New High Speed Elevators twice as fast as Usain Bolt running the 100 meters

The Shanghai Tower is a 632-meter (2,073 ft), 127-story megatall skyscraper in Lujiazui, Pudong, Shanghai. As of 2016, it is the world’s second-tallest building by height to architectural top (behind Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, 828 m), the world’s tallest building by height to highest usable floor (Level 127, 587.4 m), and the world’s third-tallest structure (behind Tokyo Skytree, 634 m). It also has the world’s highest observation deck within a building or structure (Level 121, 561.25 m), and the world’s fastest elevators at a top speed of 20.5 m/s (74 kph)

Mitsubishi Electric supplied all of the tower’s 149 elevators (108 of which are lifts), including three high-speed models. As of 10 May 2016, a Mitsubishi press release noted that one of the three shuttle elevators had been installed to travel 1230 m per minute – the equivalent of 73.8 km per hour, the highest speed ever attained by a passenger elevator installed in a functioning building. The building also broke the record for the world’s furthest-travelling single elevator, at 578.5 metres (1,898 ft), surpassing the record held by the Burj Khalifa.

Hitachi has announced plans to deliver the world’s fastest ultra-high-speed elevator for a new skyscraper in China set to open in 2016. The smart mobility device will be installed in the currently under construction CTF building in Guangzhou, southern China which has 111 floors above the ground containing apartments, hotel space and offices.

The company will deliver a total of 95 elevators, including 28 double-decker cars, 13 high-speed and 52 low and medium-speed versions, to the 530-meter-tall building CTF Finance Center. With a speed of 45 miles per hour, they will be the fastest elevators in the world. The new project includes two record breaking elevators that can zip from the first floor to the 95th in just 43 seconds.

This record-breaking speed is achieved by means of a thin-profile, permanent magnet synchronous motor and a compact traction machine. Lifting the system higher is easier with a lighter, thinner cable, reducing the size of the equipment and lightening its weight, which makes it easier to lift.

Hitachi’s ambitious project uses technologies to create record-breaking speeds while still meeting the essential standards of safety and comfort. The two express elevators will feature technologies that prevent lateral vibrations and noises due to the drastic air pressure changes. High heat-resistant materials will enable operation of emergency brake systems at temperatures over 300 degrees Celsius. A speed governor will regulate the speed and rollers will make the rides more comfortable.