?Elevator and design consultants are lauding a new elevator system from KONE Corp. that drastically reduces the weight of the hoisting cablesthe bane of tall-building experts. The patented system, which replaces heavy steel ropes with lightweight carbon-fiber belts, increases the maximum feasible "nonstop" vertical run to one kilometer from about 600 meters. The system also significantly reduces elevator energy use, claims KONE, which is the world's second-largest elevator-escalator maker.