The present number of lifts that are in use worldwide is estimated at 13.000.000 with the rate of newly installed units of over 500.000 to 550.000 per annum. Less than half of these, or around 6.140.000 with an annual increase of 140.000 units, account for Europe. The daily turnover of individual users, i.e., use of lifts – in the sense of individual trips (hereinafter referred to as “users”) in Europe is estimated at about 1.000.000.000 and almost 4.000.000.000 worldwide. Hence, there is no doubt that the lift is one of the most frequently used transportation devices in the world.
It is only in EU that this economic branch employs around 160.000 people. The employees in this sector work in two main fields of activities: a) production and installation of new lifts and b) maintenance, repair and modernization of existing lifts. Even 60% of the employees in this field are directly involved in field activities, as are installation, maintenance and modernization of lift equipment.
Number of lifts in SEE Region is not certain, but according estimation by providing unofficial data is around 1.100.000 where 420.000 lifts are in Greece, around 410.000 units are in Turkey and the rest of around 270.000 are in all other countries of the region.
Although vertical transport by lifts and escaaltors is far the safest in respect to any other transportation means. Due to the large number of lifts in use, their average obsoleteness, particularly in Europe, the large daily number of users and the large number of employees in this sector who are at an increased risk at most of their working places due to the nature of their work, injuries happen frequently, sometimes with serious and fatal consequences.

The goal of this symposium is exchange of theoretical and practical experiences through establishing of relation between the Lift Associations, as well companies and institutions dealing in this sector, there will be continuous collaboration between these subjects and possibility for realization of the regional network – SEELIFT Network *(South-East Europe Lift Network). The SEELIFT Network will be consisted from relevant institutions through which would be performed continuous exchange of experiences and good practices, joint organization of trainings and projects in the fields of design, production, construction, and installing of lifts and escalators as well as in the fields of and conformity assessments and technical inspections.
This conference will offer that. All relevant Lift & Escalator professionals from the South-East Europe region will be gathered and for the first time they will have the possibility to attend an event on which they will exchange knowledge and experiences, but also they will have the possibility to get to know each other and to make contacts.
The initiative of the organizers of the Regional Symposium is intended to become traditional, and each year it is planned to be organized in different country. Therefore, we hope that we will meet you in Ohrid.

Official languages: Macedonian and English.