Abell Elevator International Company Story

A century on the rise

One hundred years…ten decades…a century…no matter what term you use it is a significant amount of time. It is even more significant when it marks a milestone in the history of a company. In today’s world of “.coms” and start-ups that fail within a year, celebrating a century in business is a testament to quality, dedication and integrity. While these words are often overused, they are the words that American success stories are built on…such as the story of Abell Elevator International.

 

A new decade…a new company

Albert R. Wilhelm had learned about the lift industry in the family business in his native Prussia. With the unrest in Germany prior to the First World War, he decided to seek a better life in a new country…America. Upon his arrival in the United States, he located to Louisville, Kentucky and opened Abell Machine Shop. In 1910, the first Abell elevator was installed at the Louisville Broom Works. Many of these traction machines were installed prior to World War I and are still in operation today.

 

Facing challenges with the country

World War I, Prohibition, the Great Depression, World War II…all challenges Abell faced with the country. During the First and Second World Wars, as well as the Korean War, the company was conscripted by the US Government to fabricate war material. In all three conflicts, Abell was honored to be a top priority conscription candidate because of its size, and excellence in machining capabilities, and quality standards.

 

Growing with the country

America’s expansion was reflected in Abell’s growth. Innovation and improvement have always been, and remain today, part of the corporate philosophy. Over the decades the company expanded its operations and services to include: the installation and maintenance of traction and hydraulic elevators, escalators, moving walks, dumbwaiters and all types of vertical transportation. In addition to working on projects throughout the United States, the company has worked in Canada, China, Mexico, Turkey, Italy and South America.

With corporate headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky, the company expanded into neighboring Lexington. This expansion brought many high-profile projects, including modernizations at the University of Kentucky Hospitals and new installations at Commonwealth Stadium, home of the UK Wildcat football team.

In response to various customer requests to open new locations, Abell began a controlled expansion program. In 1984, Abell Elevator opened its offices in Indianapolis, Indiana. Its abilities in the field were quickly recognized by the awarding of several contracts, such as Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the home of the Indianapolis 500, United Airlines, Indianapolis Airport, Minton Capehart Federal Building. and the U.S. Courthouse.

The Cincinnati, Ohio branch was opened in 1985. This has led to many high profile projects, including over 30 modernizations for the University of Cincinnati, installations at the Arnoff Center for the Arts, and the Museum Center.

The company expanded to Columbus, Ohio in 1989. Columbus projects include the Fifth Third Corporate Bank Tower, Franklin County Jail, Courtyard by Marriott and many other projects.

Abell continued its expansion with offices in Tampa, Florida in 1999.  This area brought HCA West Coast Hospitals, Pinellas Co. Schools, Eckerd Drugs, Raytheon, and many other projects to the company.

To service and maintain its equipment, the company opened various service offices in cities like Huntington, WV, Fort Wayne, IN, Charlestown, WV, Evansville, IN, Bowling Green, KY and many other locations.

 

Abell Lift Systems, LLC – Formerly Independent Elevator Contractor Alliance (IECA)

In 1996, at the annual conference of the National Association of Elevator Contractors, several independent elevator contractors met to address common industry issues. These independent contractors formed a group known as Independent Elevator Contractors Alliance or “IECA” in order to have control over and to develop their own line of comprehensively designed systems. No longer held captive by the major elevator companies, IECA was able to offer tremendous benefits to Independent Contractors.

This group endeavor by several independent elevator contractors resulted in unmatched field efficiencies and innovations.

Each system is reviewed and stamped by a professional engineer to meet or exceed all American Society of Mechanical Engineers A17.1 latest code requirements and carry all UL and CSA labeling as required.

As non-proprietary systems, they provided the owner with the best pricing possible from any maintenance provider.

Abell Technology Systems, LLC

As part of the drive to develop a complete lift system for the Independent Elevator Contractor Abell Technology Systems, previously Advanced Technology Systems, became a member of the Abell Elevator International family in October of 2008.

Started originally as Vertisys in 1988 in Boca Raton Florida by a previous Otis design engineer it developed door operators and vandal proof track and hangers.  In 2000 Atlantic Tech Systems LLC bought the assets of Vertisys and relocated the company to Boynton Beach, FL.  They then developed a state of the commercial door operator known as the “Field Eze”.  The operator has been applied in over a thousand field applications from single speed, to three speed center opening. It is equipped with on board diagnostics, an integral header, integral vane and door zone lock along, with vandal resistant track, incorporating a 6940 style interlock. The ease of installation with its integral header work,s well with any New Installation and/or Modernization.

 

AVT/Beckett

In July of 2007 the AVT/Beckett became a part of the Abell family bringing the reliable and field friendly “Beckett Entrance” to the Abell family.  This again gave Abell Lift Systems the ability of closing the loop on the entire “Elevator System” for the Independent Elevator Contractor.

 

Abell Information Systems, LLC – “Converged Technologies Engineering and Support”

Abell continually receives request for total integration of their vertical transportation systems from the owners within the Lift Industry as well as many other companies not related to the Lift Industry for “Converged Technologies Engineering and Support” which includes: Remote Electronic Monitoring, Field Personnel Electronic Reporting Integration, Security Systems, Phone Systems and Financial and Office Administration Hardware and Software based on (Single Source Over Site Responsibility) for implementation and ongoing maintenance.

Abell established (Abell Information Systems, LLC) to provide solutions for total systems integrations. Providing single source consulting and design along with installation and maintenance of converged technologies which includes Infrastructure Services, Security Surveillance Services, Relocation Services, Networking Services, Telephony Services, and Carrier Services.

Converged solutions make everyone more productive by making applications simpler to use and information easier to share. By combining these services we are able to offer a single source solution with one network to manage. Lower network costs, improved productivity, increased customer retention, faster time to market—these are the bottom-line benefits that converged network solutions make possible.

Abell Information Systems is ready to help you with planning, design, project management and implementation whether bundling services or selecting individual services based upon your business needs.

We offer solutions to meet your system needs by maximizing bandwidth and helping with future technologies. We are a business partner who listens to your needs to help develop a better solution.

 

A single source for “Complete Lift Systems”, “Modernization Packages” as well as “Converged Technologies Engineering and Support” for all disciplines.

As a natural progression from the IECA philosophy, Abell Elevator International, Abell Lift Systems, Abell Technology Systems, AVT/Beckett, Abell Information Systems has joined to form a group with the ability to act as a single source for lift and information systems of superior quality and affordability.

The parent company, Abell Elevator International, is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2010, and provides marketing and installation, maintenance, modernization and repair of complete elevator systems, private residence elevator systems and accessibility systems.

Abell Lift Systems, (ALS) formerly Independent Elevator Contractors Association (IECA), produces complete, modernization packages, hydraulic, traction and machine room less complete elevator systems.

Abell Technology Systems, formerly Advance Technology Systems (ATS), manufactures “Closed Loop” universal elevator door operators for commercial and private residence units.

AVT/Beckett, formerly Becket Elevator, manufactures hoistway entrances and special Architectural cabs and entrances.

Abell Information Systems – Over Site and Management of all Converged Technologies.

The formation of this group will lead Abell into its second century, with the same passion that has led to industry leading innovations, quality and service for the past one hundred years.

Whether you are specifying a low rise hydraulic elevator system, large traction projects, or modernization or our latest environmental friendly energy efficient “Green Machine” “MRL” machineroom less traction systems, you can depend on our systems and maintenance capabilities for years of satisfactory operation.

Abell Elevator International…one hundred years and still elevating.