USE CASE |

June 30, 2026

Elevator and Escalator Reliability

Overview

Elevators and escalators are mission-critical systems in commercial buildings, airports, hospitals, and transit hubs. Their reliability directly impacts occupant safety, convenience, and operational continuity. TDK SensEI’s edgeRX™ enables predictive maintenance by continuously monitoring equipment health using edge sensors and AI analytics, helping operators detect issues early and maintain smooth, uninterrupted operation.

Problem

Elevators and escalators operate continuously with complex mechanical and electromechanical components such as motors, gearboxes, pulleys, brakes, and drive systems. Over time, these components can degrade due to wear, misalignment, or load stress. Traditional maintenance approaches—based on fixed schedules or reactive repair—often fail to catch early signs of failure.

Key challenges include:

  • Unexpected breakdowns causing service interruptions and user inconvenience
  • Safety risks associated with sudden equipment failure
  • High maintenance costs due to emergency repairs and downtime
  • Limited visibility into real-time equipment performance across distributed assets
  • Difficulty detecting early-stage issues such as vibration anomalies or overheating

Modern predictive maintenance focuses on continuous monitoring of vibration, temperature, and system behavior to identify problems before they escalate.
https://product.tdk.com/en/techlibrary/productoverview/predictive-maintenance-for-machine-health.html

Solution: edgeRX™ at the Edge

TDK SensEI’s edgeRX™ provides a complete machine health monitoring platform with integrated sensors, edge processing, connectivity, and analytics. It enables real-time monitoring of elevators and escalators, especially key components such as motors, gearboxes, and drive systems.

How edgeRX™ improves elevator and escalator reliability:

  • Continuous monitoring
    Sensors capture vibration and temperature data from motors, gearboxes, and moving components
    https://sensei.tdk.com/edgerx/
  • Edge AI analytics
    Local data processing enables fast detection of anomalies and reduces latency
  • Predictive insights
    ML models identify patterns indicating wear, imbalance, or potential failure
  • Actionable alerts
    Maintenance teams receive real-time notifications for proactive intervention
  • Centralized visibility
    Dashboards provide system-wide monitoring and trend analysis across buildings or sites
  • Scalable deployment
    Gateway connectivity (4G, Wi-Fi, BLE) supports multiple elevators and escalators across locations
    https://sensei.tdk.com/edgerx/

Expected Outcomes

By deploying edgeRX™ on elevators and escalators, building operators and facility managers can transition to a proactive maintenance strategy that improves reliability and user experience.

Expected benefits include:

  • Reduced downtime through early fault detection in motors and drive systems]
  • Improved safety and reliability with continuous monitoring and timely intervention
  • Lower maintenance costs by reducing emergency repairs and optimizing service schedules
  • Enhanced asset lifespan through proactive maintenance and reduced mechanical stress
  • Better operational visibility across all vertical transportation assets
    https://product.tdk.com/en/techlibrary/productoverview/predictive-maintenance-for-machine-health.html

Summary

TDK SensEI’s edgeRX­™ brings predictive maintenance to elevators and escalators by combining continuous sensing, edge AI analytics, and real-time alerts. By detecting early signs of wear and enabling proactive maintenance, edgeRX™ helps operators reduce downtime, improve safety, and ensure reliable vertical transportation in smart buildings.