Europe, Middle East, North America among areas seeing activity.

Hitachi Elevator Saudi Arabia Launched

Hitachi Ltd. has launched Hitachi Elevator Saudi Arabia Ltd., a joint venture with Saudi Arabian investment firm Mayar Holding Co., Arab News reported. Hiroshi Nasu is managing director of Hitachi Elevator Saudi Arabia, which offers vertical-transportation products and maintenance services. The source noted Saudi Arabia is a growing market, with average annual demand of 7,000 units in 2013-2017. More than 80% of orders came from cities such as Riyadh, Jeddah, Mecca and Madinah. Notable Saudi Arabian contracts Hitachi has handled include delivering seven 360-mpm elevators to the Burj Rafal Hotel Kempinski Riyadh, the third- tallest building in Saudi Arabia.

KONE Opens New Regional Headquarters in Singapore

KONE Asia Pacific Executive Vice President Axel Berkling and Managing Director KONE Singapore Jerome Audais inaugurated the company’s new Asia Pacific headquarters and People Flow Experience Centre on the top floor of the MapleTree Industrial New Hi-Tech Space in Singapore on December 7, 2018. The 25,000-sq.-ft. headquarters houses the Singapore country office, project engineering, a 24/7 customer call center and service and support operations. The People Flow Experience Centre allows customers to try out KONE solutions and collects feedback. KONE executives were joined by guests including Finland’s Ambassador to Singapore Paula Parviainen and National Trades Union Congress Secretary General Ng Chee Meng.

Spain’s Orona Expands Relationship With India’s Gilco Global

India’s Gilco Global Pvt. Ltd. has become the authorized distributor in India for Orona’s 3G energy-efficient elevator product line, Newsheads reported. Gilco Director Aman Moudgil said Orona products’ versatility, code compliance, energy efficiency and lower maintenance costs make them competitive in the Indian market. Orona is a leading vertical-transportation equipment manufacturer in Spain, and its products can be found around the world operating in the harshest conditions. As the exclusive distributor for other Orona products, Gilco reports it has “several operational lifts serving [its existing customers] with élan.”

KONE Acquires Eltec of Vancouver

KONE has acquired Eltec Elevator Ltd., of Vancouver, Canada. Eltec was founded by the late Manfred Godow in 1982 and built a strong reputation for high-quality service, modernization and repair work throughout the Vancouver metropolitan area. Eltec was active in the Canadian Elevator Contractors Association (CECA), hosting the 41st Annual CECA Convention in Vancouver in 2015. Welcoming Eltec employees, KONE observed the acquisition strengthens its local operations and brings additional talent and experience to its Vancouver-area team.

Fraco, Turboiber Partner to Focus on European Markets

Saint-Mathias-sur-Richelieu, Canada-based Fraco Products Ltd. and Turboiber Elevacion S.L., a Spanish lift-solutions provider with operations in Europe, Latin America and Asia, have agreed to merge Fraco and Turboiber subsidiaries in France and the U.K. to design products that fit European markets’ specific needs. The newly formed entity will offer rental and servicing of vertical- transportation equipment, including motorized work platforms, construction elevators, transport platforms, industrial lifts and suspended scaffolds. Fraco Co-President Julie Rainville said the partnership “will allow Fraco to focus on the fabrication of innovative lifting products and to benefit from the extended knowledge of the European markets by Turboiber.”

New Leader for thyssenkrupp Elevator

Peter Walker was named the new CEO of thyssenkrupp Elevator on December 14, 2018, replacing Andreas Schierenbeck, who left the company on November 30, 2018. Walker was already a member of thyssenkrupp’s Elevator Technology board, having taken the role of chief operating offi cer on February 1, 2018. A native of Sydney, Walker studied Economics and Electrical Engineering. He joined the company in 1995, initially overseeing business in Australia and New Zealand. He assumed the regional CEO role in 1996. He was appointed CEO of the Asia Pacifi c region in 2005 aft er signifi cantly expanding business there. thyssenkrupp AG CEO Guido Kerkhoff described Walker as “a hands-on, internationally experienced manager with the necessary operating experience to move the business forward and increase its margin.”

thyssenkrupp has also proposed Bayer AG Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Johannes Dietsch fi ll the CFO role under a three-year contract starting this month, Reuters reported. Dietsch’s role would be instrumental as thyssenkrupp spins off its elevators, car-parts and plant-engineering units into a separate entity known as thyssenkrupp Industrials. thyssenkrupp Supervisory Board Chairman Bernhard Pellens said Dietsch brings “exactly the skills and experience we need” since, for Bayer, he arranged funding for the US$63-billion cash takeover of Monsanto and the gradual sale of Bayer’s chemicals and plastics division.

Schierenbeck, meanwhile, departs the company with a “rock-solid record,” said thyssenkrupp Elevator’s Head of Communications Luis Ramos, who added:

“He understands the power and business relevance of a strong brand and is a magnificent spokesperson. Business savvy, resilient, positive, fun and obsessed with guiding all toward common goals — fr om his close leadership circle to the shop floor and field operations — we can never thank him enough. He will only be successful wherever he goes.”