TK Elevator’s TWIN challenges conventional elevator systems

Its ability to operate two elevator cars in one shaft has eased a huge pain point in the usability of floor space in high-rise buildings.

Central business districts (CBD) are densely packed with high-rise buildings in Hong Kong and across the Asia Pacific. In these areas where floor space is extremely valuable, the availability of elevators creates a challenge for developers and architects of these high-rise developments; additional passenger capacity requires additional elevator shafts, which means less useable floor space.

TK Elevator’s TWIN addresses this challenge by operating two elevator cars independently in one shaft, effectively increasing capacity and reducing wait and travel times. When compared to existing double-deck elevator solutions, TWIN has the advantage of flexible zoning by operating the two cars independently, making them lighter in total weight. 

Depending on building design and application, the TWIN system contributes to up to 50% of elevator core size reduction. In a particular use case, a 21-floor office building that houses about 1,300 people, having four TWIN systems versus eight traditional elevators resulted in additional available floor space thanks to a 50% shaft space reduction and a 28% shorter average travel time to destination.

During peak hours, the TWIN system is designed to convey passengers in the shortest possible time. At other times, one of the two independent TWIN cars can be parked. This offers significant energy savings compared to traditional double deck setups, without compromising elevator service. TWIN can also be equipped with energy recovery devices that can feed about 30% of energy back into the building’s power grid.

Since its introduction, TK Elevator’s innovative TWIN has been well-received by property owners and architects worldwide, and has been installed in a large number of landmarks across the globe, including the European Central Bank in Frankfurt, the headquarters of the National Bank of Kuwait and BMW’s base in Munich. In Asia Pacific, TWIN is the elevator system of choice for many major projects and landmarks in the region, including the newly-built medical centre of one of the most prestigious hospitals in Hong Kong.

TWIN’s unrivalled efficiency and space-saving advantages over traditional single-car or double-deck elevator solutions have been recognised by the Hong Kong Business Technology Excellence Awards 2022, as TK Elevator brings home the Machine-Industrial Engineering category.

The prestigious awards programme honours outstanding companies that have made exceptional contributions in the pursuit of technological innovation in Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong Business Technology Excellence Awards is presented by Hong Kong Business. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2023 awards programme and be acclaimed for your company's outstanding contributions in pursuit of technological innovation, please contact Julie Anne Nuñez at [email protected].