60 seconds with…David Griffin, Managing Director, NDC Elevator Drives

Tell us about your business, when was it formed and what do you do?

NDC Elevator Drives was established in 1997. We focus on the global supply of refurbished elevator drives. We are a team of highly skilled electronics engineers who refurbish elevator drive products to the component level. Our research and development team spends much of their time investigating the latest advancements in elevator drive technology, creating comprehensive test apparatus and continually moving our in-house developed SimuLift software forward.

Who are your customers? Which markets do you serve?

Our main customers are elevator maintenance providers, however, we also have contact with consultants, facilities management companies, and building owners who may ask for our advice on specific projects. Our business now ships products to 68 countries worldwide and this number is growing year on year as we establish more businesses and partnerships in other markets.

How many times have you been to LIFTEX?

We started exhibiting in 2010, and since then we have continued to support the event. We are also an active member of LEIA, attending many of the meetings to keep informed on the latest developments in the market and to stay abreast of any changes in the management or safety of elevator maintenance.

What are the main issues that your customers deal with and how do you help them?

One of the main issues our customers face is dealing with and managing the obsolescence of a product that is out of their manufacturing control. When our customers are maintaining an elevator with an obsolete elevator drive, they are faced with limited options, and it is here where NDC can provide real value. The delivered cost of a refurbished elevator drive is often much lower than the replacement cost of an upgrade or modernisation, which in turn, can help their operating profits.

Are there any issues that specifiers, contractors / owners should be aware of in the next 12 months?

There are no specific changes in the maintenance of elevator products that would impact our offering, however, we note that many more building owners and consultants are becoming more aware of the option to refurbish, rather than to replace, as they too try to mitigate their carbon footprint.

How can we, as an industry, help designers and building owners to become more energy efficient and meet Net Zero targets?

By choosing to work with NDC Elevator Drives, you are helping reduce overall waste in our industry, improving the circulatory of elevator products, and extending lifecycles to their original intended design. We have data to support this notion. We completed a study with The University of Manchester and the results showed that by refurbishing, rather than replacing with new, you can reduce the environmental impact by up to 91%, you can find a link to the study here: https://elevator-drives.com/

What will you be promoting / what can visitors expect to see on your stand?

As usual, we will be displaying the latest testing simulators that our business has at its disposal, reinforcing our commitment to the market. We will also have some familiar faces on the stand, who are very much looking forward to meeting with our customers.

What advice would you give to anyone visiting the show? What should they look for and how can they get the most from their visit?

My advice for anyone visiting the show is to plan well. You can see all of the exhibitors on the LiftEx website, and if you have something specific in mind, contact the businesses you aim to visit and try to get some quality time with them. The two-day event can be intense so you must make the most of your goals.