TIANJIN, CHINA – In a major milestone for one of the world’s most ambitious supertall skyscraper developments, Oleo Elevators has successfully completed statutory type-testing for high-speed gas-hydraulic buffers installed at the 596.5-meter Tianjin CTF Finance Centre (117 Tower).
The achievement comes as construction on the 117-story mega-structure officially restarted under the China Construction Third Engineering Bureau, with targeted full completion set for April 2027. Ranked as the tallest building in Northern China and the nation’s highest structural skyscraper, the landmark features Grade-A offices, luxury retail, the world’s highest observation deck (579 m), and the highest indoor swimming pool (564 m).
Proving Longevity After a Decade in Storage
Central to the vertical transportation system are ultra-high-speed passenger elevators operating at speeds up to 12.0 m/s. Safeguarding passengers against overtravel at such extreme velocities requires absorbing immense kinetic energy () while keeping deceleration rates within human safety thresholds.
The project relied on Oleo HSL72 high-speed gas-hydraulic buffers that had remained in inventory storage for 11 years. Before installation, the units underwent rigorous physical re-certification under current Chinese National (GB) standards for high-speed safety gear.
The re-validation tests yielded zero seal degradation, no internal fluid leakage, and no mechanical deterioration proving the durability and shelf-life of Oleo’s gas-hydraulic engineering.
Key Project Statistics
- Structural Height: 596.5 meters (597.0 m total architectural height)
- Elevator Velocity: Rated up to 12.0 m/s
- Buffer Specification: Oleo HSL72 High-Speed Gas-Hydraulic Buffer
- Storage Duration: 11 years prior to successful GB standard re-certification
- Steel Consumption: Approximately 150,000 tons (mega-frame & mega-brace system)
- Project Status: Construction resumed April 2025; opening scheduled April 2027
Securing Terminal Safety
By delivering predictable energy dissipation and controlled deceleration curves, the re-certified HSL72 units ensure that terminal shaft limits remain protected under maximum payload scenarios.
The successful testing provides a critical safety sign-off for the 117 Tower project, demonstrating that Oleo’s gas-hydraulic safety technology maintains its integrity over long lifecycle spans even when stored for over a decade.
