Otis scales heights with tall order.

(From Gulf Construction)

With one of the most coveted contracts worldwide in its hands, Otis is poised for further success as it continues to innovate and expand around the globe

he Otis Elevator Company's local affiliate Otis (UAE) has been awarded one of the most-sought-after contracts in the elevator sector - that of supplying and installing elevators in Burj Dubai tower which is destined to become the tallest building in the world. Competition among the leading elevator suppliers for this prestigious contract was tough but after an eight-month-long process of tender and negotiations, Otis is confident that it has met all the safety and reliability criteria of the Burj developers. "We are honoured that Emaar has selected Otis for this prestigious contract," says Yusef Shalabi, general manager of Otis (UAE) in Dubai. Otis will supply around 60 state-of-the-art elevators of different specifi-cations in the tower and ancillary buildings. These will include the first double-deck lifts to be installed anywhere in the Middle East. The double-deck elevators will carry visitors to the observation deck, which will offer a breathtaking view of the city of Dubai

The Otis Elevator Company is a fully-owned subsidiary of the US-based industrial conglomerate the United Technologies Corporation, which is also the corporate parent of Carrier, the world famous air-conditioning equipment supplier, and Pratt & Whitney, the aircraft engine manufacturer. Otis has numerous high-rise elevator contracts to its name including the Petronas Towers in Malaysia. In fact, Otis elevators are moving people in 85 per cent of the world's tallest buildings, he says. The company's track record is exceptional and Otis has proven over the 150 years of its existence that it has the expertise in developing special elevators to suit any specification set for a high-rise building. "This contract further highlights Otis' position as the world leader in high-rise projects," adds Mohamed Rasheed, Otis managing director (Arabian Gulf). Otis has been in operation in the UAE, supplying lifts, escalators and moving walks since the late 1960s. The company operated until 2002 through its agent the United National Development Company, which was jointly owned by two prominent Dubai businessmen namely Abdulrahman S Al Ghurair and Khalifa J Al Nabooda. Otis (UAE) was formed ...