CEO Andreas Schierenbeck with the MULTI elevator system ? thyssenkrupp Elevators

Respected global news source TIME Magazine today named the MULTI elevator system by thyssenkrupp Elevator as one of its "25 Best Inventions of 2017". The annual list spotlights the year's inventions judged to offer the most potential to make the world better, smarter, and/or more enjoyable. 

Unveiled in June, MULTI is the first elevator ever to be able to move both horizontally and vertically, due to its revolutionary rope-less technology. The new invention offers dramatically expanded design and construction possibilities for architects, builders and urban planners.

TIME's release of its "25 Best Inventions" list is a widely anticipated annual event. The list includes the most innovative, interesting, and promising inventions of the year. The range of these extends from space stations to children's toys, and has in the past included such breakthrough products as solar roofing panels, a desktop DNA lab, a Virtual Reality (VR) headset, multi-directional tires, a consumer-grade drone, an artificial pancreas, and a vitamin-rich orange-fleshed sweet potato.

MULTI was chosen to be one of the "25 best Inventions of 2017" because of its unique cable-free technology and what it means for buildings. MULTI requires fewer and smaller shafts than conventional elevators and can increase a building's usable area by up to 25%, representing extra revenues from the additional rentable/leasable space. This is particularly important considering that current elevator-escalator footprints can occupy up to 40% of a high-rise building's floor space.

Commenting on this distinguished recognition, thyssenkrupp Elevator CEO Andreas Schierenbeck says: "We believe MULTI is a genuine game-changer that will truly transform the way people move, work and live in our built environment. It will reduce waiting times for passengers and offer building developers more free floor space for additional revenues. MULTI is a key offering that truly represents a landmark revolution in the elevator industry."

Instead of one cabin per shaft moving up and down, MULTI offers multiple cabins operating in loop, much like a metro system inside a building. This results in a higher transport capacity – up to 50% – as well as reduced waiting times for passengers.

MULTI also requires dramatically lower peak power – reducing that by as much as 60% when compared to conventional elevator systems. This allows for better management of a building’s energy needs, and reduces investment costs in the power supply infrastructure.

MULTI made its global debut as a fully functional unit on 22 June 2017 at the new, purpose-built 246-meter innovation test tower in Rottweil, Germany, home of the thyssenkrupp Elevator Research & Development Center.

With 12 test shafts and travel speeds of up to 18 meters per second, the tower offers unprecedented possibilities to meet the challenges ahead for the buildings and cities of the future. Moving beyond Rottweil, MULTI will make its first commercial home in Berlin, at the East Side Tower: OVG Real Estate’s new flagship project.

The inclusion of MULTI as one of TIME's "25 Best Inventions of 2017" is another indication of thyssenkrupp's current leadership in creatively transforming the elevator industry and offering new possibilities and solutions for buildings and city planning. 

As cities continue to grow – and as buildings get larger and taller – planners and architects face significant challenges in moving people quickly and comfortably to their destinations. thyssenkrupp Elevator is proud that MULTI is one of the "25 Best Inventions of 2017". We accept it as further evidence that we are on the right track in our efforts to make cities the best places to live.

Source: thyssenkrupp