News Release

Toshiba Develops World's First Elevator Guiding System With Non-contact Magnetic Suspensions

Tokyo, 17 January 2006 - Toshiba Elevator and Building Systems Corp. (TELC) today announced that it has developed the world's first elevator guiding system in which "Non-contact magnetic suspensions" has been used to realize smoother riding comfort, and aims for the commercialization of the product in the spring of 2008.

In a traditional elevator, a cage* hangs on cables and runs along guide rails in the hoist-way propelled by the power of a motor. Wheels called roller guides are mounted between the cage and guide rails and act as guiding devices to support the operation of elevator.

The world's first elevator guiding system with "Non-contact magnetic suspensions " developed by TELC with the cooperation of the Power and Industrial Systems R&D Center of Toshiba enables even smoother operation of elevators and gives a more comfortable ride than conventional elevators because it uses hybrid magnet units consisting of permanent magnets and electromagnets that allow the elevator run without contact between the cage and guide rails. This means that the movement is not affected by the machining accuracy and/or installed conditions of the rails. The smoother operation also means a reduction in noise. This technology is not the same as that of a linear motorcar in terms of the driving method, but is similar in that it uses magnetic levitation technology.

The new technology was developed to improve the riding comfort of high-speed elevators, and the models in which this innovation will be used are high-speed elevators (that run at a speed of 300 meters or more per minute) for high-rise buildings 100 meters or higher. The company has been engaged in several advanced engineering development projects. The world's fastest elevator which runs at a speed of 1,010 meters per minute or 60.6km per hour and adjustable double-decker elevators have been already commercialized. The company is seeking to verify the new guide technology so the product can be commercialized in the spring of 2008, seeing this as an important step following the development of these advanced technologies. * The main part of the elevator that carries persons and/or baggage.

2006-01-07