EXPECTING at least a 10-percent sales increase this year, (from left) Van Dijk; Noud Veeger, KONE Asia-Pacific and Middle East executive vice president; and Michiel De Moel, KONE Asia-Pacific and Middle East service and modernization director and Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines regional managing director, are banking on the Philippines’ continued economic growth.
The 19-storey Lopez Tower and Museum project at the Rockwell Center in Makati City, set for completion this year, will be the country’s first to use a smart elevator technology that analyzes each passenger’s desired floor and the number of waiting passengers.
Such system—developed by Finnish elevator and escalator giant KONE—leads to increased handling capacity of the elevator and for the passengers, shorter journey times, fewer intermediate stops and enhanced comfort while inside.
Its local arm, KPI Elevators Inc., also landed a record-breaking contract to provide the $2-billion Manila Bay Resorts casino complex with 162 pieces of equipment that will enable smooth people flow. All the delivered equipment will be connected to KONE E-link, which allows the real-time monitoring and configuration of these elevators and escalators.
Energy-efficient design
Indeed, things are looking up for KPI Elevators as several of the country’s major real estate developments (Eton Tower Makati, Alphaland Makati Place, Icon Residence, Equitable Bank and Philam Tower) are opting for KONE solutions. In the case of Lopez Tower and Museum, KONE’s energy-efficient elevator system design will assist the new headquarters of the Lopez Group of Companies secure the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification.
In addition, the Lopez Tower and Museum will be provided with KONE’s latest innovations including the Remote Call that allows users to make elevator calls directly from their smart phone and the Hybrid Destination Control, the company’s most advanced elevator destination control system.
To further strengthen its presence in the country, KONE Philippines has recently moved to its new headquarters at BDO Equitable Tower in Makati City.
KPI Elevators president Gerard van Dijk said: “This expansion allows us to meet strong growth in the Philippines. It will enable us to respond to the demands of existing and new customers and continue providing them with a high standard of service.”
He believes that with the Philippines investing considerably to boost key industries such as hospitality and tourism, more and more building projects will be needed. These will all require elevators and escalators that facilitate smooth and convenient flow of people and other items.
Van Dijk explained that the new headquarters puts KONE in close proximity to many of its customers and at a central location in relation to other key business and commercial center of Pasig, Pasay and Muntinlupa.
KONE’s business in Philippines started in 1975, and currently employs 137 personnel. An additional 51 local employees have been recruited to assist in the company’s ongoing expansion.