Kone was chosen for the Shangri-La project in Dubai primarily because of its strong local presence in the UAE and its superior technology that provides various advantages and benefits to the client, builder and tenant.
The main high-speed (6.00 m/s and 4.00 m/s) elevators supplied for the Shangri-La project are based on the Kone Alta technology platform, specifically designed and developed by Kone to meet the demands of the world's tallest buildings.
The Kone system offers a unique combination of intelligence, speed, ride comfort, reliability, space and energy savings, along with design flexibility - which is supported by Kone's global project planning and development capabilities.
High-speed lifts and door systems coupled with artificial intelligence offer superior traffic management and handling, resulting in quick and smooth flow of people within the building at all times.
Another clincher in Kone's favour on the Shangri-La project is its gearless machines powered by Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors (PMSM), which represent the latest technology in the field.
Kone has pioneered this breakthrough technology since the mid-nineties and has today developed its entire product range to cover speeds of up to 17 m/s. These machines offer high efficiency (92 to 95 per cent), increased power savings of 35 to 50 per cent and less thermal losses, compared to traditional gearless and geared machines utilising AC induction motors.
Excellent ride comfort, energy savings, efficient traffic handling, reliability and visual appeal are the benefits provided by these technological features.
Benefits to the client include reductions in machine room space, air-conditioning requirements for a smaller machine room and energy bills, while the system requires smaller riser sizes and fuses and emergency power generators.
Benefits to the tenants include:
The builder benefits from the fact that:
Kone prides itself in supplying quality products - and the elevators at the Shangri-La Hotel are no exception.
Kone has the products and technological know-how to provide high-rise elevators of the highest quality. However, this alone does not guarantee that the installed product is of the highest quality.
Any elevator - no matter how technically advanced - can only be as good as its installation. That's why Kone puts great emphasis on its installation quality. Kone uses an installation quality assurance programme that ensures quality inspections are performed at critical stages of the installation. Only after these inspections have been passed will work continue to the next stage. Carrying out these inspections has not only proven to result in the best possible product but it has also saved time, eliminating the need for the inevitable rework that most other installations require.
Safety is of paramount importance to Kone, no matter whether it is during the installation of a single elevator or a major project like Shangri-La.
However, ensuring safety on a big project presents its own challenges. Kone meets these challenges by: training all its project teams in safe working methods and practices. This includes weekly 'toolbox talks', where all safety issues and concerns are discussed on site, regular site safety inspections to ensure the safety policy is being adhered to, and a zero tolerance policy to safety violations. All of this adds up to a safe working environment for both Kone employees and persons who come into contact with Kone and its products.
On the Shangri-La project, installation as well as the schedule were very demanding. Kone addressed this problem by using its scaffold-free installation method, developed specially for use in medium to high-rise buildings. The method can also be used in split-levels, allowing erection teams to actively follow the building progress.
While the method ensured maximum safety of the erectors, it also enabled them to fulfill the strict quality requirements set for this project as there was no scaffolding to hamper the installation of components or access to the best possible working height.
The scaffold-free system additionally helped Kone to provide vertical transportation of goods and people during the construction stage while enabling Kone to complete several lifts in a very short time and hand them over to the contractor.
The Shangri-La project is in the final stages of handing over and Kone has successfully met the demanding time schedule, including providing elevators for use during construction to move about 3,000 people with materials round-the-clock. This goes well to justify that 'We do not serve elevators and escalators, we serve people'.
