2024.04.12
The everyday life of an escalator technician
Are you curious to know more about what it's like to work as an escalator technician? We chatted with Salim Nadeem, Kone, about why he became an escalator technician, what a typical day looks like, and what it's like to work for a global escalator company!
Why did you become an escalator technician?
– When I came to Sweden, I first studied languages for two years and then the electrical program at high school for three years. It was difficult to get an apprenticeship, so I got a truck license and drove a truck with a trailer for two years. Then I found an apprenticeship program on Facebook and applied there. I was assigned to escalators, enjoyed it and have been working with it since August 2018 when I finished the training.
What do you like about the work?
– I like to tinker. My dad is a mechanical engineer and since I was a child we have tinkered together. Escalators are about half mechanical, half electrical, while elevators are more electrical. I like to troubleshoot, to listen carefully where the noise is coming from. Escalators are a bit fussier with oil and stuff.
What does a typical day at work look like?
– I often perform service in the morning and in the afternoon we do repairs that have come in during the day or help colleagues. If we have larger jobs planned, they can take up to a week. Right now we have updated an escalator from 1991 by replacing the step chain, steps and inspecting it to ensure that all safety devices are working properly as it has been turned off for a while.
– I work in a team responsible for escalators in the Stockholm area and, for example, I am responsible for a number of escalators at Central Station. Escalators in, for example, the subway or at Central Station have machine rooms that allow you to access them from below. In stores and shopping centers, you have to disassemble the escalator to access the machine.
– There may be a little more work with the service now that it's slippery and sandy outside. Gravel gets stuck in what are called combs at the top or bottom of the escalator, and then we sometimes have to go and clean it if it stops because a safety setting turns off the escalator.
You work at a large global company, what is it like?
– There is opportunity for development and I enjoy the manager and colleagues. I started from scratch and had a great supervisor who taught me a lot. I started by only doing service, now I do more repairs. If you want to develop, there are opportunities to take courses internally. I appreciate that they always say ”safety first” and encourage us to take it easy. There is a Technical Help Desk (THD) that provides support by phone or comes out and shows if a problem is difficult to solve. This means that you learn and gain experience.
”I like to tinker!”
Who is this job suitable for?
– Someone who likes to tinker, fix, lubricate, and keep track of many interconnected parts. The industry is crying out for more escalator service technicians.
Do you have any stories from your everyday life as an escalator technician to share?
– It has happened that people want to move the barriers and go on the escalator, even though we have removed steps. I have also seen elderly people who have pressed the stop button when they have finished riding. It is an emergency stop button and then we have to go there and check what happened and start it again.
You found the apprenticeship service via Facebook, and since then you've found your way to Linkedin?
– It's like Facebook for businesses and I found it through work. It's fun because you see what others in the industry are doing and I sometimes share pictures when I have some time.
How do you see your future as an escalator service technician?
– I want to develop and become an even better service technician and be able to fix more difficult errors. I also want to develop in programming, today escalators are smarter. I want to become a professional on escalators!
