117 specially-designed passenger boarding bridges to be installed in the largest airport expansion project worldwide
At a briefing today, Gary Elliott, global CEO of ThyssenKrupp Elevator, announced a newly signed US$50 million contract to bring world first passenger boarding bridge solutions to the Dubai airport expansion project – the largest single contract of its kind ever awarded. Elliott also revealed the company’s plans to more than double sales within the United Arab Emirates in the next two years of operation across all business lines - elevators, escalators, moving walks and passenger boarding bridges.
“We are extremely proud to be part of this significant expansion project for Dubai and our unique passenger boarding bridge solutions have been specifically customized to suit the climate in this region.” said Elliott. “Twenty five of the 117 bridges to be built for the new concourses will be specially dedicated to the much anticipated Airbus A380 aircraft. Dubai will be the first airport in the world to serve the new A380 aircraft on a large scale.”
“This contract is in line with our proven global strategy and we will continue it in this region: to grow as the industry’s quality and technology leader and to strengthen our customers’ loyalty with innovative, high-quality products and services. ThyssenKrupp Elevator is already a significant player in the Middle East region, with a presence in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Syria and a factory in Jordan. We have worked on numerous high profile and extremely successful projects within the UAE and we have more exciting projects in the pipeline.”
As the third largest elevator company in the world with branches at more than 800 locations, ThyssenKrupp Elevator currently has a team of over 300 people in the UAE and is rapidly expanding. Everyday, thousands of people are experiencing ThyssenKrupp Elevator products in malls at Deira City Centre and Wafi Mall in Dubai and in Al Ain and Al Nahda. The company is also currently working on an elevator installation in the new Dubai Etisalat tower and was responsible for the well-regarded mobile escalators purchased by Saudi Arabian Airlines that won the Elevator World Project of the Year 2003/2004.
Bringing Global Technology to the Region
Globally, ThyssenKrupp Elevator is responsible for the fastest elevator in Europe on the DaimlerChrysler premises in Berlin, the elevators in the highest office building in Europe at the Commerzbank Tower in Frankfurt and Europe’s longest escalator in the metro system of Prague which won the Elevator World Project of the Year Award 1999/2000.
At today’s briefing, Elliott discussed plans to bring ThyssenKrupp Elevator’s award-winning innovations like these to the UAE, with particular emphasis on TWIN. TWIN is a sophisticated elevator system with two cars – one arranged upon the other – in one single shaft. The two cars are not connected with each other and can drive independently to different levels using the same track. This translates into higher lift capacities and less construction volume. About 40% more passengers can quickly move between levels and allows for as much as 25% more rentable space within the building.
The TWIN elevator system has won several awards including the recent “Elevator World Project of the Year Award” from leading industry magazine, Elevator World, in January 2004. ThyssenKrupp is the only company to have won this award five times in a row.
“The recognition TWIN has already received and the strong customer demand mean it is setting an entirely new trend in the global elevator market. This is a reflection of the world class technology innovations that we are bringing to the region” said Elliott.
“Additionally, we have some very exciting innovations that are ideal for upcoming developments, particularly those in Dubai. Most notably is an accelerating moving walk solution for distances between 150 and 1,000 meters that experts have been trying to crack for over 100 years, ideal for airports, fairs, convention centres and theme parks - all growth areas in this region.”
-Ends-
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.
More information can be found at www.thyssenkrupp-elevator.com
Contact:
Dr. Rembert Horstmann
ThyssenKrupp Elevator AG
Communication & Marketing
Telephone: +49 2 11 8 24-3 84 14
Telefax: +49 2 11 8 24-3 68 39
E-mail: rembert.horstmann@thyssenkrupp.com
Katherine Scott
Bates PanGulf PR – the exclusive partner in the
Middle East of Burson-Marsteller
Telephone: 2953456 x 317
Mobile: 4609720
E-mail: Katherine_scott@batespangulf.com
© Press Release 2004
