People around the world who live or work in high-rise buildings are likely to travel on the first or last leg of their daily commute courtesy of one of four firms. Otis, part of United Technologies, is the world's leading liftmaker, with 23% of the global market. The American company, Schindler of Switzerland, Kone of Finland and the lift division of ThyssenKrupp, a German conglomerate, together supply about two-thirds of the world's elevators. Liftmakers' fortunes are on the ascent. China's rapid urbanisation and economic expansion helped them weather the recent recession in the rich world. In 2008, a bad year, the world market was still worth €33 billion (then $47 billion).
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