FARMINGTON, Connecticut, April 22 /PRNewswire/ --

Otis Elevator Company, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX), was awarded a USD 23 million (CNY 165 million) contract to provide high-speed, energy-efficient elevators at the Guangzhou International Financial Center, an office and hotel building that will be among the tallest in the world.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080416/NEW004 )

Otis will supply and install a mix of Skyway(R) double-deck elevators with speeds up to 7 meters per second (1,378 feet per minute) and Elevonic(R) high-speed gearless elevators up to 8 meters per second (1,575 feet per minute). Gearless elevators are up to 50 percent more energy efficient than conventional, geared drive systems. In addition, all of the elevators will have ReGen(TM) drives, which reduce energy usage by up to 75 percent compared to non-regenerative drives. ReGen drives return energy into the building's internal electrical grid for reuse.

"This award recognizes the strength of Otis' project management capabilities and the benefits of our leading 'green' technology for the high-rise market," said Otis President Ari Bousbib.

Otis is also providing its EMS Panorama(TM) system, a Web-based application that enables building staff to monitor, control, report on and manage a full range of operational-critical elevator functions. With this system, building staff can monitor elevator performance, security, traffic patterns, key equipment events and many other critical functions.

When completed for the 2010 Asia Games in Guangzhou, China, the tower will reach 432 meters (1,417 feet) in height. The 103-story building is designed for offices with space above the 70th floor for a luxury hotel. When completed, the tower, also called Guangzhou Pearl River New Town West Tower, will be among the tallest buildings in the world.

Otis Elevator Company is the world's largest manufacturer and maintainer of people-moving products including elevators, escalators and moving walkways. With headquarters in Farmington, Connecticut, Otis employs 63,000 people, offers products and services in more than 200 countries and territories and maintains 1.6 million elevators and escalators worldwide. United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Connecticut, is a diversified company providing high technology products and services to the building and aerospace industries.

Web site: http://www.otis.com

Elizabeth Young, Manager, Communications of Otis Elevator Company, +1-860-676-5103, Elizabeth.Young@Otis.com. Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080416/NEW004, AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org, PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com