Can Elevators Be Modernised Without Full Replacement? KONE’s Guide to Smarter Upgrades

An elevator is the central artery of your building and integral to smooth People Flow® - the way people move safely and efficiently through your space. When it ages, with rising breakdowns and poor ride times, the immediate assumption is often a disruptive and costly full replacement.

This leads to the critical question: can elevators be modernised without full replacement?

For many of Australia's existing buildings, the answer is a resounding yes. The "all or nothing" approach is an outdated concept, and the most strategic, value-driven path forward often lies in modular modernisation.

How do you know it's time to act? The signs are often clear and cumulative.

• Reliability Issues: Is your lift frequently out of service? Tenant complaints about downtime and erratic performance (like poor levelling) are the first and most obvious red flags.
• Safety & Compliance: Australian standards are constantly evolving, particularly AS1735, which governs lift safety, performance, and accessibility. An older lift may not just feel unsafe; it may be non-compliant with these crucial standards, exposing you to significant liability.
• Performance & User Experience: Slow door speeds, high energy bills, and a dated, worn-out car interior all contribute to a poor user experience, devaluing your asset and frustrating residents.

When these factors converge, inaction is not an option. The question is no longer if you should upgrade, but how.

This brings us to the central choice. Let's define the two paths:

1. Full Replacement: This is the most invasive option. It involves the complete removal of all elevator components, including the car, ropes, motor, guide rails, and control systems, and installing a brand-new elevator in the existing shaft. It is sometimes necessary, but often it's "using a sledgehammer to crack a nut."
2. Modular Modernisation: This is an intelligent, surgical approach. It means strategically replacing only the components that are obsolete or worn out, while retaining the parts that are still perfectly viable (like the guide rails or car frame).

At KONE, we find that a modular approach is almost always the smarter, more strategic choice.

Why choose a modular lift refurbishment over a full replacement? The benefits go far beyond the initial quote.

1. Minimising Disruption

For a large residential building or a busy commercial office, months of downtime for a full replacement are simply not feasible. Modular modernisation is significantly faster and can be staged to minimise disruption. We can often perform upgrades in phases, keeping the building operational and tenants moving.

2. A Cost-Effective & Staged Approach

This is one of the most compelling cost-effective elevator upgrades available. By preserving key structural components, you avoid unnecessary material and labour costs. Furthermore, a modular plan allows you to manage your capital expenditure. You can prioritise the most critical upgrades now (like the hoisting machine and control system) and schedule aesthetic or connectivity upgrades for a later financial year.

3. Achieving Sustainable Elevator Upgrades

In an era of Green Star ratings and NABERS commitments, throwing away tonnes of perfectly good steel is difficult to justify. Sustainable elevator upgrades focus on reuse. By retaining the core structure, you dramatically reduce the embodied carbon and material waste of your project.

More importantly, you can upgrade to a modern, energy-efficient "engine." Replacing an old geared hoisting machine with a compact, gearless KONE EcoDisc® motor can slash your elevator's energy consumption by up to 70%, a powerful, measurable win for both your budget and the planet.

4. Future-Proofing Your Asset with Connectivity

Perhaps the most exciting benefit is the leap in technology. A modular upgrade isn't just about replacing old parts; it's about adding new intelligence. You can integrate KONE's DX-class digital platform, turning a 20-year-old lift into a fully connected, smart-building asset.

This opens the door to:

• KONE 24/7 Connected Services: Predictive maintenance that spots and solves issues before they cause a breakdown.
• Digital Integration: APIs that allow your lift to communicate with smart building apps, robots, and access control systems.
• A Redefined User Experience: Modern destination control, new signalisation, and a vibrant, updated car interior that completely transforms the tenant experience.

A "smarter upgrade" isn't a one-size-fits-all product; it's a tailored solution that starts with a professional assessment of your existing equipment.

Our elevator modernisation solutions are designed for this exact purpose. We analyse your lift's condition, performance, and compliance status to build a clear, strategic plan.

For many buildings, this plan centres on our industry-leading upgrade packages:

• KONE MonoSpace® DX Upgrade: If you have an existing hydraulic or older traction lift (with or without a machine room), this solution allows us to install a modern, machine-room-less KONE MonoSpace® elevator into the existing shaft. Find out more about our MonoSpace upgrade solutions.
• KONE MiniSpace™ DX Upgrade: For buildings with an existing machine room, this solution provides a compact, connected, and highly efficient replacement that fits right in. This solution utilises our advanced KONE MiniSpace™ DX technology to boost performance and save space.

An ageing elevator is not a liability; it's an opportunity to improve your building's value, performance, and sustainability. Before you budget for a full, disruptive, and costly replacement, let's have a conversation about a smarter path.

To learn more about what a strategic upgrade path could look like for your building, we invite you to explore our elevator upgrade solutions.