The testing tower has the capability to test various speeds including high-speed elevators
Chennai, 31st October 2023: KONE Elevators India, a fully owned subsidiary of KONE Corporation, is proud to announce that it has set up a state-of-the-art Research & Development elevator test facility including tower and labs, to fillip their high-rise technology and innovation capabilities. The new facility is located in Sriperumbudur, near Chennai, in KONE’s premises in India.
The test tower contains multiple shafts, many of which can be reconfigured for testing new high and mid-rise solutions and laboratories for the elevator & escalator components’ testing. The facility set up and managed by KONE Technology Centre, which is responsible for R&D, includes the KONE DX, The World’s First Digitally Connected Elevator that transports guests to the panoramic view at the top. The test tower and R&D testing processes and equipment are built for conducting various kinds of quality and reliability tests to ensure the highest safety and quality products and solutions.
With a rich history of elevator manufacturing for the last 39 years, KONE in India is now expanding its portfolio by venturing into escalator production. Leveraging its innovation-driven approach, KONE utilizes its engineering excellence at its world-class elevator manufacturing facility near Chennai to provide customers with cutting-edge vertical transportation solutions. The first escalator pilot batch, produced at this advanced facility, underwent rigorous testing in new state-of-the-art labs, ensuring adherence to the highest industry standards. KONE's team is confident that their escalators will exceed customer expectations in terms of quality, durability, and safety.
Speaking at the inauguration, Henrik Ehrnrooth, President & CEO of KONE Corporation, stated, “The test tower and R&D center are set to meet the existing demand in the elevator and escalator market as well as serve the future needs of our customers. This innovative move will bolster KONE’s presence in the global market, presenting a vast array of possibilities that will contribute to the robust growth of the elevator industry. Going forward, expanding our innovation facilities in India will present further opportunities to uphold our mission to make people’s journeys safe, convenient, and reliable.”
Addressing the press, the Managing Director of KONE India, Amit Gossain said, “The test tower is a huge breakthrough in KONE India’s journey. This vests a lot of responsibility and commitment to our customers, and we aim to cater to the current and futuristic demands of the elevator industry for India, and for exports. Our R&D is now empowered with in-house testing capabilities to serve low, mid, and high-rise segments for our retail, commercial, healthcare, office, and residential customers. With the new test tower and state-of-the-art laboratories, we not only serve the Indian market but also the global elevator market. Our technology team now collaborates even stronger with KONE global teams, collectively enabling us to reach even greater heights on the innovation and technology front."
The tower and labs facility is designed to receive ample sunlight and harness energy through the solar panels installed on the rooftop of the KONE manufacturing facility.
About KONE
At KONE, our mission is to improve the flow of urban life. As a global leader in the elevator and escalator industry, KONE provides elevators, escalators and automatic building doors, as well as solutions for maintenance and modernization to add value to buildings throughout their life cycle. Through more effective People Flow®, we make people's journeys safe, convenient and reliable, in taller, smarter buildings. In 2022, KONE had annual sales of EUR 10.9 billion, and at the end of the year over 60,000 employees. KONE class B shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd. in Finland. For more information, please visit www.kone.com
About KONE India
KONE’s presence in India dates back to 1984 and today it is the leading elevator company in India. Based in Chennai, KONE India serves customers all over the country through its 50+ branches and provides sustainable People Flow™ solutions for India’s rapidly growing cities. It employs 5000+ people in the country. KONE’s production unit in Chennai produces elevators for the Indian market as well as for Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Chennai also has three training centers where KONE’s installation engineers and field mechanics are trained to meet KONE India’s strong reputation for high quality and uncompromised safety, as well as the expectations of Indian customers when installing and maintaining elevators and escalators. KONE’s global technology and engineering center in Chennai, which is one of the eight global R&D centers, is a testing and research hub, which supports the latest technology and development of future KONE solutions. For more information, please visit www.kone.in
For further information, please contact:
KONE India:
Ritika Chandhok | ritika.chandhok@kone.com | +91 9999100092