Modular Elevator Inside or Out – One of the most common questions we get asked is, Can you place the MEM Elevator System on the inside of a project? The reason for the question is more than likely what you see most in photographs of modular elevators and on our website elevator on an exterior wall. We tend to do that so people looking at them can clearly see the elevator and that it includes the hoistway.
See, a modular elevator is a manufactured elevator hoistway with all the elevator components factory installed, so showing the hoistway seems to make sense. However, that has led to the common mistake of thinking that they can only go on the exterior of a build.
Most recently two of our elevators were placed at approximately the same time and as you can see in the video below there was one of each (outside and inside). That is probably about the percent when it comes to new construction. Exterior placed elevators probably hold a slim edge, but overall as we produce only high-quality commercial elevators and they can be placed anywhere. This is especially true as they are self supporting structures.
Now when it comes to retrofit projects, where the customer is adding an elevator to an existing structure, we do many more exterior applications. But that is not because of our product. It is due to structural needs and spatial requirements for the project. An exterior elevator usually makes more sense and is a better solution.
In the photographs for this blog post you can see the interior application. In the 5 – story dormitory project at the University of La Verne, you can see our fully installed elevator hoistway going smack-dab in the middle of the building. Not only that, if you look at the conceptual drawing you won’t see even a hint of a hoistway. The duplexed modular elevators were simply placed on the inside of the project.
Also, note that the elevators came in sections. Each section can generally be up to 50 feet in height. But, because of the revolutionary stackable design we are not held to 50 feet or less. As a matter of fact they can be designed for most low or mid-rise applications.
For the La Verne project, the elevators went in during the construction phase. However, due to the flexibility of modular elevator units, they can be set at anytime. For instance, with the interior elevator in the video it could have been placed first, but the project manager wanted the bulk of the project standing before the elevator went in. They just left us a hole and our elevator simply slipped into place. That is less common as most often construction managers like to move the process of craning the elevator into place to the beginning. The set takes place right after the foundation work is completed and the pit is poured. They like to see the elevator portion of the project done and out of the way with only a startup needed.
As you can imagine, a fully installed elevator set in just four hours revolutionizes the elevator and multi-story construction industry. That is especially true if it is at the beginning of the build. Once placed the commercial quality elevator waits for the rest of the project and off the critical path instead of the other way around. When power is supplied it is ready for startup. This means they can be used as construction lifts.
Also remember there are other benefits as well:
For instance there is no need for setting aside space for elevator mechanic tools or components. Modular Elevators are safer than having an open elevator shaft on the jobsite. They are greener as well with less onsite traffic, less scrap and more recycling. The revolution has begun. It is time to consider modular.
If you are impressed with the concept or timeline or have more questions. Join the revolution by clicking the button below. We will provide you a Fast Track thumbnail quote in 24 hours. Feel free to start a conversation by providing some details on an upcoming project. You can also sign up for a virtual live tour. One last thing, a big thanks to our friends at Steinberg – Hart for a great design!
MEM – Leading the Elevator Revolution.
Hospitality Needs the Best Lead Time – Usually, I try to begin a post with a soft approach. It pulls the reader in and makes for a better read. But there is no soft-peddling or easing into this one. Plainly put the MEM Elevator System has the best elevator lead time in the construction industry today. It really is that simple. Once all the preliminary work is complete we can deliver a fully installed, ready to start up, commercial quality elevator in less than 6 months. Crunching that lead time is exactly what the hospitality industry needs (See our latest project at a Disney Resort).
But beyond delivering a fully installed elevator when you need it, when it comes to hotels all your specific requirements can be addressed with the MEM Elevator System. Ultimately, for low and mid-rise projects there is no better option that has the reliability and flexibility you need. This includes all building types including modular, storage containers, stick-built, reinforced concrete or any other type of construction.
We can produce elevator cabs to any specs you wish and glass elevators are easy, for us. The units can be for new construction or retrofit projects. They can be on the exterior of the building or on the interior. Placement doesn’t matter. MEM can provide exactly what you need.
With our process you get your elevator when you need it. A fully-installed high-quality commercial elevator can be placed on your site in less than four hours.
It is a real simple process. We know precisely how long the manufacturing process takes from start to finish. You tell us when you would like the unit or units delivered and we back the start of manufacturing to meet your schedule. That easy.
You keep us updated regarding any changes so there are no surprises. When the start date rolls around we manufacture the hoistway and wrap it in the appropriate amount of drywall per code. Then the elevator rails and entrances are installed. Simultaneously, the cab is being built to your specification. All the wiring is being completed. Then the cab is inserted, final prep is done and your elevator is delivered and ready for start up and inspection.
It is more than time to end all the headaches you face with the elevator portion of your project. There is no reason it has to be so complex and filled with so many problems and delays. We have started a revolution with our design and process so join the revolution.
Click the button for a Fast Track or schedule a LIVE VIRTUAL TOUR.
For nearly twenty years Modular Elevator Manufacturing has been leading the elevator revolution. Like any revolution there are milestones or measurements that show the growth of that movement. Markers that point to the “normalization” or general acceptance of a movement. These include: a global awareness of the product and methodology, an overall increase in market acceptance, implemented examples of the concept in completed projects, general acceptance and understanding of the advantages, and ultimately expansion of the market. Now, MEM is pleased to say, “Next stop transformation”.
Those milestones are being realized. Now the focus is shifting from the necessity of revolution to the reality of transformation in the elevator industry itself.
When the concept of the modular elevator was first conceived, it was as a response to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Three individuals put together the original plans and started producing modular elevator units. Their concept was largely designed to sit beside an existing structure to easily and quickly make an old building compliant and more accessible. Great idea!
Many of those early units were sold and installed. But a modular delivery approach requires an understanding of construction and elevators. Ultimately, an overall lack of experience in the construction industry led to many difficulties in the installation process along with other issues. However, suggestions from the field for improvements often fell on deaf ears and so the concept, although sound, struggled to take off.
Enter TLShield. As the fledgling modular elevator company fell to failure, Tom Shield, who had installed many of the early units, took a bold step. His company, TL Shield and Associates began a new entity Modular Elevator Manufacturing (MEM) dedicated solely to the improvement and production of modular elevators. They instituted many product changes to improve the overall quality and installation process. The MEM Elevator System was born and they began producing the solution that many were looking for.
Since that time a steady march towards revolutionizing the old, tired model of conventional elevators began. Few realize the elevator industry had largely remained stuck in the mid-1800’s in the way an elevator was installed and produced. Since before the Civil War hoistways were built in a building and then the elevator was painstakingly assembled in the shaft. Crates of parts would arrive to be assembled in a closed, challenging space. That is still the way it is done in the conventional elevator sector. In an honest moment, the entire industry would agree, that makes no sense at all. Modular elevators changed all of that. They are produced in a factory, hoistway and all, shipped to the location and then the fully install elevator is lowered into place in a couple hours.
Since the beginning MEM realized that the product was revolutionary, but the revolution could easily die if a proactive approach to enlightening the construction industry failed. So education and information became the model to market the concept and high-quality product. “Next stop transformation” would take time, patience and effort but worth it. Change in any monopolistic industry is a slow steady undertaking and does not happen overnight.
To propel that change forward, the new model became education in place of the expected sales pitch. Older iterations of the MEM website contained a voluminous amount of data, facts and specifications. It even offered up links to drawings and engineering information. Previously many considered that kind of information proprietary to their brand and did not have plans on line. However, we found transparency was the best option in how we arrived at our improvements, created awareness and helped to answer questions.
This includes passing knowledge freely to other elevator companies. Sharing and opening our facility became a routine practice and is still in practice today. When Covid hit, we offered for the first time a one of a kind virtual tour of our factory to anyone that asks. That openness and outreach remains the only online virtual tour of an elevator production facility in the world. No one opens their doors as we do. We know allowing openness and full disclosure is the only way to make our “next stop transformation” a reality.
If you want to take advantage of our live virtual tour you can do so. Just click the button.
Early on schools in California embraced the modular concept and the idea that a modular elevator would be the best and most logical choice for ADA compliance. As the sole leader in the industry we were often specced into those projects. However, I remember the day that a modular elevator was specced into a project that was not in the education sector. Obviously the day passed with no fanfare or popping corks, but I knew things had changed.
Product acceptance on a whole new level had just occurred. That was followed quickly by approved architect training through AIA, integration into new building projects not just retrofits and design/build plans being altered. This was all to incorporate our modular units into ever-widening applications regardless of the type of construction method.
We also found that big players in the construction industry were more than just curious, they were serious. They saw that a fully installed elevator set in place before lunch break was a big deal. The realization and reality of an elevator off the critical path had enormous implications. The potential of that removal from the critical path changes everything. It reduces call backs of other trades, keeps everything in sequence, and smooths the entire timeline and costs. Suddenly, the light bulb clicked on…there was a better way.
Acceptance of the product was also demonstrated by increases in our Fast Track quotes, formal quotes and ultimately sales. In just the past two years we had to double our manufacturing floor and we are currently at all-time sales heights requiring us to look at an additional expansion or space. We now ship nationwide routinely with projects as far away as New York. All of this success was due in part to our commitment to modeling of the concept in how it works and the advantages.
Commonsense it seems has disappeared in some ways from our society. The hardest way of doing things has replaced ease and wisdom as in the construction industry’s use of conventional elevator companies. Unfortunately, their sales concepts is not one of openness and sharing. Instead we learned through our polling efforts they were sometimes sowing seeds of confusion an exclusion. There was just one way…their way.
“The elevator company knows there are not many alternatives for installation so they capitalize in the safety of us needing them more than they need us.”
Poll Respondent – August 2022
One of the respondents to our poll said it best, “It’s unfortunate knowing when entering into a project where elevators are to be installed that there will be issues and complicated schedule situations. The elevator company knows there are not many alternatives for installation so they capitalize in the safety of us needing them more than they need us.”
We have become that alternative and change so needed. As our mission is not just to offer concepts, but actual projects that clearly demonstrate higher quality can accompany speed through manufacturing.
It is a huge difference as we recognize that we have succeeded where the previous company failed by listening, understanding the elevator industry intimately and making needed change. Intuitively we knew immediate improvements that would make everything better in the engineering, design and installation. Honestly some were what we would call no-brainers, plain to see from the decades of elevator experience we brought to the table.
However, it is easy to be blinded by past success. So we continue to innovate, expand our knowledge and to assess our projects from the perspective of architects, project engineers, construction managers and owners. The communication is crucial.
It is important to know that this does not mean every idea is a good idea. We methodically look at new ideas, designs and product lines against what has worked. We think deeply and don’t jump to quick conclusions. This has led to an ever improving product line that exceeds expectations.
As our market share of elevators continues to grow we know our ideas and concepts will be and have been copied. Sometimes they are just pretenders that think anyone can produce an elevator. They struggle with quality and often seem to grope in the dark with innovation. But, when you are driving towards the “next stop transformation” philosophy ultimately the next stop includes others in the business. When you are successful at what you do people will follow.
The result is two new reputable entrants into the modular elevator industry. They have seen growth and want to be a part of the revolution. It may surprise you but, we have no qualms with that as long as they copy our quality as well. As a pioneer in the modular elevator business we are glad to have help building on what we have done.
Resolute Elevator in North Carolina has stepped up to manufacturing modular elevators in a big way and they are seeing great growth. Their background is similar to ours. They were in the elevator business for several years and even installed some modular elevators. Likewise, they were concerned for the elevator riding pubic and the concept itself when they found the modular offerings they used less than the quality they and their customers demanded. At Resolute they felt innovation was lacking and poor workmanship was the order of the day. They understand that if modular elevators become equated with substandard quality then the better concept of a manufactured elevators would struggle. They have even participated in one of our cohort groups. Their input was invaluable.
Big congrats to them and best wishes!
But a second entrant into the modular elevator industry is more curious. Thyssenkrupp (commonly called TKE), having witnessed the wisdom and potential market share of modular, has decided to stick their decidedly big toe into the elevator revolution we began so long ago. As we all know big companies move slow and ponderously and big elevator is no acceptation. After all we have been grabbing more and more of the elevator market for over a decade and our innovations have now become a staple in many construction segments.
Why does TKE embrace change now? One can only speculate. However as we know in the “next stop transformation” theory, new entrants will come from a number of sources. We are just satisfied that they, although late to the party, see that modular is viable and the future. They are just now testing their new modular system in Hong Kong, but they will eventually make it to our shores. This is not just vindication, but product justification. Now they see it and soon everyone in the construction industry will as well.
Overall this is proof positive that what we are doing is winning the revolution.
Next stop…transformation and we have been leaders in that effort longer than anyone else.
If you are interested in being a part of the elevator revolution, we encourage you to dig, explore and ask plenty of questions. We are ready and willing to be a part of your period of discovery. To get started we offer a couple opportunities below. Just click a button.
Best Argument for a Modular Elevator – I am very lonely in my job as a marketing professional in the world of modular elevators, because at last count, I am it. If there is a new one out there, welcome to the revolution. But, for now its just me.
The reason I bring that up is single handedly I have written hundreds of articles supporting the modular elevator industry and I am on the constant look for two things. First, a new perspective or way to spark interest, hone my argument or new way to discuss the modular elevator industry. Second, help. This comes in the form of any supporting information, blogs, studies, whitepapers or reports. I scour the internet and other resources constantly and as a result, with the help of one of our team members, ran across a great new article. It was surprising help from an unlikely source.
A LinkedIn contributor that goes by Dr. Michael Simmons, DBA wrote a very concise and clear, step-by-step description of what a typical hydraulic elevator installation looks like. This is not a modular installation mind you, but a traditional run-of the-mill elevator install. The article is entitled How Do They Do It? Hydraulic Elevator Edition and I encourage you to take a look at it. It is 1000 words of exactly all the steps that have to take place to install an elevator with the traditional installation method.
So why did I find the Best Argument for a Modular Elevator in an article about a regular elevator installation? Because it proves beyond any shadow of doubt, in simple and clear terms, the lunacy of traditionally installing an elevator. The antiquated process comes with a myriad of problems and challenges that frustrates the building owner or build team. Below are just some challenges taken from the article.
These are just a few of the potential injury risks, ways the project can be delayed, inefficiencies that come with the the process and challenges regarding quality. Modular elevators are completely different.
With an MEM Elevator System the commercial quality elevator is manufactured in a factory with quality controls and constant inspection. First, the hoistway is built with jigs and precise templates to assure it is always plumb and level. Once the hoistway is finished and wrapped in drywall for fire protection according to code, doors and entrances are factory installed.
Meanwhile the elevator sling and cab are being built in a separate location in the factory. High quality Galvanneal steel is used for the cab walls to ensure durability and longevity. During assembly our build team can freely walk around the cab as it is being built and precise jigs are used to ensure a perfect fit in the hoistway everytime.
The wiring is complete in the factory as well.
The last step is to insert the cab into the the hoistway. Done.
The benefits are tremendous. The quality is higher, inspections can be completed throughout the process, it greener as there is less waste, and there is no interference with other trades or reliance on others to complete the elevator. When you need it, it is craned into place and that’s it. The process is so fast the elevator can be used as a construction lift saving even more time and money. You get the elevator when you need it not at the arbitrary timing of an elevator company.
If you took the time to read the article that gave me significant help and inspired my post, think about it. All of the headlines in the article contain the various steps of a traditional install. With modular elevators they can all be skipped! No headache for you as you can simple draw a line through elevator on your to do list. We take care of everything making it the easiest way to have an elevator in your building. The only step we need is adjustment and inspection once power is on. That’s it. You get to skip to the end.
This means that the elevator is off the critical path and not getting in the way of all the other trades on site. Also, crews won’t waste even a second waiting to finish around entrances. That work can be done in sequence. Lastly, this means you save time, money and countless headaches. It is the best argument ever for a modular elevator.
As you can see, the modular concept for elevators is revolutionary, but this concept is not new. We have been at it for a long time and have hundreds of elevators installed nationally. Also, we are pioneers in the elevator industry seeing a need and creating a great solution. The old elevator industry needed improving in safety, quality and fast start up and we did it. Something that would takes weeks with traditional installation now takes a few hours. Its time to join the Revolution.
Click the button below to get a Fast Track Quote or if you want to explore a bit more request a live virtual tour. We will pull back the curtain and show you how we produce the MEM Elevator System.
Hope On Hyde Park/Los Angeles, CA – Mission accomplished. The Hope On Hyde project is a great example of everyone pulling together for a great outcome. Our small part for this affordable transitional housing community for the Los Angeles area is complete. As a result we thought we would look back at the project and the team that brought it all together.
Of course MEM had a great install team with TL Shield & Associates taking charge of the placement and start up process. C. W. Driver led the way with the overall project leadership and they were grateful for our participation. “We appreciate MEM’s experience in the elevator industry. They helped keep the project moving forward and on time.” – John Kately, Project Executive, C.W. Driver. Lastly, KTGY provided superb architectural plans, drawings and concept.
It was a team effort with us playing just a small part of the overall effort and we are overjoyed with the results.
The project was a modular build from the beginning. So, using a conventional elevator can defeat the overriding premise of using the modular concept. Modular is supposed to be faster than conventional construction. There are other positive factors such as it being safer, greener, higher quality and more cost effective, but the first thing people look at is speed to completion.
We helped with the timeline because if you have a modular project with a conventional elevator, the work can easily grind to a halt. The elevator is smack dab in the middle of the critical path and conventional elevators interrupt the general construction process in the following ways:
For all the above reasons and more, for a modular project the only solution is to place the MEM Elevator solution.
The five-story development will offer studios and one-bedroom apartments on a 0.49-acre site. Residential services and a boxing gym will be located on the ground floor. The 98-unit building will be constructed around a central courtyard, providing privacy, safety, and a deepened sense of community. Parking spaces will be provided for social services staff while each resident will have a bike storage space. Floor to ceiling glazing along the amenity space will engage the community and brings movement to the street.
The elevator for the five-story project, as you can see in the video above, was set in no time. Quite impressive even for veteran project managers. “Seeing a fully installed elevator lowered into place and set in four hours was amazing.” – Luis Cadiz, Project Manager, C.W. Driver.
The process begins with placing the mode of conveyance, an in-ground hydraulic jack. It goes in first. Then the lower a portion of the fully installed elevator and hoistway gets craned into place. Once it is set, the second section of the elevator is lowered as well and locked in. The elevator came in two sections due to transportation needs and is not unusual in the least. The units are designed to be stackable.
The entire elevator set took less than four hours and everything is already inside including the elevator car and wiring. Once power is available onsite the MEM Elevator System is ready to go. It will then be started up, adjusted and scheduled for inspection. An easy, fast, timesaving solution. The elevator is off the critical path and the all too important purpose of the building can begin changing lives sooner than if a traditional elevator was used.
TL Shield & Associates set the elevator and will be in charge of start up as well. They and Modular Elevator Manufacturing was chosen due to the expertise they provide and the superior product they offer. They have been the leaders in the modular elevator field for more than two decades.
Tough steel makes up the MEM Elevator System hoistway with production occurring in a factory environment. Installation of all the elevator components and parts then takes place. Loading and shipping occurs next when the site is ready. In four hours you will have a fully installed, commercial quality elevator ready to be started up and used.
The mission of this project is important. The elevator and the Hope on Hyde Park project are crucial to combat the growing homelessness issues in Los Angeles. There are several benefits for supportive housing with the MEM system:
In conclusion, it maybe time to explore the possibilities further regarding supportive housing elevators. Let’s see if the MEM Elevator System can meet your needs. You can click the button below for a Fast Track Quote for a project you currently are working on. However, if you want to explore it more, request a LIVE VIRTUAL TOUR. We would be happy to pull back the curtain. We will show you how we produce the industry’s most successful modular elevator solution.
National Distribution Network Means Modular Elevator Manufacturing (MEM) Growth. In the past year due to our growing distribution network our high-quality modular elevators have been placed from California to New York. Now we welcome Georgia Lift Solutions to the MEM Authorized Elevator Contractor team.
Our friends Kyle Floyd and Dillon Graham from Georgia Lift Solutions have now partnered with us as an Authorized Elevator Contractor (AEC). Both came to our headquarters and factory for orientation, training, and instruction on the MEM Elevator Solution. They see the benefits of going modular and are looking forward to engaging with us as they grow their organization. This will further increase demand for the MEM solution and we are ready to meet that demand with even more AECs nationwide.
The elevator industry revolution continues through our network of elevator installers because the MEM Elevator Solution is perfect for schools, commercial space, hospitality, medical facilities, multi-family units or parking structures. So regardless of the vertical market, MEM can provide a solution from the east coast to the west coast. Modular elevators are also perfect for any type of building project from modular to stick frame and can go on the interior or exterior of any project.
That flexibility expands the types of projects that our AECs can participate in and promotes an ever-expanding market.
MEM President – Tom Shield is glad to welcome Kyle and Dillon and are proud of growing the network of partners. “After 40 years in the construction business and over 20 years in the elevator manufacturing industry, it was time to allow our product to be installed through AECs nationwide. We have a great team of installers that know elevators inside out and we welcome Kyle and Dillon to that team.”
He went on to say, “It is our philosophy that good business is quality business. Georgia Lift Solutions brings the same desire for quality to the table.”
The AEC program will continue to grow and will provide even more opportunities. Shield said, “We are currently looking for more elevator businesses to be a part of the program so now is the time for exploration and inquiries. We provide the training, information, marketing partnerships, and support. So we both help each other as we grow. It is an exciting time for our industry.”
The modular concept for elevators is revolutionary. MEM is a pioneers in that industry that saw the need for safety, quality and fast set and start up. To summarize the difference between modular and stick-built…there are none other than the delivery method.
Modular elevators are a factory built hoistway with tough 4X4 inch HHS (Hollow Structural Steel), wrapped in mold resistant drywall. This is done to the customer’s specification. Then all the elevator components are factory installed. That means when they arrive at the site the wiring, cab, rails and other components are already inside the structure. It is then placed with a crane at the job-site in the elevator pit in less than a day and then can be started up in less than a week. This means that it takes the elevator off the critical path saving time, headaches and hassles for the customer. For the installer it means all the heavy lifting is already done and the time commitment for a project is minimal.
Something that would take weeks conventionally can now be done in days with the MEM solution.
If you would like a budget number and be a part of MEM growth on a project you currently are considering, click the button below to get the process started. You can also
Best Mid Rise Elevator Option. Having definitions is real important when talking about elevators and especially when you are gauging whether a modular elevator could meet your needs. With that said, conversations regarding what constitutes a low or mid-rise elevator inclutwo dynamics. First, is number of stops. The second is total travel distance.
When looking at the vast number of elevators out there, when you say two or three stops, you know what you are talking about. A short ride of ten to twenty feet or low rise. And yes all elevators have at least two stops. An old joke in the elevator industry is if you have just one stop in an elevator you have an expensive broom closet. Every elevator has at a minimum 2 stops. So all low rise elevators are two to three stops? Right?
Not so fast. The middle elevator pictured above has just two stops. But as you can see it is a longer ride than you would picture. It is nearly 80 feet of travel. So number of stops is not the best measure to determine if an elevator is a low or mid rise. As a matter of fact are express elevators in high rises that travel hundreds of feet with just two or three stops.
As you can see in the diagram to the left total travel distance is the distance from the lowest finished floor to the highest finished floor. It makes no difference when making this measurement how many stops there are. This is a much better way to identify if an elevator is a low or mid rise elevator.
When defining low or mid rise for the modular elevator industry it can usually be safe to say that somewhere around eighty to one-hundred feet is the cutoff for a mid rise elevator. Anything taller than that and modular is not a serious contender.
It is no wonder that people are trying to shoehorn a modular into their project as there are a myriad of benefits. First and foremost they are the high quality solution. The elevator arrive to the jobsite as a fully factory installed elevator in a prefabricated hoistway. You get all the benefits of manufacturing precision delivered when you need it. MEM is a high quality product.
With Modular Elevator Manufacturing you always get quality regardless of the type of structure and the amount of use. MEM elevators can be placed inside or outside any type of structure. Even high traffic areas are easy for MEM. The quality is built in from the 4×4 inch tube steel to non-proprietary, industry approved and tested components. These are commercial passenger elevators.
MEM elevators are faster, safer, greener and more cost effective. They install quickly. That will allow you to control the elevator part of your building project. It also takes the elevator off the critical path. For all the above reasons, MEM is the best mid rise and low rise elevator on the market today.
If you want to know more about MEM schedule a live virtual tour or ask for a Fast Track Quote below.
Disney, the world class entertainment company, prides itself on cutting edge solutions, quality, and consistency. So, it is no wonder that the House of Mouse has found a solution to elevator woes. Modular elevator and Disney are a perfect match. But they are not alone. Everyone in the construction industry is constantly trying to find a way to deal with slowness and unresponsiveness of the traditional elevator companies. Disney found a fully installed elevator can be placed on the jobsite in less than four hours.
As you can see in the video to the left, the elevator arrives on a flatbed truck with the elevator jack. The jack is then placed in the pre-drilled hole and then the fully installed elevator is lowered into place. Everything is ready to go from the doors and entrances to awnings on the exterior. All the wiring is already in place as well as the fully constructed elevator car.
This is the perfect solution for any low or mid-rise application. And the MEM Elevator System is not just relegated to modular projects or parking garages.
The Disney project was specifically for a resort that needed access to a parking garage. However, the flexibility of our modular elevators goes far beyond that limited use in both type of construction and vertical markets.
For instance our elevators have been used in affordable housing projects, educational institutions from elementary schools to major universities, medical facilities, commercial buildings, and more.
When it comes to types construction for a project, there are no limits. Do you have a stick built project? We can be your solution. Modular? We are a perfect fit. Steel frame? Absolutely. And of course concrete construction.
How can there be such flexibility? Because in most cases the MEM Elevator System is designed to be a free standing structure meet all local codes regardless of earthquake or wind concerns.
Our Elevator System is flexible enough for any design challenge. So, contact us and be a part of the elevator revolution we are leading. For more info on solutions for you, click the button below for a FAST TRACK QUOTE. If you want to explore more just sign up for a LIVE VIRTUAL TOUR of our facility. We are open and willing answer questions and have discussions on viability for your project.
Modular Building Perception – The modular building industry continues to grow at a rapid pace and that trend will continue unless…
First, let me say that I am huge proponent of the modular industry and modular building. I have presented the concept at conferences and in too many architect offices to count. I have even served in an advisory capacity in the industry’s leading advocate and educational group. And I have led panel discussions in the construction industry about modular. It is not just a slogan that modular building is greener, faster and smarter it is! As a result I am excited to be a part of that revolutionary construction movement. Also, I have written tons of articles on the benefits and need for more modular in the future. However there is a perception problem that could derail the industry despite our best efforts.
For me I saw this “modular building perception” problem rear its ugly head in a casual conversation. It was at an impromptu reunion of old friends. We grew up in the wonder years of cul-de-sacs and bicycles. Forty or so kids had summers to roam free in the backyards, nearby woods and empty lots of the Westwood Hills subdivision. As we discussed old-times we started naming the families and the various homes they lived in.
The Sullivans lived in the spit-level, white house with black shutters. The Jones’ house next door was the all brick ranch with the old Corvette in the drive under a tarp. We named the family and described the house all the way around the block and then we came to the Elmer’s Glue house. Everyone at the table knew exactly which house we were talking about. It was a modular home that arrived on the back of trucks in two pieces. With children watching it got slid into place on the foundation. We, being just kids, made the leap that obviously the two halves had to be stuck together somehow and Elmer’s Glue was the solution. The popular sticky white school supply and sometimes snack stuck as the idea and so did the name.
Keep in mind that this is in the 1970’s. In our small town a modular building was an experiment more than a solution and unheard of at the time. When finished being “glued” together the house appeared very modest, plain and simple in comparison to the others in the neighborhood. Also, despite being put together in an afternoon it sat empty for months gathering dust and rumors.
The unfortunate result was a perception in the developing minds of the neighborhood youth. We started believing our collective imagination that the modular units are held together with nothing more than the rendered bones of farm animals beyond their useful state and there was a lack quality.
John Locke addressed this as he pondered what made humanity tick or think. He adopted the “tabla rasa” (blank slate) philosophy of Aristotle. He said, “Let us then suppose the mind to be, as we say, white paper, void of all characters, without any ideas; How comes it to be furnished?” He would argue that is it furnished with experience and perception. That experience and perception becomes our reality and everything going forward is compared to that ever-filling slate throughout life.
I am sure that Locke is rolling over in his grave at my simplistic understanding and application, but you get the general picture. Our reality becomes what we experience not facts. So when that seemingly low-quality house was being placed in our neighborhood, a group of young people filled the paper of their minds with a negative perception of modular. This does not mean that modular or that modular home was low quality – far from it. It just means the perception is there and can persist.
The actual facts about modular construction have taken hammer and tongs at the perception for years. The result are serious inroads as modular becomes more popular, capturing a larger segment of the construction industry. It has been proven to be greener, faster, safer and more cost effective.
But, with the reality and facts comes dangers especially when a self, proclaimed modular manufacturer puts on the market an unsafe or low quality product. It confirms the unfair perception and gives the entire modular movement a black-eye hurting the modular building perception. The now filled blank slate will be reaffirmed and the chore of telling others about the benefits of the modular revolution will become more difficult not less.
We have seen this with modular elevators. Modular Elevator Manufacturing (MEM) is working hard to promote the modular concept and part of that hard work and promotion is to make sure that the elevators we provide are in fact high-quality. Also, it is just as important that what we say about the product matches up with reality. However, when rumors abound that with another company has low quality it makes our job tougher. This is especially true when that low quality leads to squabbles. The way we fight back at MEM is engineering in quality. Every elevator that leaves our factory gets a ten-point inspection check list. This verifies our quality before the hoistway with the pre-installed elevator is readied for shipping.
Quality is extremely important not just for MEM but for the modular market as a whole. If pioneers of the industry such as MEM continue to provide quality the future is bright. However, if also rans with low standards and low quality becomes what is sold even to just a handful of customers, it will indeed be a difficult slog forward.
We love the modular industry and know most of our readers do too. So to preserve the reputation of the industry consider MEM first and others that promote quality. Reject companies that have such a poor reputation. We produce quality and our track record proves it and we are proud of it! So, join the discussion and our elevator revolution. With quality we and others in the modular industry provide you will be glad you were a part of changing the construction and elevator industry for the better.
If quality and the modular build perception is important to you click the button below . You will see we are the solution you’ve been waiting for. We will provide a Fast Track number in a day. You will find that MEM elevators are always quality elevators taking you to a higher level.
When we say quality at Modular Elevator Manufacturing, it is not just empty words or a marketing ploy. We really mean it and we wished that everyone would take it as seriously as we do. Like you, we have heard the horror story from a project with a different company where, while the elevator was hovering over the building, an elevator jack literally fell out and plummeted into the pit. It could have killed someone.
The story is shocking and absolutely true. People were in danger. Beyond that when a company puts out a product so poorly built it not only potential can harm people on the job-site it can also harm the modular elevator industry and the modular industry as a whole. We all suffer the black-eye, when quality is not just suspect, but dangerous. But MEM is different and here’s how.
To start with MEM has just been at it longer. We didn’t just pop up out of no where with no construction or elevator experience. Our track record is clear with over 40 years experience in the building industry and a 20 year manufacturing track record of success and safety. We have never – never had anything like the scare of a 300 pound jack falling from the sky. Our installs go in smoothly because we have so much more experience in the elevator industry as a result we are not guessing, but we know how things should go.
MEM elevators are also engineered with safety in mind. Usually when you say safety and elevators you are talking about for the riding public and our elevators are very safe; we never put the general public at risk. But we have engineered our products so they are also safe to install as well. One of the many plusses of the modular industry is that it means safety on the job-site. The heavy lifting and working in cramped quarters is eliminated when the process is moved to the factory. There are plenty of cranes, lifts and working space on the factory floor. Plus there is no working at heights while the shaft is being built like in traditional construction. If poor engineering or lack of care causes components to fall out of a hoistway the benefit of modular goes away. That is why we care about safety and the manufacturing process.
With MEM we understand how important work site safety is and engineer that into each and every elevator we produce. It may take more effort, higher-grade materials and more care when building them, but MEM elevators are built for safety before, during, and after the set and start up.
Lastly, we check every product we manufacture with our one-of-a-kind 10 Point Inspection by a certified elevator technician. Before the elevator is loaded on the truck, we make sure of the following:
Each of the above is a part of a process that produces consistent quality. But, keep in mind that having a is great but, the most important aspect at MEM is that a certified elevator technician is doing the checking and not just any old employee. We have multiple employees that are qualified and capable of checking everything out. We simply cannot vouch for what others are doing, but rest assured we do our best to make sure the elevator you get is the highest quality.
Lastly, we want to assure everyone that despite poor quality from some, modular is the safest and best way to build. Whether you are considering the method for an entire building or wanting to retrofit an existing structure with a safe, fast installing modular elevator, reputable companies in the modular building industry are ready to build faster, greener and most importantly safer.
If you are curious about modular elevators and have a project in mind that you would like a quote for, click the button below. If you want to know more details about the accident that has caused such a stir, contact me at your convenience. I am always more than happy to explain why modular is the best solution and MEM is always quality elevators taking you to a higher level.