Taking elevator travel to new heights

Finland’s KONE Corporation has announced a new high-rise elevator technology that is set to break industry limits and enable future elevators travel to a height of one kilometre — twice the distance currently feasible.

The KONE UltraRope is a new hoisting technology that eliminates the disadvantages of the conventional steel rope and opens up a world of possibilities in high-rise building design. Comprising a carbon-fibre core and a high-friction coating, UltraRope is extremely light, meaning, the elevator energy consumption in high-rise buildings can be cut significantly. The drop in rope weight means a dramatic reduction in the weight of everything that moves when an elevator travels up or down. The manufacturer claims that the new technology will make it practical for elevators to travel heights of up to 1,000 metres – twice as high as is possible with current technology.