Quiet logistics upgrade, thyssenkrupp’s MULTI elevator rethinks vertical travel

With the rope-free MULTI elevator, thyssenkrupp wants to change how high-rises move people and goods. Multiple cabins in one shaft, horizontal travel, less energy use - on paper, the concept sounds bold. What matters in daily building operation?

Reviewed: ad hoc news Accessory & Components desk. Edited and checked on 2026-06-17, 12:01. Details in the imprint.

With the MULTI elevator system, thyssenkrupp puts a rope-free cabin into the shaft that can glide not only up and down but also sideways through the building. What looks almost like a metro in the tower is meant to ease congestion and free architects.

How MULTI changes the shaft

At the heart of MULTI are linear motor drives instead of steel ropes, similar to the technology in magnetic-levitation trains. Several cabins can circulate in one shaft, stopping at different floors, which promises shorter waiting times in busy high-rises.

Because the system can route cabins horizontally between shafts, architects can link elevator groups like a network. Floor plates can become slimmer and more flexible, as fewer separate shafts are needed to handle peak traffic in tall buildings.

Capacity, energy and space

thyssenkrupp claims that MULTI can move up to 50 percent more passengers in the same shaft space compared with conventional rope elevators, while cutting peak power requirements by around 60 percent. For building operators, that directly touches operating cost and infrastructure sizing.

Instead of oversized motors firing up for morning and evening rush hours, the distributed linear drives spread the load more evenly. The cabins move in a continuous loop, which feels more like boarding a train than waiting in a closed box that may or may not arrive.

Everyday use and safety concept

In daily operation, the experience is meant to be quiet and predictable. Doors slide open, you step into a bright cabin, and the system guides you automatically to your destination with minimal stops, because software optimizes the sequence of cabins in the loop.

The rope-free design also changes safety logic. Each cab has its own braking and control systems, and the shaft is divided into segments so that a fault in one part does not immobilize the entire line. Rescue concepts then resemble clearing a train rather than evacuating a single stuck car.

Where MULTI fits today

MULTI is designed for high-rise and megatall projects where every square meter of core space counts and traditional elevator groups become a bottleneck. Instead of adding more shafts, developers can install more cabins in the same footprint and redistribute them dynamically.

thyssenkrupp showed the system in its dedicated test tower in Rottweil, Germany, where cabins run vertically and horizontally through the concrete cylinder. Standing on the viewing platform, visitors can see the white cabins slide through glazed cutouts, a rare peek into vertical mobility’s future.

Rollout, competition and service

Commercial use of MULTI is still selective and focused on flagship projects, as the technology competes with advanced high-speed elevators from rivals such as Otis and KONE that build on decades of rope experience. Early adopters weigh novelty against proven reliability and cost.

For thyssenkrupp, every installed system opens up a long service relationship. Complex linear drives, software updates and predictive maintenance create recurring revenue streams that are attractive for a group seeking more stable earnings than cyclical steel or heavy industry can offer.

Group strategy and stock reference

With innovations like MULTI, thyssenkrupp signals that it wants to be seen not only as a steel and materials player but also as a technology partner for infrastructure, from elevators to components and services. The product sits in a broader narrative of portfolio sharpening and spin-offs.

Shares of thyssenkrupp AG (DE0007500001) trade on Xetra in euros.

Key facts on the MULTI elevator

• Product: MULTI elevator system
• Manufacturer: thyssenkrupp AG
• Category: Accessory/Spare part - vertical transport system
• Launch: First public presentation mid-2010s, pilot installations since late 2010s
• RRP / Price: Project-specific pricing for high-rise developments
• Availability: Selected high-rise and megatall projects, primarily via direct project business
• Target group: Property developers, architects and building operators of tall commercial and mixed-use towers
• Highlight / USP: Rope-free, multi-cabin operation with vertical and horizontal travel in shared shafts

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