The Problem
The Ringhotel ‘Zum Roten Bären’ located in the historical town of Freiburg, Germany, has been open since 1120 – holding the honour of being the oldest inn in the country. Far from being outdated however, guests can experience a traditional atmosphere but with all the comfort that modern technology can offer.
To ensure this offering, the family owners, the Eschgers, decided to upgrade the hotel lift to improve on the passenger safety as well as minimise the lift doors being damaged when they were accidentally hit with suitcases.
The Solution
The lifts were upgraded to include MEMCO’s Panachrome lift safety edges. This light curtain technology uses 154 diagonal infra-red beams on the elevator doors to detect even the smallest objects that might obstruct closure, surpassing the requirements of EN81-20 and therefore efficiently preventing accidents.
The safety provided by the Panachrome light curtain is reinforced by the system’s unique visual feature: when the doors are opening, green LED lights illuminate the edges to indicate that it is safe to pass; when the doors are about to close the lights will flash red as a warning to be careful. If the doorway remains clear, the lights will then turn to a solid red until the doors are fully closed.
The Result
In the past, the lift doors had been known to close on bags, suitcases, and even people, if they had begun to close as guests were entering the lift.
Since the installation of the new Panachrome light curtains, the response to the premium security offered has been very positive, from both hotel guests and the Eschgers. Passengers feel safer and the owners are happier as the costs to fix the lift doors have also significantly reduced. Additionally, they now experience less downtime due to door damage, ensuring their passengers have a more enjoyable experience during their stay.
