The state-of-the-art Mandaluyong facility will upskill technicians with advanced digital and technical skills to support the country’s urbanization and infrastructure goals
KONE, a global leader in the elevator and escalator industry, today launched its first KONE Academy in the Philippines, a dedicated training campus in Mandaluyong City
aimed at developing a highly skilled workforce to support the country’s smart city ambitions and rapid urban growth.
Currently, the facility trains 620 elevator and escalator (E&E) professionals annually, with plans to expand its capacity to 800 by 2027. By 2030, KONE aims to certify 4,400
professionals, significantly strengthening the country’s infrastructure talent pipeline.
This milestone complements KONE’s broader commitment to talent development in the Philippines, which includes initiatives such as the Service Operations Apprenticeship Program for high-potential graduates and the Delivery Operations Development Program for future operations leaders.
During the launch of KONE Academy Philippines, Petteri Richards Kyrklund, Managing Director of KONE Philippines, underscored a powerful truth:
“It’s the core of our strategy—and to have that kind of ability to serve our customers is the people. And the people need to have the correct skills so that we can do efficient work, we can do safe work, we can serve our customers.”
The newly launched academy, located in Mandaluyong City, represents a significant investment in developing talent for a smarter and more sustainable future in the elevator and escalator industry.
“In this academy—which is a big investment for us—we can upskill our people to that new level when we talk about smart sustainable solutions,” Kyrklund said.
“There are more and more solutions which need competencies which are not traditional—just mechanical, electrical. There’s more and more need to have software competencies and how units are interconnected. And in this academy, we can address those and elevate the people to the next level with their competencies.”
Meanwhile, Edward Loy, Managing Director of KONE Southeast Asia, shared KONE’s broader regional vision to tap into local talent through education partnerships:
“This is something that we are also looking at—exploring the partnership with the local technical education institutes to see how we can bring them on board to start their apprentice programme, start their internships—to bring that local talent and provide job opportunities at the same time.”
As the KONE Academy aims to train up to 600 individuals per year, the vision is clear: invest in people, embrace innovation, and create a pipeline of future-ready professionals equipped to lead in a digitally connected and sustainable world.
The Academy plays a critical role in delivering this strategy. Trainees receive hands-on instruction in installation, commissioning, maintenance, and modernization—aligned with KONE’s globally certified methods to ensure the highest standards of safety, quality and equipment reliability. They will also gain exposure to real-world scenarios using advanced simulation systems and smart building technologies, including API enabled robotics, smart access systems, and connected elevator technologies.
Beyond training, the Academy will also function as a Customer Experience Center, welcoming clients and prospects to experience KONE’s latest innovations. These include the KONE UltraRope® hoisting technology, which improves elevator eco efficiency, reliability, and performance, as well as KONE 24/7 Connect, which supports
remote diagnostics and predictive maintenance, helping reduce downtime and enhance safety.
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 11.0 billion, and at the end of the year over 60,000 employees in close to 70 countries. KONE class B shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd. in
Finland. Visit the website www.kone.com
