Big announcements from UTC, Gustav Wolf and KONE

UTC Unveils Center for Intelligent Buildings in Florida

United Technologies Corp. (UTC) officials cut the ribbon in April on UTC’s US$115-million, 224,000-sq.-ft. Center for Intelligent Buildings in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, WLRN Public Radio reported. Bob McDonough, UTC Climate, Controls & Security president, observed the facility showcases features of the company’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning; elevator; escalator; fire/security; and building-automation offerings that are typically hidden, such as escalator belts. Florida Governor Rick Scott praised the move as a job generator that will provide an economic boost for years to come. The center currently employs 350, and expects to add another 130 jobs by 2021. McDonough stated more than 6,000 business customers will visit the center, located in the I-95 corridor, in the first year.

Gustav Wolf Opens Factory

Gustav Wolf GmbH opened its new factory in Rome, Georgia, in April. The wire and rope manufacturer, headquartered in Gütersloh, Germany, is, thus, pushing ahead with its international strategy and making a move toward further growth. “Our organic growth is a continuous process. This year, we’re expecting our group turnover to increase by 15%, reaching US$184 million,” Managing Director and majority shareholder Dr. Ernst Wolf commented.

Now with six rope plants on three continents (Asia, Europe and North America), Gustav Wolf enters what it calls another of the biggest markets for its specially constructed ropes. Reinhard Bänisch, division manager for steel-wire ropes, detailed, “From May onwards, we’ll be additionally installing some new machines. And that’s just the beginning. We plan to have 30 staff at the site and want to achieve a turnover of US$12.3 million.” Richard Lindemeyer, who manages the U.S. site, weighed in, “We’ll manufacture about 3,000 T. of elevator rope in the U.S. per year, exclusively for the American market.”

Gustav Wolf holds numerous patents for such rope constructions as hybrid ropes. “These are special ropes, made not of conventional steel, but of a lighter Kevlar® and steel, and offer us significant weight advantages for elevators in today’s skyscrapers,” explained Sales Manager Antonio Pagan. Wolf added:

“Our aim is and has always been to be able to deliver our premium products to our customers within 24 hr. Establishing a base in the U.S. means that we can now accomplish this for all our customers throughout the world.”

Texas-Based Heartland Elevator Acquired by KONE

KONE has acquired the service and repair business of Heartland Elevator, LCC, of Lewisville, Texas, including its operations throughout the Dallas area. Observing the acquisition strengthens KONE’s local operations and brings additional talent and experience to the Dallas area, KONE said Heartland was founded in 2014 and has built a “solid reputation of performing high-quality service, modernization and repair work.” Executive Vice President for KONE Americas Larry Wash welcomed Heartland employees to the KONE team.