KONE UltraRope® Cuts Elevator Cable Weight by 80%, Enabling Kilometre-Tall Buildings
KONE's UltraRope®, a carbon fiber core rope with a high-friction coating, is transforming high-rise elevator design. Weighing only about one-fifth of a conventional steel rope, it enables significant reductions in moving masses and energy consumption.
For a 500-meter elevator journey, UltraRope achieves energy savings of around 15% compared to conventional steel ropes. For an 800-meter journey, the savings exceed 40%. This is because the lighter rope allows for a smaller and lighter counterweight and sling, reducing overall deadweight.
Additionally, carbon fiber resonates at a different frequency from most building materials, making UltraRope less sensitive to building sway and reducing downtime during strong winds. It also does not rust, stretch, or wear, and its special coating eliminates the need for lubrication.
The technology has been adopted in landmark projects like Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, Sky Tower in Auckland, and is set to feature in the world's tallest building-to-be, Jeddah Tower in Saudi Arabia. Exel Composites supplies the carbon fiber profiles used in UltraRop
