The elevator, an essential equipment ...
For the French, the elevator is no longer a luxury: it is an essential piece of equipment. And that, from the 2nd floor, even affirm a third of the people questioned by IPSOS within the framework of the 5th annual barometer “The French and the elevator”.[1] ! There are many reasons for this: to allow elderly or dependent people to stay at home, to simplify daily life when you come home loaded or when you are accompanied by young children ... or quite simply, to increase well-being at home. Result: the presence of an elevator is, for half of French people looking for a property to buy or rent, a real criterion of choice.
... reflection of the standing of the building
But to meet user expectations, the elevator can no longer be satisfied with being a safe and efficient means of transport. A real showcase for the building, it must reflect its level of requirement - in terms of maintenance, standing, quality - and be welcoming. The "vertical path" must be fluid and offer a real moment of relaxation, without breaking with movement in the building.
To meet these expectations, manufacturers have redesigned their offer. Beyond the usual criteria of safety and fluidity of movement, they also look at the design of the cabins and the materials used. For example, the manufacturer KONE imagines its cabins as real places of relaxation and well-being, offering “a new mobility experience”. This translates into a choice of intelligent materials - easy to maintain and more durable, even antibacterial - but also different designs to blend in with all atmospheres, lighting solutions adapted to all situations… The sound environment is also redesigned. up to date: the “elevator music” has been modernized and fits in with the spirit and use of the building. Result: the elevator integrates into the building in complete harmony.
The design of the elevator: many technical choices
On the "technical" side, to guarantee total fluidity of movement, the elevator must be adapted to the size and to the technical and functional specificities of the building, be designed according to current and future uses ... To take these numerous parameters into account , it is necessary to think about the elevator from the design of the building, without losing sight of its construction and its operation - certain real estate projects, such as hotels or buildings open to the public, will even revolve entirely around the elevators which become a point of attraction!
But dimensioning, positioning and planning the elevators in a building requires real expertise. This is why KONE does not content itself with guiding aesthetic and comfort choices: its teams, thanks to their expertise, offer real support throughout the project.installation of an elevator in the new building !
How about the smart elevator?
Finally, the elevator can go beyond its role of "means of transport": by being connected, it lays the foundations for a smart building approach. At KONE once again, the connected elevator offers an open digital platform that will be able to support services dedicated to safety, comfort or even communication. For example ? It will be at the heart of contactless access control solutions. It will be equipped with a screen broadcasting information in real time for users. It will be able to offer predictive maintenance services, for optimal availability… And beyond the services imagined and developed by the manufacturer, the KONE connected elevator can connect to the exclusive services of innovative partners or the building manager. Enough to make the whole building intelligent!
[1] 5th IPSOS barometer “The French and the elevator” for the Federation of Elevators, 2020.