When deciding between a dumbwaiter and a material lift, the best place to start is by asking what you’ll be moving and where it needs to go. Dumbwaiters and material lifts may look similar in function—both move items between floors—but they’re built for very different tasks.
If you’re transporting lightweight items like food trays, documents, small packages, or laundry, a dumbwaiter is likely your best choice. These are often found in restaurants, offices, and even private homes. They’re compact, fit neatly into a wall, and are designed for smaller loads, typically up to 500 pounds. They do, however, require a dedicated shaft and have to comply with elevator codes like ASME A17.1, which can add to installation time and cost.
On the other hand, if you’re working in a warehouse, manufacturing facility, or construction site and need to move heavier or bulkier items—anything from heavy boxes to pallets or parts—a material lift is far better suited. These lifts are built for heavy-duty use, with capacities that can reach several thousand pounds. They’re usually more rugged, require less complex construction, and fall under different codes, such as ANSI MH29.1 or ASME B20.1. This can make them easier and more cost-effective to install in industrial environments.
Material lifts also tend to require less maintenance and are more flexible in terms of placement. Some models are even freestanding and can be installed without a traditional shaft, which is useful if you’re retrofitting an existing space. They’re ideal for moving goods between mezzanine levels or different floors multiple times a day.
Another consideration is who will be using the lift. Dumbwaiters are typically used by office workers, kitchen staff, or homeowners, and are designed for ease of use in clean, controlled environments. Material lifts, by contrast, are operated by trained personnel in more rugged settings, often under heavier workloads and with more operational demands.
Cost is also a factor. Dumbwaiters may be less expensive for light-duty use, but installation can get costly if it requires custom construction. Material lifts may have a higher base cost but often become more economical when moving heavy loads in industrial applications.
In short, if you’re moving small, light items in a commercial or residential setting, a dumbwaiter is a clean, convenient choice. But if you’re handling heavier materials in an industrial space, a material lift will give you the power, flexibility, and durability you need.
Regardless of your decision, TL Shield is your best choice for either dumbwaiters or material lifts. In Southern California there is one quality source fr all vertical transportation and for over 40 years they have been providing great products, service, installations, and maintenance. To schedule a consultation or for a fast track quote just click the button below.
Non-proprietary parts matter. However, often times non-proprietary parts are over looked, not considered or just not understood. So, let’s start from the beginning. What’s the definition of non-proprietary elevator parts and how can they solve problems regarding your elevator choice.
Generally, proprietary elevator parts are components produced, marketed and controlled under exclusive legal rights of the manufacturer. The manufacturer has no obligation to share any information about the part or component, how it functions, how it operates, how it can be repaired or used to adjust or improve the overall functioning of an elevator unless it is contractually obligated to do so.
Non-proprietary on the other hand, means there are no restrictions to the use or what company can repair or improve the functionality of the elevator.
Well that was a mouthful. The definition can be reduced to a more simple, proprietary elevator parts are ones that only the manufacturer can repair or use in a repair or maintenance of an elevator. Non-proprietary opens the door to any qualified and licensed elevator professional.
An even more concise characterization is, proprietary bad; non-proprietary good.
But why? Why are proprietary parts to be avoided when looking at elevator purchases.
There are limited arguments against choosing an elevator that has non-proprietary parts over proprietary. When non-proprietary options were first available, there was a short time that they were considered inferior due to their recent emergence.
That thinking is no longer a concern. There is a decades long track record now that shows reliability and durability for non-proprietary components. Keep in mind that all elevator components and elevator operations are subject to elevator codes, inspections, and parts must pass rigorous testing before they would ever be allowed in an elevator.
Also, much of the functionality that proprietary elevators could boast of is now available with non-proprietary units.
Too many times we receive calls from individuals that are dissatisfied with their current maintenance supplier. They are sometimes unresponsive, operate at their own pace with little concern for the end user or the building owner and often lack availability of parts or tools with many on back order. With proprietary parts you lose the ability to find solutions to the problems you are facing.
This was illustrated in a recent article regarding elevator repair delays. A lack of parts was the cause for denying people mobility and access. You can help shorten that time of repair if you chose for your next project an elevator without proprietary parts. If you want to know more about us, just click one of the buttons below. We would love to talk to you about your next elevator project.
A wheelchair lift purchase for your home can be a costly so it is important to make a wise choice. There are really two ways that people enter the market for a wheelchair lift purchase. Slowly over time mobility can be reduced. It does happen to us all. Or the one thing we don’t want to think about a catastrophic injury that has life-changing repercussions.
In either case mobility options are a hard choice to make. The options seem overwhelming and difficult. One thing for sure an investment in a wheelchair lift is less expensive than moving to a different home and a lift can avoid many of the pitfalls you have with ramps or other alternatives. Not only can ramps be difficult to navigate, but they can also take up more space than you have property or room.
Moving to assisted living facilities can seem like an alternative, but again cost is significant and can eat up life savings in a hurry. But really, it is your home. It is hard to abandon it unless you absolutely have to. But where do you start?
The first answer is easy. Call TL Shield to get information before you make any decisions. They will listen to your concerns, assess your needs and survey your property to see if it can even accommodate a wheelchair lift or if there is a better alternative. They will then discuss all your options and help you choose what is best for you.
There are several points that need to be considered and they will help you answer:
When we have the opportunity to have an obligation free conversation, we will answer all of these questions and more. We will do what ever we can to make this process easy.
If you now need a wheelchair lift, you are probably facing difficult time in your life. So make things as easy for yourself as possible. Have a discussion with a trusted source that can assist you with the decisions you need to make. There is no cost for a consultation and no obligation. It is just helping you out when you need it most.
As you can see I have place the photo on the left as I explained. I have always been partial to the layout. I don’t know why but I have always been drawn to the Swiss style of design with clean lines and clear justification. Maybe I’m crazy. Who knows, but I think there is a reason there are no Dadaist templates in WordPress. People are gravitated to order and simplicity.
As I said about the conclusion, you gotta make a pitch and make it clear. Give the reader a reason to click. Also leave anything below this alone. It is code and stays the same.
I bristle at calling any book, “The Bible”. Not necessarily for the notion that something is authoritative and has the last word in matters of the law, but because it can reduce the Bible to a bunch of codes and rules which is not the case. But when it comes to elevators and all vertical transportation, there is an actual bible (grandma I hope you noticed the small “b”). That bible is the American Society of Mechanical Engineers – Codes and Standards A17 and CSA B44 for our Canadian friends.
The primary purpose for this code is clearly stated by Norman B. Martin, a proponent of the ASME Codes and Standards and highly respected Chief Elevator Inspector for the state of Ohio. He said the following:
“I think the ASME Codes and Standards committees’ most important work is to be able to provide consistency throughout the nation and through North America…An elevator is an elevator and if you build an elevator in California, you should be able to sell it in Ohio, and if you build it in Ohio, you should be able to sell it in Ontario. As such, I think the consistency across the board with the North American standards has allowed that to occur; provide a base level of safety, and allow each jurisdiction to be able to enforce it properly.” Link
His point is that without ASME standards: chaos would reign, safe and unsafe would mix like Labs and Poodles, confusion would hurt commerce, and the safety of the elevator-riding public could be compromised. Truer words have ne’er been spoken.
We at TL Shield have to know the whole code, because we supply all sorts of vertical transportation from elevators to stair lifts. After all we are experts.
But what happens when an inspector is unfamiliar with the code. Or a state or other government entity tries to make changes to elevator standards without directly consulting ASME first? Nothing good and usually problems, delays and compromise.
We recently ran into a rare rogue inspector on a project. He will remain nameless for obvious reasons. He insisted that the elevator pit light had to be fixed to the pit wall. Of course our lead engineer (with over 20 years of elevator experience) pointed to the applicable code. But, that wasn’t good enough and the entire project was put on hold while we awaited more information. Ultimately, we were proven right of course. But, the time spent and frustration on our part and the customer’s part was real.
When it comes to some states, cities and other governmental agencies, we are seeing new subsets of existing codes. It usually stems from those agencies trying to flex some bureaucratic muscle. The other possibility is less appealing. Divas with a wish list of unrealistic expectations becoming involved in the process. It does happen and I have seen it first hand. But regardless they should always defer to the expertise of the ASME Code.
A case that illustrates this clearly was one that involved handrail location in an elevator car. The inspector and the “new” code insisted on a certain location for handrail placement, but they were utterly wrong.
And when I say utterly, I mean it. The location the inspector was touting and requiring was in direct violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), ASME. It also violated the elevator code of the state the project was located in. Again I will refrain from besmirching the inspector or the or code team. However, they came up with the aberrant code and would not budge. It left us with a true Hobson’s choice. We could either violate ADA, ASME or state code and not have the elevator pass inspection. No choice indeed. We opted to civilly argue our case to the powers that be, hoping for wiser heads to prevail. Again weeks passed as did dozens of emails. After all the evidence was gathered, we once again prevailed. But our additional investment of time, emails, and research could not be recouped despite being proven right.
So what does this ultimately mean? It means that the ASME code is the bible for elevators and more. After all, they have been at the code and standards creation business since 1884. Also, they have been writing elevator codes since 1921. They don’t just “kind of” know their business; they have literally written the book. Violation of those codes, for lack of better words, is a sin that should not be engaged in. That is why every type of vertical transportation we install meets code. Everything we do meets or exceeds ASME – A17 and CSA B44 codes and always will. After all compliance produces a completed project faster and also higher in quality and safety.
So when you are looking for a company for installation, information and a great product line, contact TL Shield. We will provide you with fair pricing and any system you need. We can’t wait to help you with your project.
(re-posted from the elevator authority blog) Recently I ran across several websites totally devoted to people taking their picture in elevator mirrors. Some of the elevator selfies were sexy, some funny and some highly inappropriate. One set of photos were in the documentary style of a daily photograph, marking life one frame at a time, one elevator ride at a time. It is interesting that mirrors in the interior of elevators have become so fascinating to so many leading to just one question…
Believe it or not there is an old elevator legend about how mirrors were first put into use in cars. And placed in elevator lobbies too. The yarn is that the elevator in a certain high-rise building was slowing down with age and lack of attention. Instead of making needed repairs, the building owner looked to the brilliant mind of a psychology student that lived in the building for a solution (Ok…I know this will be addressed later in the blog but really???? You are that cheap????).
The student suggested a less expensive alternative TO ACTUAL REPAIRS by giving people something to do other than just standing and staring at a blank wall when waiting. Theoretically, this would make the time pass faster and make it seem as if the wait was much shorter. The result was the first mirror installed in an elevator and the lobby.
People have been straightening their ties, combing their hair, checking their zipper and entertaining themselves in those mirrors ever since.
It is a truism that much like a caged birds preening in front of a their reflection, people get distracted by their own image. The result is they don’t think of the slow ride to their destination. As people are want to do, that philosophy has been taken to the extreme and now distraction seems to be on steroids. It is beyond just looking at ourselves for entertainment. Now you can dance as you go up and down like in this elevator in Legoland that has a light show and disco music.
Ultimately, that story about the mirrors may or may not be true. I have looked for genuine sources and it seems that everyone claims the mirror idea was theirs first or that it was unique to them. There are versions of the tale from IBM, Penn State, Bucknell even some traditional elevator companies had a version of the story circulating around.
The real problem with the story however, is not the mirror or the disco ball as the case maybe. Yes, even I appreciate glaring in a mirror during an elevator ride to double check for broccoli in my teeth. But only if I’m all alone. The bigger problem is the premise that the elevator was running slow due to age or lack of attention and the mirror was a cheap work-around and not solving the real problem. Remember, we are transporting very important cargo…people. And putting a Band Aid on a potential maintenance problem is a really, really bad idea.
So, if your elevator is running slow get a real solution from an elevator expert. And try to avoid solving problems with a psychology major from the fourth floor! Here is a list of specific things that need to be checked out by a licensed elevator technician to improve performance if your elevator is running slow.
Eventually if the mechanical issues are not addressed it could cause a failure, leaving people stuck or worse. Keep in mind that depending on the type of the elevator and application it may just be slower. Or slower than you would like. Although no one likes a slow elevator, a smooth, quality ride is just as important. Besides you need time to take all those selfies.
If you have a project in mind just click the button below. We would love to consult with you and you can get you budget numbers in less than a day. Of course you can also call us anytime, and have a real conversation with an expert in the elevator industry. We are looking forward to talking to you.
6 Reasons Modular Quality Matters – We have all been frustrated by low quality. Items purchased in good faith sometimes seem to break before they come out of the box. Or once out of the box, they look or perform nothing like what was pictured or promised when we bought the item. Instead of being happy with the purchase, words like cheap and flimsy cross our lips, meaning that we have been had. The more expensive the item, the more remorse follows.
However, in the modular industry quality is high because we take an antiquated process where onsite construction is the norm and move it to a production facility. What was then built by various people, in various trades, in various conditions becomes an orchestrated symphony of production. Historically poor quality and high cost is moved to a factory where exact processes and standards can be measured and accomplished. The modular process takes various acts of individual quality to a habit of success. For instance, at the Modular Elevator Manufacturing (our commercial elevator supplier) facility, they produce hoistways that are always plumb and level. That is simply due to the factory processes that cannot be accomplished on the jobsite and it shows.
“Quality is not an act, it is a habit.”
Aristotle
As Aristotle said, “Quality is not an act, it is a habit.” And those habits are formalized into higher quality with modular manufacturing. In modular building you will never hear “close enough” or “I guess we will have to make it fit.” It is right every time, because the habits that produce quality are built in.
Unfortunately, there are outliers in some manufacturing facilities. Quality becomes just a slogan. If modular quality matters why do some not improve quality? Procedures are skipped, shoddy workmanship is allowed, new practices are slow to be adopted or worse continued tinkering and “problem solving” doesn’t allow for systems to work. In other words, if you have a team of problem solvers constantly changing the system in an unorganized fashion, the quality will undoubtedly suffer.
At TL Shield we use Modular Elevator Manufacturing for our modular elevators. They make sure changes to procedures are checked and double checked before becoming standard because modular quality matters. One person cannot just change something at a whim, even if it is generally a good idea. The procedure must likewise be changed with the whole team being aware of any alterations. That is where habits of quality are formed for the whole organization.
We agree with the Phil Crosby philosophy of quality and as a literal rocket scientist he knew a thing or two about it. He said, “Quality is the result of a carefully constructed cultural environment. It has to be the fabric of the organization, not part of the fabric.” Quality is not posters, or slogans or bright ideas that get used once and then forgotten.
For us quality is a top-down effort and philosophy emanating from senior leadership and permeating the organization at every level. That is true of Modular Elevator Manufacturing as well. Quality is crucial and should matter that much at every business. It does at Modular Elevator Manufacturing where they take quality seriously.
With that said here are the 6 reasons quality matters at MEM. There are probably more but these are some of theirs:
The entire premise of modular construction is that by instilling factory processes into the construction trade, the industry can produce a higher level of quality, faster and often at a reduced cost. That is what they do at MEM day in and day out. However, when slipshod practices and lack of experience infiltrate the market, quality declines. Then the premise of factory production being better comes under attack.
Whether due to ignorance, no experience or a desire to make a fast buck, when quality is ignored the reputation of the industry gets sullied. The result is a better process that produces a better product (safer, greener and faster) becomes more difficult for the consumer to accept. Who knows how many dollars, how much time and how much energy has been wasted. How many injuries could have been avoided? All due to a very small number of businesses that do not see quality as important.
That is why we do not think “close enough” is good enough. We know that low-quality has a cost to the industry, the customer and to safety. We strive for quality in all we do. Whether you need a multi-family unit elevator or one for a medical facility, an elevator for a retrofit project or new construction we provide a quality solution.
If you have tried other vertical transportation specialists in the past and found that the quality with modular elevator was not as promised, don’t give up. Instead give TL Shield a try. We live by the above list of 6 reasons that modular quality matters and so does MEM. You will not be sold a bill of goods for a fast buck, but instead you will find a partner providing quality you can count on.
If you have a project in mind just click the button below, we would love to consult with you and you can get you budget numbers in less than a day. Of course you can also call us anytime, and have a real conversation with an expert in the elevator industry. We are looking forward to talking to you.
People Stuck in the Elevator – It was storming pretty bad outside the hotel my wife and I were at. All day long red flag warnings were out on the beach, so we decided to stay at the hotel for supper. We were strolling towards the elevator as winds howled outside and I said, “You know, I’ve never been stuck in an elevator.” with a laugh. I pushed the button and she said, “Well you just jinxed us.”
Both of us chuckled a bit and then we heard the inviting and all too familiar “ding” as the doors opened and we stepped onboard. The doors swiftly closed behind us but then the lights flickered and we heard an unexpected clunk.
Obviously the power had been interrupted and as a result the elevators in the entire hotel came to a screeching halt. Not only that, but I am sure all sorts of services were interrupted throughout the property. As we stood there we both knew better than to panic, so we waited.
That episode got me to thinking, if I were in charge of the building what should be done? I write a lot about elevators, but I rarely write on what the building owner or property manager should do when the elevator thuds to a halt. Not that this happens often.
Elevators get stuck rarely in the United States and injuries are even rarer. Especially considering that elevators move nearly the entire world’s population or 10 billion passengers a week. There is the occasional power outage or mechanical problem, but statistically only 1 elevator ride in 12 million or so results is some kind of issue and when it does happen it is extremely minor in nature.
But, my mind could not help thinking about when you are in charge and people are getting stuck in the elevator. What should be done? So, I came up with a list of steps if it ever happens to you. Feel free to borrow or print any of this list and keep it for a reference or reminder. Just remember the most important thing is to make sure the passengers stay safe and you do what you can to get the elevator moving as quickly as possible.
One last thing, everyone on staff should know if you are the auto-dialed, priority call for the elevator car. Sometimes the emergency phones are programmed to contact the non-emergency police or fire department in the local jurisdiction. They can also be programmed to contact your elevator service company directly. No matter who is called automatically, it still does not relieve you of your obligations to the passengers. So find out what floor and open a dialog. It shows you care. Most importantly don’t let people just stand there wondering. If you do they will be thinking more of escape than waiting which is always a danger.
Fortunately for my wife and I the emergency was relatively brief unlike Nicolas White. He spent 41 hours trapped in an elevator. When the power came back on in our case, the elevator system was reset and we zoomed down to the lobby without a further care in the world. We enjoyed a great gourmet meal and had several fun conversation about getting stuck…
But we did take the stairs back to our room.
Sometimes our blog posts are not all about selling elevators, but issues like people getting stuck in the elevator. They are often about general information you might find useful. So, feel free to comment below, ask any elevator questions you would like or follow future blog posts by signing up. However, if you do have a need for an elevator and want to know a general budget number, just click below for a Fast Track number. Also click to take a virtual tour of our facility. You can see for yourself what it takes to produce the best commercial quality elevator that is set in place fully installed in less than four hours. In any case we love hearing from you!
Elevator 101 is about the basics. See, being around elevators all the time can warp your perspective. You begin to think that everyone has a pretty high base knowledge of elevators and elevator lingo. We tend to forget that most people’s knowledge of elevators in the construction industry is limited to, “They are a pain in the rear end”. So, every once in a while it is a good idea to review what the basic terms mean. Reviewing this info is especially needed if you are going to be chatting with people in the elevator business about a specific project.
Overall there is too much jargon. Like talking to a doctor or lawyer, elevator people sometimes skip over things that are basic to them, but may confuse folks not immersed in the field. The intricacies of brain surgery or the meaning of habeas corpus (I think its a city in Texas), can easily pass us by and so can terms regarding elevators. We hope this will help.
So here is a list of basic terms that you should review, or bookmark before you talk with an elevator consultant, elevator sales person or even an elevator mechanic.
That above list is a good staring point. However, if you ever have a question feel free to call us whether you have the intention of buying a modular elevator or not. As geeky and weird as it sounds, we like talking about elevators.
Below is a handy diagram, a chart based on travel distance and some links.
Additionally if you want to know more about the modes of conveyance. Just click here for a full explanation. You can also click here for information on hydraulic units. You can also look at the dozens of articles we have available on our blog.
If you would like to know a bit about pricing for a project just click the button below to get a Fast Track Quote. But if you really want to know more about elevators, schedule a live, virtual tour of our factory. It is open to anyone with questions about elevators. We love showing off!
Project Management – The Change Problem / When it comes to the English language “change” is a neutral term and as a result can either be good or bad depending on the circumstance. On the good side an IT manager just reminded me that changing my password is a good thing. Especially true if your current password is “password” or “123456”. My very wise mother once told me to change my underwear routinely (just in case I get hit by a car). Every time daylight savings rolls around we change batteries in our smoke detectors. Good plan. And finally, change is a no brainer if a better idea comes along…like modular elevators instead of conventional. But that’s a blog post for another day.
On the other hand change can be not only bad, but very bad. New Coke was a bad change, at least to the devoted fans of the original. They were vindicated when New Coke was pulled from shelves. Remember when we had to start using Windows ME? And then Vista? Both spawned wild conspiracy theories of why they were a forced change. And I’m an old-timer so don’t even get me started on the designated hitter in baseball. Yuck!
Closer to home one of the changes that falls into the “bad” category is changing the project manger regarding an elevator project. It is a real bad idea to rotate through project leadership for a myriad of reasons. Like the old saying, “don’t changes horses in mid-stream” a project manager should be assigned and then remain on your team through out the project. They should start with the sale and progress through the installation process.
That means a consistent long-term commitment from the company as well as the individuals associated with the project. And when it comes to elevators that could be a long time. I don’t need to tell you that it is not unusual for an elevator to be ordered and it not be up and running for two years or more. Construction projects are not overnight endeavors so consistency is needed to make the elevator portion of the project go as smooth as possible.
Equally as important is that your assigned project manager is not a neophyte in the elevator business. You deal with enough bumbling fools everyday, why add another? With Modular Elevator Manufacturing we have team of highly qualified employees that know the elevator and construction industries inside and out unlike other companies. Longevity plus experience means you can trust our team over anyone else.
At MEM our process starts with a simple Fast Track quote. Next are formal quotes, drawings and engineering starting things off. The delivery date and production schedule are determined and come next. Verifying the site and pit dimensions (often skipped by others) followed by set, start up and final inspection. With MEM only one person is solely responsible for each of the steps of your project. So, for every step of that process you will have the same project manager. They will troubleshoot, give you updates you can trust and be there to hand the unit off to you when it is finished.
Many will downplay the crucial role of the project manager. They rotate through any number of them in the time between the sale and the final inspection. That means you as a customer you will be playing a guessing game. Who do I call when a challenges arise? How will I get the answers to my questions? Who will partner with me to keep my project on track?
If you are tired of the project manager merry-go-round, make one more change for better. Use MEM for your next project and see what a difference there is in the process and people at MEM. We are ready for any low or mid-rise building, from affordable housing to hospitals, parking garages to stadiums, schools to commercial structures. Quality elevators taking you higher.
Confusing Elevator Talk – In a recent Zoom conference with an architect, a simple question was posed, “Are elevators confusing on purpose?” The question made me stop in my tracks. This is the same thought that crossed my mind many times in doctor’s offices. Just replace the word “elevators” with “medicine”. It made me wonder, has our industry gotten to that point?
I’ll get to my answer in a minute but, first let me give you some context. Just prior to our online meeting my caller had just left another confab with a sales representative from a big elevator company. The salesperson was pressing for answers on a project regarding the elevator. That ball was being tossed between the architect who called me, the building owner and the construction manager. All three had questions before they pulled the trigger.
In the meeting it was discussed that the proposed elevator did not meet all the specs called out in the plans. So the architect had more queries. The owner of the building was fearful of hidden costs regarding the long-term maintenance and proprietary components. Finally the construction manager just wanted to know the particulars of the shaft and project timing. They went into the meeting thinking that they would get straightforward answers and clear their clouded minds.
Instead, none of the questions were answered in any understandable fashion and hence the Zoom call, the question and a little bit of venting.
It took a more than a couple seconds to gather my thoughts. And a few ummmhs to consider what was asked fully.
When my stammering ceased, my answer was an unsurprising yes and no. I went on the explain that of course elevators are confusing but, not on purpose. They are complex machines and usually the largest moving object in any building so very specific terms have been developed over time that means very specific things (here are a few examples). If you are outside of the elevator industry, sometimes those words can be complicated and muddy the conversation.
It is like eavesdropping on a team of doctors pondering possible treatments to an ailment. In all likelihood you would hear words that seem confusing, jargon stuffed paragraphs and three-letter abbreviations that make no sense to the vast majority of people outside of the medical profession. If I had to make a judgement call on healthcare issues based upon the inside discussions of a group physicians, I would most assuredly be confused. I am not a doctor and trust me that’s a good thing. So my limited knowledge would produce a poor outcome. That outcome would be paralysis of thought and real bad decision making.
Elevator chatter can likewise be the same. If you get in a room of elevator consultants, engineers and technicians and listen to what is being said, it would be the dizzying. Inside jokes would fly over your head and technical terms would land on deaf ears.
In the medical example, with a proper best bedside manner it all becomes clear when the doctor emerges from the circle of peers and speaks to the patient…or at least it should. My point is that elevator folks need to remember the audience when they are answering questions and discussing issues. Humility not hubris is needed and clear everyday language is the requirement not inside baseball jargon. This is not because our customers are too stupid understand! They are busy beyond belief with dozens of other building systems to manage and the elevator is just one piece. The burden is on us to clearly communicate.
But yes, elevators are complex in some ways and are confusing. They don’t need to be made confusing.
On the other hand, for years I have had the unenviable task of trying to explain elevators in simple terms. It can be done! The premise of modular elevators is that we can make high-quality commercial elevators easy to understand, purchase, set and start up. This can be hard as we are taking all the engineering of a modular tube-steel hoistway and putting all the elevator components inside the hoistway in a factory. Elevator complexity times two.
This manufacturing process must be done with the highest precision and quality assurance. The engineering must be spot on and the product must leave the facility ready to start up once up-righted at the site and the electricity is supplied. All this must be explained plainly and easily.
So, I know elevators can be made easy to understand because at MEM we have the chore of not only explaining the elevator but, the modular hoistway as well. It just seems that some in our industry gain some real pleasure in speaking over peoples heads. That arrogance leads to confusion.
Arrogance may just be the tip of the confusion iceberg however. I am convinced and so are a lot of other people in the industry that make it hard to understand intentionally. The purpose is to confuse the potential customer so selling up is easier.
Everyone that deals with old-fashioned, conventional elevators companies already knows this is at least true in part. What other motive can there be for hiding true costs? Why would they breeze over the obvious purpose of proprietary parts? What is the motivation behind the installation process being so overtly laborious and difficult to comprehend? How can the contract being filled with so many exclusions, ifs, wherefores and seemingly more fine print then a contract from Willy Wonka be explained?
One answer may lie in the words of the English philosopher and statesman who among other things developed the scientific method – Sir Francis Bacon. He is credited with saying that “Knowledge is power.” Unfortunately, there is a thought that withholding that knowledge from people will produce control and ultimately wealth. This is not a new notion.
The phrase “Knowledge is power” actually predates Bacon by centuries and contains a darker tone.
“Knowledge is power and it can command obedience. A man of knowledge during his lifetime can make people obey and follow him and he is praised and venerated after his death. Remember that knowledge is a ruler and wealth is its subject.”
Imam Ali – Nahj Al-Balagha (The Way of Eloquence) – Saying 147.5
That quote seems to be the credo of many in the elevator business. If confusion can reign and information withheld, those holding the knowledge can exploit those who don’t have it. Let me say as loudly as possible this is not necessarily a scheme or plot of an evil genius. It is an observation of human behavior. If you need an elevator, only a few have the knowledge to help and they are in control…until the advent of the modular elevator. By breaking away from the old, outmoded way producing and distributing elevators, we changed the way we talk about them as well.
So, there is an option if you have ever felt like asking the question, “Are elevators confusing on purpose?” and you are tired of confusing elevator talk. If you are not getting clear concise answers, contact us.
MEM has a dedicated force of sales representatives that are more knowledgeable than any other. We love selling elevators, but equally we love explaining them and answering questions. It is what we do; we honestly assess your needs, answer your questions and give you information in a way that will be less painful than a trip to the doctor’s office. If you have a project in mind, just click the button below to get started.
