Lerch Bates Chairman, Adrian Godwin, will be presenting a paper entitled ‘Adsimulo – An expert system for the design of passenger lift services’.

With computing power ever cheaper the author of this paper has led a development team to produce an independent design application that ensures that the most space efficient “elevatoring” solutions are identified automatically for any proposed building. The application is a world’s first and is also capable of delivering visualisation of passengers using the lift services as well as generating a generic BIM output file for the building designer. The simulations run very fast and typically can handle 1500 hours of simulations in around two minutes. Such gains in productivity are vital to ensuring clients receive best advice promptly.

For further details on Elevcon 2012 visit http://www.elevcon.com/

To celebrate the festive season we gave readers of our newsletter the opportunity to win a magnum of Veuve Clicquot Champagne. All they had to do was spot the four differences between our Christmassy Professor Elbies. 

The correct entries were placed into a draw and we are delighted to announce the winner:

Philip Burrow – University of Exeter

Many congratulations Philip and the Champagne is winging its way to you!

Jason joined Lerch Bates in October 2011 as a Design Engineer/Document Controller in the New Development department. His work is concerned with all aspects of vertical transportation design, responsible for providing supporting design for major projects in London, Europe, UAE and Moscow.

Designed by Architect, Sir Robert Rowand Anderson, the gallery was first opened in 1889. Located on a hill overlooking Edinburgh, the building cut quite a swath with its grand, neo-gothic facades of red sandstone dwarfing the street below. But a hundred years on and the gallery’s fortunes have changed considerably. Things became so bad that by the mid-1990s the gallery was on the brink of closure.

Something had to be done…

In 2009 renovation work began with the aim of the project to restore and reveal much of Anderson’s work within the building and to show many more works of art than were previously on display. The development of the gallery as a first-class visitor experience was also paramount to National Galleries of Scotland as the original gallery was a gift to the Scottish people.

In the original building, movement around galleries was very restricted so the project architects, Page/Park, decided to transform circulation routes and improve access. This has been achieved with the design of a bespoke 48-person capacity hydraulically powered glass lift running through the core of the gallery. Lerch Bates has worked with Page/Park since the early design conception to bring a lift that is not only functional in terms of moving people and artifacts but, as it has three sides and the roof completely made from glass, also provides the perfect viewpoint as it moves slowly through the gallery.

In 2007, Jean-François decided to join Alternative Conseil to be responsible for modernisation projects and major clients such as Descartes and Sorbonne Universities, Domaxis, Arepa.

Bringing more than 15 years of technical expertise and portfolio management in the lift industry, Jean-François joined Lerch Bates’ Paris office in June 2011 as Senior Consultant.

Steven Travers has 11 years’ experience within the lift industry with NVQ4 Tester Accreditation. During this time he has worked on or been involved in a variety of roles within the business sector. He has developed a broad level of experience with regard to installation commissioning and testing to code compliance, project management and technical management.

In South Africa, Steven’s post apprenticeship career began in Variable Speed Control – Drives and Systems, for the Industrial Automation Industry. Starting in 1991 as an Electronic Technician involved with the manufacture, installation and commissioning of a range of speed controllers for a variety of applications Steven ended up managing the regional branch both operationally and technically, and was responsible for sales and distribution of variable speed drives and associated products throughout the Western Cape Region. In 2000 Steven emigrated to the UK.

On arrival in the UK Steven joined a local business,  Maszlik (Lift Engineers) Ltd and assisted with the testing and commissioning of lifts. In March 2001, Steven moved to D+A Lifts Ltd as a Test/Commission Engineer to organise and facilitate handover of all company product lines. In  October 2003 ThyssenKrupp Elevator UK took over D+A Lifts and Steven progressed to Installation Manager followed by Field Support Manager, Senior Project Manager, Operations Manager for the Pre-Engineered MRL Lifts and then Technical Manager (London and South).

Steven joined the modernisation team of Lerch Bates Ltd in June 2011 and, in thankful respect to ThyssenKrupp Elevator,  he claims to be the only consultant in the UK, TWIN trained and certified.

Expertise

Project Management, Lift Equipment Analysis/Specification

• Competent in undertaking detailed surveys of existing lift systems and producing modernisation performance based specification documents for existing buildings, and in tendering and evaluation of tenders 
• Competent to manage complex lift/escalator new installation or modernisation projects to achieve completion within budget and target time scales
• Competent to advise on strategies to manage project resources, critical paths, programme time scales and key milestones

Acceptance Inspection

• Competent in carrying out inspection and snagging of new and modernised VT equipment

Fault Finding

• Competent in diagnosing faults to component level

Construction Skills

• SMSTS – Construction Site Manager’s Safety Certificate
• Completed training on CDM 2007  – Health and Safety Training
• Completed training on RIDDOR 1995 – Health and Safety Training
• Electro-mechanical Fitter – South African Air Force 1989 – 1991

CSCS

• Lift Installer/Tester Accreditation expires Nov 2013 
• Lift Installer Industry Accreditation B

Codes and Standards

• Has good understanding of all standards, codes of practice and regulations
• Ability to undertake and prepare specific risk assessments
• Ability to produce method statement documents

Equipment

• ThyssenKrupp Elevator Systems – TCM, TWIN, DSC
• Kollmorgen, Thames Valley Controls
• Variable Speed Controllers and Drive Systems

Lee began his career in 1990 as a trainee design engineer for an independent design company, Adept Lift Technical Services, and after a few years took up a position in modernisation support with Jackson Lift Installations in London. In 1995 Lee joined Kone Elevators Ltd as a major projects sales engineer, based at the head office in Hounslow, and was involved in the engineering of projects from initial enquiry through to operational handover. He then moved internally into pre-engineered new lift sales, being one of only six sales guys in the UK to market and sell the first MonoSpace lifts. After a successful few years Lee moved into mid-range new lift sales selling and managing a range of specifically developed products targeting the mid-range market which was dominated by Otis at the time. Lee then took a year out of Kone and worked with an industry supplier to broaden his experience. This was followed by a return to Kone into his first management role where the full replacement business was conceived, a small regional sales team with the remit to sell complete replacement lifts from standard and non-standard product ranges. Following a very successful first year Lee then took on the role nationally, then modernisation sales nationally followed by the inheritance of the UK lifts modernisation sales team. Lee was also involved in carrying out due diligence on potential company acquisitions.

In 2008 Lee took up the position of Sales and Marketing Director for ThyssenKrupp Elevators UK, producing a new website, CRM development as well as the overall management of the UK sales team for all disciplines from service through to major projects and key accounts. From here Lee had a short spell with Schindler UK in major modernisation sales, focusing on large projects in London before starting up his own independent lift company.   
 
Lee joined Lerch Bates in July 2011 as a Project Director within the London modernisation department. He continues to expand his education, pursuing lift industry training as well as future training in new business areas. Lee is involved in all size modernisation projects for well-known Blue Chip clients including Jones Lang LaSalle and Great Portland Estates. Lee is also very active in Business Development with a vast list of clients and end user contacts.

Expertise

Lift Equipment Specification

• Competent in producing performance based specification documents for new as well as modernised lift equipment in both new and existing buildings, and in tendering and the evaluation of tenders producing detailed tender analysis
• Competent in the production of traffic analysis and relevant reports
• Competent in undertaking detailed site surveys and health and safety audits of existing lift systems and equipment

Acceptance Tests

• Competent in carrying out the inspection and snagging of new and modernised lift equipment

Risk Assessment

• Ability to undertake and prepare risk assessments

Method Statements

• Ability to produce method statements

Project Management

• Competent to manage complex lift/escalator modernisation projects to achieve completion within budget and target time scales

Surveying

• Competent to undertake lift/escalator equipment surveys and produce detailed analysis and reports

Codes and Standards

• Has good understanding of all standards, codes, practice and regulations
• Ability to undertake and prepare specific risk assessments

Equipment

• Kone
• Schindler
• ThyssenKrupp
• Generic Third Party Suppliers

Our half day seminar is packed with valuable information and insight as to how you can meet your obligations as property and facilities managers.

There will be a strong focus on reducing operational costs and maximising efficiencies and this will include cost-effective maintenance contracts, reducing energy consumed by lifts, specifying the right type of equipment and 10 good reasons to modernise.

Topics covered include:

The speakers will be senior consultants from Lerch Bates who have an in-depth knowledge of industry practical solutions and many years experience. Facilities managers, building owners and property managers within both the private and public sector are invited to attend.

2012 seminar dates & locations:

Belfast – 29 February
Sheffield – 25 April
Bristol – 16 May
Birmingham – 23 May
Glasgow - 29 May
London – 20 June

Please contact Libby Crew with any enquiries you may have concerning the event.

He began his career in the industry in various positions including field roles and repair estimating and order processing, rapidly rising to the position of sales engineer.  Geoff specialised, whilst in Sales Engineering, in traffic analyses and the gathering of on-site data through the use of in-house data logging equipment.

In the seventies Geoff continued his education part time, firstly at Woolwich College and finally at Greenwich University studying Engineering Systems to degree level. In the early eighties he furthered his career moving into a Marketing role helping to develop new products to meet the rapidly changing demands of the lift and escalator market.

In 1988 he was appointed Sales Manager of the Service Sales team in the West End of London and quickly developed an extensive knowledge of all market sectors in general and of the retail and hotel sectors in particular. The success in London enabled Geoff to progress on to Key Account Management in 1992 where he developed and maintained strong relationships with some of the most prestigious UK customers, many of whom were national retailers. 

In addition to his account management experience he has been involved in project management of major modernisation projects in the UK. Further career development with continued demonstration of leadership skills led to an expansion of this role with the whole Key Accounts team.  He was appointed Manager of Key Accounts and Business Development in the Service Operation for the UK early in 2008, becoming a senior manager in Otis Limited.  Geoff joined Lerch Bates as a Director in May 2011 with the Business Development brief.

Expertise

Lift Equipment Specification

• Competent in producing specification documents for new lift equipment in both new and existing buildings, tendering and tender evaluation
• Competent in undertaking surveys of existing lift systems and producing modernisation specification documents for existing buildings, tendering and tender evaluation

Project Management

• Competent to manage complex lift/escalator modernisation projects to achieve completion within budget and target time scales

Maintenance Contracts

• Competent in producing performance based maintenance contract documents and tendering
• Extensive experience in maintenance contracts and large portfolios
• Experienced in designing and producing various types of maintenance contracts

Surveying

• Competent to undertake lift/escalator equipment surveys and produce reports

Risk Assessment

• Ability to undertake and prepare risk assessments

Codes and Standards

• Has general understanding of all standards, codes and practice and regulations
• Ability to undertake and prepare risk assessments

Equipment

• Otis Group Companies
• Evans
• Express

Nadine joined Lerch Bates in 2011 as a Senior Consultant in Paris and brings 16 years of experience in vertical transportation, both in technical, managerial and monitoring business.