Otis Showcases Gen2® Switch at South African Property Owners Association Convention
Powered by battery technology to ensure continued operation during a power outage, the Gen2 Switch will be on display at the 46th annual South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA) Convention, May 19 - 21, 2015, at the Durban International Convention Centre. Otis, which operates as Otis Pty Ltd in South Africa, is the world’s largest manufacturer of elevators, escalators and moving walkways and part of UTC Building & Industrial Systems, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).
“A major advantage of the Gen2 Switch is that it is designed to continue running even during power outages thanks to a built-in battery,” said Hayley Elwen, marketing and business development manager, Otis Pty Ltd. “Despite the recent increase in grid volatility leading into winter, the Gen2 Switch provides property owners with the peace of mind that the lift in their buildings will continue running during power outages.”
Under normal running mode, the Gen2 Switch power supply charges a pack of batteries, which in turn supplies power to the lift motor. In the event of a power failure, the battery pack continues to operate the lift for up to 100 trips in a seven-story building. The battery system is compatible with alternative energy sources like solar panels and wind power. The battery is made of 97 percent recycled materials, and is itself 90 percent recyclable.
Unlike many other lifts, the Gen2 Switch can be plugged into a regular wall socket, negating the need for a 3-phase electrical installation. It is ideally suited for residential applications with a standard power supply, or commercial sites consuming just 700 watts, which is less power than the average microwave. The Gen2 Switch is up to 80 percent more efficient than a conventional elevator, and is the culmination of decades of elevator efficiency improvements undertaken by Otis.
Otis will be exhibiting at Stand 24 – 26 throughout the duration of the SAPOA Convention. For more information on the event, visit www.sapoaconvention.co.za. To download hi-res images for this release, please visit http://media.ngage.co.za and click the Otis link to view the company’s press office.
About Otis
Otis is the world’s largest manufacturer and maintainer of people-moving products, including elevators, escalators and moving walkways. Founded more than 160 years ago by the inventor of the safety elevator, Otis offers products and services through its companies in more than 200 countries and territories, and maintains more than 1.8 million elevators and escalators worldwide. Otis is a part of UTC Building & Industrial Systems, a unit of United Technologies Corp., a leading provider to the aerospace and building systems industries worldwide. For more information, visit www.otis.comor follow @OtisElevatorCo on Twitter.