KONE China History 

Technology led the way

China, the biggest elevator and escalator market in the world, providing tremendous opportunities for elevator companies. KONE was a late arrival to the market. However, KONE brought its most advanced technology to China. KONE's latest products based on KONE EcoDisc® technology gave KONE a competitive advantage right from the start. Our technology led the way.

Rapid growth

KONE Elevators Co., Ltd. was officially established in December 1996. After years development, 45 branches in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Chongqing, Wuhan, Nanjing, Qingdao, Xi'an, Shenyang, Hangzhou, Xiamen, Suzhou, Tianjin, Kunshan, Harbin, Kunming, Changsha, Zhengzhou, Lhasa, Ningbo, Fuzhou, Dalian, Foshan, Shijiazhuang, Hohhot, Jinan, Xuzhou, Hefei, Nanchang, Nanning, Hainan, Urumqi, Guiyang, Shanxi, Dongguan, Jiaxing, Wenzhou, Changchun, Lanzhou, Yinchuan, Zhuhai, Wuxi and Jinhua have been established.

Future in our hands

With housing reform programs, China's entry into the WTO and Beijing's hosting of the 2008 Olympic games, the construction market is expected to continue growing not only in Beijing but also throughout the rest of China. The demand for elevators and escalators will increase steadily over the next five years.

To meet this growth, KONE China will open more branches and appoint local representatives to expand its sales and maintenance network. Meanwhile, KONE China puts tremendous effort into promoting its advanced technology and environment-friendly products, which are gaining market acceptance.

KONE China Milestones in History

Date Event
12/1996 KONE Elevators Co., Ltd. established in the High-Tech Industry Park of Kunshan City, Jiangsu Province
9/4/1997 KONE Elevators Co., Ltd Shanghai Branch, the first branch of KONE China opened
11/6/1997 KONE Elevators Co., Ltd Chongqing Branch, KONE China's first branch in West China region opened
4/13/1998 KONE Elevators Co., Ltd Guangzhou Branch, KONE China's first branch in South East China region opened
4/15/1998 KONE Elevators Co., Ltd Beijing Branch, KONE China's first branch in North China region opened
10/28/1998 KONE Elevators Co., Ltd. officially opened. With a registered capital of U.S. $23.2 million and total land area of 90,000 square meters, it specialized in the production of KONE 3000 MonoSpace® machine-room-less elevator、KONE 3000 MiniSpace™ small machine-room elevator and KONE O&K Escalator™ escalator & autowalk
3/1999 The first KONE 3000 MonoSpace® machine-room-less elevator was manufactured in KONE Elevators Co., Ltd.
9/1999 KONE and Toshiba launch the KONE ECO3000™ escalator following close collaboration in product development. This energy-efficient, space-saving escalator is a truly global product, manufactured through identical processes at KONE factories in the United States, Germany and Toshiba's factory in Japan, as well as in China
2001 KONE Elevators Co., Ltd launched KONE 3000S MonoSpace® machine-room-less elevator and KONE ECO3000® escalator and autowalk
9/2001 KONE was awarded the title of "High-tech Company" in Jiangsu province, symbolizing KONE's leadership in product technology, scientific and technological innovation
10/2001 KONE won an order from Beijing Oriental Sun City, the first residential project specially designed to cater for Beijing's senior citizens to provide 334 units KONE 3000 MonoSpace®, it is the biggest order of KONE group heretofore and he biggest single order for KONE China as well
12/20/2001 KONE and Toshiba sign an historic agreement to exchange shares and extend Toshiba's license to market elevators based on KONE MonoSpace® technology in China
2002 KONE Elevators Co., Ltd launched KONE 3000 TranSys™ machine-room-less Passenger- Goods Elevator and KONE Escalator(E3C/E3H)
3/2002 KONE 3000 MonoSpace®、KONE 3000S MonoSpace® machine-room-less elevator and KONE 3000 MiniSpace™ small machine-room elevator gained the certificate of recommend Components & Products for National Demonstration Project of Housing of China Ministry of Construction
6/28/2002 KONE held signing ceremony with the National Grand Theater, the nation's symbolic building in the new era, the highest art performance center of China as well as a first class art palace in the world. KONE provided National Grand Theater with 49 KONE 3000 MonoSpace® elevators, 36 escalators and three additional elevators. KONE is the only supplier of vertical transportation equipment for this monumental project
9/2002 KONE won an order from Guangzhou New Baiyun Airport, the biggest project that CAAC invested at present and the biggest airport in Mainland. KONE offered 45 units KONE elevators including 14 units panoramic, 12 units KONE 3000 TranSys™ and 19 units KONE 3000 MonoSpace® elevators
10/2002 KONE Elevators Co., Ltd. was awarded the honorable certificates being recommended by customers with "Satisfied elevator", "Satisfied escalator", "Satisfied autowalks" and "Satisfied after-sales service" in the survey organized by the Customer Committee of National Construction Mechanic Equipment. It is a strong evidence of KONE's quality products and excellent services
3/2003 KONE Service Call Center was operated. The hotline services 24 hours a day for KONE customers nationwide
6/2003 KONE Elevators Co., Ltd. was awarded the title of double-dense enterprise of Jiangsu province, another symbolization of KONE's advantage strength in technology and innovation as a high-tech company
8/2003 KONE Elevators Co., Ltd. upgraded certificate of ISO9001: 2000 issued by LRQA smoothly
9/2003 KONE won the order of all 15 units escalator for Olympic major project, Capital Museum
10/28/2003 KONE China celebrated 5th anniversary and factory phase II ground breaking. 52, 000 square meters was added to build factory Phase II to significantly enhance KONE's manufacturing capability of escalator products
12/2003 KONE won an order from "Shengda Jinpan", the first top-grade high-rise residential building located in Lujiazui CBD of Shanghai to offer 14 units of high-speed KONE 3000 MiniSpace™ elevators with 3.5m/s and 4 units of KONE 3000 MiniSpace™ elevators with 2.5m/s
2004 KONE Elevators Co., Ltd launched KONE 5000 MiniSpace™ high speed small machine-room elevator and KONE Scenic Elevator
4/2004 KONE showcased KONE Alta™ high-rise elevator and Destination Control System(DCS) at The 6th China International Exhibition of Elevator Equipment & Technology, taking place from April 18-21, 2004 at INTEX Shanghai
9/2004 KONE Elevators Co., Ltd was awarded 2004 Annual Double-Excellence Foreign Enterprise by China Association of Enterprises with Foreign Investment (CAEFI)
2005 KONE Elevators Co., Ltd launched KONE 3000S MiniSpace™ small machine-room elevator
3/2005 KONE Elevators Co., Ltd relocated its head office to Shanghai in order to much faster response to the market and customers
4/2005 The latest MonoSpace® Elevator speeds up to 2.5m/s and loads up to 2000kg The latest KONE TranSys™ load up from 2000kg to 5000kg
6/2005 KONE Elevators Co., Ltd. celebrated the 100,000th units elevator delivery, which was installed in National Grand Theater
6/1/2005 KONE Elevators Co., Ltd Tianjin Branch, KONE China's 15th branch opened
6/8/2005 KONE hosted "People-inspired Urban Architecture" summit in The Great Hall of Beijing. Over 350senior Chinese government officials, architects, construction and real estate leaders, customers and journalists attended the event to hear presentations addressing important issues facing China's urban planners and architects
6/17/2005 KONE of Finland and Toshiba Elevator and Building Systems Corporation (TELC) of Japan agreed to strengthen their alliance by establishing an independent joint venture company for escalator production in China. KONE owns 70 percent of KONE TELC Industries Co. Ltd(KTI) the new company, and TELC owns 30 percent. The joint venture will be the main source of escalators for both parties and will offer a full range of escalator products based on KONE and TELC designs by operating two manufacturing facilities, consisting of the current KONE manufacturing lines in Kunshan and the current TELC manufacturing lines in Shenyang, both in China
6/18/2005 GiantKONE Elevator Co., Ltd, a joint venture company between KONE and Giant Elevators Co., Ltd, one of the largest elevator and escalator manufacturers in the nation began operations in Zhejiang Nanxun Economic Development Zone. The total investment of GiantKONE is RMB 200 million with registered capital of RMB 83 million
10/25/2005 KONE was awarded the order to provide more than 190 elevators, escalators and autowalks for the new Terminal 3 building at the Beijing Capital Airport. The airport extension is part of the Beijing's massive infrastructure development in anticipation of the Olympics. The Beijing Capital Airport project represents KONE China's largest contract in monetary value and in number of units of equipment.
4/2006 KONE showcased SuperEco Solar Energy Elevator and hosted a seminar entitled Solar Energy Elevator Design and Application at World Elevator & Escalator Expo'06, taking place from April 18-21, 2006
4/26/2006 KONE was to deliver All Elevators for the China National Stadium in Beijing, the main stadium for 2008 Olympic Games. Matti Vanhanen, Finland Premier attended KONE Elevators Equipment – National Stadium singing ceremony and addressed at the event
6/4/2007 KONE signed a poverty partnership agreement with the Foreign Ministry of PRC, supporting two designated towns in Yunnan with one million yuan to fully display KONE’s solid sense of social responsibility.
 2007 Themed “Leading innovative technology and a quality lifestyle”, 2007 KONE China road show was a complete success after exhibition in 10 major cities.
5/13/2008 Right after learning the Wenchuan earthquake, KONE China staff immediately initiated a charity show entitled “Reaching out our hands and giving our love” that fetched a donation of 300,000 yuan for the victims.
6-9/2008 KONE China once again sponsored “2008 China charity concert tour” in Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai.
9/2008 KONE China totally won over 50% of Olympic-related elevator and escalator orders, winning herself consistent praise from all walks of life.
10/28/2008 KONE China factory marked its 10th anniversary.
10-12/2008 “Leading environmental technology and creating a green future”, 2008 KONE China road show was brilliantly held in Tangshan, Dalian, Hohhot, Hefei, Hangzhou, Quanzhou, Dongguan and Guiyang.
1/12/2009 KONE China held 2009 Annual Sales Conference with the theme of “Sing a Song for Victory, Match to the Future” in Wynn Macau. During the meeting, KONE China summarized its performance in 2008, gave out awards to excellent partners and released R9.1 new products, drawing wide attention from all circles.
1/2009 KONE China was awarded “National Satisfactory Brand (Products) for users” by China Quality Supervision Management Center.
3/25/2009 KONE China took part in China Elevator and Accessories Expo ’09 held in Suzhou. During the expo, KONE China fully displayed its green and eco-efficient products and held a sub forum with the theme of Eco-efficient™ Solutions, attracting many professionals’, customers’ and media friends’ attendance.
4/20/2009 Aishan Plaza Singing Ceremony was held in Huzhou. KONE will provide all 33 elevators for the project, including 2 inwrought business elevators.
4/21/2009 Antti Herliin, Chairman of the board, KONE Corporation met Primer Wen Jia Bao in Great Hall of the People. During his stay in Beijing, Mr. Herlin listened to the business report of KONE China and inspected National Stadium and Multi-purpose TV Tower.
5/2009 KONE China Union and CPR Dept. jointly initiated a donation activity to KONE Yunlin Hope School. The proposal got enthusiastic responses from all the staff of KONE China, raising nearly 100,000 RMB.
6/26/2009 Li Ke Qiang, Chinese Vice Primer visited KONE Building in Helsinki, capital of Finland, meeting Antti Herlin, Chairman of the Board, Matti Alahuhta, President & CEO and other top management of KONE Corporation.
7/30/2009 2009 KONE China Mid-Year Sales Conference was held in Urumqi. During the meeting, KONE China summarized its performance in the first half year of 2009, released R9.2 new products and gave out awards to those excellent partners.
9/1/2009 KONE China Union representatives and Poverty-Relief Office leaders of Foreign Affairs Ministry took part in the convocation ceremony of KONE Yunlin Hope School in Malipo County, Yunnan Province, sending teaching appliances and extracurricular books to teachers and students as well as inspecting the diversion work donated by KONE.
10/29/2009 “the application of KONE’s MonoSpace elevator and MiniSpace elevator in the energy conservation environmental protection domain” had been listed the 2009 International Energy Conservation Environmental Protection (China) Sci-tech Demonstration Project, and be given demonstrate promotes. Meanwhile, KONE China was entitled “Top 100 Influential Enterprises of World Environmental Protection and New Energy Industry in China” with The Second World Environment Protection and New Energy Development Conference.
6-11/2009 Cooperating with local Quality and Technology Supervision Bureaus, KONE China held special equipment safety knowledge activities in different communities in Zhengzhou, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Chongqing. During the events, KONE’s professionals introduced all the important parts while riding elevators to the residents in those communities.
12/8/2009 Under the auspices of KONE China and sponsored by Costa Cruises, The Third KONE Cup Golf Competition was kicked off at Nanhu Golf Center in Guangzhou, attracting golf enthusiasts from all walks of life and building a platform for mutual communications for elites from all circles.
12/11/2009 KONE signed a contract with Guangdong Leatop Real Estate Co,. Ltd to provide 33 elevators and 2 escalators, includeing 12 high speed elevators (6m/s) for Leatop Plaza developed by the Leatop Real Estate. Mr. Eero Suominen, Consul General of Finland attended the signing ceremony and extended greetings to both of the two companies.
11-12/2009 2009 KONE China roadshow was rolled out in Shenyang, Beijing, Shijiazhuang, Yinchuan, Wuhan, Shanghai, Ningbo, Fuzhou, Haikou and Kunming successively. KONE China displayed its eco-efficient products, technologies and solutions during the roadshow, and attracted great attention from all circles.

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