Melbourne, October 2024
KONE, a global leader in the elevator and escalator industry, says it’s well positioned to support the future of the Australian cities with its newly announced strategy, ‘Rise’ and help the building industry to achieve sustainability, growth and productivity through digitalisation and innovation, setting the bar high for the entire industry.
- Australian capital cities are projected to house 68% of the population by 2032
- There are approximately 200,000 elevators and escalators in Australia keeping the cities moving
- 25% of them are more than 15 years old and nearing the end of their lifespan
- Buildings and infrastructure are directly responsible for one third of Australia’s total carbon emissions, with embodied carbon from building activity contributing to 10% of national carbon emissions in 2023[1]
“The Australian building industry and our customers have been frontrunners with embracing innovative and sustainable technologies. From the iconic Q1 Tower in Gold Coast to the Southern Hemisphere’s tallest residential building Australia 108 in Melbourne, KONE is proud to have contributed to Australia’s built environment with our latest people flow solutions. But we can do even more to help build the cities better,” says Philippe Delorme, President and CEO of KONE Corporation.
"The nature of urbanisation, technological development, and sustainability is changing and creating new needs for buildings across the country. Equally, these megatrends are creating exciting new opportunities for us, especially in digitalisation, service, and modernisation,” he continues.
Reducing building emissions through modernisation and connectivity
Approximately 80% of the world’s buildings that will exist in 2050 have already been built. Upgrading elevators and escalators to become energy-efficient and connected will reduce energy consumption and improve overall building efficiency greatly.
Modernisation also helps buildings become future-proof and digitally connected. By leveraging data analytics, faults can be predicted and addressed promptly, reducing downtime and optimising maintenance schedules.
“Connected elevators and escalators and their data play a key role. By modernising ageing elevators, which typically represent 2-10% of a building’s energy use, KONE can reduce elevator-related energy consumption by up to 70%,” Philippe Delorme says.
The connected devices thereby can not only improve elevator performance but also reduce the need for unnecessary technician visits, resulting in reduced emissions from travel and improved overall efficiency.
“To simplify: with our help, buildings and cities will become more sustainable and also easier for people to get around, even as the population increases,” Delorme sums up.
Driving productivity during construction
“Like we see in other markets, also the building industry in Australia has concerns regarding productivity, including challenges relating to soaring costs, inflation, interest rates and workforce availability,” Philippe Delorme explains.
Solutions such as KONE JumpLift®, a construction time use elevator, can shave off six to nine months of construction time, creating substantial energy savings and improving productivity, dependent on the height of the building.
“We need to understand the full lifecycle of the industry when we look for improvements – from building, to maintaining and modernising – to create sustainable cities that continue to thrive. At KONE, we are committed to leading this transformation, offering innovative solutions through the building lifecycle that enhanced performance and construction productivity, shaping a better and more sustainable future for Australian cities”, Delorme concludes.
Previous press releases include:
- KONE announces its new ambitious strategy for 2025-2030
- KONE acquires Orbitz Elevators in Australia and New Zealand
Contact Details:
Raman Kaur
KONE Elevators Australia & New Zealand
+61 0461 411 039
About KONE
At KONE, our purpose is to shape the future of cities. As a global leader in the elevator and escalator industry, we move two billion people every day, making their journeys safe, convenient, and reliable with smart and sustainable People Flow®. In 2023, KONE had annual sales of EUR 11.0 billion, and at the end of the year over 60,000 employees in more than 60 countries. KONE class B shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd. in Finland.
KONE In Australia
While KONE was established 1910 in Finland, Australia and New Zealand became part of the company in late 1980's through ownership of Elevators Pty Ltd (EPL). We employ over 1200 people, our head office in Australia is in Sydney Mascot, and we have offices in all capital cities and major regional centers.