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Trade Press Release

MacGREGOR wins first orders for new heavy-lift cranes

28/02/2002

MonoSpace elevator needs no machinery room

In a MonoSpace elevator, KONE revolutionary EcoDisc drive motor fits within the elevator trunk itself, removing the need for a machinery room: benefits include space, weight, cost and energy savings, and reduced noise levelsThe first marine elevators taking advantage of KONE new EcoDisc* drive motor were installed on board the 85,700gt Costa Atlantica. The EcoDisc motors were used in an elevator concept called MiniSpace*, which has many technical benefits and requires only a limited space for machinery compared with conventional elevator technology. MiniSpace elevators have already been ordered for 10 cruise ships.

The MiniSpace elevator has been a great success, but the target for MacGREGOR-KONE has always been to further reduce the space requirement for marine elevators, and further develop the technology. A new and revolutionary design meeting this target has now been realised, allowing the introduction of the first practical elevator concept to dispense with machinery rooms altogether: the MonoSpace* elevator.

This breakthrough in the market was developed by MacGREGOR elevator partner KONE. The MonoSpace concept utilises the latest EcoDisc drive motor, an energy-efficient design which eliminates the need for the machinery rooms associated with conventional systems. Such machinery rooms occupy valuable accommodation space either at the top, bottom or to the side of an elevator trunk, but with EcoDisc they are simply not required.

The EcoDisc motor fits within the elevator trunk and is attached to the guide rails. Even the control system and the drive unit are also located inside the elevator trunk, with only a small maintenance access panel located close to the top-most landing door. The motor is an axial synchronous unit, which uses permanent magnets to provide a direct drive to an integrated traction pulley acting on the elevator car wire ropes.

The first generation of MonoSpace elevators will cover all lifting capacities up to 1,500kg and 1.6 m/s travelling speed. The new LCS control system and Sigma or Delta signalisation further improve the efficiency of MonoSpace elevators.

The MonoSpace concept has already been a success in the land-based elevator market among KONE customers, and its tremendous benefits are expected to revolutionise the application of elevator technology in the marine market. As well as strengthening MacGREGOR-KONE position as the market leader in shipboard elevators.

MonoSpace elevator benefits:

- space savings of between 250 m³ and 400m³ on a modern cruise ship (approximately 15m³ per elevator)
- weight savings of about 15 per cent compared with conventional elevators (considering weight savings on both elevator equipment and machinery room construction)
- architectural freedom
- capital cost savings compared with conventional elevators (no machinery room construction needed)
- energy savings of up to 60 per cent compared with conventional elevators
- more than 30 per cent reduction in noise level
- the heat emission of elevator equipment is close to half that of conventional elevators
- drive comfort improvements
- environmentally friendly.

* EcoDisc, MiniSpace and MonoSpace are all trademarks of KONE Corporation, and are being used by the MacGREGOR Group under licence from KONE.

[picture available from Steve Labdon - cruise2A:] The EcoDisc motor fits within the MonoSpace elevator trunk and is attached to the guide rails

[picture available from Steve Labdon - cruise2B:] The MonoSpace concept (left) eliminates the need for the machinery rooms associated with conventional systems (right)

[picture available from Steve Labdon - cruise2C:] The EcoDisc motor uses permanent magnets to provide a direct drive to an integrated traction pulley acting on the elevator car wire ropes

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