Singapore is a showroom for how Schindler is using innovative technologies at every stage of the escalator and elevator lifecycle.
There are not many developed countries around the world that have buildings taller than their highest natural points, but Singapore is one of them. Sitting at the tip of the Malay Peninsula, very close to the equator, the island nation is known for being hot, humid, and highly urbanized.
Singapore is a model for urban planning and has often been referred to as the "best-planned city" in the world. But as an island there is a finite amount of land which can be built on, so building new projects takes ingenuity and imagination. As a result, buildings are either getting taller or deeper, making vertical mobility increasingly important. Singapore is a stage for innovation.
"People always want the latest technology. Who wants last year’s smartphone?" Asks Anthony Lim Sales Director at Schindler. "That’s why in the elevator and escalator (E&E) business we always have to think five years into the future. Installations don’t happen overnight, but adaptability is built into the way we work so that we can always provide clients with state-of-the-art tech."
Former Managing Director of Schindler Singapore, Qiu Hai, who is now the President of the Escalator Division in China, described Singapore as "a nation of innovation. It’s truly an engineer’s dream. The government is a big supporter of software technology, but also knows that to build an innovation hub takes strong infrastructure. Singapore is a reference point to the world in terms of technology."
The city is also a showroom of our latest technologies that can be seen at every stage of the E&E lifecycle. Whether it is understanding how people will move through a building before it is even built using our in-depth traffic analysis, pioneering new ways of installation or our commitment to energy efficient products, examples can be found all over the city.
Our CleanMobility solutions help to address today’s challenges in a changing world, and our transit management system plays a key role in shaping the sustainability of buildings across the city. All of this is supported with responsive and personalized maintenance, based on real-time data, which adds reliability and transparency to our operations while providing excellent passenger experience.
But there is also a human element to technology. Singapore’s assorted background of cultures means the country not only has a fantastic array of culinary delights but also diverse and dedicated workforce. Michael Li, who took over as Managing Director in 2022, is a big believer in this. "Our key strength is our culture and our people. Our reputation in Singapore wasn’t built by luck, it’s the result of decades of reliability and collaboration with local developers," he explains. "Our aim is to provide value and innovation throughout the entire lifecycle of elevators and escalations. And at the heart of everything we do is sustainability."