İstanbul/Türkiye, January 13, 2026 – Philippe Delorme, President and CEO of KONE, a global leader in the elevator and escalator industry, visited Istanbul to meet with key clients, stakeholders, and media. The visit marks a significant milestone as KONE celebrates 30 years of operations in Türkiye.
The visit highlights the critical role of vertical transportation in supporting Türkiye’s urban development ambitions, with a focus on safe, reliable, and long-term people flow in both new and existing buildings, as well as sustainable high-rise development.
A strategic hub for growth and innovation
Türkiye, with its rapid urbanization and strategic geographic position, plays a pivotal role in KONE’s regional strategy for the Middle East, Türkiye, and Africa.
“Türkiye’s economic potential, urbanization trajectory, and the ongoing transformation of urban areas position the country as a cornerstone market for us. As we celebrate 30 years of operations here, we are not just looking back at our legacy, but forward to the future. We remain committed to supporting our customers by delivering advanced people flow technologies that ensure Turkish cities are safe, smart, and sustainable,” Delorme said in Istanbul.
“With our global strategy, focusing on service business digitalization, residential development, equipment modernization, and carbon emission cutting, KONE is well positioned to support Türkiye’s national priorities. In a market where residential buildings represent the majority of demand, we focus on delivering affordable, fit-for-purpose solutions supported by efficient delivery models and service capabilities tailored to housing needs,” Delorme added.
At the local level, safety remains a central priority across KONE’s operations in Türkiye.
“Safety is at the heart of everything we do at KONE Türkiye,” said Bora Tuncer, Managing Director, KONE Türkiye. “Across Türkiye, our focus is on delivering safe, reliable, and future-ready elevator and escalator solutions throughout their entire lifecycle in full alignment with Türkiye’s strict safety regulations in the Elevator & Escalator business. By combining KONE’s global expertise with strong local teams and deep market knowledge, we support our customers in creating buildings that people can trust every day.”
Shaping the skyline: Istanbul Finance Center
During his visit, Delorme toured the Istanbul Finance Center (IFC), including the Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye (TCMB) Tower, where KONE’s high-rise technologies are installed to support smooth and safe people flow for thousands of daily users.
Commenting on the visit, Delorme expressed pride in the highly skilled Turkish team working closely with KONE’s global experts to equip the 353.9meter TCMB Tower, the tallest building in Türkiye, with the company’s latest high-rise solutions. These include the fastest elevators in Türkiye and among the fastest in Europe, reaching speeds of up to 9 m/s, as well as advanced double-deck elevator technology installed at the TCMB towers.
“This project places Istanbul among a select group of global cities utilizing KONE’s high-rise technology,” Delorme said.
As a key landmark within the Istanbul Finance Center, the TCMB Tower reflects Türkiye’s economic ambitions and Istanbul’s growing role as a regional center for international investors.
KONE has been present in Türkiye since 1995, building long-term, trusted partnerships across the country.
Revitalizing Türkiye’s urban stock through modernization
Alongside new developments and ongoing urban renewal activity, KONE supports cities in Türkiye by modernizing existing elevators and integrating digital solutions. This helps building owners improve safety, reliability, and energy efficiency throughout the equipment lifecycle.
“Modernization is not just about upgrading equipment; it’s about increasing digital connectivity, enhancing performance and reliability, reducing energy consumption, and extending the equipment’s lifetime. By modernizing aging elevators, we also improve the everyday experience for building users,” said Philippe Delorme.
Across its global operations, KONE continues to invest in digital innovation, including artificial intelligence, to support safer, more efficient, and more sustainable people flow solutions throughout the building lifecycle.
About KONE
At KONE, our purpose is to shape the future of cities. As a global leader in the elevator and escalator industry, we move two billion people every day, making their journeys safe, convenient, and reliable with smart and sustainable People Flow®. In 2024, KONE had annual sales of EUR 11.1 billion, and over 60,000 employees in close to 70 countries. KONE class B shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd. in Finland.
About KONE Türkiye
KONE entered the Turkish market in 1995, establishing a direct presence to serve the growing needs of the country. Today, KONE Türkiye is headquartered in Istanbul and employs a dedicated team of professionals focused on providing high-quality elevator, escalator, and maintenance services. The company serves diverse clients across Türkiye, from high-rise projects like the Istanbul Finance Center to large-scale residential and infrastructure developments.