Finnish company elevator and escalator company Kone has introduced what it claims to be the world’s first digital elevator series.
With standard, built-in connectivity, Kone DX Class elevators feature a combination of design, technology, new materials, apps and services, the company said.
The firm also said that Kone DX Class 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 elevator experience according to current and future needs, the company said.
The new Kone DX Class enables customers to tailor and plug in additional software and services for elevators 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, the European firm added.
“We are launching a world first: a ground-breaking class of digitally-connected elevators which enable mass-customizable services that bring convenience to customers and users,” said Henrik Ehrnrooth, Kone president and CEO. “We have worked closely with our customers to develop and define our Kone DX Class elevator 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 elevators can also evolve in ways we have not seen before. The Kone DX Class elevator series offers our customers a fantastic opportunity to set themselves apart.”
KONE DX Class elevator provides:
-The option for customers to 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 services.
-A 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.
“We are merging the technologies of tomorrow with the buildings of today to put the ‘smart’ into smart buildings,” said 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 elevator journeys more user-friendly, more enjoyable and more sustainable, meeting the changing needs of infrastructure, buildings and services for years to come.”
The new elevator series will first be available in European markets from December 2019 onwards, and rolled out to other areas during 2020-2021, the company said.