STX France Recognizes KONE as Best Long-Term Partner

KONE, a global leader in the elevator and escalatory industry, was awarded the title of best long-term partner by shipping group STX France in a ceremony held onboard Royal Caribbean International's Harmony of the Seas, the latest Oasis-class luxury cruise ship built by the company, and the biggest cruise liner in the world.

STX France General Manager Laurent Castaing praised KONE as a reliable partner that delivers high-quality elevators and escalators, communicates clearly, excels in project management, and has reliable installation and good cooperation on site.

"During the building of the Harmony of the Seas vessel, we never faced any issues related to the delivery or installation of KONE's equipment. We see this as a proof of their professionalism and we're extremely pleased to work with KONE," Castaing said.

KONE has been working with STX France since the mid-1990s and KONE's Marine Business has its own dedicated team at the STX shipyard in St. Nazaire, France. The Harmony of the Seas, like its sister ships the Oasis of the Seas and the Allure of the Seas, features eco-efficient KONE elevators and escalators that enable the smooth flow of both guests and crew onboard the vessel.

"We are honored and proud to receive this recognition from a valued customer," said Ari Winter, Head of Marine Business at KONE. "Marine elevators are among the most demanding to design, and we are truly grateful to STX France for recognizing our efforts and expertise in this way. Our long, shared history has given us the insight needed to understand and find the best solutions to meet the customer's needs."

The Harmony of the Seas was handed over to Royal Caribbean International on May 15 and, for the inaugural season, it will be cruising the Mediterranean.

In addition to the Harmony of the Seas, KONE is currently working with STX France to supply elevators to MSC Meraviglia. The building of sister vessels will begin once these projects are finished. KONE's latest order from STX France was booked in the second quarter of 2016 and includes 20 KONE MiniSpace(TM), 2 KONE MonoSpace® elevators and 2 platforms for people with limited mobility to be installed onboard the first EDGE cruise ship for Celebrity Cruises. The people flow solution also contains the new KONE Group Controller, an intelligent control system equipped with learning logic. Equipped with KONE Group Controller, elevator groups automatically adapt to serve the most crowded areas of the ship and thus reduce the waiting times of the passengers.