An industry-supported centre at KPRIET, set up with KONE India Private Limited, Chennai, to give students hands-on exposure to elevator and escalator technology.
Contact the CentreThe KONE – Vertical Transportation Centre of Excellence, established at KPR Institute of Engineering and Technology in collaboration with KONE India Private Limited, Chennai, is an industry-supported initiative aimed at bridging the gap between academic learning and industrial requirements in vertical transportation technology.
The Centre provides an experiential learning environment for students to understand elevator mechanical components, hoisting systems, electrification, signalization, embedded systems, drive and controller technologies, and real-time monitoring. The facility supports industry-oriented academic courses, expert lectures, hands-on training and application-based student projects.
Through the collaboration between KPRIET and KONE, the Centre aims to nurture technically competent, safety-conscious and innovation-driven graduates who can contribute to reliable, intelligent and sustainable vertical mobility solutions. It also promotes interdisciplinary learning, industry interaction, research and professional skill development, strengthening the institution’s commitment to academic excellence and industry–academia collaboration.
To become a centre of excellence in vertical transportation systems by fostering technical excellence, innovation and industry-oriented learning to develop competent professionals for safe, smart, sustainable and efficient mobility solutions.
To impart industry-relevant knowledge and hands-on skills in elevator and escalator technologies through experiential learning, industry collaboration, research and innovation, while promoting safety, quality, professional ethics and sustainable engineering practices to meet the evolving needs of industry and society.
Hands-on training in elevator and escalator systems, including mechanical components, electrification, signalization, embedded systems, drive and controller systems, and real-time monitoring.
Bridging academic knowledge and industrial requirements through industry-designed courses, expert lectures, technical training, internships and industrial visits in collaboration with KONE.
Facilitating student and faculty projects in smart elevators, predictive maintenance, IoT-based monitoring, energy efficiency, automation and sustainable vertical transportation.
Nurturing problem-solving, design, troubleshooting, safety awareness, teamwork and professional ethics for careers in the elevator and escalator industry and allied sectors.
Elevator cars, slings, counterweights, hoisting mechanisms, landing doors and mechanical safety components.
Traction systems, ropes, sheaves and drive mechanisms for safe and efficient elevator movement.
Electric motors, variable-frequency drives, power systems and energy-efficient elevator operation.
Design and analysis of controllers, control logic, floor selection, sequencing and operational management.
Call buttons, floor indicators, sensors, signalling devices and communication between subsystems.
Microcontrollers, embedded programming and automation techniques in elevator operation and control.
Overspeed governors, door interlocks, emergency systems and safety mechanisms for reliable operation.
Monitoring operating parameters, identifying faults and analysing system performance using real-time data.
Condition monitoring, fault diagnosis and predictive maintenance to improve reliability and reduce downtime.
Connected sensors, data acquisition and intelligent monitoring for better performance and service management.
Energy-efficient drives, regenerative braking, power optimisation and sustainable vertical transportation.
Industry-oriented student projects, prototypes and engineering solutions for challenges in elevator technology.
A working elevator set-up, with the hoisting, drive, control and safety components students learn about.
Associate Professor
Mechanical Engineering
Sessions delivered by KONE professionals, including those under the industry-designed U21GEX07 Vertical Transportation Systems course.
M. P. Saravanan, Senior Director – People, Communication & CSR; Kotresh Jogikalmath, Head – KTEC
Students gained a clear view of modern elevator mechanics, including AI-driven destination control and energy-efficient regenerative drives, and were introduced to IoT-based predictive maintenance (KONE 24/7 Connected Services), digital twins and augmented reality in service.
C.V.S. Sashikanth, Deputy General Manager, KONE Elevators India
Covered traction mechanisms, ropes, counterweights, machine components and safety features, along with car design, passenger comfort, safety regulations and advances in modern elevator technology.
S. Dinesh, Deputy General Manager – Electrification, KONE Elevators India
Explained the electrification architecture of elevators, signalization systems and their integration with mechanical structures, with an introduction to smart controls, automated diagnostics and IoT integration.
S. Joe Infant, Associate Lead – Software, KONE Elevators India
Part of the U21GEX07 Vertical Transportation Systems course. Showed how microcontrollers, sensors, firmware and software control manage movement, door operation, fault detection and passenger safety.
C.V.S. Sashikanth, Deputy General Manager, KONE Elevators India
Part of the U21GEX07 course. Bridged theory and industrial practice in hoisting, car structure, safety regulations and current trends in elevator engineering.
M. Naveenkumar, Deputy General Manager – Electrification, KONE Elevators India
Part of the U21GEX07 course. Covered power supply, drives, controllers, wiring, signalling networks and smart elevator controls such as automated diagnostics and intelligent traffic management.
National-level Hackathon 2026, conducted by KONE in association with Easwari Engineering College.
Out of 1100+ teams registered across India, 60 teams registered from KPRIET and 4 KPRIET teams were shortlisted among the Top 30 finalists.
Problem statement: AI-powered multistage waveform monitoring and fault prediction system for VFD.
The KONE – Vertical Transportation Centre of Excellence at KPRIET provides students with valuable hands-on learning experiences and industry-oriented knowledge in elevator technologies. This industry–academia collaboration enhances technical competencies, practical problem-solving abilities and industry readiness while fostering innovation and research.
The KONE – Vertical Transportation Systems Centre of Excellence serves as a bridge between academic learning and real-world industrial applications, providing students with practical exposure to modern elevator technologies, safety systems and automation.
Centre Coordinator: Dr. M. Makeshkumar, Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
makeshkumar.m@kpriet.ac.in 9786039813