Finland-based Kone has won a contract to supply high-speed double-decker elevators to the Kingdom Tower in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The tower, which is being built by Saudi Bin Laden Group, is expected to reach 1km-high upon completion in 2018, overtaking the Burj Khalifa in Dubai to make it the world’s tallest building.
Kingdom Tower will house offices, a hotel, serviced apartments, residential apartments and an observatory.
The building will have five double-decker elevators and 59 elevators. The double-decker elevators are claimed to be the world’s fastest, moving at a speed of more than ten metres a second, and also the world’s highest, rising to a height of 660m.
To reach such these records, Kone will use its Kone Double Deck MiniSpace elevators built with Kone UltraRope hoisting technology.
Kone UltraRope high-rise elevator technology not only eliminates the disadvantages of conventional steel rope, but also offers new possibilities for high-rise building designs.
Out of the total 65 elevators and escalators to be deployed at Kingdom Tower, Kone will install 21 Kone MonoSpace elevators, 29 Kone MiniSpace elevators, seven Kone Double Deck MiniSpace elevators and eight KoneTravelMaster 110 escalators.
“This is another cornerstone for a development of this magnitude and we look forward to creating this landmark building in all standards.”
Additionally, Kone will also provide tailor-designed car interiors, landing doors and people flow intelligence solutions, including Kone destination control systems, premium Kone infoscreen displays, Kone e-link remote monitoring systems, and an occupant evacuation operation system for emergency situations.
Jeddah Economic Company CEO Mounib Hammoud said the company is impressed with Kone’s innovative solutions to high-rise buildings.
Kone Asia Pacific and Middle East executive vice-president Noud Veeger said: “Close cooperation between all project partners, and with Kone Areeco team locally, our technical professionalism and people flow planning expertise was a winning combination in helping us land the order.”
As part of the order, Kone will also provide equipment maintenance for ten years.