One World Trade Center to Feature Fastest Elevators in the Americas

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Elevators designed by ThyssenKrupp feature custom technologies, travel nearly 23 mph

ThyssenKrupp, a global technologies and materials group, shared that the fastest elevators in North and South America have been installed at One World Trade Center in New York. Five of the elevators represent a record-breaking engineering feat, able to travel at nearly 23 mph and reach almost the top floor in 60 seconds. At this speed, the elevators nearly outpace Usain Bolt’s world-record 100-meter sprint.

ThyssenKrupp’s global network of experts collaborated together to achieve this record-setting mark through a variety of customized solutions specific to the demands of the iconic One World Trade Center. Together, eight countries contributed key elements of the elevators including cabins, motors, cables, four million pounds of rails and complex software.

ThyssenKrupp’s high-speed elevators are equipped with several special technologies to get and keep them moving at record setting speeds. Aerodynamic aluminium shrouds deflect air and maintain speed, similar to a spoiler wing on a car. A special guide system minimizes vibrations, ensuring a smoother ride. Sound suppressing materials throughout elevator cabs and doors limit noise.

“The sheer magnitude of One World Trade Center posed unique vertical transportation and structural engineering challenges which required thoughtful engineering solutions,” said Richard Hussey, President and CEO of ThyssenKrupp Elevator Americas. “What riders experience is just a small fraction of the years of planning and execution we have invested into creating and maintaining the fastest elevators in the Western Hemisphere.”

ThyssenKrupp also designed and installed all of the elevators and escalators throughout the building. The elevator system provides energy conservation to the building. LED lights in cab ceilings will save more than 78,000 kilowatt-hours annually versus halogen bulbs, which is equivalent to fully powering an average U.S. home for more than seven years. Regenerative drives will recapture elevator energy and return it to the building’s electrical system.

The elevators employ ThyssenKrupp Elevator’s Destination Dispatch™ technology, which uses intelligent software and kiosks to group people on to elevators to move them to their destination the fastest. Altogether, ThyssenKrupp installed 71 elevators and 12 escalators into One World Trade Center.

“Working on this iconic project and such an important part of the New York City skyline is a point of pride for the ThyssenKrupp team around the world,” said Patrick Bass, CEO of ThyssenKrupp North America. “The elevators and escalators installed at One World Trade Center are symbolic of ThyssenKrupp’s rich heritage of engineering innovation and history of working with customers to provide customized solutions to fit any project.”

From custom-designed elevators to the stainless steel ThyssenKrupp Materials’ Ken-Mac Metals Division supplied to the building spire, the work accomplished at One World Trade Center would not be possible without ThyssenKrupp’s proven track record as a provider of innovative solutions across a wide variety of industries. As such, ThyssenKrupp is working to improve the way people move around in and experience cities.

In addition to the fastest elevators in the Americas, ThyssenKrupp is leading the field of urban mobility and logistics through ground breaking technologies like the rapid-transit moving walkway ACCEL and cable-free magnetic-levitation MULTI elevator system.

Kellie Harris
Director, Media and Communications
ThyssenKrupp North America, Inc.
Phone: 1 (312) 525-2790
E-mail: kellie.harris@thyssenkrupp.com

ThyssenKrupp Elevator Americas is the largest producer of elevators in the Americas, with more than 15,500 employees, in more than 230 branch and service locations. ThyssenKrupp Elevator Americas oversees all business for the operations in the United States, Canada, Central and South America. It is a subsidiary of ThyssenKrupp Elevator AG.

ThyssenKrupp, headquartered in Essen, Germany, is a diversified industrial group with traditional strengths in materials and a growing share of capital goods and services businesses. The Group employs around 155,000 people in just under 80 countries. In the fiscal year 2013/2014, ThyssenKrupp generated sales of more than 9 billion euros in North America and employed more than 20,500 people. In North America, ThyssenKrupp oversees more than 40 companies in the United States, Canada and México; its companies offer a range of products including: premium carbon steel, high-performance alloys, automotive components, elevators, escalators, material trading, handling and logistics, plant construction and industrial services.

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Quick facts

One World Trade Center features the fastest elevators in North and South America -- 2,000 feet per minute or about 23 miles per hour. It takes less than 60 seconds to travel from the lobby to almost the top of the building.
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LED lights in the ceilings of the elevator cabs will save more than 78,000 kWh annually compared to halogen bulbs. This is enough to power the average U.S. home for 7 years.
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Quotes

What riders experience is just a small fraction of the years of planning and execution we have invested into creating and maintaining the fastest elevators in the Western Hemisphere.
Richard Hussey, President and CEO of ThyssenKrupp Elevator Americas
Working on this iconic project and such an important part of the New York City skyline is a point of pride for the ThyssenKrupp team around the world. The elevators and escalators installed at One World Trade Center are symbolic of ThyssenKrupp’s rich heritage of engineering innovation and history of working with customers to provide customized solutions to fit any project.
Patrick Bass, CEO of ThyssenKrupp North America