Manufacturers are also focusing on products that have environmentally responsible features as real estate developers and building owners are increasingly aiming for green certifications like LEED.
Urbanization Transforming the Industry
The focus of the Indian government on developing the country’s infrastructure by building new airports, upgrading/modernizing existing ones, developing metro rail projects, and redevelopment of railway stations, and other mega projects, offer a lot of opportunities for manufacturers of elevators and escalators in the long term.
Moreover, government initiatives such as the Smart Cities Mission and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), and growing adoption of smart, fast and environment friendly elevators are expected to grow the India elevators and escalators market. Furthermore, rising demand for elevators with Automatic Rescue Device is anticipated to boost the country’s elevators and escalators market in the coming years.
As per TechSci Research, the India elevators and escalators market which stood at $1.2 billion in 2017 is projected to cross $ 2 billion by 2023, on the back of rising urbanization, introduction of Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (RERA) and increasing number of high-rise residential and commercial buildings across the country.
Innovations & Technology
Major companies are investing in R&D for developing digitally connected technologies which will help users use additional software in elevators through the life of a building; for instance, APIs (application programming interfaces) make the elevator easy to manage and integrate different devices and services with both new and existing systems.
Elevators with touch-free buttons, voice-activated sensors, sanitising systems, and online or remote-controlled maintenance systems are set to become the norm. New developments will see smart elevators that can communicate with passengers, building managers, service staff, and other building systems. Newer models are incorporating LED lights, water soluble paint, and recycled construction materials for reducing energy consumption.
Design & Aesthetics
There is a growing concept of aesthetic elevators (or escalators) with fixtures, displays, wall panelling, glass, IoT mirrors, lighting, flooring etc, to enhance passengers’ ride experience. Taking cognisance, manufactures are striving to create an engaging space in the cabins with aesthetically designed interiors using unique patterns, textures, colours, lighting etc.
Hands-free connectivity is being enabled by using innovative methods like contact-free lift operation via smartphone apps and remote calling of elevators via WhatsApp that eliminate the need to touch contaminated buttons as well as display. Digitalization is helping to evaluate the real-time passenger traffic to improve flow and travel time in high-rises and thereby facilitating quick transit and effective passenger flow.
Safety a Priority
In recent years, the elevator/escalator industry is seeing the need to upgrade installed models and comply with elevator and escalator safety criteria. Elevators and escalators can save up to 70% of their energy when modernised, which is a major growth driver of the market.
Though the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has set safety standards, they only serve as guidelines and are mandatory if enacted by the state legislation. Several states have enacted their own Lift Act and Rules but these are mandatory in those states only. For instance, as per the Haryana Lifts and Escalators Act, 2008, owners of high-rise structures (those over 15 m in height) are required to install Emergency Rescue Devices (ERD) in their elevators.
Maharashtra has become the first state in India to make Fire Evacuation Lifts mandatory for buildings 70-meters and above since January 2018 in what is termed as the solution to mounting emergencies during firefighting and provide a safe evacuation mechanism for people and assist Fire Officers to save lives and assets. Such buildings will have to put in place the necessary infrastructure, such as Fire Evacuation Lifts, which provide a much safer and more secure option. This circular is set to begin a new chapter of fire evacuation.
ISEE Expo 22
The International Sourcing Exposition for Elevators & Escalators is playing a crucial role in bringing OEMs, component manufacturers, and industry professionals on a common platform to network, share market insights and best practices, and showcase new product developments and contemporary design trends, safety standards, environmental compliance codes, and regulations in the elevator and escalator industry.
This year it is being held from 1 - 3 December 2022 at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Nesco, Goregaon. Organized and managed by TAK Expo, the event is being supported by various trade associations such as the Council on Tall Buildings & Urban Habitat (CTBUH India), the International Association of Elevator Consultants (IAEC), Fire and Safety Association of India (FSAI), and the Elevator & Escalator Component Manufacturers’ Association of India (EECMAI), etc.