Our Escalators Range

An Escalator is a moving staircase that moves people between different floors of a building. They are powered by motors. The steps run on tracks. There is a handrail that moves with the escalator, that you hold onto when riding the escalator. There is also an emergency stop button, which stops the escalator, and a key switch, that restarts the escalator, in the up or down direction.

In 1900, the first commercially-sold escalator, and first step-type escalator was installed by OTIS at the Paris 1900 Exposition Universelle, in Paris, France. The escalator won first prize.

The step type escalator is the common type of escalator today. The steps are usually metal, but very old step type escalators had wooden steps. Step type escalators can also go up/down, flat, and then up/down again. On OTIS Next Step escalators, the escalator steps are mounted on most likely hinged circles, and the track appears to be besides the steps, visible from above the steps. This type of escalator is designed to be safer than other step type escalators.

Today you will find Escalators being used around the world to move pedestrian traffic in places where elevators would be impractical. Key areas of usage include department stores, shopping malls, airports, transit systems, convention centers, hotels, arenas, stadiums, train stations (subways) and public buildings.

Factors like physical requirements, location, traffic patterns, safety considerations, and aesthetic preferences will affect Escalator design. Mainly physical factors like the vertical and horizontal distance to be spanned must be considered. These factors will determine the length and pitch of the escalator. The infrastructure of the building must be able to support the heavy components. The escalator should be positioned where it can be easily seen by the general public. In department stores, customers should be able to view the merchandise easily while moving on the escalator. Furthermore, up and down escalator traffic should be physically separated and should not lead into cramped spaces.