- Elevators and escalators supplied at the Greenhill Hotel and Village Market
- Key project in one of the most commercially-promising regions for innovative transportation solutions
- thyssenkrupp’s Global Distributor Management team opens up access to new markets across the world
The Greenhill Hotel is a key project to have benefitted from thyssenkrupp Elevator’s innovative distribution partner approach. While the company is present in more than 70 countries it has set up a network of strategic distribution partners to help reach other markets where relevant business is identified but is not mature or large enough to establish a direct presence. While certain areas of Africa are lower in development tables, Nairobi has been listed among the top 10 most dynamic cities in the world [1] and represents a significant business opportunity for thyssenkrupp Elevator’s technology innovations.
Dr. Sushanthan Somasundaram, Head of the Global Distributor Business of thyssenkrupp Elevator commented: “We are very proud to have contributed to this important project in what is a really promising part of the world. Our collaboration partners in the location opened and managed the opportunity, which allowed us to provide cutting-edge technology and vital infrastructure to make a real difference, even though we have no field presence of our own there.”
thyssenkrupp Elevator’s partner approach comprises four Distributor Management Centers (DMC) it has built in key global locations. These DMCs take care of the company’s strategic partners throughout the whole process, from sales to execution, to ensure that the right mobility solutions are provided. This DMC structure covers more than 40 additional markets and 32 strong partners.
Somasundaram adds: “It is essential to find new solutions for people transportation that save time and reduce consumption of energy and environmental resources. As a business we support cities all over the world with innovative solutions that meet the requirements of urbanization, and we are pleased that through our distributor network our reach and urban footprint can continue to grow.”
Africa: Rising up!
Since the dawn of the new millennium, the continent of Africa has posted above-average economic growth, as well as continuing high rates of urbanization. It is estimated that half of Africa’s people will live in cities or towns by 2030. At one time the tallest building in the entire Southern hemisphere, the Carlton Centre retains the title of tallest buildings in Africa. At 223 meters (732 feet) tall, the building is crowned with a popular observation deck offering majestic panoramic views. Built in 1973, this 50-floor Johannesburg (South Africa) landmark combines office space with a large shopping mall. All across the African continent, ambitious projects are underway. Hope City, near Accra (Ghana) is an architecturally stunning, USD 10-billion high-tech tower cluster aimed at making Ghana a go-to destination for the information and communication technology industry. The highest tower there is planned to be 270-meter (886 feet) high. Meanwhile, the Al Noor Tower in Casablanca (Morocco) is due to be completed in 2018 and is designed to represent the 54 countries of Africa by measuring exactly 540 meters (1,800 feet).In Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia has launched the construction of its new 198-meter headquarters. South Africa is still in the game, as well. If built, Centurion Symbio-City will soar to a height more than double that of the Carlton Centre – 447 meters (1467 feet) – and feature a rooftop garden and embedded wind turbines.
[1] http://www.jll.com/cities-research/City-Momentum?utm_source=Linkedin&utm_medium=Social&utm_content=800246350&utm_campaign=GlobalGlobal%20-%20Cities