Elevator and escalator manufacturer Kone has recently appointed Amit Gossain as the Managing Director for India. In an exclusive interview with B2B Purchase, Gossain talks about Indian elevator market and his key objectives. Edited excerpts:

From construction equipment to elevators, how do you look at this transition?
Interesting for sure! But I would say it is a similar kind of an industry as both have construction as a common factor.

What are your key objectives at Kone India?
Our vision is to deliver the ‘best people flow’ experience. We will continue to create value for our key stakeholders – customers, shareholders, employees and society as a whole. We will work towards being the preferred maintenance partner

Would you like to increase your manufacturing footprint in India?
We will continue to innovate and provide value to our customers in line with the market trends. We have a best-in-class production unit which can provide support to the ever increasing needs of the customer. We will look at expansion as and when market demands increase beyond our existing capacity. We also have our Indian Technology and Engineering Centre, based in Chennai, which caters to innovative product development across the globe.

How significant is the Indian elevator market for your group’s business?
India is definitely on the move and is into a phase of rapid urbanisation and it is not surprising that the demand for taller, better and intelligent buildings is going up. We need many more homes, hotels, hospitals, malls and metros and I am sure that the elevator and escalator market is only going to grow. As land is becoming a scarcity and cities are becoming denser, there is a shift to vertical cities and this shift has happened, is happening and will continue to happen.

There is demand for both low speed lifts that serve low- and mid-rise buildings as well as high speed elevators for high-rise and super high-rise buildings. Aging population makes elevators a need for even two storey buildings. Lifts are becoming a necessity than a luxury. Cost effective products, faster delivery, meeting the changing customer requirement and strong R&D are the need of the hour. Affordable housing is one of the largest projects in our country which needs immediate attention. The major share still comes from residential although the demand for infrastructure if very heavy with airports and metros growing.

Technology has been at the forefront in Kone. We will continue to innovate and deliver the right people flow solutions and services that delight the customer.

How do you look at the current trends in procurement of elevators?
The elevator is the heart of a building that ensures smooth people flow. In recent times, tall buildings have not only continued to be built, but have become more prevalent and more complex than ever before. As we are finally creating true cities in the sky, we are also faced with the need to maintain both safety and efficiency in the design of our escape systems. True to its vision of ‘delivering the best people flow experience’, Kone will continue to provide solutions with the right features which ensure smooth and safe ride to the users. We have been in the Forbes list of the most innovative companies for 5 years in a row which is a testimony to the world-class technology we use. The customer today defines his needs well and is looking at not only better aesthetics but also economical and safer world-class solutions. Providing the best people flow experience to create an enjoyable and memorable user experience will continue to be on priority for us.

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Kone will continue to provide solutions with the right features which ensure smooth and safe ride to the users.

Amit Gossain, Managing Director, Kone India