Schindler Group

Company history

The company was founded in Switzerland in 1874, by Robert Schindler and Eduard Villiger who established the collective joint partnership Schindler & Villiger. Shortly thereafter, a mechanical engineering workshop was built on an island in the river Reuss in Lucerne, Switzerland, for the production of lifting equipment and machines of all types.

Schindler founded the first foreign subsidiary in Berlin (Germany) in 1906. Thereafter, the company expanded continuously and mainly throughout Europe. In 1980 Schindler founded the first Western industrial joint venture in the People's Republic of China. With the takeover of Atlas in Brazil in 1999 Schindler became a major market player in South America.

Schindler entered the North American elevator market with the purchase of Toledo-based Haughton Elevator Company in 1979 - briefly branding their products as Schindler-Haughton. In 1989, the company dramatically increased its presence in the United States after acquiring the Elevator/Escalator division of Westinghouse, one of the largest producers of elevators and escalators at the time. Currently, Schindler Elevator Corporation, the United States operations of Schindler Group, is based in Morristown, New Jersey.

In February 2007, Schindler, along with competitors Otis Elevator Co., ThyssenKrupp, Kone, and Mitsubishi Elevator Europe were fined by the European Union for a price-fixing cartel. Schindler was fined 144 million euros, or about $189.3 million US dollars.

Since 2011, Schindler have sponsored Solar Impulse, a solar-powered aircraft.

Escalator Models

Schindler 9300AE: Fits in any architectural designs, has a height of 20 meters, step width of 600, 800, or 1000 millimeters. Inclination is 27.3/ 30/ 35 degrees, versions include 9300AE-10, 9300AE-20, and 9300AE-30 (the 9300AE-30 variant escalator is not available in the United States).

Schindler 9700: This model is available with a metal, sandwhich panel, or glass balustrade, fits mainly in airport and subway architectural designs, has a height of 50 meters, step width of 600, 800, or 1000 millimeters. Inclination is 24.5/ 27.3/ 30 degrees. The advanced edition of this escalator model is also not available in the United States.

Elevator Models

Schindler 3300: Fits in any architectural design, capability is 400 kg to 1,125 kg, height is up to 60 meters in 20 floors, speed is 1.0 meters and 1.6 meters.

Schindler 5300: Space can be configurable for all needs, hold up to 630 kg to 2,500 kg, height is up 150 meters in 50 floors, speed is 1.0 meters up to 3.0 meters MMR and MRL.

Schindler 7000: Fits mostly for high landmark buildings, capability is 4,000 kg for single deck and 2x 2,250 for double deck, speed is 10 meters and height is up to 500 meters.

Moving Walkways

Schindler 9500AE Inclined: Provides floor to floor transportation like an escalator, Maximal rise height is 8.0 meters at a pallet width 1100 millimeters, angle of inclination is 10 to 12 degrees, normal step width is 800/ 1000/ or 1100 millimeters.

Schindler 9500 Horizontal: Ideal transportation solution up to 150 meters in facilities like airports and convention centers to prevent long walking, the maximal length is 150 meters, angle of inclination is 0 to 6 degrees, normal step width is 1000/ 1200/ 1400 millimeters.

Acquisitions and joint ventures

Schindler's Miconic 10

The company's name for their proprietary control system, was introduced in 1995. It was the industry's first example of control system now known as "hall call" destination system. The system features keypads and LED screens instead of hall button stations whereby riders enter their desired floor before entering an elevator car. The system then directs the rider to a specific elevator car, while grouping riders traveling to nearby floors together. Schindler claims this minimizes the number of stops, and decreases congestion and travel time—especially during peak traffic periods. The system was continuously further developed and new functions were amended, eventually evolving in systems which guarantee highly efficient and energy-saving traffic management. Especially in high rise buildings, traffic-management systems like Miconic 10 allow building designers to maximize rentable space and transportation efficiency. Moreover, access control becomes feasible.

Schindler ID

Schindler ID is an evolution of the Miconic 10 system. It is a security system that provides customized elevator services suitable for both new and existing installations. It can divide a building into different zones with controlled access authority. It is an elevator access-control system for mid- and high-rise buildings that customizes service for each passenger using electronic identification badges.

Schindler PORT Technology

In 2009, the PORT technology was launched. It centers on a Personal Occupant Requirement Terminal (PORT)- a universal communication system that is interconnected throughout the building. This communication platform makes it possible to calculate the optimal route to any destination in the building. The PORT technology is an advanced transit and destination dispaching system for buildings with special requirements regarding access, security and passenger management.

Accidents

Schindler Award

Since 2003, Schindler has sponsored the "Schindler Award", a biannual prize for the design of inclusive and accessible urban areas. The competition is open to all students in their final year of study on a bachelor's course or those enrolled on a master's course at a European university or college of architecture. If 12 or more students from the same school apply to enter the competition, that school qualifies to participate in the schools’ competition. The Schindler Award 2010 attracted almost 1,400 participants and is therefore one of the most recognized and popular architectural competitions for students in Europe. The Schindler Award 2012, was held in Berne, Switzerland. The next competition will take place in 2014 in the city of Shenzhen, China. For the first time in history, the Schindler Award will be open for students worldwide.