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PEOPLE FLOW |
Great ideas and innovations
often spur from seemingly
small observations in real-life
situations. One way KONE
gathers these important
insights is through the annually
organized People Flow Day.
The KONE researchers-for-
a-day observe people’s move-
ments and use of elevators,
escalators, and automatic
building doors in different types
of buildings, and interview
customers to better understand
their needs and wishes when
it comes to smoother, smarter
people flow. The valuable
data obtained during the
event is passed on to KONE’s
research and development
teams, who use it to develop
new, increasingly intelligent
solutions.
Last year, the emphasis of
research was on design. In
2013 we focus on safety. KONE
celebrates People Flow Day
2013 on October 30.
■
We at KONE thrive on innovation.
Although our primary products may
seem old-school, they contain surprising
amounts of technology, and every now
and then you might get a glimpse of our
love for gadgets. The World Expo held in
Shanghai in 2010 was the perfect plat-
form to showcase one of these devices.
Visitors to Finland’s Kirnu
(Giant’s
Kettle) pavilion were treated to a unique
elevator calling experience. Special access
cards made of cardboard and based on
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)
technology enabled VIP guests to order
an elevator remotely and access the
exclusive top floor of the pavilion.
“Kirnu gave us a unique opportunity
for concept testing in a truly global
context,” says
Jukka Salmikuukka
, who
managed KONE’s smart device portfo-
lio at the Expo. “Based on test results,
the feedback from Kirnu, and detailed
technical evaluations by KONE’s R&D
unit, we decided to go for an alterna-
tive approach – the KONE RemoteCall™
mobile phone application.”
■
Turning to the public
for intuitive solutions
KONE was recognized as one of the
world’s most innovative companies
for the third consecutive year by US-
based business magazine
Forbes
in
2013. KONE’s ranking rose to 37 (42).
Of the European companies listed,
KONE is ranked as 12.
KONE has been an industry forerunner
with its innovative solutions for several
decades. For example, KONE was the
first company to introduce machine-
room-less elevators in 1996. KONE’s
latest ground breaking solution is its
new high-rise elevator hoisting technol-
ogy, KONE UltraRope™, enabling future
elevator travel heights of one kilometer –
twice the distance currently feasible.
Forbes
magazine’s ranking is based
on a metric called the “Innovation
Premium”. One of the developers of
the metric is Harvard Business School
Professor
Clayton Christensen
.
■
KONE’s innovation recognized
Gadgets galore
Read the full 2012 report and check out images from the day on
www.kone.com> News & events > Events > People Flow Day