#INTERNATIONAL NEWS
1. South Korea opens discussion on escalator safety with 200 citizens
South Korea's Ministry of the Interior and Safety organized a forum at Yonsei University to discuss safe escalator use. The event brought together 200 citizens along with experts from the Korea Elevator University, the Korea Elevator Safety Agency and transportation research organizations.
The content revolved not only around whether passengers should stand in one row or two, but also addressed accident causes, usage habits, equipment conditions and management policies. Preparatory materials indicated that more than 70% of escalator accidents involve user behavior; people aged 60 and above account for more than half of the cases.
2. Service and modernization account for 67% of TK Elevator's revenue
TK Elevator (TKE) recorded order intake of EUR 2.5 billion in the third quarter of fiscal year 2026, up 12% year-on-year; revenue rose 4% to EUR 2.4 billion. Adjusted EBITDA reached a record EUR 444 million, with an EBITDA margin of 18.8%. Service and modernization accounted for 66% of total quarterly revenue.
Cumulatively over nine months, TKE achieved EUR 7.3 billion in order intake and EUR 6.9 billion in revenue, up 9% and 4% respectively after currency adjustment. Adjusted EBITDA increased 9% to EUR 1.22 billion, while service and modernization contributed 67% of revenue.
TKE said the approval process for its deal with KONE is underway in key markets and is expected to be completed no earlier than the second quarter of 2027.
3. A quarter of Shanghai's elevators have been in operation for at least 15 years
By the end of 2025, Shanghai had approximately 369,000 elevators in operation, up 5.63% from the previous year. Of these, 92,361 units had been in operation for 15 years or more, accounting for about a quarter of the total; residential elevators over 20 years old numbered 23,841 units, equivalent to 13.83% of the city's residential elevators.
4. Light fixture and cabin ceiling fall on passenger in Hong Kong elevator
On the evening of August 28, a 37-year-old woman was using an elevator at the China Minmetals Tower in Tsim Sha Tsui (Hong Kong) when a light fixture measuring about 1.5 x 0.7 m, along with wiring and part of the cabin ceiling, suddenly fell and struck her head.
The victim suffered neck pain, headache and dizziness; she remained conscious when taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital for treatment.
Hong Kong's Electrical and Mechanical Services Department sent personnel to inspect the scene and initially determined that the incident was not related to damage to the elevator's operating mechanism. The cause of the light fixture and cabin ceiling falling is still under investigation.
