ThyssenKrupp Elevator has recently designed and developed a new elevator entrance. The entrance features the Freedom™ sill, virtually eliminating problems associated with the collection of dirt and debris—a chief cause of hoistway door malfunction and costly repairs.
The Freedom sill results from an innovative door guide design that eliminates the guide groove in the sill, preventing the accumulation of dirt and debris.
ThyssenKrupp Elevator President of North American Field Operations Barry Pletch estimates, “If all the elevators in the U.S. had the Freedom sill, the industry could realize tremendous savings in maintenance costs alone for service calls resulting from trash in sills.”
In addition to the Freedom sill, the new entrance incorporates a lighter door, which decreases overall weight by up to 30% without sacrificing strength. Because a typical 12-story building can experience as many as 10,000 door openings and closings a day, ThyssenKrupp Elevator designers recognized that a reduction in the overall weight of hoistway doors can have a positive effect on the operational life of components including motors, mechanical linkages, rollers and bearings.
The entrance also offers advantages to architects and building owners who want
sleeker, more modern elevator entrances. Because the entrance accommodates door
frames of almost any thickness, architects can use a variety of wall treatments
such as marble, granite and other stone veneers. They can also choose a recessed
door frame design that complements the sleek look of the smooth sill plate.
The entrance with the Freedom sill is available for new installations with single-speed,
center-opening and two-speed doors.
