KONE Escalator Solutions Win Top Innovation Award from Architectural Products Magazine

LISLE, Ill., Nov. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- KONE Inc. is pleased to announce that Architectural Products Magazine has awarded its 2012 Product Innovation Award to two of the company's offerings, the KONE TravelMaster™ 110 escalator and KONE EcoMod® escalator modernization solution.  The winning offerings are part of an elite group of 83 products and solutions showcased in the magazine's November 2012 issue.

A distinguished panel of 50 independent architects, interior designers, and veteran architect, engineering and construction reporters evaluated each product.  Finalists were selected for leadership and innovation in the following categories: attributes, qualities, functionality and performance.

"We are honored to receive two product innovation awards from Architectural Products," said Larry Wash, EVP and Area Director of KONE Americas. "KONE is proud of our history of innovation and we are committed to providing our customers the most eco-efficient, sustainable solutions in the market."

KONE's award-winning solutions include:

• The KONE TravelMaster 110 escalator is tailored for the retail environment and showcases the latest in escalator eco-efficient technology, safety and reliability. Its energy-saving features include a standby speed operation, reduced escalator running speed and optional regenerative drive.
• The KONE EcoMod escalator modernization solution is a first-of-its-kind approach to replacing the entire workings of an escalator unit without removing the truss, thereby significantly lowering a project's total cost and decreasing disruption to the building's occupants.

"The winners of the 2012 Product Innovation Awards prove commercial building manufacturers are committed to, and are working arduously toward, delivering more sustainable products, as well as products that deliver better performance, life and affordability," added Jim Crockett, editorial director of Construction Business Media.

A complete list of award winners, including KONE, can be found in the November 2012 issue of Architectural Products or online at www.arch-products.com.

For further information, please contact:

Kellie Lindquist, Marketing Manager, KONE Inc., tel. +1 630 955 4202

About Construction Business Media

Construction Business Media, headquartered in Chicago, is publisher of Architectural Products, Illuminate and Architectural SSL magazines.  The company also operates the ArchLED Conference, markets and partners in TheContinuingArchitect.com educational platform, and maintains websites and electronic extensions of its print publications.

About KONE

KONE is one of the global leaders in the elevator and escalator industry. The company has been committed to understanding the needs of its customers for the past century, providing industry-leading elevators, escalators and automatic building doors as well as innovative solutions for modernization and maintenance. The company's objective is to offer the best People Flow™ experience by developing and delivering solutions that enable people to move smoothly, safely, comfortably and without waiting in buildings in an increasingly urbanizing environment. In 2011, KONE had annual net sales of EUR 5.2 billion and on average 35,000 employees. KONE class B shares are listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki Ltd in Finland.

www.kone.us

SOURCE KONE Inc.