KONE Corporation, press release, November 29, 2019
KONE, a global leader in the lift and escalator industry, today introduces the world's first digital lift series. With built-in connectivity as standard, KONE DX Class lifts bring a new user experience to life through a combination of design, technology, new materials, apps and services.
KONE DX Class revolutionises the role of lifts in future smart buildings: the lift is no longer merely a way to travel between floors, but an integral and integrated platform that offers intuitive, ambient and connected experiences that extend from the lobby throughout the building. For KONE customers such as developers and building owners, a key advantage is the ability to adapt and upgrade the lift experience according to needs now and in the future.
The new KONE DX Class enables customers to tailor and plug in additional software and services for lifts throughout the entire lifetime of a building. By using open application programming interfaces (APIs), KONE's approach makes it easy to manage and integrate different devices, apps and services with new and existing systems. For lift passengers this brings a host of new, multisensory experiences inside the lift, combining physical hardware and digital services. These can be customised according to individual needs and preferences, bringing new levels of ease and convenience.
"Today we are launching a world first: a ground-breaking class of digitally-connected lifts which enable mass-customisable services that bring convenience to customers and users," says Henrik Ehrnrooth, KONE President and CEO. "We have worked closely with our customers to develop and define our KONE DX Class lift series so it can best meet their fast-changing needs. New technologies give us opportunities to create an integrated and easily adaptable building experience. As buildings evolve, the lifts can also evolve in ways we have not seen before. The KONE DX Class lift series offers our customers a fantastic opportunity to set themselves apart."
Every KONE DX Class lift provides:
- The option for customers to easily and remotely activate digital services when they need to, including KONE 24/7 Connected Services and KONE Residential Flow.
- Secure APIs for third-party solutions, which create new and exciting services. KONE is also announcing agreements with a number of companies, such as Blindsquare; Robotise; Soundtrack Your Brand and more, to bring new levels of sophistication to the people flow experience.
- A whole new variety of design options and innovations, including anti-stain, anti-scratch, and anti-bacterial surfaces.
- Advanced dynamic display, sound and lighting options to transform the ambience and interior.
- A range of sustainable materials to meet green building criteria like BREEAM and LEED.
"We are merging the technologies of tomorrow with the buildings of today to put the 'smart' into smart buildings," says Tomio Pihkala, EVP, New Equipment Business, KONE. "We are changing our business profoundly towards a platform business. This means combining products and services over the lifetime of a building, which is very powerful. KONE DX Class will make lift journeys more user-friendly, more enjoyable and more sustainable, meeting the changing needs of infrastructure, buildings and services for years to come."
The new KONE DX Class lift series will first be available in European markets from December 2019 onwards, and rolled out to other areas during 2020-2021. The KONE DX Class is also ideal for customers looking to modernise existing equipment with enhanced eco-efficiency, performance, and aesthetics. The KONE DX Class will replace the current KONE lift range.
KONE DX Class - Connecting more than floors
For images and videos visit KONE's Material Bank at bit.ly/NewEraForElevators
For further information, please contact:
Hanna Rutanen, Director, External Communications, KONE Corporation, +358 41 5071361, media@kone.com
Read more:
Previous press releases are available at www.kone.com/en/news-and-insights/releases/ including:
March 1, 2018: KONE introduces new digital platform and renews its products and services portfolio to better meet the opportunities of a connected world
September 25, 2017: KONE introduces new people flow solution, KONE Residential Flow, for intelligent and connected residential developments
February 8, 2017: KONE revolutionizes elevator maintenance with new customizable KONE Care(TM) service offering and 24/7 Connected Services
February 19, 2016: KONE joins forces with IBM for IoT cloud services and advanced analytics technologies
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 lifts, escalators and automatic building doors, as well as solutions for maintenance and modernisation 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 2018, KONE had annual net sales of EUR 9.1 billion, and at the end of the year over 57,000 employees. KONE class B shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd. in Finland. www.kone.com