Escalator and elevator giant KONE debuted a new threefold US facility at 450 Century Pkwy in Allen during a ribbon-cutting ceremony yesterday afternoon. The 174k SF facility houses a manufacturing warehouse, a testing center and office space. It will add 80 jobs to the local economy, bringing KONE's total DFW employees to around 350 between this Allen campus and another space in Coppell.

We snapped KONE's marketing and communications director, Patrick O'Connell, explaining KONE technology during a grand opening tour.

KONE also launches a new elevator today in the US and Canada. The MonoSpace 500 is suitable for buildings up to 15 stories and tops out at 400 feet per minute. The eco-efficient elevator reduces energy consumption by 20% and uses LED lights. Plus, you likely won't realize you're moving on this baby until you reach the final floor.

KONE's recent efforts to make user flow more efficient and intuitive include lightweight elevator straps that weigh 70% less than conventional cables, apps that allow users to call elevators ahead of time from their office or taxi, and preventive maintenance that helps building owners spend less time and money on repairs.