The world's first rope-free elevator

- More than 160 years after the invention of the conventional elevator, thyssenkrupp disrupts the industry by unveiling the first functional MULTI at the 246-m tall test tower in Rottweil, Germany

- OVG Real Estate is the first customer, partnering with thyssenkrupp to install the first MULTI system in its new Berlin flagship development

- Launch reinforces thyssenkrupp’s current leadership in transforming the elevator industry and bringing new possibilities to buildings and city planning

Today, thyssenkrupp celebrates by unveiling one of the industry's most forward-thinking innovations created since the 19th century: the world’s first rope-less and sideways-moving elevator system, MULTI. Instead of one cabin per shaft moving up and down, the MULTI offers multiple cabins operating in loop, like a metro system inside a building. Without the use of cables, MULTI runs on a safe multi-level brake system and redundant wireless data and energy management on the cars. The much anticipated concept today becomes a reality, as thyssenkrupp launches the first fully functional unit at its purpose-built innovation test tower in Rottweil, Germany.

The world premiere will also announce the leading European real estate business OVG Real Estate as MULTI’s very first customer. In partnership with thyssenkrupp, various MULTI systems will be installed in the new East Side Tower building in Berlin. The building is set to become a pole of attraction and known around the world as one of the references of the German capital.

Almost 200 representatives of the building industry were due to convene at the event, including high profile developers, architects and engineers from around the globe. Key participants include Andreas Schierenbeck, CEO of thyssenkrupp Elevator; Coen van Oostrom, CEO of OVG Real Estate, and Antony Wood, Executive Director of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH).

As our cities continue to grow and buildings get larger and taller to accommodate more people, planners and architects face significant challenges around moving people comfortably and quickly to their destinations. MULTI can achieve up to 50% higher transport capacity and reduce peak power demand by as much as 60% when compared to conventional elevator systems, these two factors mean a dramatic improvement for high-rise buildings. Additionally, since MULTI can move sideways as well as vertically, and without any height limitations, it enables unprecedented possibilities in the architecture and design of buildings.

Commenting on the launch, Andreas Schierenbeck says: “We believe MULTI is a genuine game-changer that will truly transform the way people move, work and live in our built environment. It will reduce waiting times for passengers and take up significantly less space within the building. MULTI is a key offering that truly represents a landmark revolution in the elevator industry.”

MULTI requires fewer and smaller shafts than conventional elevators and can increase the building’s usable area by up to 25%, representing extra revenues from the additional rentable/leasable space. This is particularly important considering current elevator-escalator footprints can occupy up to 40% of a high rise building’s floor space, depending on the building height.

The MULTI requires dramatically lower peak power permitting a better management of the building’s energy needs, consequently reducing the investment costs in the power supply infrastructure.

The very first MULTI will be installed in OVG Real Estate’s new building in Berlin. OVG is known by its cutting-edge project The Edge that is renowned worldwide for earning the title of ‘world’s most sustainable office building’. Coen van Oostrom, CEO OVG Real Estate says: “We are absolutely delighted to partner with thyssenkrupp and to have the very first MULTI installed in our latest project, The East Side Tower in Berlin.

The building – adjacent to the Mercedes-Benz Arena and neighbor to Warschauer Strasse – is set to become a new landmark on the Berlin skyline. What drives OVG is continuous innovation in smart technology, sustainability and well-being, which keeps our company one step ahead of the rest. The forward-thinking new technology that MULTI brings to our flagship project, is a perfect fit for us.”

According to Antony Wood, Executive Director of CTBUH: “This is perhaps the biggest development in the elevator industry since the invention of the safety elevator some 165 years ago. The ‘holy grail’ for elevators has been to move beyond being pulled vertically by a rope under tension – towards a system that allows movement in inclined or horizontal directions.

MULTI, more than any other product delivered to date, really shows the way forward for that potential. This has the capacity to transform the industry at large, changing the way tall buildings are designed, and allowing for much more efficient core designs, as well as better connectivity in buildings.”

MULTI’s inaugural ride is taking place at the 246-metre test tower in Rottweil, home to thyssenkrupp’s Research & Development Center in Germany. The tower is specifically designed with the future in mind. Here thyssenkrupp tests and certifies innovations in elevator technology. With 12 test shafts and travel speeds of up to 18 metres per second, the tower offers unprecedented possibilities to meet the challenges ahead for the buildings and cities of the future. Three shafts are dedicated to testing the cable-less MULTI elevator system.


Editing: Behnam Abbaszadeh

thyssenkrupp Elevator brings together the Group’s global activities in passenger transportation systems. With sales of 7.5 billion euros in fiscal 2015/2016 and customers in 150 countries, thyssenkrupp Elevator built its position as one of the world’s leading elevator companies from scratch in a mere 40 years’ time applying thyssenkrupp unique engineering capabilities. With more than 50,000 highly skilled employees, the company offers smart and innovative products and services designed to meet customers’ individual requirements. The portfolio includes passenger and freight elevators, escalators and moving walks, passenger boarding bridges, stair and platform lifts as well as tailored service solutions for all products. Over 900 locations around the world provide an extensive sales and service network to guarantee closeness to customers.