Hyundai Elevator Develops World's First 1,260 Meters-Per-Minute Elevator Technology

[Asia Economy, Reporter Yoo Jehun] Hyundai Elevator announced on May 21 that it has successfully developed the world’s first carbon fiber belt-type elevator technology with a speed of 1,260 meters per minute. This technology research project, which began in 2014 and lasted about five years with support from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, involved a total of nine companies and institutions, including Hyundai Elevator, Woojin Jeonjang, Shinsung Materials, NplastTech, DYETEC Institute, ChangAn Machinery, Dongyang Steel, Taekwang Industrial, and the Korea Testing Laboratory (KTL).

According to the company, the core of the 1,260 meters per minute elevator system is the newly developed "carbon fiber belt." Compared to conventional metal ropes typically used in elevators, this belt weighs only one-sixth as much, which allows the travel distance-previously limited to 600 meters or less-to be extended to over 1,000 meters. In addition, power consumption has been reduced to about 30% of previous levels.

Furthermore, the high natural frequency of the carbon fiber belt prevents resonance caused by wind or earthquakes in super high-rise buildings. By coating the surface of the carbon fiber belt, which already has excellent thermal stability and tensile strength, with a polymer material, its lifespan has been more than doubled.

According to Hyundai Elevator, if this system were applied to the Burj Khalifa (828 meters), currently the tallest building in the world, the time required to reach the top floor would be reduced by 20%, from the current 57 seconds to 46 seconds. Additionally, the system eliminates the inconvenience of having to transfer at intermediate floors due to travel distance limitations, enabling direct travel to the top in a single ride.

Song Seungbok, CEO of Hyundai Elevator, stated, "The fact that Hyundai Elevator, the only domestically owned elevator company in Korea, together with its partner companies and research institutions, has independently developed the world’s first and most advanced technology will serve as a major milestone for the advancement of Korea’s elevator industry."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.