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Among lift construction SMEs – if we factor out “erosion as a result of acquisition by the Big 4” – there are many companies who despite tough times up until 2005 have succeeded in largely maintaining their workforce size. However, some were forced to make cuts in response to the crisis which resulted in redundancies for operational reasons. These job cuts affected primarily shop fl oor employees, frequently unskilled or temporary staff working in production. From today’s perspective, particularly among service installers, overtime and a full work roster are the order of the day. A relatively new and ever more prevalent trend is the growth of unsecured forms of employment. The use of contract workers in production and assembly and farming out the installation of new and modernization projects places regular secured employment under an ever greater threat. At the same time, working conditions among installers are becoming more extreme. New maintenance concepts and shrinking time allowances are resulting in enormous intensifi cation of work among service installers. Occupational safety Simply looking at the number of registered accidents which occur as a result of using lifts and escalators or working on these installations clearly shows the extreme importance which needs to be attached to the issue of occupational safety in the industry. This intrinsically high quality rating does not always translate into practice. Reports are prevalent of enormous problems and infringements against occupational safety among subcontractors used in both in the construction of new installations and in modernization projects. But also in general terms, occupational safety measures and ongoing persuasion are necessary among installers. On the subject of occupational safety, particular attention should be paid to the ever more widespread use of machine roomless lifts. Due to the absence of a machine room, and the now frequent occurrence of a foreshortened shaft overhead / pit, MRL installations involve a work impediment which is inherent in the design and which compromises the safety of personnel working in the service area . The risk of injury or accidents is far higher than is the case with old drive concepts. Hazards for service installers result from restricted access to components, and the foreshortened shaft overhead which can quickly result in crushing in the event of an emergency. MRL installations consequently require some improvement in a number of essential areas. If this necessity is not addressed purely for reasons of cost, the spread of new types of lift can easily result in an unexpected rise in the incidence of accident victims among employees working on the servicing or installation of lifts (cf. Lift-Report 4-2006, p. 4-8). Outlook The lift and escalator industry has been characterized over recent years by a marked dynamic in terms of employment, market and innovation trends, and this situation is set to continue in the future. The combination of pricing competition and growth strategies is set to encourage the existing process of concentration. Globalization strategies in terms of both production and procurement will continue to affect the development of the remaining production capacity. Strategies to enhance the technical and organizational capacity for innovation in terms of both products and processes are essential, particularly for lift construction SMEs, in LIFT-REPORT 33. Jahrg. (2007) Heft 6 37
order to withstand the growing competitive pressure. Standardization and modularization will also remain decisive topics, although these should not be pursued at the expense of individual solutions and fl exibility; the aim here must be to implement challenging and qualitatively superior concepts. A factor of particular signifi - cance is the on-going transformation in the service sector, where the pressure to implement change may be expected to affect the type of work to be performed, waiting times, work facilities and also the self-image of installers. In terms of employment, there is every reason to fear a further move away from the classic normal employment relationship, with unsecured employment concepts involving contract work and outsourcing shaping the nature of employment policy in the future. This development will entail employment risks in two different ways: Quantitatively speaking, the risks inherent in the employment situation in the industry will culminate in further job cuts in production, administration and servicing as a result of outsourcing, relocation abroad, streamlining and work intensifi cation. Further acquisitions by the main players entail the risk of further radical cuts to an already exorcised production workforce in the acquired companies. In qualitative terms, the result will be increased severity in terms of working conditions for employees, and further polarization into highly qualifi ed positions which will continue to be remunerated as before and simpler posts which will be classifi ed lower down the scale. The tendency in both production plants and in the service sector is already refl ecting this development. More widespread use of contract working arrangements will place permanently tenured workforces under even greater pressure. Appraisal of the current economic situation and the outlook for continued economic development by those questioned as part of the industry survey is fundamentally positive. One representative of the lift constructor SME sector reported a “superb order book situation” in 2006, describing his company’s struggle to adhere to delivery dates and keep up with prompt installation of new lifts. Alongside the gratifying order volume, the profit situation in the industry has also taken a turn for the better. The improved competitive situation means that moderate price increases for new installations are now once again on the cards. Although competition is still described as tough, prices are on the move again to a certain degree due to the current shift in the ratio of demand to supply. But (according to a questioned trade expert): “There will not be a return to the pricing levels we were able to command in the past. There are still a number of black sheep who try to undercut by 20 to 30 % below our tightly calculated contribution margin!” The moderate price rises have been fl anked by exorbitant increases in the cost of materials (by 100 % for some types of stainless steel). Whether or not the current high demand for lifts and the positive order book situation are likely to endure for the medium-term, or are just a fl ash in the pan in the wake of a building activity boom will depend largely on further developments in the building industry and also on the degree to which the industry is able to market the lift as a value-enhancing investment in the property market. Bibliography Bernard, Andreas (2006): Die Geschichte des Fahrstuhls. Über einen beweglichen Ort der Moderne. Frankfurt. Dispan, Jürgen (2007): Aufzüge und Fahrtreppen – Branche im Wandel. Untersuchung zur Situation und Entwicklung der Branche Aufzüge und Fahrtreppen. Branchenreport. Frankfurt, Eschborn (Download: www.imu-institut.de). Dresdner Bank (2007): Branchen-Report Hebezeuge und Fördermittel (WZ-Nr. 29.22). Frankfurt. Iwer, Frank (2000): Innovationstrends in der Aufzugsindustrie und Folgen für die Beschäftigungssituation. Projektabschlussbericht (IMU Institute, commissioned by IG Metall as part of the cooperation project RKW-DGB). Frankfurt. Mihm, Andrea (2005): Die Rolltreppe. Kulturwissenschaftliche Studien zu einem mechanisch erschlossenen Zwischenraum. Marburg. Schmitt, Johannes (1988): Entwicklung der Aufzugbranche von der Warenproduktion zum Dienstleistungsanbieter. Frankfurt. Thews, Udo (2004): Fachbegriffe der Aufzugstechnik. Part 1. Norderstedt. 38 LIFT-REPORT 33. Jahrg. (2007) Heft 6
Seite 1 und 2: Branchenreport Aufzüge und Fahrtre
Seite 3 und 4: Service ist ein starker Wachstumsbe
Seite 5 und 6: Service. Harter Preiswettbewerb und
Seite 7 und 8: Industry report Lifts and escalator
Seite 9 und 10: The competitive pressure to which t
Seite 11: now also applied in China, Australi

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