NON - PROPRIETARY SPECIFICATIONS

Brown Elevator Company recommends that all elevator specifications include the clause for non-proprietary/ third party equipment.

1. All new equipment and component parts installed, supplied or provided under this contractual procedure shall be manufactured and distributed by a third party, non-installer company servicing the vertical transportation industry.
2. Apparatus shall conform to the design and construction standards referenced herein, and shall be rated the best commercial grade suitable for this application.
3. Equipment and component systems shall not employ any experimental devices or proprietary designs that could hamper and/or otherwise prohibit subsequent maintenance repairs or adjustments by all qualified contractors.
4. Manufacturers of new apparatus shall provide technical support and parts for their equipment and component systems for a minimum of twenty(20) years, and issue such guarantee of support to the purchaser with written certification naming the final owner of their product(s) to ensure the apparatus or system remain maintainable regardless of who may be selected for future service.
5. Controller shall also be non-proprietary/third party such as Motion Controls Engineering, O. Thompson, Elevator Controls.

Listed below is commentary by Motion Control Engineering Inc.

Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM's), as you may know, build elevator systems that can only be accessed by using a special electronic tool.

These tools typically utilize patented or copyrighted and highly "proprietary" software to communicate with the elevator control system's on-board computers. When such copyrighted software and special equipment is required to service an elevator control system the building owner has only one option for ALL future elevator maintenance and repairs -- the original manufacturer.
Generally, the original elevator control manufacturer retains sole ownership of the required electronic tool. Purchase of the OEM's special tool by any competing elevator service company is not allowed. As a result, the owner's service contracts are limited to only one provider -- the original equipment manufacturer.

If only one company can provide service for "proprietary" equipment, how does the building owner control maintenance costs?

Even if the diagnostic tool is sold, leased or given to the owner, the functionality of the particular tool may be limited. Furthermore, use of the tool may be contractually restricted to the equipment owner and not his designees.

How essential is the maintenance tool to system operation? The diagnostic tool is essential for reprogramming the system's microprocessor and adjusting the drive that controls the motion of the elevator.

Perhaps the term "proprietary" is not black and white -- contractors, manufacturers and elevator professionals suggest that all elevator control systems are basically "proprietary" in nature, by virtue of their design. The degree of "proprietary restraint" can be measured by the ability of service companies, other than the original control manufacturer, to maintain the equipment.

Motion Control Engineering imposes no restraints on the ability to service and maintain MCE elevator control systems --- All MCE products are open market "non-proprietary." Every MCE control system is manufactured with complete and comprehensive on-board diagnostics. There are no special electronic tools.

The core issue is that the elevator control equipment must be "Serviceable & Maintainable." This requires the availability of parts for inventory (not just on an exchange-only basis), built in diagnostics, training, technical and engineering support and the manufacturer's commitment to provide direct support to the "end user" and his chosen maintenance company.

All of these elements are necessary to assure the building owner's right to select maintenance companies favorable to them. Selection of elevator control systems should be based on the equipment being:
"Serviceable & Maintainable" in a specific geographic area . . . by any qualified elevator maintenance provider . . . capable of maintaining apparatus of similar design and complexity.

Motion Control Engineering's open market, "non-proprietary" elevator control systems meet the "Serviceable & Maintainable" standard.

MCE's philosophy is to provide lifetime product support to the end user and/or his chosen service provider.
Enlightened owners and consultants recognize that they have the ability to specify open market "Non-proprietary" elevator control systems for their elevator modernization and new construction projects. Independent elevator contractors and OEM's are capable, and have a long history, of purchasing and installing MCE products. For your next project insist on "3rd party/ Non-Proprietary specifications