The thyssenkrupp MULTI elevator - classics reimagined with cable-free vertical transport

The thyssenkrupp MULTI elevator replaces traditional ropes with magnetic linear motors for flexible, multi-directional movement in high-rise buildings. Anyone holding ThyssenKrupp stock (Xetra: TKA, ISIN DE0007500001) should know this product.

By Julian Reed, ad hoc news Classics & Longsellers Desk. Reviewed July 05, 2026, 3:10 AM ET. Details in the imprint.

thyssenkrupp MULTI elevator is the kind of system you notice before you step inside: doors on opposite sides of the shaft, cabins gliding past each other with a soft hum, and no thick steel cables overhead. In a test tower in Rottweil, Germany, you feel the floor gently vibrate as one cabin accelerates horizontally to switch shafts, a reminder that this elevator is closer to a high-speed train than to the creaking lifts in older office blocks.

Cable-free elevator concept

The MULTI system from ThyssenKrupp replaces conventional hoisting ropes with linear motor technology, similar to magnetic levitation and industrial monorail drives, enabling cabins to move vertically and, in certain configurations, horizontally within a building’s shaft network. Each cabin is independently propelled along guide rails using permanent magnet linear motors, eliminating the load constraints and counterweight assemblies that define traditional elevators. This architecture is designed for high-rise buildings with complex cores, allowing multiple cabins to operate in a loop, reducing waiting times and increasing handling capacity per shaft compared with single-car rope systems.

Unlike conventional elevators where one car is tied to one shaft, MULTI uses compact cars that circulate through a system of shafts connected by short horizontal transfer sections, increasing transport capacity by up to 50% for the same core area according to ThyssenKrupp’s engineering documentation. The company positions MULTI as a response to growing urban density and super-tall building designs, giving architects more freedom in core planning and potentially freeing rentable floor space that would otherwise be reserved for parallel conventional shafts. ThyssenKrupp’s product manager Markus Jetter has described the system as a “rope-less, multi-directional elevator” aimed at buildings above roughly 200 meters where traditional multi-group elevators become inefficient.

Early deployments and use cases

MULTI is not a mass-market elevator yet; it targets high-profile, high-rise projects that can justify the engineering overhead and building integration work. ThyssenKrupp built a dedicated test tower in Rottweil, Germany, approximately 246 meters tall, to validate the system, with public tours offering a direct look at the cabins and shafts and allowing visitors to experience the distinctive acceleration and deceleration profile of the cable-free cars. The system is being pitched for landmark buildings such as proposed supertall office towers and mixed-use complexes in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, where architects are looking for ways to reduce shaft footprints while handling thousands of passengers per hour.

Although there is no widely publicized full commercial deployment in a completed U.S. skyscraper yet, ThyssenKrupp’s elevator business has a significant presence in North America, and the company has actively marketed MULTI to U.S.-based developers and design firms through technology showcases and engineering briefings. In those sessions, engineers walk clients through simulations showing how multiple small cabins circulating in one loop can cut peak waiting times compared with conventional double-deck or sky-lobby systems, especially in offices where traffic peaks sharply at morning arrival and evening departure. For property owners, the argument is not just mobility but also floorplate economics: fewer shafts can mean more leasable space, particularly on lower levels where the core would otherwise be densely packed with elevator banks.

Technology, safety, and maintenance

Removing ropes introduces new engineering challenges, so ThyssenKrupp built MULTI around a suite of safety and control systems that monitor cabin position, speed, and door status in real time. Linear motors are controlled by redundant drive systems, with failsafe brakes integrated along the guide rails that can bring a car to a controlled stop if power or control signals are lost, rather than relying on the classic mechanical governor that engages safety brakes on a falling car. A central dispatch system coordinates multiple cabins in each shaft loop, keeping safe separation distances and routing cars to pick up demand across the building, similar to high-capacity subway control systems.

The absence of ropes also reduces some maintenance tasks, such as regular rope inspection and replacement, but introduces others: linear motor components, guide wheels, and horizontal transfer modules must be inspected and serviced according to manufacturer schedules. ThyssenKrupp’s documentation points out that the modular design of MULTI cabins and shaft components allows technicians to isolate sections for maintenance while other parts of the system continue operating, potentially reducing overall downtime compared to rope systems where the entire shaft may need to be taken out of service. For building operators, predictive maintenance software is expected to play a role, using data from cabin sensors to anticipate wear and schedule interventions during off-peak hours.

From a rider’s perspective, the cabin experience is closer to a modern high-speed elevator than to some futuristic gadget: the interior can be specified by the building owner, with standard finishes, lighting, and display panels showing floor information. In the test tower, the cabin’s movement feels smooth but a bit different when it transitions horizontally between shafts; you sense a gentle sideways shift, like a train changing tracks, before the car resumes its vertical run. ThyssenKrupp’s engineers have explained that the control algorithm intentionally limits jerk and lateral acceleration to keep this movement comfortable for passengers, even when cabins operate at high throughput.

Market positioning and competition

MULTI sits within a global elevator and escalator market dominated by large players such as Otis, KONE, Schindler, and Mitsubishi Electric, all of whom have their own high-rise mobility solutions with features like destination control, double-deck cars, and regenerative drives. ThyssenKrupp positions MULTI not as a replacement for all its conventional elevators but as a specialist solution for tall, high-traffic buildings where its loop-based, rope-less design can offer core-space savings and traffic efficiency advantages. Industry analysts view the technology as part of a broader trend in urban mobility where vertical transport is integrated more deeply into building design, with architects treating elevator shafts as a configurable network rather than fixed single-purpose conduits.

Because MULTI is still in early-stage deployment, the commercial impact for ThyssenKrupp’s earnings is limited relative to the company’s conventional elevator and escalator portfolio. However, the system has attracted attention from design and architecture media, and it is often cited as an example of how traditional industrial players are experimenting with advanced electromechanical systems to differentiate their offerings. For U.S. investors who follow ThyssenKrupp, MULTI’s significance lies less in near-term unit sales and more in the long-term signaling that the company is investing in technologies that could become meaningful in the next generation of high-rise construction.

Company context and stock angle

ThyssenKrupp’s elevator business, which developed MULTI, has historically been a key division within the German industrial group, alongside steel, automotive components, and industrial solutions. The group has undergone restructuring and portfolio adjustments in recent years, with elevator operations playing a strategic role in offsetting cyclicality in other units. For investors following ThyssenKrupp stock (Xetra: TKA, EUR, ISIN DE0007500001), MULTI is part of a broader innovation pipeline that may influence long-term perceptions of the company’s positioning in urban infrastructure rather than its immediate revenue mix.

Key facts on thyssenkrupp MULTI elevator

• Product: thyssenkrupp MULTI elevator
• Manufacturer: thyssenkrupp AG
• Category: Classics & Longsellers
• Launch: Concept unveiled mid-2010s; ongoing test and pilot deployments
• MSRP / Price: Project-based pricing, customized per building, not publicly listed
• Availability: Offered globally for high-rise construction projects through ThyssenKrupp’s elevator division
• Target audience: Developers, architects, and building operators of tall office and mixed-use towers
• Standout / USP: Rope-less, multi-directional elevator system using linear motors and multiple cabins per shaft to increase capacity and reduce core space.

This article was AI-assisted and editorially reviewed. Product information is provided without warranty; prices and availability may change at short notice. Not investment advice and not a buy or sell recommendation. Securities trading carries risks up to total loss.