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ELEVATOR WORLD Europe’s March-April 2026 Issue |
Features: Halo; A Recalibration in Global Tall-Building Development; A Walking Tour of London...
Focus on Maintenance and Modernization: From Aesthetics to Code Compliance...
Columns: 43rd Heilbronn Elevator Days; Historical Milestones; New Frontiers...
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Visit our website to read the
March-April 2026 Issue, latest news, events and magazine archives!
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EW EUROPE TO FOCUS ON SWITZERLAND, PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS
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The July-August 2026 issue of ELEVATOR WORLD Europe will focus on Switzerland and feature the 14th annual Photo Contest Winners. Submissions will be accepted through June 30. The Advertising deadline is July 14. Contact Bülent Yılmaz for editorial submissions and editorial and advertising inquiries within Europe. Those outside of Europe may contact Angela C. Baldwin for editorial and T. Bruce MacKinnon for advertising.
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14TH ANNUAL PHOTO CONTEST OPEN
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Submissions are open for ELEVATOR WORLD’s 2026 Photo Contest until May 15. This year’s categories include Projects In Action, Elevators/Lifts (Commercial), Elevators/Lifts (Private Residence), Escalators & Moving Walkways, Machines & Components, City Skylines and Tall Buildings, Historical/Legacy Equipment (pre-1965), Company Factories/Facilities, Hoistways and Industry Art/Illustrations (including sketches, blueprints, digital, AI and other). The nomination period will be followed by public voting, and winners will be featured in our August 2026 issue. Video submissions can be submitted for any category and links can be shared from any of the following platforms: YouTube, Vimeo, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Twitch, Wistia, Vidyard, BitChute and Mixcloud. Send us your best shots and be published in EW! We look forward to viewing the elevator world through your unique lens. Please email with any questions.
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SUBMIT YOUR PROJECT FOR THE EW PROJECT OF THE YEAR AWARDS
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Submissions are now being accepted for the ELEVATOR WORLD 29th Annual Project of the Year Awards. We are seeking submissions of projects featuring vertical, horizontal or inclined transportation systems with an innovative design, special application or approach that solved a major problem or overcame a unique challenge. Projects will be judged on innovation, originality and creativity, challenges overcome, installation methods and techniques and use of advanced technology, as well as overall quality of presentation. This year’s categories are Elevators, New Construction; Elevators, Modernization; Escalators, New Construction; Escalators, Modernization; Moving Walks; Inclined Elevators; Platform Lifts & Stairway Chairlifts; Private-Residence Elevators; and Special-Purpose Lifts. All entries will be judged and categorized as received by an impartial panel of experienced industry experts and professionals. Winning entries will be published in the January 2027 issue of ELEVATOR WORLD. Winners in each category will be acknowledged with an award of recognition. The submission deadline is September 2.
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KONE-TKE DEAL LIKELY FACES ANTITRUST SCRUTINY, REGULATORY REVIEWS
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KONE’s plan to acquire TK Elevator (TKE), announced on April 29, likely faces lengthy European Union (EU) antitrust scrutiny and regulatory reviews in the U.S., U.K. and elsewhere, Reuters reports. Brussels’ antitrust rules, which previously helped squelch a KONE-TKE deal, have come into sharp focus, and any new deal may require asset sales — particularly in Europe — to gain approval. Finland-headquartered KONE, according to the source, is counting on a revamp of EU merger rules that would give companies “more leeway in pursuing continental tie-ups to match the scale of U.S. and Asian rivals.” Read more here
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INTERLIFT EXHIBITOR EARLY BIRD DEADLINE MAY 31
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interlift 2027, the world’s leading trade fair for the lift industry, which will be held on October 12–15, 2027, at Messe Nürnberg (Nuremberg Exhibition Centre) in Nuremberg, Germany, has announced May 31 as the deadline for early bird pricing for exhibitors. Following the early bird deadline, event organizers will begin allocating hall spaces in early summer 2026. Read more here
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HYUNDAI LAUNCHES WORLD-FIRST MODULAR HIGH-RISE SYSTEM
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Hyundai Elevator became the world’s first to successfully install and commercialize an elevator for high-rise buildings using modular construction, The Korea Herald reports. The company recently completed a quality control inspection for its 27-story ENOBLOC — which stands for Elevator Innovate Block Construction application — at the Songdo Hillstate Center Park construction site in Songdo, Incheon, becoming the first to commercialize a modular elevator system for buildings higher than 20 stories. Read more here
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SPAIN’S ORONA TALKS FINANCIAL PROGRESS, GROWTH AND SUSTAINABILITY AT MEETING
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Orona, the fifth-largest European group in vertical-transportation (VT) solutions for people, reported on May 8 that it held its Ordinary General Meeting in April at its Hernani, Spain, headquarters. At the meeting, financials for 2025 were approved and the main strategies that will guide the cooperative forward in coming years were shared. With 6,997 employees, the company achieved turnover of EUR1.195 billion (US$1.407 billion) and is consolidating in Europe, reflecting more than 7% sales growth compared to the previous year. Read more here
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TKE REPORTS GROWTH ACROSS REGIONS
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On May 7, TK Elevator (TKE) reported strong momentum in the first six months of fiscal year 2026, with sales up 4% across all regions to EUR4.5 billion (US$5.29 billion) and Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization — the metric used to evaluate a company's operating performance and profitability — up 11% to EUR776 million (US$912 million). Service and modernization sales have delivered positive year-on-year growth for TKE every quarter for more than five years. Read more here
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OTIS NAMED STADIUM PARTNER FOR SPANISH FOOTBALL CLUB
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Otis has been announced as the Stadium Partner for Valencia Club de Fútbol’s (Valencia CF) Nou Mestalla, a partially built football stadium in Valencia, Spain. As part of the agreement, Otis will install 19 elevators specifically designed for a high-traffic environment, intensive use and highly concentrated demand peaks over short periods of time. The agreement also includes maintenance of the equipment for five years, ensuring service of the highest quality. A total of 10 of these elevators will be distributed around the perimeter and will serve all levels of the stadium. Read more here
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MOTORCYCLE EVENTS FOR ELEVATOR ENTHUSIASTS COMING UP IN EUROPE
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Two top-notch motorcycle events for elevator enthusiasts are coming up in Europe: BIKE-FRANCE 2026 is planned on June 24-28, taking riders from the Saar River to the Champagne region. The tour is set to include spectacular stops such as the vineyards of Dizy, the coast of Dieppe and the green forests of the Ardennes. Riders will stay at select accommodations like Les Grains D’Argent or take advantage of motorcycle-friendly options from Relais Motards. Daily rides are approximately 300 to 330 km, and the reservation deadline for hotels is May 8. Read more here
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“OPERATIONAL MOMENTUM” BUOYS SCHINDLER DESPITE CHALLENGES
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In the first quarter (1Q), Schindler “maintained strong operational momentum, driving margin expansion with operating cash flow at a high level,” CEO Paolo Compagna said in an April 23 press release on the Swiss lift maker’s 1Q 2026 earnings. Schindler’s Earnings Before Interest and Taxes margin — the profitability ratio indicating how well a company manages core business costs — increased 13% to CHF337 million (US$430.1 million), driven primarily by operational efficiencies, pricing adjustments and changes in the product mix. Read more here
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CALL FOR PAPERS FOR IEES IN AMSTERDAM ON DECEMBER 10-11
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Liftinstituut B.V. and Elevator World, Inc., organizers of the International Elevator & Escalator Symposium (IEES) planned on December 10-11 at Hotel Okura in Amsterdam, Netherlands, have issued a call for papers on the topic “Passenger Experience, Access, Design and Safety.” Those planning to exhibit or attend can book now for an early-bird discount. Potential speakers must submit an abstract related to the symposium theme. Read more here
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OTIS ACQUIRES MAJORITY STAKE IN PROPTECH COMPANY WEMAINTAIN
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Otis announced on April 13 that it agreed to acquire a majority stake in WeMaintain, a fast-growing property technology (PropTech) company based in Paris and London. The investment reflects "Otis' continued focus on advancing service and service technology to deliver the best possible solutions for customers," Otis stated. Otis and WeMaintain will operate as separate entities, with WeMaintain continuing to offer its agnostic Internet of Things (IoT)- and AI-based solutions to current and future customers. Read more here
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GUSTAV WOLF ESTABLISHES MIDDLE EAST SUBSIDIARY, TAPS LEADER
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Gustav Wolf GmbH, the Germany-based global steel and synthetic elevator rope manufacturer, recently announced its new Middle East subsidiary in Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), being led by Area Sales Manager Abu Ghwaileh. Fully compliant with local regulations, the new facility is equipped to stock, cut and supply Gustav Wolf's complete range of traction rope, covering all types and diameters. Read more here
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TKE PARTNERS WITH MICROSOFT FOR AGENTIC AI
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TK Elevator (TKE) is collaborating with Microsoft to deliver a new AI-supported service model for elevator service, support and maintenance. By connecting proprietary data, operational workflows and technician experience globally with new agentic AI modules, TKE is able to analyze and share knowledge and service-relevant insights more efficiently throughout its technician community. In the U.S., a pilot in 2025 reduced roughly 20,000 unplanned service visits and callback rates by more than 40%, where structured Digital Operations Centers (DOCs)-supported interventions were executed. Read more here
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30th WEE EXPO TO BE HELD IN CHINA MAY 20-23
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The World Elevator & Escalator Expo (WEE Expo) will hold its 30th edition on May 20-23 at the China Import and Export Fair Complex in Guangzhou, China. The three-day event will focus on elevators, elevator components, parking equipment and digital building systems and feature more than 1,100 exhibitors in 120,000 m2 of exhibition space. Organizers say the expo has achieved steady growth over the past three decades and are anticipating more than 100,000 visitors to the 2026 expo. Registration to attend or exhibit is available online.
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OTIS LAUNCHES HEAVY-DUTY ELEVATOR RANGE
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Otis Worldwide Corp. has announced Otis Robust, a new heavy-duty elevator range engineered to meet the growing demand of multi-story data centers and other essential infrastructure, such as airports, hospitals and industrial plants, that operate around the clock under demanding conditions. Otis Robust elevators are designed for demanding infrastructure supporting heavy loads, frequent use and continuous operation, with up to five times the weight capacity and two times wider door openings than standard passenger elevators. Read more here
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ALIMAK GROUP REPORTS “RESILIENT PERFORMANCE” IN CHALLENGING 1Q
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Sweden’s Alimak Group on April 28 reported “resilient performance in a continued challenging market” for the first quarter (1Q) of 2026, with slight decreases — order intake, revenue and earnings — across the board, including in the Construction division that encompasses permeant industrial elevators — construction hoists — and solutions for them. Order intake decreased by 11% to MSEK1.78 billion (US$191 million), an organic decrease of 4%. Revenue decreased by 5% to MSEK1.65 billion, an organic increase of 3%, and adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, and Amortization margin decreased to 16.7%. Read more here
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EUROPEAN CRE MARKETS SHOW RENEWED MOMENTUM
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According to Savills research, European commercial real estate (CRE) markets are gaining momentum with investment projected to reach approximately EUR52 billion (US$60.8 billion) in the first quarter (1Q) of 2026, a 6% year-on-year increase, the Council on Vertical Urbanism reports. Growth has been notably strong in Finland, Ireland and Poland, which are each expected to see increases of at least 50% compared to the same period last year. Germany, as well, has returned to positive growth, and the U.K. continues to see steady expansion. Read more here
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TKE INTRODUCED AWARD-WINNING HOME LIFT AT MILAN DESIGN WEEK
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TK Home Solutions, part of TK Elevator (TKE), introduced the H300 NXT home lift cabin at Milan Design Week 2026 on April 20-26. Designed by Italdesign, the new cabin represents the latest evolution of the established H300 home lift and has been honored with the Red Dot Award 2026 for its outstanding design quality. The H300 NXT reflects the growing convergence of residential design and home mobility. Read more here
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REVISED ISO 14001:2026 PUBLISHED
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TÜV SÜD announced the new ISO 14001:2026 standard has been published, marking an important update to how environmental management systems are planned, implemented and led. Environmental management, TÜV SÜD observed, has become more complex, with increasing expectations around climate change, resource use and supply-chain responsibility. The revised standard makes climate change a mandatory element of environmental management planning. It includes expanded environmental aspects including biodiversity, resource availability and pollution impacts. Read more here
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ZIEHL-ABEGG HOSTS SOCIAL MEDIA EVENT FOR SENIOR EXECUTIVES
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More than 40 managing directors and board members from industry, commerce, banking and associations recently accepted Ziehl-Abegg’s invitation to Kupferzell, Germany, for “Social Media for Decision-Makers,” an event focused on the strategic relevance of social media with LinkedIn taking center stage as a platform for visibility and positioning. Ziehl-Abegg deliberately brought together senior executives from a wide range of sectors to discuss opportunities, challenges and practical approaches at a strategic level. Read more here
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EUROPEAN INVESTMENT BANK LENDS MONEY TO KONE FOR RESEARCH AND INNOVATION
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The European Investment Bank (EIB) is lending €250 million (US$292 million) to KONE to support R&D, innovation and the development of next-generation elevators, escalators, moving walks and intelligent digital solutions, The European Sting reports. The loan will support KONE’s research and innovation program from 2026 to 2029. The activities focus on improving safety and performance and energy efficiency in elevators and escalators. Read more here
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Editorial submissions, reprint permission requests, subscription/removal requests should be sent to the EWEU News editorial staff: Angela C. Baldwin, Kaija Wilkinson, Lindsay Fletcher and Kathleen Farrell. The ELEVATOR WORLD Media Kit can be downloaded here. EWEU News is a registered trademark, and all rights are reserved. Copyright 2026 © Elevator World, Inc.
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