4/29/18 – Elevator constructor fatality – Columbus, Ohio

5/6/18 – IAEC[International Association of Elevator Consultants] Annual forum

5/13/18 – Proprietary elevator controls Vs. Non-proprietary controls

5/19/18 – Chicago Elevator Association[CEA] – Night at the Races

5/27/18 – Hydraulic elevator modernization – Arlington Heights, IL

6/3/18 – Chicago elevator maintenance, service, modernization & new construction

6/10/18 – Associa Cares – Casino Night 6/8/18

6/17/18 – Water damage in elevator pits

7/1/18 – Hot weather and elevator problems

7/8/18 – Are MRL [Machine room less] elevators dangerous?

7/22/18 – Anatomy of a hydraulic elevator – Borehole elevator cylinder

7/29/18 - Anatomy of a hydraulic elevator – Hole less hydraulic

8/5/18 – Chicago Elevator Association Golf Outing – Quest for the Chicago Cup

8/12/18 - Anatomy of a hydraulic elevator – Cantilever hydraulic elevator

8/20/18 – Traction freight elevator modernization

8/26/18 – GAL Chicago area office opens

9/3/18 – Traction elevator machine room modernization – Chicago, IL

9/9/18 – City of Chicago elevator code requirement/update

9/16/18 – Elevato rhydraluic power unit/pump motor valve replacement – Skokie, IL

9/23/18 – Elevator code changes – A17.1 2016

9/30/18 – NAEC 69^th annual convention – Atlantic City

10/7/18 – Hydraulic elevator modernization needed – Skokie, IL

10/13/18 – Elevator door operator & cylinder – Evanston, IL

10/27/18 – How long should and elevator valve last?

11/4/18 – Elevator cylinder failure – deterioration of cylinder metal

11/18/18 – Elevator indpedent service – Get that couch in!

12/9/18 – Elevator fireman’s emergency operation

12/16/18 – Elevator equipment failure – exceeding life expectancy

12/23/18 – Elevator hydraulic fluid filtration/new/valve

12/31/18 - Year in review Colley Elevator Blog – 2019 Elevator Blog

I would like to thank everyone who has taken their time to read this blog.  I will be a broken record from last year; find your passion and when you look back on the year you will see how much you have grown professionally, personally and socially.  Trade in your selfish for a little selflessness, it will feel good and you will probably make someone proud they know you.  Life is the longest thing we will do but it is also the most fragile thing we have, do good things, be proud and have a great 2019!

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.

Elevator hydraulic fluid filtration/new/valve

We take care of over 1200 hydraulic elevators and we spend a lot of time working on valves.  It is always a good reminder to talk about oil care from time to time as it dramatically affects the operation and longevity of the elevator’s control valve.  The valve is one of the more critical systems on your hydraulic elevator system.   

Unlike automobiles we do not change the elevator’s hydraulic fluid every 3,000 to 5,000 miles.  Often the hydraulic fluid can be in an elevator for 20-30 years unless you have a proactive contractor to educate the building and recommend oil care.

 [Hydraulic fluid removed from a tank, note the sludge and sediment] 

 [After a proper tank cleaning]

 [What we found on the bottom of one tank]

 [What we found on the bottom of another tank]

Filtering of hydraulic fluid & cleaning the tank – Elevator hydraulic fluid should be filtered every 3 to 7 years dependent on usage & environment.  High usage or dirty environment will cause a buildup of sentiment from the air and break down of the pump and/or valve.  When hydraulic fluid is filtered it should be removed, the tank cleaned oil put back in.  There will be a loss of the original composition of the oil over time which can be combated with the installation of additive to help restore some of the fluids original characteristics.

New hydraulic fluid – Hydraulic fluid should be replaced every 5 to 10 years, again, dependent on usage and environment. 

New vs old fluid – Sometime in the last 10 years the way hydraulic fluid was produced has change, which means that new fluid is not the same as the fluid that was produced 30 years ago.  Just like most other advancements we make things cheaper but not necessarily better.  The oil industry also changed the way they grade the composition to compliment change in hydraulic fluid composition.

When oil gets too hot – When hydraulic fluid gets too hot it gets burnt.  Overheating or burning creates sentiment in the oil which some people consider contamination.  It is a good idea if you burn out a motor or if you hydraulic fluid has been over heated to have it replaced.  The overheating of the oil also changes the characteristics of the fluid.

When water is introduced to hydraulic fluid – When water is introduced to a closed system it is very difficult to remove.  There are a variety of ways to remove the water from the system, none of them are quick.  You should always replace what you can and put a water dissipation system in place.

Filtration bags – Some valve manufactures make a filtration bag system to help purify hydraulic fluid.  This is a great system but someone needs to pay attention to the bag, as time goes by the bag collects debris.  If the bag is left in too long, it will break and spread all the debris it has collected as well as parts of the bag.  The bag and debris will get stuck in the valve and the elevator system will not work correctly.  The issue with the bag is that it needs to be monitored and in order to monitor it someone needs to remove the tank lid and check it.  We have walked into more than a few buildings where a bag had been on for years and it created an issue because no one clearly identified this as a check point.  I.E. Large sign saying “check the bag” or “remove the bag on XX/XX/XX”.

Valves – Valves can last a very long time.  Leading valve manufacures recommend replacement of their valves after 10-15 years, again dependent on usage and environment. Manufacturers suggest that after 3 to 5 years components need to be proactively replaced.

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.

Elevator equipment failure – exceeding life expectancy

EWe spend a lot of time talking to some building owners about how long their equipment will last and when it should be replaced.  Unfortunately some building owners do not get this information from their contractors, do not pay attention or their current contractor does not let them know about the longevity of their existing equipment.

When we have a problem building it typically runs in a cycle.

-       Significant issue/event that effects reliability

o   Elevator down time 1-2 days

o   Resolution

o   Clean run time of 3 to 4 months

-       Significant issue/event

o   Elevator down time 2-3 days

o   Resolution

o   Clean run time of 2 to 3 months

-       Significant issue/event

o   Elevator down time 4-5 days

o   Resolution

o   Clean run time of 1 to 2 months

I hope you see a pattern.  We begin seeing the earmarks of a control system breaking down and our resolution time being longer than the previous times and our duration of clean run time is less in between.  Catch the pattern early enough so you do not put your building in a precarious position.

If your elevator system is beginning to show a pattern that includes your time between significant failures is decreasing and your clean run time is decreasing.  You are past the discovery stage of planning and should be taking action to replace the equipment.

[This equipment is 22 years old but not supported by OEM]

How long should my elevator equipment last? – Todays elevator equipment should give you good operation for 15-20 years depending on environment & usage.   If your equipment is reaching or past 15-20 years have your elevator contract let you know their thoughts on how long it should last and what are the expections on reliability.

[Fewer and fewer people know how to fix controllers like these]

What if I don’t like what my elevator contractor is telling me? – I have many conversations with building owners that do not like being told they need to plan for equipment replacement.  I can speak from the company I work for.  We do not want to spend 3 days trying to repair your elevator either.  If you don’t like what you are hearing from your current elevator contractor get a second opinion or find someone who has the domain knowledge on obsolete Westinghouse equipment that uses tooth picks and crazy glue to keep the elevator running.  But! Be aware of your obligation as a building owner to be responsible and accountable for the conveyance users safety.

[Finger prints here tell me there has been a problem before]

How long does it take to get replacement equipment?  I’m glad you asked.  Everything elevator related typically takes 4-8 weeks for engineering and delivery.  This is not like the hot water heater you can pick up from Home Depot the same day.  Planning is very important.  Be responsible, plan ahead.

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.

Elevator Fireman’s Emergency Operation testing – Too busy

Fireman’s Emergency Operation Phase I & II should be tested monthly per A17.1 any recently edition.

8.6.11.1 – Firefighters’ Emergency Operation – All elevators provided with firefighters’ emergency operation shall be subjected monthly, by authorized personnel, to Phase I recall by use of the key switch, and a minimum of one-floor operation on Phase II, except in jurisdictions enforcing the NBCC.  Deficiencies shall be corrected.  A record of findings shall be available to elevator personnel and the authority having jurisdiction.

During a visit to complete the engineering on a 4 car modernization I discovered 2 pieces of paper 10 years a part which tells a story of how our elevator industry is changing[not for the better]. The first document shows between 2007-2010 FEO was being tested each month.  The second document shows that it hasn’t been tested in 2018.  Disclosure - This is not a building Colley Elevator currently maintains, we are completing the modernization, it is currently being maintained by a OEM.

[This sheet looks wonderful!] 

[The elevator inspector was nice enough to test is in October and circle expectations]

We are seeing more rules and codes written to increase safety and as an industry in general we are not taking the time or given the time to complete the items that once where being completed.  This all goes back to the theory

1.    Building owner must pay a company a reasonable rate for elevator service

2.    Company must give elevator personnel time to complete required tasks

3.    Elevator personnel, if given the time, must complete their tasks

If one of the three are out of sync with their responsibilities and obligations we will not have safe elevators.  In this case exercising FEO takes about 5 minutes on a one car or two car building.

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.