Fly Higher with Innovative UltraRope Lift-Hoisting Technology

Skyscraper technology has come a long way since 1885, when the world’s very first was completed. The Home Insurance Building, nicknamed ‘Father of the Skyscraper’, was ten storeys tall and dwarfed all other buildings. The rather humble 138ft structure, which was designed by William Le Baron Jenney, is a far cry from the skyscrapers of today, with the Burj Khalifa in Dubai claiming the title as the tallest artificial structure in the world, standing at a staggering 2,722ft (829.8m) high.

Overcoming Current Limitations

Unfortunately, however, the capability of lift technology has not advanced in line with the height of skyscrapers. As such, buildings like the Burj Khalifa and the Shard in London must currently rely on more than one lift to transport people to the higher levels, with users required to transfer between lifts when they reach the middle floors. The higher the building, the greater number of ‘halfway lifts’ and transfer lobbies must be incorporated into the design – space which could otherwise be put to better use.

One of the biggest issues faced by lift technology engineers is the sheer weight of the vast lengths of steel cabling required to hoist lifts long distances. This limits the number of floors each lift is able to service safely. However, Kone, a Finnish company, has recently developed a completely new and innovative type of lift cabling known as UltraRope, which it is hoped will revolutionise lift design and the way they can be used. UltraRope will enable engineers to increase the distance a lift can travel significantly, from approximately 150m to about 1km.

This is great news for those working on the planning and development phase of future skyscrapers around the world, including those in the UK. As UltraRope technologies are expanded upon, we are likely to see more planned structures brought to fruition as the limitations faced in the design phase regarding lift transportation are reduced or eliminated.

Whilst not known for its skyscrapers, the UK can look forward to an exciting future as more and more tall buildings are being constructed. A recent report revealed that there were some 70 tall buildings of 20 storeys or more under construction in London alone, with almost 200 more planned. It seems its reputation as a ‘low-rise’ city may soon become a thing of the past, as designers compete with the rest of the world. The need for access to ground-breaking technologies such as UltraRope will become paramount as part of this journey.

Platform Lifts

Of course, UltraRope and other similar technologies are not only good news for the high-rise building industry. Such innovations also provide new opportunities in other areas, enabling engineers to develop new and more advanced products and increasing their usability in a range of different areas. One example of this is in homes, shops and other businesses, where platform lifts, residential lifts and other DDA compliant lifts are regularly installed.