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KONE 2016 | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
INNOVATIONS
15
which are located in Finland, China, Italy,
India, the United States, Mexico, Germany,
and the Netherlands, and over 800 dedicated
technology professionals working for R&D.
Our R&D process leads to a continuous
search for new ideas and opportunities. Our
starting point is a wide variety of sources, the
most important ones being our customers
and equipment users. We also make use of
opportunities presented by the market, for
example the demands of ever-higher buildings
and their growing populations, as well as
ideas generated through our own innovation
processes.
At KONE we take a collaborative approach
to innovation. By opening up, and by
encouraging new ideas we develop new skills,
identify new challenges as well as pilot and
commercialize new products and services
at a faster pace. We work closely with our
customers, partners, universities, and research
centers and we encourage our own people to
share their inspirations and ideas. Throughout
the entire R&D process, eco-efficiency, safety
and quality are of utmost importance.
1.
Providing innovative, affordable vertical housing to facilitate better living for aging populations
as well as the changing needs of inhabitants.
2.
Maintaining safe and reliable infrastructure. As populations grow, the design of infrastructure
needs to be modernized and made more efficient.
3.
Improving living standards and convenience, especially as the global middle classes increase
their income and develop increased expectations.
4.
Putting more of a premium on eco-efficiency and sustainability, to reduce energy consumption,
manage waste and pollution and use materials smartly.
5.
Smart cities are evolving, buildings and complexes are getting bigger and more complicated;
so for instance, heating, cooling and utilities all need to work together. Digital technologies
and connectivity can also enable better public services for citizens, better use of resources and
increased comfort and reliability.
6.
Finally, addressing the growing value placed on well-being and better living standards,
as people increasingly want to live in harmony with their surroundings.
Needs for sustainable and smart living
KONE’s R&D process supports innovations
Market environment and megatrends
Quality
Eco-efficiency
Safety
WORLD’S FIRST ARCHED
ESCALATORS
Opened in November 2016,
Elbphilharmonie concert hall is
the newest landmark in Hamburg,
Germany. It features the world’s first
arched escalators by KONE. Allowing
for ‘endless’ escalator rides, the
escalators are more than 80m in length
and climb to a height of 21.43m. They
were developed especially for the new
state-of-the-art music venue, enabling
visitors to dive into a fascinating world
of light and color.
HACKERS AT WORK
KONE organized its first hackathon
in March 2016 and brought together
15 teams to co-create new solutions
for better people flow. During the
three day event, KONE executives and
representatives of global companies
such as IBM and ABB exchanged
ideas with start-up entrepreneurs
in Hyvinkää, Finland. The teams
brainstormed ideas for solutions
ranging from augmented reality tools
for maintenance technicians, to ways
of using games and music in elevators
to collect user data and feedback.
Collaborative innovation: customer co-creation and partnering
⬃
Research
Concept
creation
Creation of
new products
and services