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KONE, a leading global elevator and escalator company,
has launched a completely new elevator technology that eliminates
the need for counterweights. The KONE MaxiSpaceTM technology
is looked on as a considerable breakthrough in the sector.
The new technology makes it possible to install a cabin up
to a third larger in the hoistway compared with the traditional
elevator solutions. So it is now possible in many cases to
install an elevator for six or even eight passengers in the
same space where before only a four-passenger unit could be
installed.
The heart of the technology is a small and gearless hoisting
machine and an innovative rope solution. The hoisting machine
is much lighter than any other on the market. It weighs only
70 kilos, but it is as powerful as machines many times the
size.
Technology for an expanding market area
The KONE MaxiSpaceTM technology is looked on as the biggest
breakthrough since the machine-room-less elevator concept,
which was launched onto the market in 1996. The KONE MonoSpace®
elevator has become a worldwide standard for new buildings.
"It's possible that the new technology will also develop
into a similar success story," says Heikki Leppänen,
senior vice president, Technology & R&D.
KONE's range of products will be supplemented with the new
product solutions designed in particular for the existing-building
market. Of the 4.1 million elevators in operation in Europe,
in excess of 66 per cent are more than 20 years old. Most
of these are small elevators installed in residential buildings.
"The new-technology applications are ideally suited
for replacing an elevator with a new one or adding an elevator
to a building. The market for elevator solutions is expected
to increase considerably as the installed elevator base and
population grow older," Leppänen says.
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KONE expects growth
Of the new EU countries, half are familiar to KONE
Corporation through subsidiaries that go back years.
Harald Lyon is the director with responsibility for
the companies' operations in Poland, the Czech Republic,
Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia.
"If in the initial stages of the journey there
was a period of adjustment because of bureaucracy, cultural
differences, legislation and language difficulties,
the situation has eased considerably. Thanks to the
opening up of the market the situation is improving,"
Lyon believes. "Joining the EU is an economic shot
in the arm, even if development in the new Member States
will take years, even decades."
"Markets in the new EU countries are at the moment
fairly small compared with the size of the countries.
For example, about 1,400 new elevators are installed
a year in Poland, which has a population of 38 million,
whereas in Switzerland, which has a population of six
million, there corresponding figure is 4,000.
"The markets in the new Member States are, however,
growing unlike in many west European countries. That
is why it is important to be operating in these countries
now," Lyon asserts.
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www.kone.com
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