Johnson Lifts Pvt Ltd, headquartered in Chennai, has marked the New Year by given its website a complete makeover, making it more visitor-friendly than before. The home screen is a montage automatically scrolling from left to right, displaying images of the company’s manufacturing facilities, product range and prominent projects where they have been installed. The contact details are positioned on the top, along with the social media buttons reflecting a new-age approach. The section headings have been moved to the lower end of the web page for a cleaner, fresher look. From its product ranges (lifts and escalators) to services provided, the prestigious customers in its portfolio to overseas presence along, to the company-specific information, every aspect has been move into subsections, making it much easier to navigate. The transformation by this leading vertical-transportation OEM reflects how it stays in tune with the changing times while retaining its values and traditions. Johnson Lifts has been India’s leading manufacturer of lifts and escalators since its inception in 1963.

Inovance Technology India’s headquarters (HQ) at Chennai has received ISO 9001 certification from TÜV SÜD South Asia. The stringent quality-management certification is designed for organizations to show they are committed to regularly and consistently improving the quality of their processes and services. Anil Kumar, managing director of Inovance India, expounded, “The adoption of a quality-management system is a strategic decision for Inovance India. . . to continuously improve our overall performance, as well as to provide a better service for customers and a sound basis for sustainable development initiatives.”

KONE Elevator India has begun a campaign to promote key environmental issues. Through bright, lively and eye-catching wall paintings, KONE is attempting to convey a message of environmental conservation in the three chosen areas: pollution caused by single-use plastic; waste management; and water conservation. The initiative is in line with the Government of India’s Swachh Bharat Mission. The campaign commenced in the National Capital Region and will expand to other regions. Amit Gossain, Managing Director, KONE Elevator India, said, “Our commitment to the society is an integral part of our value system, and we have always engaged ourselves in various efforts to give something back to the society. As an environmentally conscious organization, this campaign is aimed at the betterment of the community through measures that will bring in sustainable development.” The initiative is in partnership with Green Dream Foundation. It will engage local and professional artists to create thought-provoking visuals in public spaces while breathing life into walls across the cities, transforming them in colorful palettes.

thyssenkrupp Elevator (India) recently launched the meta200, designed to meet the evolving needs of India’s mid-rise residential, commercial, retail and hospitality sectors. Billed as a premium system, it offers a maximum travel speed of 2.5 m/s and 1632 kg maximum capacity with a travel height up to 120 m. A range of designs, including etched patterns and highly durable finishes, is offered. Safety and security features, such as closed-circuit cameras, automatic rescue devices, three-way intercoms and special operations for earthquakes and fires are included. An "advanced car design with a 360° vibration-reducing system and damping device" rounds out the system, the company said.

Brands that associate with GLE Expo 2021 will be able to leverage Virgo’s exclusive industry data and explore a new business medium. Concurrent webinars will also be held. Stakeholders involving leading real estate developers, architects, members and office bearers of related associations — including NAREDCO, CREDAI, MCHI-CREDAI, ASSOCHAM-GEM, IIA, AAI and key IPCs — have been invited to participate and connect with a wider, relevant target audience, in addition to the core industry itself.For participation details, contact Vashdev on +91 97406 11121 or email [email protected]. To get an event overview, visit https://www.gleexpo.com/virtual/ or click on http://sutraa.com/virgo/  to see a demo of the virtual event.

Goel Ganga Developments (GGD), one of the largest real estate developers in Pune, has entered into a partnership with Piramal Capital & Housing Finance, Ltd. (PCHFL), on three upcoming properties of Guardian Developers, located in New Wagholi, Hinjewadi and Ambegaon-Katraj. Annuj Goel, chairman of GGD, addressed the rationale behind signing the deal, saying, “With the three locations having immense potential, time is also apt to make such an important decision. Ups and downs will keep coming and going, but GGD's commitment to make Pune city the best of its version will always stand rock solid.” Focusing on the projects, he added, "When GGD stepped in, New Wagholi's Hillshire project was yet to get its finishing touch. My able and dedicated team at GGD put our best foot forward for the 200 families residing in two and three BHK homes. And, now our work speaks in itself. It needs no introduction because action always speaks louder than words."

PCHFL Managing Director Khushru Jijina, , adding comment on the development, said, "It goes without saying that [the] Goel Ganga Developments-Piramal partnership goes hand in hand, as we both are committed toward quality work and maximum customer satisfaction. We will leave no stone unturned to achieve what's been promised for Pune city."

In a recent research report, Colliers International looked at the recovering demand for office. The report stated: “The year 2020 witnessed commercial office gross absorption of about 34 million ft2 across the top six cities in India, a fall of about 41% from 2019, which saw demand at an all-time high. However, demand picked up during the second half of the year, as occupiers gained confidence to finalize deals that were stalled during the year and start planning for returning to ‘business as normal scenario.’ Gross absorption during the second half of the year rose 25% over the first half of 2020.

Arpit Mehrotra, managing director, Office Services (South India) at Colliers India, noted "While the pandemic did lead to a temporary challenge, Southern cities weathered the storm and proved to be most resilient. Bengaluru not only led the office absorption in India but, due to pre-commitments and enquiries in from Q3, 2020 onward is expected to bounce back in 2021." Also observing the situation, Siddhart Goel, senior director and head of research, Colliers India, said, “The commercial office market has started improving since Q3 2020, and we expect the market to recover post June 2021. We believe that demand for office space will be run by technology companies, especially for their global in-house centers.”

Kamal Khetan, chairman and managing director, Sunteck Realty, Ltd, recently analyzed real estate trends 2020. Addressing the topic, he said, “There is a definite urgency among customers to upgrade their living standards, owing to the changing work-life conditions. This has resulted in a faster pick-up of ready-to-move-in inventory of affordable luxury and premium luxury segments. COVID-19 has only expedited the wave of consolidation in the realty business. Financially strong developers took over or bought larger land parcels to fulfill the growing demand for ever-spacious homes. The events of 2020 have already shaped the years to come, at least for 2021 and 2022, in terms of real estate demand, sales trends, and overall industry practices.

“More buyers are likely to come forward, realizing the value proposition in markets like Mumbai besides taking advantage of lower interest rates and stamp duty cuts. We believe the consolidation will gather momentum in 2021, helping the industry gain customer confidence by way of timely deliveries and quality products. City dwellers like Mumbaikars would continue their search for more spacious second homes in commutable distances.”

Antara has released the findings of its survey titled, “State of Seniors.” The survey, a first of its kind, attempts to bring out insights on the lives, aspirations, preferences, opinions and consumer behavior traits of seniors in India. The survey was conducted across urban India, with a focus on the North (Delhi-NCR), the West (Mumbai and Pune), and the South (Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad), covering more than 2,000 seniors aged 55 and above. The findings revealed that close to 80% of seniors prefer living independently, either in their own or rented houses. Only 16% seniors said that they live with their children and/or grandchildren.

Among types of accommodations, seniors seeking independent living increasingly prefer conventional establishments, but a reasonably large proportion — 12% in Southern metros — are residing in senior living communities. Commenting on the survey findings, Rajit Mehta, managing director and CEO, Antara, said, “The ‘State of Seniors’ survey is highly relevant for a country like India, which is expected to witness major demographic shifts. Over the next few years, senior population will constitute a significantly important consumer segment and will need specialized services and products for a hassle-free aging experience.”

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