This building is none other than the “TK Elevator Testturm”, located near Rottweil, Germany. One might think that this is an aborted real estate project, but this tower is indeed active and contains a concentration of technology: a vertical laboratory dedicated to innovation in the field of elevators.
An extraordinary laboratory
The TK-Elevator tower, inaugurated in 2017, is one of the tallest structures in Germany, culminating at 245 meters. Its unusual silhouette, visible from miles around, is intriguing: why build such a building in the heart of the Black Forest, far from the urban centers where skyscrapers usually have their place? The answer is simple: this tower is not intended to house residents or businesses, but elevators.
It is a test tower. A surprising concept, but one that is essential in the elevator industry. The Rottweil tower, owned by the company TK Elevator (formerly ThyssenKrupp Elevator), is a true life-size laboratory. It houses 12 separate test shafts, allowing elevators to be tested at dizzying speeds, reaching up to 18 meters per second. This is the equivalent of climbing at over 60 kilometers per hour, an unimaginable speed in a building elevator, but it serves as a safety test before the device is put into operation.
Why test towers?
The existence of these test towers is crucial to ensuring the safety and performance of modern elevators. As Tomio Pihkala, technical director of Finnish elevator manufacturer Kone, explains, these facilities are comparable to “test tracks for a Formula 1 team.” They allow elevators to be pushed to their limits, simulate extreme conditions, and verify that all safety systems are working perfectly.
Among the elements tested in an elevator test tower, the emergency braking mechanisms are the most important. Imagine an elevator in free fall—a nightmare situation for any passenger. In a test tower, engineers can simulate this scenario in a controlled manner by dropping a mass equivalent to that of an elevator car. Emergency braking systems and safety devices must then activate instantly to stop the fall and ensure the safety of the occupants (even if there are none in this specific case).
Beyond safety tests, test towers also allow for the evaluation of the quality, comfort, and reliability of elevators. Engineers can analyze vibrations, noise, and the smoothness of accelerations and decelerations, and ensure that the user experience is optimal. It's precision work, where every detail counts.
The Rottweil tower doesn't just test elevators in free fall. It's also equipped with a unique system that can simulate the effects of extreme weather events, such as hurricanes or earthquakes. A mass damper, driven by two powerful motors, can replicate the oscillations and vibrations that a skyscraper would experience during such disasters.
Height, a necessity for high-speed testing
The impressive height of test towers like the one in Rottweil is no accident. It is directly related to the speed of modern elevators, especially those designed for the world's tallest skyscrapers.
As Tomio Pihkala explains, "when you have a faster elevator, you need a taller test tower." High-speed elevators can exceed 9 meters per second. To test such an elevator, enough space is needed for it to reach its maximum speed and then decelerate safely. The height of the tower therefore makes it possible to reproduce the real-life conditions of using an elevator in a very high-rise building.
From cutting-edge technology to tourist attraction
While the primary function of the TK Elevator test tower is technological, it has also become, over time, a major tourist attraction in the region. Its panoramic observation deck, accessible to the public, offers breathtaking views of the Black Forest and, on a clear day, as far as the Swiss Alps.
The ascent to the platform, located 232 meters high, is a true experience in itself. It takes just 30 seconds, at a speed of 8 meters per second. This unique experience attracts visitors from all over the world every year.
To top it all off, the Rottweil Tower not only offers its visitors an exceptional panorama. It also hosts an annual stair-climbing competition, an extraordinary sporting challenge that attracts more than 1,000 participants. Runners compete on the tower's 1,390 steps, in a test of endurance and self-improvement, either individually or in teams.
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