The 2009 GOOD DESIGN award has been awarded to KONE Design because of the sleek, and creatively designed, appearance of their KONE Design Signalization Series. The KONE Design company is the first and only escalator and elevator company to have ever been given a GOOD DESIGN award in the past 60 years, and they have proved worthy of the award.

First founded back in 1950, GOOD DESIGN is now renowned everywhere, and has even become the most recognized award for design in the whole world. The GOOD DESIGN awards are given by The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies as well as the Chicago Athenaeum. The GOOD DESIGN awards are meant to highlight the greatest new designs and the best design innovations for graphics and for products which were created between 2007 and 2009.

Anne Stenros, Vice President of Design for KONE has been quoted as saying: “We are very proud once again to have received this award for our latest innovative design concept,” and “The new KONE Design signalization series represents a new perspective in modern elevator design. It is a bold jump from standard stainless steel signalizations to a new world of colors and unique graphics, which can match any kind of cabin design.”

First developed and launched in 2009, the KONE Design Signalization Series offers both durable technology and contemporary design. This Series of designs has been built to last for many decades. The panels of these designs can be modified very easily simply by changing the design or the color of the faceplate, adjusting it to fit your wants and your needs. The signalization panels will also enable the integration of the guiding information on the panel, this brings the usability to a whole new level, and this will also allow localization to accommodate the specific regulations and functions of various regions and all across various countries.

KONE received their very first ever GOOD DESIGN award back in 2008 for their innovative KONE FourSeasons™ design concept, that award made KONE the first escalator and elevator company to ever receive such a prestigious award.

Elevator and Escalator Company Schindler celebrated after the launch of two brand new cruise liners equipped with 76 Schindler elevators and escalators from the Genoa shipyard of Fincantieri.

The two cruise liners are the latest additions to the Costa Crociere fleet and were named Costa Pacifica and Costa Luminosa. Both ships are 290 meters long but the The Pacifica is the larger of the two ships, at 114,000 gross tonnage and has the capacity to hold 4,118 passengers and crew. Movement board the ships 14 decks is easy with 60 elevators to hand which includes three hydraulic platforms for disabled access.

“We are proud to have equipped these two new liners,” says Francesco Delton, the head of Schindler’s marine unit. “Schindler is now present on almost every Costa ship, thanks also to our preventative maintenance service.”