Flow Onboard
KONE’S ELEVATORS REIGN SUPREME ON THE SEAS –
ESPECIALLY IN THE DEMANDING
PASSENGER SHIP SEGMENT
KONE has become the number one manufacturer of passenger ship
elevators. According to Cãlin Hera, KONE has a pretty good lock on
the throne especially when comparing units installed, but KONE is
also strong when looking at the financial value of the contracts or
number of passenger ships using KONE solutions, for instance.
“W
e collaborate with all the ma-
when they disembark, that’s when the
tion has been tremendous. As the size of
jor shipyards and ship-owners
elevators have to perform to the best of
the cruise ships has grown, there is more
their ability.”
need for elevators. Also, the cruise lov-
around the world and they do appreci-
ers hate to spend their vacation standing
ate the fact that we’re a global operator,”
KONE has become ”king of the
Hera comments. With regards to the com-
waves” due to some shrewd business
petition, KONE has an advantage here –
moves. Originally, the marine elevators
The crowning achievement for KONE
the Finnish company’s rivals have a more
were manufactured by the Danish com-
was delivering people flow solutions to the
regional or local mindset.
around and waiting for the elevator.
pany Dan Elevator which became a part
Oasis twins, the world’s greatest cruise
But what do you have to do different-
of KONE’s MacGregor business operations
ships. With heavy traffic in all directions
ly when you’re taking elevators from land
later on. While MacGregor moved on to
24 hours a day, the Operation Oasis creat-
and putting them upon the waves? The
Cargotec, marine elevators became a part
ed (quite possibly) the most testing context
first thing, Hera replies, that you have to
of KONE.
for marine elevators ever. Smooth logistics
recognise is that the “building is moving”.
Passenger ship elevators are, by far,
on the 16-deck ships are simply a must,
“We have to make allowances for
KONE’s forte in the marine segment, with
with elevators being the key to everything.
pitching and rolling of the vessel to make
ferries contributing as well. More recent-
KONE delivered a total of 41 ele-
sure that the people flow solutions we pro-
ly, KONE has also made advances in the
vators to the ships. Equipment is hoist-
vide are always safe and work the way they
cargo department, installing elevators to
ed by the economically and ecologically
should. This means, for instance, that the
cargo ships more and more. According to
advanced KONE EcoDisc technology, us-
structure of the elevators is stronger and
Hera, KONE has tried its hand in offshore,
ing both space and energy efficient KONE
the cables more secure,” Hera says.
too, but is backing out of that business:
MiniSpace and KONE MonoSpace solu-
“We have been active in the Oil &
tions. Elevator modes are synchronised
EYE ON THE PROFILE
Gas segment for several years; however,
with the guest communication system so
Another thing comes from the people flow
as we re-evaluated our marine business
that disembarking instructions, for exam-
profile of a ship vs. that of an office build-
during early 2013, we realised it doesn’t
ple, are automatically displayed on the
ing, for instance. While a regular building
make complete business logic anymore,
elevators’ LCD screens.
full of white-collar workers packs the ele-
so we pulled out of offshore altogether,”
vators to the brim around lunchtime, with
he confirms.
passenger ships there are two big “seasons”:
“When the patrons embark and
KONE also provided special-access elevators for guests with reduced mobility.
Furthermore, two escalators were incor-
WASTE NO TIME
porated – rare equipment on ships. These
With passenger ships, however, the evolu-
help to speed up the flow of people, espe-
seatec 2/2013
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