K O N E E L E VATO R S
KONE ELEVATORS
Keeping Urban Life On An
Upward Trend PRODUCTION: Timothy Reeder
Urban life moves at a faster pace than ever before, and shows no signs of slowing any time soon. In steps KONE, to continually improve its flow, providing industry-leading elevators, escalators and auto walks, alongside innovative solutions for maintenance and modernisation.
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The exponential growth of urbanisation has brought with it a need to manage ‘people flow’ in cities. As of 2005, more than 50% of global population lived in cities, a process which is only expected to continue and become more prevalent. As the population in cities increases, and the subsequent environmental challenges need to be taken care of, cities are forced to grow tighter and upwards. A variety of challenges arise from this trend, not least the congestion and crowding of cities. It is necessary to tackle such challenges head-on, however, as history records show that successful urbanisation is a prerequisite for tangible economic growth. Buildings used by many people therefore need to be designed with people flow in mind. For professionals involved in planning and renovating
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buildings, including architects and, of course, elevator and escalator companies, this creates a particular challenge. By understanding user needs and coming up with new ways of solving the challenges of people flow, though, these professionals can create solutions that enable people to move smoothly, safely, comfortably and without waiting from one place to another. In 2016, KONE had annual net sales of of EUR 8.8 billion, and at the end of the year close to 52,000 employees, with its class B shares listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd in Finland. Over half of its staff compliment is in the field every day, serving customers in over 60 countries. To reach its current standing has necessitated on KONE’s part an unparalleled understanding of people flow, the and specifically in applying this to the movements of a city’s inhabitants in and between buildings, serving to
make their journeys safe, convenient and reliable, and ultimately, making cities better places to live. This is a global leader in the elevator and escalator industry, who takes it upon itself to make the very best of cities the world over. KONE was established in South Africa in 1996, and currently has six branches and 250 employees across the territory. With the Smart Elevator Global Market predicted to grow at a CAGR of 15% by 2021, we asked Roland van Gameren, MD of KONE South Africa, to explain how the aims of this arm of the company closely mirror the overall objectives; namely, to deliver the ultimate people flow experience, and how it is meeting them at every turn. “In terms of image, product innovation and partnerships customers, I would say we have emerged as one of the industry leaders,” is his assessment. “When it comes to providing solutions, we are at
INDUSTRY FOCUS: PROPERTY
// WHEN IT COMES TO PROVIDING SOLUTIONS, WE ARE AT THE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL, WHERE KONE IS THE MARKET LEADER WITH NEW EQUIPMENT AROUND THE WORLD // the international level, where KONE is the market leader with new equipment around the world.” The global increase in urban living is another trait that is also true of van Gameren and team’s operational area, he continues. “Typically in South Africa, we see a lot of urbanisation and there’s a lot of new developments. This presents opportunities for our people flow solutions as we are continuously growing with new equipment for our elevators and escalators. We are working on some big projects where we are installing
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destination controls, and have seen that people flow is extremely well managed by this new system; it’s not just pressing a button at a certain elevator, instead it directs you to the most convenient route, whether you’re one person or a group, and brings you to your destination quickly.” Most recently, KONE has shown its spirit of enterprise and innovation in the opening of its renewed highrise elevator test laboratory in Tytyri, Finland, which was inaugurated in 1997. The test lab is an integral part of a working limestone mine and, following extensive renovations, it is now capable of reaching a depth of 350 metres, making it the deepest of its kind in the world. This enables KONE to develop and test the ultimate in high-rise innovations and technologies, such as the revolutionary carbon fibre hoisting technology, KONE UltraRope®. At the site, KONE can carry out tests under extreme conditions which are much harsher than in regular buildings, and the depth of the shafts means KONE can test elevator speeds of up to 70 km/hour. In total, the transformed site at Tytyri is made up of 11 elevator
shafts with a combined length of 1.6 kilometres. Seven shafts are dedicated for super-tall and mega-tall testing, with the remaining four shafts available for mid- and low-rise testing. In addition to sophisticated analysis of ride comfort and aerodynamics, KONE can advance other cutting-edge innovations, such as robot-aided solutions for precision installation, resulting in faster installation times and better ride comfort. “At Tytyri we can push the limits of elevator physics like at no other place in the world. With the extreme tests such as the free-fall test, we can drop an elevator frame weighing 10,000 kilograms into a 200 meter shaft and test safety gear performance, bringing the elevator to a controlled stop,” says Tomio Pihkala, Chief Technology Officer, KONE Corporation. “At KONE, we have introduced technological breakthroughs which have changed the face of the industry. As plans for tall and mega-tall buildings reach new heights, we will be able to use new materials to simulate the demands of tomorrow’s buildings, today. With the deepest and tallest facility of its kind in the world,
KONE ELEVATORS
// AT KONE, WE HAVE INTRODUCED TECHNOLOGICAL BREAKTHROUGHS WHICH HAVE CHANGED THE FACE OF THE INDUSTRY // we are excited to bring together design, engineering and technology, specifically to meet and exceed the needs of our customers.” In 2017, KONE was once again listed as one of the top employers in the world by business magazine Forbes, ranking as 73rd in the Global 2000: World’s Best Employers list. “We are proud to be recognised as one of the best employers
in the world by Forbes,” states Susanne Skippari, Executive Vice President for Human Resources. “We want KONE to be a great place work, and that is why we strive to inspire and develop our employees to deliver great results. This listing shows that our continued commitment to our employees’ wellbeing and professional development is appreciated by both current and potential employees.” It is fair to say that KONE really is all about people, and this is exactly the impression van Gameren transmits in his closing remarks. “Acquiring, hiring and training the right calibre of people can be difficult in this market,” he acknowledges. “But because we offer international knowledge through our training programme we can afford to take apprentices who we can continuously train to get them to the internationally
recognised level that we require. “We give them education and experience and because they are on the frontline with our customers, it’s important that we invest a lot into this area of our service development. In addition to this,” van Gameren finishes, “we are proud to promote diversity in our organisation by actively recruiting learners from previously disadvantaged communities and partnering with specific community projects; we believe that these are vital in adding social value in African committees.”
KONE ELEVATORS +27 11 997 4000 konesa@kone.com www.kone.co.za
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THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR AFRICA’S INDUSTRY LEADERS
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Issue No.65
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Journey of a
Lifetime
Exclusive interview with CEO Andrew Darfoor ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
Buffalo Coal / Nautic Africa / Grindrod / SAOTA
AS FEAT UR ED IN
ENTERPRISE AFRICA
DECEMBER 2017