There’s been a lot in the media recently about 5G and its future impact on the Internet of Things (IoT). The additional connectivity that this will bring is likely to be revolutionary and is described as the fourth industrial revolution, also called Industry 4.0 or I4.

The question may be, “How does this affect me, or the lift industry that I work in”? Well, the first two things that come to mind are safety and reliability. If a lift is being properly maintained, then it would, of course, be safe and reliable.

But, is it?

• Do we know all about that lift that we should?
• Is everything assiduously logged onto the log card?
• How many lift service companies have serviced this lift over the last 10 years?
• Have the service schedules been rigorously carried out?
• How many replacement parts have been fitted?
• Where were the replacement parts sourced?

Have you ever asked the question, “Why can’t lifts be as reliable as the modern-day motor car?” At the last Lift Symposium in September 2018, David Cooper was asking what the acceptable number of annual breakdowns for a lift is; the answer, after much debate with the audience in the case debated, was about four. Obviously, we all have differing views on this. Mitsubishi stated four as the average number. But I ask…Would you accept this if it was your own personal vehicle?

So, what is the IoT and Industry 4.0, and how does it work? Most importantly, can it help to improve the safety and reliability of lifts? Also, of importance is the question of how this can work commercially for all the lift industry.

[real3dflipbook id=’2′]