February 21, 2003—Otis Elevator Company on February 10 unveiled its NextStep escalator, the culmination of nearly three years of intense, multinational engineering activity with the challenge of creating “the safest escalator in the world while making it affordable and environmentally friendly for our customers.” NextStep escalator employs an innovative Guarded step design and several other new features that the company says mark a comprehensive advance in escalator technology and safety.
According to Otis, the NextStep escalator’s design enhances safety in the following ways:
- The NextStep escalator’s Guarded step design effectively eliminates the hazard associated with the gap between the step and skirt panel found on conventional escalators. The Guarded step integrates the step and the side skirt into a single module moving in unison, significantly reducing the possibility of entrapment (e.g., shoelaces, articles of clothing, or other objects).
- The number of NextStep escalator’s riser cleats is doubled, resulting in a 50 percent reduction in the space between cleats. In addition, the NextStep escalator’s comb plates sit nine percent deeper into the step mesh. These improvements reduce the possibility of anything being caught between the cleats or under the comb plate.
- The NextStep escalator’s step edges are rounded, reducing the risk of scrapes and cuts in the event of a passenger falling.
- Two flat steps at the entry and exit points, along with the NextStep escalator’s standard under-step lighting, assist riders with the transition between the moving escalator steps and the landing.
By incorporating flat belt technology used in Otis’ Gen2 elevator system, the NextStep escalator truss dimensions are reduced by 15 percent over traditional escalators, allowing the escalator to fit comfortably into an existing escalator space.
The NextStep escalator also uses a new type of drive train to move the steps. In lieu of the traditional sprocket-driven step chain, which requires extensive lubrication and maintenance, the NextStep escalator employs aluminum step links driven by the cog belt. These step links use sealed, self-lubricating bearings, making the NextStep escalator cleaner and environmentally friendly.
The first NextStep units are expected to be ready for installation at customer sites in June 2003. For more information visit Otis.
