17 / 24
K
ONE set the standard in ener-
gy-efficiency for elevators used
in high-rises, and now those
same benefits are brought to
low and mid-rise buildings, too. Regen-
erative technology offers energy-saving
solutions for high-speed, mid-range
and low-speed elevators. Regenerative
drives convert the excess energy gener-
ated when full cars descend or empty
ones ascend into electrical current and
feed it back into a building’s electrical
network or grid. This eliminates the
without keys, but this may come in the
future,” smiles Oijala.
UNDERSTANDING
LONG-TERM NEEDS
One of the key drivers in innovation is
eco-efficiency, which challenges KONE
to deliver equipment that consumes
less energy. Here, the company has set
an ambitious target. In 2009, KONE
released a range of elevator offer-
ings that reduced energy consump-
tion by 30 percent, compared to its
then-current volume models. “KONE
is targeting an additional 20 percent
energy-consumption cutback in its vol-
ume elevator offering, compared to our
previous offering,” says Oijala. Volume
elevators refer to the standard elevators
in KONE’s product line.
Advanced elevator technology offers
major opportunities. To really deliver,
though, systems need to be energy-ef-
ficient; as well as able to handle power
surges and not be affected by or affect
‘CLEAN’ POWER FOR AN
ENERGY-CONSCIOUS WORLD
braking energy that normally goes to
waste and has to be dissipated using
braking resistors, which in turn need to
be cooled or provided with ventilation.
KONE drives also offer extremely accu-
rate stopping; and can be programmed
to match a customer’s specific accelera-
tion/jerk values and target ride com-
fort very closely. KONE regenerative
solutions help reduce a building’s net
energy consumption and provide con-
siderable cost savings over an elevator’s
lifetime.
•
other electrical equipment. KONE was
the first company to offer regenerative
systems, which can recover up to 35
percent of the total energy used by an
elevator system. A KONE regenerative
drive is designed to work in tandem
with a KONE EcoDisc® motor, which
serves as the generator; the regenera-
tive drive thus recovers the energy and
converts it into ‘clean’ regenerated
electricity for use in other applications,
such as lighting or to perhaps drive
other elevators.
But while technology is interesting
to talk about, for Oijala, job satisfaction
comes from understanding what a cus-
tomer needs and developing solutions
that build a long-term relationship. “We
have to focus not only on new products
and technologies but also understand-
ing logistics, installation and mainte-
nance of our equipment. We know
we’ve gotten it right when we win a
contract and keep a customer satisfied
for many years,” says Oijala.
•
PEOPLE FLOW |
17