Passenger elevators will be internationalized in the future with the trend of "intelligent, green and service-oriented"

 Intelligence: Technology-driven global innovation

1. Deep integration of the Internet of Things and AI

Global elevator companies are accelerating the application of Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to achieve intelligent management throughout the entire lifecycle of elevators. For example, Finland's Trane Group has integrated smart interworking APIs into its "Trane DX Elevator," seamlessly connecting with robots and access control systems to enable contactless elevator use and intelligent scheduling; its "Cloud Butler" service uses AI algorithms for predictive maintenance, significantly improving the accuracy of fault warnings. China's Jule Elevator has launched the "Jule Cloud" platform, covering the entire process from elevator sales to installation and maintenance, optimizing operational efficiency through real-time data collection.

International application: The European and American markets take the lead in promoting intelligent building system integration, while the emerging markets in Asia (such as India and Southeast Asia) pay more attention to low-cost intelligent solutions, such as AI voice elevator call and on-demand elevator dispatching function.

2. Unmanned and personalized interaction

In high-end commercial buildings in Europe and America, seamless passage and facial recognition elevators have become standard features; Japanese companies (such as Hitachi) have developed AI scheduling systems that can dynamically allocate elevator resources based on the number of people waiting, reducing wait times by 30%. In the future, developing countries will gradually introduce these technologies, integrating them with local needs to develop customized functions (such as electric vehicle exclusion recognition).

Environmental protection: Technological transformation under the global carbon neutral goal

1. Integration of energy saving technologies and renewable energy sources

European companies (such as Kone and Tissot) lead the research and development of permanent magnet synchronous motors and energy feedback systems, reducing the energy consumption of a single elevator by more than 40%. Chinese elevator companies are exploring solar-powered elevators and promoting low-carbon technologies in countries along the "Belt and Road", such as customizing energy-saving traction machines with heat dissipation optimization for high-temperature areas in the Middle East.

Policy drive: The EU's "Green New Deal" and China's "double carbon" target promote the upgrading of elevator energy efficiency standards, and the global market size of energy-saving elevators is expected to exceed 50 billion US dollars in 2025.

2. Circular economy and material innovation

Nordic companies are the first to use recyclable and environmentally friendly steel and lightweight composite materials to extend the life of elevators and reduce carbon emissions; China promotes the remanufacturing of old elevators through the "trade-in" policy, and Guangdong province has implemented mandatory standards for the scrapping of elevator parts in 2024 to promote resource recycling.

Service-oriented: Global competition from product to ecology

1. The post-service market dominates profit growth

In developed countries, elevator maintenance services account for over 60% (for example, Konecrane's China maintenance business accounts for 20% and its growth rate exceeds that of new elevator sales), while developing countries are rapidly addressing service capability gaps through digital tools (such as remote diagnostic platforms). Hitachi Elevator has launched a "full lifecycle management service," covering multi-brand elevator renovations, which has been implemented in 142 cities worldwide.

2. Customer-oriented customized service mode

The European and American markets focus on high-end customization (such as multimedia interactive systems for elevator cabins), while the Asian market pays more attention to cost-effectiveness and quick response. For example, China's giant company Kone has proposed the concept of "elevator home appliances," using TikTok live streaming and virtual reality technology to popularize elevator renovation solutions to end-users, thereby lowering the decision-making threshold.

International layout: emerging markets and technology export

1. Emerging markets as growth engines

The increase in urbanization rates in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa has driven a surge in elevator demand. In 2024, China's elevator exports to Saudi Arabia will increase by 15.8% year on year, while the Indian market prefers Chinese intelligent control systems. European companies are accelerating their penetration into emerging markets through acquisitions of local brands (such as Konecrane's acquisition of Giant Konecrane).

2. Technical standards and localization adaptation

Chinese elevator companies rely on "Belt and Road" to export intelligent elevator standards, such as Guizhou AVIC Elevator exporting 5G intelligent elevator production lines to Uzbekistan; European and American companies realize technology localization through joint venture mode (such as Xunda China's sole proprietorship).

Summarize the strengths and challenges

The global passenger elevator industry will form a pattern where "smart technology leads in Europe and America, green transformation radiates to emerging markets, and service ecology reconstructs the value chain." The challenges lie in: ① low-price competition in developing countries leading to safety hazards; ② insufficient compatibility of cross-border technical standards; ③ difficulties in controlling maintenance service costs. Companies need to address these challenges through open innovation (such as multi-brand collaborations) and digital tools to reduce costs and improve efficiency in global competition.