KUKA Group Review 2025

From new products to strategic partnerships to major events and awards – 2025 was a year full of highlights for the KUKA Group. Join us as we look back at the key developments of a year that has further advanced automation.

Carolin Hort

17. prosince 2025

Society

Doba ?tení: 4 minut

January

Flexible power packs for every challenge: With the new KR FORTEC PA and the KR FORTEC ultra PA family, KUKA offers four new palletizing robots in the heavy-duty portfolio.

February

On the way to Net Zero: Produce climate-neutral and reduce emissions along the value chain by 90%: The KUKA Group has set comprehensive environmental targets by 2050: Environmental targets at the KUKA Group.

Device Insight and the South Korean AI startup MakinaRocks combine their expertise: The strategic partnership aims to make AI solutions available to industry faster and set new standards in digital production.

Visual Components opens first office in Japan: With the new location in Tokyo, the Finnish specialist for manufacturing simulation and robot offline programming strengthens its presence in Asia and focuses on even better service for customers and partners in Japan.

March

125 years of industry expertise: Swisslog celebrates this anniversary at LogiMAT: Swisslog presents automation solutions under the motto “The Human Side of Automation” that put people at the center.

April

iiQWorks: Engineering suite for the digital manufacturing of the future: The central platform connects all steps of the automation process and enables seamless data exchange. With digital twin, offline programming and virtual commissioning, robot usage becomes easier, faster and more precise.

Industrial digitalization: KUKA Digital enters into a strategic partnership with the Finnish software provider Noux Node. Goal of the partnership: innovative solutions for the digital transformation of industry and the development of future-oriented platforms.

May

Finland’s first AutoStore solution celebrates 5 years of efficiency: Since 2018, Nordic Lights, a world-leading provider of work and vehicle lighting, has relied on AutoStore from Swisslog.

This successful collaboration has led to the fact that by the end of 2024, 400 robots and over 203,000 boxes have been brought to the Finnish market. Many more are planned in the following years.

June

Artificial intelligence, autonomous mobile robotics (AMR) and the largest KUKA robot of all time: KUKA demonstrates at automatica 2025 in Munich under the motto “making automation easier” how simple the solutions for complex challenges in the automation industry can be.

July

KUKA drives the transition to e-mobility forward: After the major order for 23 friction stir welding cells for the production of electric vehicles in the USA, another order for 12 additional cells for production expansion now follows.

Christoph Schell becomes the new Chief Executive Officer of the KUKA Group: The technology manager and former CCO of Intel succeeded Peter Mohnen on July 1, who left the company after 13 years on the KUKA Executive Board.

More safety, more efficiency: Swisslog Healthcare introduces PillPick Octave – the latest generation of the automated unit-dose system. With optimized ergonomics, extended diagnostic tools and environmentally friendly packaging, the solution sets new standards in pharmacy automation.

August

More efficiency in material logistics: The new mobile platform KMP 250P from KUKA combines high load capacity, modular equipment and safety features with functions such as sleep mode for use in large AMR fleets.

September

From traditional manufacturing to smart factory: KRONE, one of the largest manufacturers of agricultural machinery and commercial vehicles, uses mobile robotics from KUKA.

ROCKWOOL relies on Swisslog for the automation of its high-bay warehouse in Neuburg.

October

Realistic factory simulation in real time: Visual Components integrates NVIDIA Omniverse into its platform. Starting at the beginning of 2026, a new viewport enables photorealistic visualizations directly in the simulation environment – without additional software or process changes.

Awarded for future-oriented AI: At the ceremonial presentation of the FREDDIE – The Industrial AI Award in Munich, KUKA was honored for its Xpert AI Assistant in the category “Transformation Mindset”.

Automation for modular house construction: KUKA and KLEUSBERG combine their expertise to automate production at the Halle an der Saale plant with state-of-the-art robot technology.

November

Great success for Team ULTRATOPIA: With a ultrasound solution for spinal examination during surgeries the team wins the prestigious KUKA Innovation Award 2025.

December

At ASHP Midyear, Swisslog Healthcare presents an automation system for pharmacies: developed for real workflows – with high speed and precise processes to simplify workflows and support patient safety.

Transparency builds trust: KUKA wins the ESG Transparency Award, setting a benchmark for sustainable and transparent business practices.