German elevator giant looks for enhanced presence in the region
Dubai - ThyssenKrupp Elevator, the world's third-largest elevator company, is aggressively targeting the Middle East market, keeping in view the booming construction under way in the region. The company, which is the leading supplier for passenger transport systems in airport terminals, has also revealed plans to boost its sales in the region across all business lines - elevators, moving walks, escalators and passenger boarding bridges.
The Germany-based elevator giant, being represented by its Middle East operations at the Airport Build & Supply Exhibition at Airport Expo Dubai, also unveiled details of its projects currently being executed in various Gulf countries.
Speaking about the company's plans, Javier del Pozo, CEO Business Unit Southern Europe/Africa/Middle East of ThyssenKrupp Elevator, said: "Close on the heels of our US$150 million contract for the new Dubai International Airport, we are aggressively targeting the Middle East region. The plans to boost our presence in the region is in line with our global expansion strategy, aimed at growing as the industry's quality and technology leader by offering innovative high-quality products and services."
ThyssenKrupp Elevator, the only producer offering the complete range of passenger moving equipment for airports in addition to elevators, escalators and moving walks, also manufactures passenger boarding bridges, stair lifts and platform lifts. Last year, ThyssenKrupp won the biggest ever order in the history of the sector: a contract worth US$150 million to supply 368 elevators, 162 escalators, 128 moving walks and 123 passenger boarding bridges for the new Dubai International Airport.
With 25 special new passenger boarding bridges from ThyssenKrupp, Dubai will be the first airport in the world capable of effectively servicing the world's biggest passenger aircraft, the Airbus A380, on a large scale. "The bridges developed by ThyssenKrupp Elevator will be able to connect to a door in the upper deck of the Airbus, reducing boarding and disembarking times from 45 to 38 minutes. Depending on the number and type of bridges, time can be reduced down to 25 minutes, almost to half," said Ramon Sotomayor, CEO Business Unit Escalators/Passenger Boarding Bridges of ThyssenKrupp Elevator. Coincidentally, the first boarding bridges for the Royal Wing at Dubai Airport will also be installed in June this year.
To date, three European airports have been equipped with a total of four of these new passenger boarding bridges. Reducing boarding time and disembarking time means more efficient use of aircraft and more comfort for the passengers. ThyssenKrupp Elevator has been the first and so far only manufacturer who has installed passenger boarding bridges for the A380. Similar requests for upgrading existing boarding bridges are also being handled.
"In terms of quality and technology, ThyssenKrupp Elevator is regarded as world number one. As an innovation and technology leader, the group's products are at the leading edge of technical progress. The latest innovations from ThyssenKrupp are the TWIN system, the accelerating moving walk and mobile escalators," said Kristina Sawalha, Managing Director, Middle East Operations, ThyssenKrupp Elevator.
TWIN is an innovative elevator system with two cabs arranged one above the other in a single shaft. The two cabs are not connected and can move independently to different floors using the same guideway. This boosts transport capacities by up to 40 per cent and saves building space by cutting down the number of shafts required, freeing up additional space for rent. Prerequisites for the TWIN system are the destination selection control system and ThyssenKrupp Elevator's four-stage safety system.
With locations in Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and a plant in Jordan, the ThyssenKrupp Elevator group is a key Middle East supplier. ThyssenKrupp has proven its credentials as an international technology leader on many occasions. Examples include Europe's fastest elevator in the DaimlerChrysler building in Berlin, the elevators in Europe's tallest office building, the Commerzbank Tower in Frankfurt, as well as Europe's longest escalator in the Prague Metro, and the contract for the Shanghai World Financial Center, among the world's tallest buildings. The contract includes 42 units for the 101-storey building.
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About ThyssenKrupp Elevator
ThyssenKrupp Elevator is the third-largest elevator company in the world and has a presence in more than 60 countries at over 800 locations. With over 30,000 employees, the company achieved sales of around 3.4 billion euros in the fiscal year to September 30, 2003. Capabilities include passenger and freight elevators, escalators and moving walks, stair and platform lifts, passenger boarding bridges as well as high-quality service for the entire product range.
For more information , pleas econtact:
Dr. Rembert Horstmann
ThyssenKrupp Elevator AG
Communication & Marketing
Tel: +49 2 11 8 24-3 84 14
fax: +49 2 11 8 24-3 68 39
E-mail: rembert.horstmann@thyssenkrupp.com
Ashraf Al Shakaa
Bates PanGulf PR - the exclusive partner in the Middle East of Burson-Marsteller
Tel: 971 4 2953456 ext. 313
Mobile: 971 50 5990924
E-mail: ashraf@batespangulf.com
© Press Release 2005
