Customer application
Installation and Service Are Simpler

The times of clearly delineated machine rooms at the head of shaft systems are coming to an end in residential and commercial buildings. The structural volume allocated for modern elevators is being increasingly reduced. Spatial efficiency is everything. The technology has moved from the machine housings to the shafts, namely to those areas where there is still free space. Janzhoff Aufzüge, specialists in elevators and escalators, use the TOPJOB® S Rail-Mount Terminal Block System from WAGO for handling the dramatically increased level of data strings involved. By using the associated marking system, they have achieved additional efficiencies during installation and servicing.

Renovation instead of vacancy: In the Rüttenscheid district of Essen, a former Hertie department store has yielded to a Neoclassical ensemble of buildings. The construction project, “RÜ62”, which recalls the bourgeois architectural traditions of Rüttenscheid, will, upon completion of construction at the end of 2012, blend harmoniously into the cityscape, and bring with it new retail trade. For Klaus-Peter Kapp, this is the type of project that allows Janzhoff Aufzüge GmbH to demonstrate exactly how capable they are. “We are especially good at constructing high-quality elevator systems that deviate from the large-scale industry standards,” states the CEO of the Dortmund company. “RÜ62” is an example of this. Janzhoff was engaged in a number of projects in relation to the “Ruhr 2010”, European Capital of Culture.

The functional and architectural conceptions of buildings and spaces have also been subject to considerations of increasing spatial efficiency, which makes building technology that can be more flexibly integrated more necessary than ever. Instead of constructing buildings around defined shafts, elevator systems are increasingly being integrated into the context of existing plans. “We are undergoing a change in our technologies, and, additionally, there is no longer space for a machine room. Since so much has changed in the installation of controls, we have to plan for all eventualities,” explains Thomas Kaifer, technical manager at Janzhoff. “The classic elevator had a shaft and a machine room above it. That's where the controller and drive were located. All was right with the world.”

Marking Accessories for Rail-Mount Terminal Blocks – Here’s How WAGO Supports You:

With TOPJOB^® S, the entire electrical connection technology can be bundled into a space-saving unit
smartPRINTER prints marking strips and markers directly from the roll.
The flexible marking options post greater efficiency on many levels.

The classic elevator had a shaft and a machine room above it. That's where the controller and drive were located. All was right with the world.

Thomas Kaifer, Technical Director at Janzhoff

Saving Construction Volume

Today, the necessary construction volume for an elevator is increasingly questioned, primarily due to concerns about costs. If you remove the machine room, then all of the technology has to be moved into the shaft. Which directly affects the controls: what was previously directly visible in the machine room now has to be represented somehow by the controller. “Since I can no longer see whether the drive traction sheave is moving, or whether the cables are driven in sync, I have to make everything visible through monitoring functions, which means we need visualizations,” Kaifer explains. Janzhoff uses the TOPJOB^® S Rail-Mount Terminal Blocks from WAGO because the communication requirements have rapidly increased in this context: One system now has multiple participants in the decentralized automation. Due to their compact design, the entire electrical connection technology can be bundled into a space-saving unit.

Marking is performed using WAGO's new smartPRINTER devices. The compact thermal transfer printers can handle a variety of print materials. Janzhoff uses this printer model to print all marking strips and markers directly from the roll. By using the smartPRINTER, labels as well as wire and conductor markers can be cleanly and legibly identified. In this case, it is especially important that the print is clear, resistant to environmental influences, as well as wipe- and scratch-proof according to DIN EN 60068.

Efficient Marking, Fast Pre-Wiring

In the same way, Janzhoff can also mark the modular plugs within WAGO's TOBJOB^® S Terminal Block family. This, in turn, allows easy wiring of the pre-assembled control elements in the control cabinet. “This moves us away from connecting individual conductors, which makes on-site assembly significantly faster. In addition, the plug for a specific module only fits where it's supposed to go.” The WAGO system enables mechanical coding, which removes the risk of incorrect wiring during assembly and start up. WAGO's marking system supports this convenience because the information on the terminal block is identical to that on the plug.

With expanded possibilities starting from the drawing board, the increased number of modules can be labeled substantially faster, more clearly, and in a word, more elegantly by Janzhoff in combination with the WAGO smartDESIGNER software. This includes the ability to copy blocks of text. The company from Dortmund groups their terminal blocks, including markers, according to function. This method makes installation easier, as well as later servicing, because the technicians and installers receive a pre-orientation. Clear markings were always important at Janzhoff: the company not only builds the systems, they are often entrusted with servicing them during their operating life.

For this reason, easily legible markers and contextual explanations directly on the WAGO terminal blocks significantly reduce the time needed to search for faults during service calls, especially in conditions of poor visibility and low light. This degree of effectiveness cannot be achieved using hand-written markers, according to Thomas Kaifer. Previously, Janzhoff ordered ready-marked terminal blocks from WAGO; however, the elevator experts have significantly greater flexibility now that they have their own smartPRINTER. The latitude for individualized reactions is now much greater. “We do the marking ourselves, which saves us time that's better spent on purchasing and delivery.” Ingenious!“

“We deal with monitoring obligations with regard to elevators. When they start operation, then a good external presentation is already important, especially if the client is present at such appointments.

Klaus-Peter Kapp, Chief Executive Officer at Janzhoff

Double the Added Value

For Klaus-Peter Kapp, the topic of marking in the control cabinet has a much more important aspect with regard to image. “We deal with monitoring obligations with regard to elevators. When they start operation, then a good external presentation is already important, especially if the client is present at such appointments.” Therefore, the interior of a control cabinet should not appear ‘half baked’.

“It is important to us that we use top-quality technology to build sophisticated designs that generate low maintenance costs over their entire life span. We are known for this, which generates a competitive advantage for us and contributes to our success,” Kapp emphasizes. “If I only concentrate on optimizing my systems in terms of price, then I simply cannot be the top in all other areas.” The Dortmund firm therefore employs sound judgement in the selection of their partners. “Before we buy complete systems, we ask ourselves which designs and strategies our vendors will pursue,” Kapp explains. Instead of jumping on every moving train, Janzhoff invests in long-term business relationships.

Conclusion

By using the flexible marking possibilities, Janzhoff Aufzüge developed gains in efficiency from development, through maintenance, and up to subsequent servicing. The higher effectiveness results, for example, in that blocks of text can be reused, clear text markings are more easily legible, owning the printer that stands on the desk increases flexibility and saves the assemblers time, since they have a better overview of the wiring. The entirety ultimately affects the company's image, because their control cabinet interiors always appear tidy and cleanly designed.

Text: Sascha Zielke, | WAGO

Photo: Janzhoff, WAGO

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Customer application Installation and Service Are Simpler