Otis Selected as Largest Elevator Supplier for World Expo 2010

FARMINGTON, Conn., April 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Otis Elevator Company provided 169 elevators and escalators for World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, China, making Otis the largest elevator supplier for this prestigious event. The contracts include energy-saving Gen2® and SKY™ elevators, as well as ReGen™ drive technology. Otis is a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).

"Otis is proud to provide safe, reliable transportation to the expected 70 million visitors at this momentous international exposition," said Otis President Didier Michaud-Daniel. "Our energy-efficient products were selected to align with the environmental theme of this year's World Expo and will further support sustainable development in Shanghai."

The Expo's theme, "Better City, Better Life" emphasizes the event's focus on a global need for responsible, urban development and environmentally friendly building practices. As part of Otis' commitment to reducing energy consumption, Otis will provide its energy-efficient ReGen drives, 82 Gen2 elevators and 46 SKY elevators. Otis' high-performance products will be provided under three brands – Xizi Otis, Otis and Express and will be installed in 15 venues including the Expo's two largest halls – the China Pavilion and Theme Pavilion, 18 apartment buildings, the Civilian and Cultural Hotel Complex and an office building. Many Expo venues will be converted into public spaces after the event, including a museum of Chinese history and culture that will enrich the commercial center of Shanghai. To provide efficient transportation to visitors of the event, Otis was also selected to install 224 escalators in metro stations along Line 2 and Line 11 of the Shanghai subway.

Gen2 elevators reduce energy consumption by up to 50 percent when compared to conventional systems. The system uses Otis' patented flat, polyurethane-coated steel belts and permanent-magnet gearless machine and does not require additional lubrication, making it cleaner for the environment. When combined with ReGen drives, the Gen2 system delivers energy savings of up to 75 percent. ReGen drives capture the energy usually lost by the elevator system as heat during braking and feed it back into a building's internal electrical grid for use by other systems connected to the same network such as lighting. The SKY system also utilizes a permanent-magnet gearless machine, offering superior ride quality while reducing overall environmental impact.

World Expo 2010 will take place between May 1 and October 31 and is expected to attract 200 participating countries and international organizations. In preparation for the event, Shanghai has invested approximately USD $45 billion to upgrade Shanghai's transportation and infrastructure, and to construct the 2.1 square mile Expo venue space. As one of the world's oldest and largest international events, the Expo acts as a platform to share best practices and explore new solutions to global challenges.

"Otis is proud to support the World Expo, an event which embodies Otis' commitment to innovation and energy-saving solutions," said Allen Ge, President of Otis China.  

Otis Elevator Company is the world's largest manufacturer and maintainer of people-moving products including elevators, escalators and moving walkways. With headquarters in Farmington, Connecticut, Otis employs 61,000 people, offers products and services in more than 200 countries and territories and maintains 1.7 million elevators and escalators worldwide. United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Connecticut, is a diversified company providing high technology products and services to the building and aerospace industries.

SOURCE Otis Elevator Company