I think I have a Dover DMC, is it obsolete and what are my options?

Background.  Dover Elevator manufactured hydraulic elevators from 1955 to 1999, when they were purchased by Thyssen Elevator (now TK Elevator).  Sound Elevator was the local distributor/installer in Western Washington for the DMC and the DMC was Dover’s first microprocessor-based hydraulic control system.  In production from 1985 until 2001, it was widely considered one of the best hydraulic elevators ever made.  Building owners valued its reliability and mechanics liked the ease of service.  Thousands of Dover DMCs were installed in Western Washington during that time.  Chances are, you have ridden in a DMC.  The manufacturer has been sending letters and emails to their customers stating that production for certain PCBAs (Printed Circuit Board Assembly) have stopped and supplies are now near depletion.

Who Does This Affect?  Anyone with a Dover DMC installed in their building! DMCs have some very distinct features that you can easily identify.

First, most DMCs were installed with “Impulse” fixtures.  Square, translucent buttons with rounded corners that sit in a square black bezel in the hallway.

Second, within the elevator car, the buttons are generally in rows of no more than four across and angled 20 degrees toward the ceiling.

Finally, in the machine room (if safe access allows), the controller and power unit are both typically blue.

If you think you have a DMC, or are not sure, ask Sean.

It’s Not All Bad News! Many DMC elevators are still running reliably; however, we do recommend speaking with your elevator partner to prepare for future costs associated with a modernization. If a board does fail - Option 1: There are several national third-party suppliers who can typically provide new PCBAs (boards). Option 2: The board might be repairable using an exchange program. Although PCBAs from an exchange program have been repaired multiple times, possibly reducing the success rate, this option can be more cost effective.

Ultimately the PCBA is a critical part to the control (“brains”) system, which means the only long-term solution is to upgrade (modernize).

How Can We Help? Independent elevator companies partner with national manufacturers who offer hydraulic elevator modernization packages, including packages engineered for the DMC.  For more information, don’t hesitate to contact our Chief Problem Solver Sean@waelevator.com.