Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. HOMEPAGE

This real-life Willy Wonka elevator will zip up, down, and sideways

innovative elevator system MULTI (c) ThyssenKrupp2
ThyssenKrupp's MULTI elevator. ThyssenKrupp

Elevators have looked relatively similar for the past 160 years: one cabin in one shaft that travels up and down.

Advertisement

Now ThyssenKrupp has developed the world's first elevator that travels up, down, and sideways — all without cables. It's like a real-life Willy Wonka elevator.

As more people move to cities, we'll need better elevators, ThyssenKrupps CEO Andreas Schierenbeck tells Tech Insider.

"It's an obvious waste of building space, to use such high shafts for only one cabin," Schierenbeck says. "It's like operating one train between two cities on one track, instead of multiple trains on flexible tracks."

Earlier this month, the German company unveiled the first test model at its Innovation Center in Gijón, Spain. It features four elevators in two 10-meter shafts. Schierenbeck says the final model, set to be completed by December 2016, will be three times as large.

Advertisement

Called the MULTI, the elevators propel themselves by maglev, or magnets that levitate and move by repulsion. Instead of cables, each elevator will have one motor that kickstarts the maglev — the same technology behind SkyTran's flying monorail design.

The MULTI will feature a complex system of shafts with multiple elevators that move vertically and horizontally. The elevators will rotate in a loop motion and travel at just 11 mph, Schierenbeck says. 

Screen Shot 2015 11 24 at 12.47.56 PM
ThyssenKrupp

For comparison, the elevator in New York City's Empire State Building travels at around 22 mph. The CTF Financial Centre skyscraper in Guangzhou, China—due to be completed in 2016—will have the fastest elevator in the world at around 45 mph.

While the MULTI is slow, users won't have to wait more than 30 seconds for an elevator to arrive, Schierenbeck says. 

Advertisement

The MULTI elevator shafts are 25% smaller than normal elevators, which creates more room for a building's floor space to be used for other things, like offices and apartments. Since multiple elevators can loop simultaneously in the same shaft system, the MULTI can transport 50% more people in the same time as an average elevator.

Beyond skyscrapers, the elevator system could be helpful in other busy places, like large malls and airports. Space limitations in already-crowded cities means there's nowhere to go but up.

Advertisement
Close icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. It indicates a way to close an interaction, or dismiss a notification.

Jump to

  1. Main content
  2. Search
  3. Account