Nippon Otis Modernizes Elevator at Kurobe River Fourth Power Plant of Kurobe Dam, One of Japan’s Largest Dams

Nippon Otis Elevator Company (Nippon Otis) has completed a project to modernize an elevator at the Kurobe River Fourth Power Plant, which generates electricity by pulling water from the Kurobe Dam in Toyama Prefecture, Japan. Nippon Otis is the Japanese subsidiary of Otis Worldwide Corporation (NYSE: OTIS), the world’s leading company for elevator and escalator manufacturing, installation and service.

The iconic Kurobe Dam, located in the deep mountainous region of Toyama Prefecture, is one of Japan's largest hydroelectric storage dams, completed in 1963 to supply the electricity that supported Japan’s post-war economic growth. Otis has a long association with the hydroelectric facilities on the Kurobe River – first installing an elevator in 1937 to move construction materials for the Third Power Plant and currently maintaining several Otis elevators in operation in facilities around the Kurobe Dam.

"For nearly 90 years, Nippon Otis has ensured the Kurobe Dam's smooth operation by providing safe vertical transportation for people, materials, and equipment around this essential and historic infrastructure, which plays such an important part in people’s lives,” said Nippon Otis President Patrick Yeung. "As critical infrastructure begins to age our teams’ dedication, collaboration and commitment to providing smart, innovative solutions will ensure that service continues for the years ahead with the modernization of the elevator in this project.”

Nippon Otis experts had to plan carefully, and in advance, to meet the unique challenges in bringing modern mobility solutions to the Kurobe River Fourth Power Plant successfully and safely. The 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake in Japan impacted the project, as the trolley train originally planned to transport equipment and materials could not be used. Instead, Otis teams had to use an inclined railway that has significant size restrictions. The heaviest hoisting machine had to be transported to the site using a gantry crane to assist in lifting heavy objects. And they encountered an added complication with communications, as the Kurobe River Fourth Power Plant has poor radio reception and limited internet access. Despite the challenging working conditions, the modernization was completed as planned.

Visit the Kurobe Dam Global Project page to learn more. To learn more about Otis products and services, visit www.otis.com.  

Mechanic installing equipment in the elevator shaft

Equipment transported by an incline railway

About Otis

Otis gives people freedom to connect and thrive in a taller, faster, smarter world. The global leader in the manufacture, installation and servicing of elevators and escalators, we move 2.4 billion people a day and maintain approximately 2.4 million customer units worldwide – the industry's largest Service portfolio. You’ll find us in the world's most iconic structures, as well as residential and commercial buildings, transportation hubs and everywhere people are on the move. Headquartered in Connecticut, USA, Otis is 72,000 people strong, including 44,000 field professionals, all committed to meeting the diverse needs of our customers and passengers in more than 200 countries and territories. To learn more, visit www.otis.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook @OtisElevatorCo.