MULTI
The world's first rope-free, sideways moving elevator

MULTI, our groundbreaking rope-free elevator system,
is set to revolutionize tall building construction.

Introducing the elevator industry’s holy grail and the end of the 160-year reign of the rope-dependent elevator.
MULTI harnesses the power of linear motor technology to move multiple cars in a single shaft both vertically and horizontally!

Shorter waiting times

Significantly increased capacity

Much smaller footprint

Substantially reduced weight and mass

An urban evolution

Rapid urban growth is here to stay.

70%
of global population living
in cities by end of century

Half the world’s population already lives in cities. This number will jump to 70% by the end of the century. In fact every day, builders put up the equivalent of a one-million person city.

Optimizing vertical development and preserving greenbelts for nature and recreation are priorities in today’s smart cities. Mid- to high-rise buildings offer the most economical and environmentally viable solution to numerous urban challenges.

Taller buildings provide more living and working space without increasing their footprint on the ground. They also allow planners to achieve a smart grid by enabling the centralized intelligent control of energy.

16.6
years waiting
for elevators

Worldwide, more than 12 million elevators make seven billion trips and move over one billion people every day.

A study by Columbia University students found that in New York City office workers spent a cumulative 16.6 years waiting for elevators, highlighting the importance of increasing the availability and efficiency of elevators.

The rise in high rises

Cities need to expand without sacrificing open spaces and parks. That’s why the number of tall buildings along with their height is on the rise.

With conventional elevators, the taller the building, the more shafts you need and the more space you waste. Standard elevators also limit skyscrapers’ functionality, design and shape. That’s why innovative solutions for moving people efficiently in these ever-higher buildings are a must.

The number of buildings over 200 meters has tripled since 2000. More than 180 buildings over 250 meters are currently under construction.

A 2013 paper on two-dimensional elevator traffic systems likens the use of one cabin per elevator shaft to using an entire railway line to connect two cities with a single train.

MULTI
A technological revolution

At thyssenkrupp, we’re driving the revolution in elevator technologies and services. We’ve re-imagined the elevator, 160 years after its invention, by replacing its ropes with linear motors. In the process, we’ve opened the door to new possibilities – in all directions!

MULTI combines rope-less linear motors and horizontal mobility with the many advances of our TWIN elevators. This makes MULTI a valuable shuttle for optimizing traffic. A double-entrance lobby further increases MULTI’s flexibility and handling capacity.

Leveraging linear motor technology

MULTI’s innovative exchange system allows the linear drive and guiding equipment to make 90° turns. How? By leveraging the linear motor technology developed for the magnetic levitation Transrapid train.

With MULTI, multiple cabins travel safely up one shaft and down another in a single continuous loop, much like a circular train system on a vertical plane. The only visible difference to passengers – and it’s a welcome one – is that the doors open every 15 to 30 seconds, despite having fewer shafts compared to standard elevator systems.

First customer
reference

The very first MULTI will be installed at OVG Real Estate’s new East Side Tower in Berlin. The building – adjacent to the Mercedes-Benz Arena and neighbor to Warschauer Strasse – is set to become a new landmark on the Berlin skyline. OVG is already known for cutting-edge projects like The Edge in Amsterdam, renowned worldwide for earning the ‘world’s most sustainable office building’ title. Coen van Oostrom, CEO OVG Real Estate says: “We are absolutely delighted to partner with thyssenkrupp and to have the very first MULTI installed in our latest project. The forward-thinking, new technology that MULTI brings to our flagship project is a perfect fit for us.”

MULTI for metros
Latest technology set to transform metro stations
New technology set to increase capacity and ease commuting stress

With population growth and urbanization driving more people to cities than ever before, metro stations – which are the beating heart of city life, transporting people from home to work and other daily destinations – are facing unprecedented challenges to mobility and efficiency.

MULTI is one of the key solutions; the world’s first horizontal/vertical elevator that can literally open up new directions of travel in underground transport hubs.

MULTI's
many benefits

Significantly reduced waiting times

In one year alone, New York City office workers spent a total of 16.6 years waiting for elevators, compared to only 5.9 years spent travelling in them. The best way to save people’s valuable time is to find solutions that cut waiting times rather than only speed up elevators. With MULTI’s multiple cabins in a single shaft, passengers never wait more than 15 to 30 seconds for a lift.

Smaller footprint, much greater capacity

With one cabin per shaft, traditional elevators take up more and more space as buildings increase in height. MULTI consolidates multiple carriages into fewer shafts. It reduces the elevators’ footprint by up to 50% while increasing passenger throughput by at least as much. MULTI may also help reduce the building’s overall size, external surface area and total energy consumption.

Substantially reduced weight and mass

We’ve integrated advances in lightweight design, including new lightweight carbon composites, to reduce MULTI’s cabin and door weight by up to 50%. Eliminating the ropes and counterweights of conventional elevators also decreases the mass of the elevator system.

No more building height and shape design constraints

With MULTI’s rope-free system, architects and developers are no longer restricted in their designs by concerns about elevator shaft height and vertical alignment. MULTI opens the door to design possibilities in all directions.

Focus on safety

Elevators are already the safest transport system and MULTI is no exception. The cabins’ multi-propulsion and braking system, along with the well-proven safety control system of our TWIN elevator, ensures passenger safety.

Already a legend

After the 160-year reign of rope-dependent elevators, MULTI ushers a new era, which has already been recognized and awarded internationally: MULTI was named one of the 25 best innovations of 2017 by TIME magazine; it has won the German Design Award 2018 and is a finalist of the US American Tall Innovation Award 2018.

Testing MULTI at our new test tower

In addition to being a hub of elevator technology innovation, the ThyssenKrupp Test Tower will also offer Germany's highest public viewing platform at 232 meters.

In addition to being a hub of elevator technology innovation, the thyssenkrupp test tower
offers Germany's highest public viewing platform at 232 meters.

Our one-of-a-kind test research center provides the perfect environment for testing and certifying innovations in elevator technology such as our rope-less MULTI system.

Located in Rottweil, Germany, the 246-meter tower helps reduce the time required to develop skyscrapers worldwide dramatically. With 9 test shafts and travel speeds of up to 18 meters per second, the tower will help us meet current and future urban challenges. Three shafts will be dedicated to testing and certifying our cable-less MULTI elevator system.

Find out more about our new test tower.

MULTI
The world's first rope-free, sideways moving elevator

MULTI, our groundbreaking rope-free elevator system,
is set to revolutionize tall building construction.

Download brochure

An urban evolution