News

Is TKE Europe set to be acquired by a private equity firm?

According to insiders, TK Elevator’s (TKE) European business is set to be sold off for the most part as part of the takeover of TKE by Kone, reported the Reuters news agency on 1 October. LIFTjournal has investigated the matter further and also asked corporate transactions expert Dr Lars Watermann for his assessment.

Photo: © KI-generiert gem. Adobe Firefly-Lizenz/okapidesign/LIFTjournal

News | February 2026

Company takeovers in the focus of antitrust authorities

The market is witnessing increasing consolidation, with major corporations rapidly acquiring regional SMEs. This trend has prompted closer scrutiny from competition authorities.

Photo: © Motum

News | January 2026

New move by Motum

Motum acquired the Swedish lift company Hisscompaniet from Kristianstad on 1 November, thus widening its service network in southern Sweden.

Photo: © privat

News | January 2026

Philip Molineus celebrates anniversary

At the beginning of November 2025, Philip Molineus celebrated a company anniversary: the business graduate has been managing partner of the Henning Group in Schwelm for 25 years.

Photo: © Hauer GmbH/Matthias Breunig

News | January 2026

Hauer expanding its technical support

Maria Bosnaki joined the technical customer service of Hauer GmbH in September 2025.

Photo: © Gottschalk & Michaelis

News | January 2026

Medium-sized company takes over lift company

There is another way: Berlin-based medium-sized company Gottschalk und Michaelis has now taken over a small Berlin-based lift company.

Photo: © Daniel Nyman/Ascenco Group

News | January 2026

Ascenco Group expands to Norway

Ascenco Group AB (“Ascenco”) expanded its presence to Oslo, Norway by taking over Heiskompaniet AS (“Heiskompaniet”).

News | January 2026

Kone acquires companies in the Munich area

ATH Aufzüge GmbH, a subsidiary of Kone headquartered in Heilbronn with a branch in Munich, acquired the elevator businesses of two medium-sized elevator companies on January 1, 2026.

News | January 2026

The EN 1570 series is expanding

EN 1570-1, Safety requirements for lifting tables – Part 1: Lifting tables serving up to two fixed landings has already been available since 1998. It has undergone continuous further development over the course of time.