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TK Elevator GmbH E-Plus-Strasse 1 40472 Düsseldorf, Germany http://www.tkelevator.com/
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TK Elevator GmbH

ThyssenKrupp and Brussels South Charleroi Airport establish a first for Belgium in easing airport access for passengers

(PresseBox) (Essen, )
A permanent stair lift was installed on the mobile aircraft stairs which provide passengers access to the plane, allowing people with limited mobility to easily board and disembark the aircraft. Brussels South Charleroi Airport has installed 12 stair lifts and is planning to increase this number in the following months.    

Every year, Brussels South Charleroi Airport welcomes about 6.5 million passengers and this number is rising every year. Unlike other airports, Charleroi does not have passenger boarding bridges that connect the airplane to the terminal. Instead, mobile stairs are used, which are driven to the airplane. However, for people with limited mobility – such as elderly people, pregnant women, and those in wheelchairs or in plaster casts - it is not so easy to get in and out of the aircraft. In line with the philosophy of the airport – to be fast and efficient – they opted for permanent stair lifts on the mobile stairs. “We are certainly not the biggest airport in Belgium, but we want to be the best in terms of client service. We aim to be fast and efficient and all these elements should also be valid for people with limited mobility. Hence, the decision to install permanent stair lifts on our mobile stairs, and today we are the only ones in Belgium offering this service,” explains Vincent Grassa, spokesman for the airport.

Result of common efforts

Although the airport believes it has a social responsibility to ensure that people with limited mobility also enjoy a carefree and pleasant travel experience, the airport did not take rash decisions. All aspects were discussed in detail and thoroughly tested before the final decision was taken. After a first encounter with the stair lift in the ThyssenKrupp showroom, a demo stair lift was installed on a mobile staircase at the airport for two months in order to test the efficiency and user-friendliness in all weather conditions. The test was positive, and the airport then decided to purchase 12 Levant Outdoor stair lifts.

The installation is the result of a constructive collaboration between the engineers of ThyssenKrupp and the airport. The Levant Outdoor is usually mounted on a fixed staircase, but at the airport it had to be fixed to a mobile vehicle. As a consequence, a number of technical challenges arose: where would the stair lift get its electrical power from, since it is usually powered by loading points and electricity? And given its mobile application, the stair lift could not be mounted from the ground – as usual – but only from the first (high) step. The question was how to bridge that first step for people with limited mobility? To power the stair lift, ThyssenKrupp found a solution in the battery of the car that moves the stairs. In close collaboration with ThyssenKrupp, Brussels South Charleroi Airport also developed a foldable mechanical step, allowing the user to safely step off the mobile stairs at a relatively limited height. The stair lift and the mechanical step can easily be folded up after use.

Stephan Hillaert, CEO of ThyssenKrupp Encasa is delighted about the collaboration: “Developing innovative solutions for people with limited mobility is our core business and yet, every installation is unique, as not one staircase where our stair lifts are mounted is the same. At the airport we had to face some extra technical challenges, but I am pleased and proud that our engineers, together with those of the airport, have been able to come up with innovative solutions.”

The mobility solutions of Encasa make ThyssenKrupp a market leader in chairlifts, platform lifts and Home Elevators. ThyssenKrupp conceptualizes, designs and installs individual customer solutions. ThyssenKrupp will be present at the inter airport, the world’s premier airport exhibition in Munich, Germany, from October 6 to 9 at Hall B5, Stand 1070.

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TK Elevator GmbH

ThyssenKrupp Elevator brings together the Group's global activities in passenger transportation systems. With sales of 6.4 billion euros in fiscal 2013/2014 and customers in 150 countries, ThyssenKrupp Elevator reached to short group the world's leading elevator companies from scratch in a mere 40 years' time applying ThyssenKrupp unique engineering capabilities. With more than 50,000 highly skilled employees, the company offers smart products and services designed to meet customers' individual requirements. Its innovative solutions aim to contribute to the development of smarter cities. The portfolio includes passenger and freight elevators, escalators and moving walks, passenger boarding bridges for airports, stair and platform lifts as well as tailored service solutions. Its 900 locations around the world provide an extensive sales and service network to guarantee closeness to customers.

ThyssenKrupp is a diversified industrial group with traditional strengths in materials and a growing share of capital goods and services businesses. Over 155,000 employees in nearly 80 countries work with passion and technological expertise to develop high-quality products and intelligent industrial processes and services for sustainable progress. Their skills and commitment are the basis of our success. In fiscal year 2013/2014 ThyssenKrupp generated sales of around €41 billion.

Together with our customers we develop competitive solutions for the challenges of the future in the areas Mechanical, Plant and Materials. With our engineering expertise we enable our customers to gain an edge in the global market and manufacture innovative products in a cost- and resource-friendly way. For us, technical progress and innovations, allied with the combined strength of the Group, are key factors enabling us to meet current and future customer and market requirements around the world, grow on the markets of the future, and generate strong and stable earnings, cash flows and value growth.

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The publisher indicated in each case (see company info by clicking on image/title or company info in the right-hand column) is solely responsible for the stories above, the event or job offer shown and for the image and audio material displayed. As a rule, the publisher is also the author of the texts and the attached image, audio and information material. The use of information published here is generally free of charge for personal information and editorial processing. Please clarify any copyright issues with the stated publisher before further use. In case of publication, please send a specimen copy to service@pressebox.de.