When the Guangzhou CTF Financial Centre opened in 2016, it immediately transformed the skyline of one of China’s busiest cities. Rising 530 meters above ground with 111 floors and five basement levels, the skyscraper stood as the tallest building in Guangzhou at the time. Yet despite its towering height and striking design, public attention quickly focused on a different engineering marvel inside the building: a pair of record breaking ultra high speed elevators that redefined vertical travel.
The super fast lifts were developed by Hitachi, which installed a total of 95 elevators throughout the massive structure. These included double decker systems, high speed passenger lifts, and standard low to medium speed units designed for daily traffic flow. However, it was the two express elevators built specifically for rapid vertical transport that captured global attention, thanks to their extraordinary performance and cutting edge engineering.
The twin elevators earned the title of the world’s fastest by reaching a top speed of 1,200 meters per minute, equivalent to roughly 47 miles per hour. At that pace, passengers can travel from the ground floor to the 95th level in just 43 seconds. The previous speed record belonged to an elevator installed in Taipei 101, which could reach a maximum of about 38 miles per hour. Hitachi’s achievement pushed elevator engineering into territory that once seemed almost impossible for passenger transport systems.
Achieving such extreme speeds required major innovations in both mechanical design and passenger safety systems. Engineers relied on thin profile permanent magnet synchronous motors and compact traction machines that reduced the overall weight of the lifting system while maximizing efficiency. The elevator cars themselves were shaped like aerodynamic capsules, allowing them to slice through air inside the shaft with reduced drag and smoother motion.
Safety posed one of the greatest challenges at these velocities. Emergency braking systems had to withstand enormous heat generated by friction when bringing a rapidly moving elevator to a stop. To handle this, engineers equipped the lifts with specialized brake pads capable of tolerating temperatures reaching 300 degrees Celsius, ensuring reliable performance even under extreme conditions.
Ride comfort was another crucial factor. At very high speeds, even minor vibrations along the rails can become noticeable and unsettling for passengers. To counter this, the elevators use active guide roller systems that detect tiny movements and automatically shift the cabin in the opposite direction to stabilize it. This technology minimizes shaking and keeps the ride remarkably smooth despite the rapid ascent.
Rapid altitude changes can also affect the human body, particularly the ears, due to shifts in air pressure. Hitachi addressed this by installing pressurized elevator cabins equipped with automated air pressure adjustment systems. These features help passengers acclimate gradually during the brief but intense journey, preventing discomfort that would otherwise occur during such a fast vertical climb.
By combining aerodynamic design, advanced motor technology, heat resistant safety systems, and intelligent stabilization features, engineers turned a routine building component into one of the most impressive transportation systems ever created.
