KONE Corporation, press release, November 11, 2025
Today, there are more than 10 million aging elevators and escalators around the world, and the number keeps growing. Europe is filled with old buildings that do not fit the needs of people and society anymore. In the EU alone, more than 220 million building units, representing 85% of the continent’s building stock, were built before 2001. Modernizing these buildings will make them more sustainable, and more relevant for an ever-evolving city and its future generations.
An integral part of any multi-story building is the elevator. Signs of wear and tear in it start to show around the 10-year mark. As the years rack up, parts like door mechanisms, call buttons, and lighting will need replacing.
“People don’t think about this, but elevators are like cars, even the well-maintained ones will need a refresh after certain mileage. Alongside better user experience and performance, elevator modernization will improve its safety and energy efficiency – and oftentimes its decoration too,” says Katri Piirtola, KONE’s Senior Vice President for Modernization in Europe.
The need for elevator modernization is clear. Buildings contribute substantially to the greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change, accounting for 40% of Europe’s energy consumption. Three-quarters of this energy is produced during the building’s operations. The modernized elevator will consume less energy, cutting both costs and CO₂ emissions.
To celebrate the enduring dedication of elevators, KONE, a global leader in the elevator and escalator industry, has launched The Voice of Dedication – a global campaign inviting everyone to nominate elevators that have shown signs of wear and tear. The campaign aims to build awareness around elevator modernization and sustainable urban development.
In The Voice of Dedication campaign one lucky elevator will win a free KONE modernization and the nominator of the winning elevator will be rewarded with a staycation. To take part in the competition, visit www.kone.com/en/free-elevator-modernization.aspx and nominate an elevator that is in need of an upgrade. The nominated elevator can be in a residential or commercial building and made by any manufacturer.
Competition submissions are open from Thursday, October 30 to Sunday, November 16, 2025, after which our modernization team will review all the nominees and select the finalists for the public vote. Voting for the winner will open on Monday, December 8, 2025. The winner will be announced during the week starting December 15, 2025
For further information, please contact:
Eveliina Linderborg, Senior Vice President, Communications, KONE Corporation,
+358451722151, media@kone.com.
Read more:
The Voice of Dedication campaign: www.kone.com/en/free-elevator-modernization.aspx
More about KONE modernization services: https://www.kone.com/en/products-and-services/maintenance-and-modernization/elevator-modernization.aspx
5 tell-tale signs your elevator is up for modernization: https://www.kone.com/en/news-and-insights/stories/5-signs-to-upgrade-your-elevator.aspx
Modernizing to secure our urban future: https://www.kone.com/en/news-and-insights/stories/call-to-modernize-more-buildings.aspx
Previous press releases are available at www.kone.com/en/news-and-insights/releases/
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 2024, KONE had annual sales of EUR 11.0 billion, and at the end of the year over 60,000 employees in close to 70 countries. KONE class B shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd. in Finland.