Nidec ASI’s Made-In-Italy technology chosen to create the control and communication systems for the Ain Dubai, the world’s largest and tallest observation wheel
The Group’s role has been central to the realization of an entertainment venue unlike any other in the world, one which will help consolidate Dubai as a tourist destination of global appeal
Milan, 29 September 2021 – Nidec ASI, part of the Energy & Infrastructure Division of the Nidec Group, a group committed to relaunching tourism based on innovation, has played a key role in the building of Ain Dubai, the observation wheel that, as announced last month, will open on 21 October 2021. Nidec has taken care of the control system and enabled an exceptional user experience, two central aspects of the project. Some of the world’s best design engineers and partners have been involved in planning and developing Ain Dubai, which towers over the spectacular must-visit island destination, Bluewaters. Revolutionary uniqueness, experience and excellence in engineering, technology and safety have been combined to create an entertainment experience capable of igniting the imagination of local inhabitants and tourists from all over the world.
Ain Dubai’s ambitious project, consistent with this city’s propensity to build the world’s most majestic and incredible attractions, reimagines the observation wheel experience, offering much more than just a 360° view of Dubai in maximum comfort. Ain Dubai takes the observation wheel concept a stage higher, transforming it into the world’s most unique entertainment venue, providing opportunities for extraordinary experiences for any occasion. Ain Dubai stands at an incredible height of over 250 meters, higher than any other observation wheel in the world. It has 48 luxurious, brightly-lit cabins that are larger than two double-decker buses placed side by side, and can carry up to 1,750 people at a time. It took 11,200 tons of steel to build (33% more than the Eiffel Tower).
Nidec ASI and its experts at the Montebello Vicentino plant, a world center of excellence in the development of cutting-edge systems for the evolution of cableway transport, were involved in developing the three basic components that make up the “heart” of the wheel.
In particular, since the end of 2017, the Group has been involved in creating the wheel’s entire control system (ICS – Integrated Control System). The ICS is similar to those used in cableways and can be considered the real “brain” of this attraction. It controls all the wheel’s movement, guaranteeing the highest safety standards in the world for the protection of people. The Group has also supplied the communication system that incorporates the latest technologies in terms of digital radio transmission: it acts as the wheel’s “nervous system”, connecting every component, from the motors to the cabin interiors, enabling the relay of control and entertainment information. Nidec ASI technologies also ensure protection against cyber attacks, which could occur in a project like this, adopting cutting-edge in-field solutions. The third element developed by Nidec ASI is the highly sophisticated multimedia system found inside the cabins that plays audio and video content and allows passengers to connect to the Internet, guaranteeing the best possible on-board entertainment. There are numerous on-board experience options which can be customized to suit different audience types, ranging from the organization of private events to attending exclusive parties, from unique culinary itineraries to packages more suited to families or more romantic experiences, all of which can be further enhanced by the diffusion of personalized multimedia content through this dedicated system.
“We are thrilled to have contributed to this successful initiative, which will boost tourism in Dubai. This city is not new to surprising us with attractions unlike any others in the world, and the record-breaking Ain Dubai could only have been built in this showcase of wonders. Its realization presented us with enormous challenges, which required us to observe maximum technological standards. Being able to complete this project, despite the pandemic and the closure of Dubai for several months, makes us particularly proud, and represents further confirmation of our Group’s leadership in the creation of automation systems applied to passenger transportation“, said Dominique Llonch, CEO of Nidec ASI and Chairman of Nidec Industrial Solutions.
Ain Dubai has become part of the Group’s over 40 years of experience at the highest levels in the design and development of industrial control and automation systems for cableway installations, thanks to which Nidec ASI is able to offer customized, cutting-edge solutions for any type of installation, facilitating the transition towards increasingly more sustainable and smart modes of transport. The Group has played a fundamental role in over 600 installations located in every corner of the world, such as the Moscow cable car – inaugurated during the last World Cup – that connects the Luzhniki Stadium to the scenic viewing point at Moscow State University, and the Faloria cableway in Cortina d’Ampezzo, which will take tourists and winter sports enthusiasts to high altitude during the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.