TIME magazine has named the MULTI elevator system by thyssenkrupp Elevator as one of its 25 Best Inventions of 2017. First unveiled to the public at the thyssenkrupp test tower in Rottweil, Germany, MULTI is an elevator that is able to move both horizontally and vertically due to its rope-less technology. The elevator system offers expanded design and construction possibilities for architects, builders and urban planners.
MULTI, which will make its first commercial home in Berlin at the OVG Real Estate East Side Tower by 2021, was chosen to be one of the 25 Best Inventions of 2017 because of its cable-free technology and how it will impact building design moving forward. MULTI requires fewer and smaller shafts than conventional elevators, and can increase the usable area of a building by up to 25 percent, offering additional revenue opportunities from the extra rentable/leasable space. This is important considering current elevator-escalator footprints can occupy up to 40 percent of the floor space of a high-rise building.
“We believe MULTI will transform the way people move, work and live in our built environment,” says Andreas Schierenbeck, thyssenkrupp Elevator CEO. “It will reduce waiting times for passengers and offer building developers more free floor space for additional revenues. MULTI is an offering that represents a revolution in the elevator industry.”
Instead of one cabin per shaft moving up and down, MULTI offers multiple cabins operating in a loop, much like a metro system inside a building. This results in increased transport capacity, up to 50 percent, as well as reduced waiting times for passengers. MULTI also requires less peak power, as much as a 60 percent reduction when compared to conventional elevator systems. This allows for better management of energy needs, and reduces investment costs in the power supply infrastructure.
“The inclusion of MULTI as one of the best inventions of 2017 is rewarding and further validates our commitment to transforming elevators and building transportation,” says Patrick Bass, CEO of thyssenkrupp North America. “As cities continue to grow, and as buildings get larger and taller, city planners and architects face challenges in moving people to their destinations. MULTI will help them do this.”