KONE India recently showcased a new home elevator called the "KONE Villa 100" at its manufacturing facility in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu. The event wasn't a glitzy launch or a public expo; it was a low-key announcement attended by senior leadership, including KONE Corporation's global CEO Philippe Delorme and Amit Gossain, who heads operations for India and South Asia. While the occasion revolved around a single product, it also said something broader about the company's ambitions in India and how the country fits into its global strategy.
KONE has had a presence in India for years, but the Sriperumbudur Supply Unit symbolises a shift from simply selling products in the region to building for the region - and increasingly for other markets as well. Over the past decade, several elevator and mobility companies have adopted India as a base for both engineering and manufacturing, driven by the country's expanding housing sector, relatively lower production costs, and improving supply chain infrastructure.
The Villa 100 is targeted at villas, independent homes, and low-rise residential structures - settings where space is typically limited and the need is more lifestyle-oriented than logistical. Unlike elevators for commercial buildings, home elevators rarely have the luxury of large shafts, dedicated electrical setups, or standardized architectural allowances. One of the key talking points from KONE's side was that the Villa 100 runs on a 220V single-phase power supply, the same kind used by most households in India. For homeowners, this removes a technical barrier: there's no need to convert to a three-phase connection or rework the building's electrical layout just to accommodate a lift.
On the tech front, the model uses permanent magnet synchronous gearless machinery with VVVF (Variable Voltage Variable Frequency) control. If that sounds dense, the gist is fairly simple: this configuration allows smoother acceleration and braking, makes less noise during operation, and generally feels less jerky compared to older traction systems. Quiet operation matters more in homes than in shopping malls or office towers; nobody wants a rattling or clanking elevator running next to their bedroom.
Energy efficiency also came up during the event. The Villa 100 shuts off its cabin lights and ventilation system when not in use, turning them back on automatically when a user calls the elevator. This may sound minor, but for Indian homeowners - who often think in terms of power consumption, inverter loads, and backup usage - small optimizations can matter. It's not about being "eco-friendly" in a marketing sense; it's about managing real-life constraints in a country where power cuts, voltage fluctuations, and backup systems still shape buying behavior in many cities.
Safety features are always part of the conversation when it comes to elevators, and the Villa 100 doesn't aim to reinvent the wheel there. The unit includes automatic rescue operation during power failures, allowing the car to move to the nearest landing and open the doors instead of stopping mid-shaft. Emergency lighting and controlled braking are also part of the package, aligning with safety standards for residential-grade elevators. The product isn't meant for heavy-duty use, and KONE doesn't claim otherwise; it's a home appliance more than a transportation workhorse.
KONE didn't disclose pricing or production volumes at the event. Company representatives simply noted that the unit would be manufactured at the Sriperumbudur plant and sold within the Indian market.
In the end, the unveiling wasn't just about a new elevator. It served as a small indicator of how global mobility companies now view India - not just as a sales destination, but as a design, engineering, and manufacturing hub shaped by its own housing trends and market realities. The Villa 100 is one more entry into a growing category, arriving at a time when more Indian homeowners are willing to invest in tech that blends convenience, aesthetics, and accessibility into everyday living spaces.
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