Elevator Modernization: How to Get Started

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Our goal is to help you save energy and money while improving reliability with our energy regenerative controls for new installations and elevator modernization projects. Magnetek-brand Elevator Drives will help transform your building into a facility that measures up to modern buildings in functionality, comfort, and energy savings.

Contact our elevator team to get started on your modernization project today

What is Elevator Modernization?

Elevator modernization is a cost-effective project, retrofitting existing elevator motor control equipment with the latest drive technology.

The practical life of an elevator system is around 20 years and, rather than a full replacement project, advancements in elevator motor control allow you to modernize your system, which delivers several benefits including:

  • Energy savings
  • Reduced operating expenses
  • Optimized ride performance
  • Potential to qualify for energy efficiency utility credits
  • Increase the useful lives of elevators

Elevator Modernization with Magnetek

Learn about Magnetek's elevator modernization solutions, how to get started, and why it will benefit your building, including cost and energy savings. Watch the video and download the brochure for a detailed look at the elevator modernization process.

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New Life For DC Elevators

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Existing DC-powered elevator systems, which likely have been functioning between 30 and 70 years, can provide decades of additional service if properly maintained. Rather than costly, resource-intensive AC motor replacements, retaining DC motors and machines combined with Magnetek’s digital Quattro® DC or DSD® Elevator Drives is an investment for the future.

When you utilize Magnetek-brand regenerative drives, you allow gravity and our high-efficiency drives to help recover and reuse electrical power that would normally be lost during elevator operation.

Elevators consume energy to move a loaded elevator car but then generate energy in the opposite direction as the car stops. Rather than simply losing this energy as heat through resistors, technology incorporated into Magnetek drives captures this energy and returns it to the building power grid for use in other key facility processes such as lighting, heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC), and additional electrical systems.

As energy regeneration occurs, your building’s total power consumption slows and savings per elevator cycle increase. In this way, our regenerative drives provide the potential for energy and cost savings every time an elevator runs.

Download our Quattro DC Drive Installation Guide to start planning a successful project

Elevator Modernization Case Studies

The 17-story CityCenter 735 building, located in the heart of downtown Milwaukee, was built in 1913 along the Milwaukee River. Despite being well maintained, the structure’s aging elevator system had remained relatively unaltered. Learn how utilizing Quattro DC elevator drives in the building's elevator system allowed for the highest levels of functionality, safety, and comfort.

735 Water Street DC Elevator Modernization Case Study

Installed in 1997, the original control system suffered various failures and was eventually decommissioned due to high costs for spare parts. Concept Elevators sought to replace the poorly functioning control system and chose to utilize Magnetek’s HPV 900AF drive as a more cost-effective, quality alternative.

Learn More About the Priestly Wharf Project

The DC hoist motors for elevator operation were original to the building's 1929 construction, and the elevators themselves had not been updated for 30 years. The modernization included replacement of elevator platforms, buffers, door equipment, gearless machines, car controllers, and other mechanical components for improved operation.

Read The Full 285 Madison Avenue Case Study
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  • 40+ Years Elevator Innovation Experience
  • 100,000+ Magnetek Elevator Drives Installed
  • 6 Across 6 Continents

Elevator Modernization & Regeneration Technology

Existing DC Motors

In addition to employing sustainable regenerative energy, modernizing ev-3.pngexisting DC elevator systems with Magnetek drives instead of replacing an entire system, eliminates expensive equipment removal and costs associated with producing, shipping, and installing a new system, and you improve ride performance and control. Installation of Magnetek regenerative drives may also qualify you for LEED or BREEAM® credits and ENERGY STAR points.

Combining a DC motor with one of our Quattro® DC Elevator Drives provides:EV-4.png

  • Within 3% of the same power savings as an AC drive with regeneration capabilities
  • Reduced peak and average power demand and clean harmonics
  • Near unity power factor so there is no need to replace costly power wiring or breakers


Existing AC Motors

Complement your PM AC gearless system with Magnetek Quattro® AC technology. Regenerative energy can also be harnessed in an AC gearless traction modernization. If you choose to modernize a permanent magnet AC gearless elevator, Magnetek Quattro AC Elevator Drives can be utilized to achieve the same energy savings, low harmonics, and unity power factor benefits. Magnetek’s RegenAC™ technology can be added to most existing non-regenerative AC machines to maximize energy savings.

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