Good videos, with context.
An elevator that actually goes sideways

An elevator that actually goes sideways

Tom Scott
0 HN recommenders · discussed 2017–2021
Open YouTube ↗

About this video

Tom Scott visits ThyssenKrupp's test tower in Rottweil to see the Multi, a rope-free elevator that uses linear motors to move cabins sideways as well as vertically.

Why it appears in the archive

HN links it whenever ThyssenKrupp's Multi or paternoster lifts come up, as the clearest look at the working test tower.

AI-generated summary and labels from the source dataset; verify important details against the video. Source & credits.

From the Hacker News discussion

netsharc · 2017-08 · reference

Off-topic, who is the narrator? I think I've heard him on another German "corporate presentation" video, and I can hear a slight German accent... And back on-topic, googling to find the details instead of just a flashy video, here's Tom Scott on MULTI: [VIDEO]

Read original comment ↗
21 · 2017-08 · reference

It's explained in another video. Those "tracks" are linear motors, with periodic electro magnetic coils. Looks like it will be crazily expensive. [VIDEO]

Read original comment ↗
lathiat · 2017-08 · reference

It is actually in production, here's the working test version in a tower they built just for it, by Tom Scott: [VIDEO] And it has it's first production project in the OVG East Side Tower Berlin (though not yet finished building)

Read original comment ↗
lathiat · 2017-08 · reference

Here's a tour of the system in their test tower by Tom Scott: [VIDEO] And it has it's first production project in the OVG East Side Tower Berlin (though not yet finished building)

Read original comment ↗
apocalyptic0n3 · 2018-02 · reference

Tom Scott did a video[1] on it last summer. They have a working version in a test tower in Germany, but have not installed it in an actual for-public-use building yet and I'm unsure if testing phases have been completed [1]: [VIDEO]

Read original comment ↗
eliaspro · 2018-11 · reference

The "new paternoster" is quite a different beast. Tom Scott did a video on it: [VIDEO] I live close to the tower and was really positively surprised how it turned out. Often, an architect's "vision" is far from what it ends up looking, but since this tower got its cladding, it looks spectacular - especially when the sun is low in the early morning or evening hours.

Read original comment ↗
wongarsu · 2021-04 · reference

There is also a Tom Scott video about the test tower for the Thyssen Multi, with some more details [VIDEO] It will be interesting to see how it will be used. You really need someone bold enough to design a building around high capacity, 2d elevators. And if the elevators don't work out you have severe problems using the building ... Selling this has to be an uphill battle until it's proven in a few locations.

Read original comment ↗