KONE and 3Phase make acquisitions; Urban Elevator expands to L.A.

KONE Acquires Detroit Elevator Co.

KONE announced in June that it acquired the service and repair business of Detroit Elevator Co. in Ferndale, Michigan, including its operations throughout the greater Detroit area and stretching north and west to Flint and Grand Rapids. Detroit Elevator, founded in 1914, built its business on performing service, new installation, modernization and repair work. KONE said the acquisition strengthens its local operations and brings additional talent and experience to KONE’s Detroit and Grand Rapids teams.

Ken Schmidt, executive vice president, KONE Americas, lauded Detroit Elevator’s staff, saying:

“KONE welcomes the Detroit Elevator employees and looks forward to continuing to deliver outstanding service for our customers. The acquisition of Detroit Elevator both strengthens our market position and increases our ability to offer innovative smart building solutions and industry expertise to an even larger customer base.”

Berkshire Partners Acquires 3Phase from Fort Point Capital

3Phase Elevator was acquired by Boston-based Berkshire Partners from existing investor Fort Point Capital. The investment will allow 3Phase Elevator to grow throughout the U.S., as it has with six previous acquisitions of independent elevator and escalator services providers, four of which occurred in the past year. “We are thrilled to partner with the Berkshire team,” said Mike Strachan, CEO of 3Phase. “This investment comes at an important time in 3Phase’s growth, and we expect that Berkshire’s digital and go-to-market capabilities will help us further strengthen the service we provide our existing customers, and also attract new customers.”

Urban Elevator Opens Los Angeles Office

Urban Elevator Service, LLC, a privately owned, union elevator contracting firm headquartered in Cicero, Illinois, recently opened an office in Los Angeles. Initially focusing efforts on Southern California, the new office is part of Urban Elevator’s expansion into the California market through subsidiary Urban Elevator Service CA. The new office is being led by Dan McVey and Pete Kasper, elevator-industry veterans with more than 50 years’ combined industry experience. Welcoming McVey and Kasper to the team, Urban Elevator CEO René Hertsberg said his company is “excited about the opportunity to bring our brand of world-class service to California.”

U.K.-U.S. MoU Aims to Improve Building Information Management

The U.S.-based National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to work with the Centre for Digital Built Britain (CDBB) to develop the U.S. National Building Information Management (BIM) Program, NIBS announced in May. Under the two-year MoU, CDBB experts will assist NIBS in de

The U.S.-based National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to work with the Centre for Digital Built Britain (CDBB) to develop the U.S. National Building Information Management (BIM) Program, NIBS announced in May. Under the two-year MoU, CDBB experts will assist NIBS in developing technical standards for the built environment in the U.S. The collaboration was enabled through support of the U.K.’s Construction Innovation Hub.

Lakisha A. Woods, president and CEO of NIBS, said the goal is to improve practices, specifically noting:

“The mission of the U.S. National BIM Program is to convene industry stakeholders to lead the development and broad deployment of next-generation national information management standards and practices focused on significantly improving the built environment delivery and operation processes. We are thrilled to work with CDBB as a collaborative partner to address these global industry opportunities.”

The plan is for NIBS to adapt the U.K. program model and materials as a guide to developing a national roadmap aligned with the international standard for BIM-ISO 19650. The MoU will support and encourage the public and private sectors in both countries to learn from each other and exchange best practices creating benefits to both economies and growing trade opportunities by increasing the sector’s productivity and performance.

The U.S. National BIM Program is meant to foster a productive and more collaborative international digital construction sector for the public good, facilitating innovation to drive increased value and be an engine for long-term sustainable growth.