KONE Opens First KONE Academy in the Philippines to Train Elevator and Escalator Professionals

KONE, a global leader in elevator and escalator manufacturing, has officially launched its first KONE Academy in the Philippines. Located in Mandaluyong City, the new training facility is designed to build a highly skilled workforce that can support the country’s fast-growing urban development and smart city projects.

The KONE Academy currently trains more than 620 elevator and escalator (E&E) technicians every year. KONE plans to expand this capacity to 800 trainees by 2027, with a long-term goal of certifying 4,400 E&E professionals by 2030. This initiative strengthens the Philippines’ infrastructure talent pipeline and helps meet rising demand for safe, efficient, and modern vertical transportation systems.

As part of KONE’s ongoing commitment to workforce development, the academy complements other training programs such as the Service Operations Apprenticeship Program and the Delivery Operations Development Program, both designed to develop future leaders in the elevator and escalator industry.

“KONE Academy is more than a training center — it is a major step forward for the Philippines’ smart city vision,” said Petteri Kyrklund, Managing Director of KONE Philippines. “By training local talent to maintain and modernize elevator and escalator systems, we are supporting safer buildings, better mobility, and more efficient cities.”

The launch of the academy comes at an important time for the Philippines. By 2050, nearly 102 million Filipinos are expected to live in urban areas. With 70% of local government units planning smart city initiatives and 61% already testing digital solutions, the demand for skilled elevator and escalator technicians is rapidly increasing. The KONE Academy directly supports this need by providing high-quality, industry-standard technical training.

According to Edward Loy, Managing Director of KONE, the academy plays a vital role in the company’s “Rise” strategy, which focuses on digital innovation in the E&E sector and preparing technicians to support modern infrastructure across the country.